How to Remove Pages from a Coloring Book (without ripping the page!)

If you want to remove a coloring page from a book without perforated pages, you’ve come to the right place! I’m going to show you how to quickly, easily, and accurately remove pages from a coloring book, puzzle book, or activity book without perforated pages.

People frequently try to tear pages out of books, which leaves a rough edge and can rip the page. People also try to cut pages out of books with scissors, but it’s difficult to cut a straight line that’s close to the margin. I’m sharing a way that is better and easier than either of these methods.

Text "How to cut pages out of a coloring book" next to an image of a fox coloring book for kids with two pages removed.

I read a lot of product reviews when I started publishing coloring and activity books using Amazon’s print on demand service. I look out for negative product reviews to see what people don’t like about other books so I can avoid the same mistakes.I’ve told regular readers about my printed coloring books and have my Amazon Author page set up under my real name. I’m proud of my work and I want to create the best coloring, puzzle, and activity books possible!

One of the common complaints I saw in reviews was a lack of perforated pages. People want to take pages out of coloring books to make them easier to color (this is especially true for lefties), to display their finished page, or to make activity books easier for their child to use.

Unfortunately, KDP (Amazon’s print on demand service) does not offer a perforated pages option. Luckily, I’ve worked at both a copy shop and a hobby shop so I know how to cut pages out of books easily and accurately. Let me show you how!

A children's fox coloring book shown with two pages removed, a metal ruler, and a hobby knife

Materials need to cut pages out of book

You don’t need much to cut pages out of a coloring book, or any other book for that matter:

Your book. I’m demonstrating using the cute fox coloring book for kids.
A straight edge or ruler
- Metal is best, plastic is second best.
- Wood can work but isn’t as good unless it has a metal guide strip
- I use a metal ruler from this set, which was also featured in my post on how to cut out printable stickers without a cutting machine.
A sharp hobby knife (for example, and Xacto brand knife)
- Make sure to use a sharp, clean blade, If there are nicks, rust, bits of old glue, etc, it can mess up your page

That’s it! You may also want a scrap piece of paper or two, but it isn’t 100% necessary.

Mr. Pen Steel Rulers, 6, 8, 12, 14 inch Metal Rulers, Pack of 4

X-ACTO X3311 N0. 1 Precision Knife With 5 No. 11 Blades, #1 Knife

Mr. Pen Steel Rulers, 6, 8, 12, 14 inch Metal Rulers, Pack of 4

X-ACTO X3311 N0. 1 Precision Knife With 5 No. 11 Blades, #1 Knife

How to remove pages from a book

This process is simple, but you will need to work carefully. Please be very careful because you can cut yourself with a hobby knife.

I recorded a quick video showing the process. The video is located below this brief step-by-step guide.

First, turn to the page you want to remove. You may want to place a scrap sheet of paper behind it. I typically do not, but I’ve had a lot of practice. You may want to be safe and add a scrap sheet behind the page you intend to cut to make sure you don’t accidentally cut through an extra sheet.

Place your ruler or straight edge along the bound margin of the page. Make sure it’s evenly spaced from the bound edge and hold it in place very firmly.

A hadn't holding a metal ruler along the margin of a fox coloring page in a book

Using the ruler as a guide, cut through the page with your hobby knife. Press firmly and draw the knife along the ruler’s edge. This is why metal is the best option – it’s easy to accidentally cut into a plastic or wood ruler.

Hold the ruler firmly to make sure it doesn’t move and go slowly so the knife doesn’t slip. Cut firmly, but not so hard that you cut through multiple pages. It sounds tricky, but take it slow and you’ll be fine. It’s difficult to apply enough pressure to cut through multiple pages at once.

Hands using a hobby knife to cut along a metal ruler in order to remove a page from a coloring book

Remove your page! Pull carefully in case you missed any spots that need a touch up cut. With practice, and a sharp knife blade, you’ll figure out how to apply the exact right pressure to get a clean cut without removing multiple pages at one.

Hands removing a cut coloring book page from a book

That’s it! Enjoy your removed page with a nice, clean, straight edge.

Hands holding cut out coloring page with a fox looking at an apple tree

You can watch the process in the video below:

I hope you found this helpful and that you’re able to easily and cleanly remove pages from your coloring books now, even if they don’t have perforations!

If you enjoy coloring books or activity books, be sure to check out the printable options here on The Artisan Life and put your new cutting skills to use with one of The Artisan Life’s printed coloring books: