Modeling · Beginner

Knife tool

A tool that draws new edges across a mesh along any path you click

Also called Knife, Knife topology tool

What is the knife tool in Blender?

The knife tool draws new edges across a mesh wherever you click, cutting faces along any path you choose. The cut can be short or long, straight or angled, and can stop anywhere. In Blender, press K in Edit Mode, click to place points, and press Enter to confirm.

Think of it like this

Like a craft knife on a sheet of card: you score whatever line you want, from one corner to the next, and only there.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Create: Building the shape: modeling, sculpting, scanning or generating it.

How the knife tool works

  1. 01In Edit Mode, press K and the cursor turns into a knife.
  2. 02Click on edges or faces to place cut points; a line previews each new edge.
  3. 03Watch the status bar for options such as snapping and cutting through.
  4. 04Press Enter to make the cut, or Esc to cancel it.

Knife tool vs loop cut

PropertyKnife toolLoop cut
PathAny line you drawA full loop around the mesh
StopsWherever you finishOnly at a border or non-quad face
Blender shortcutKCtrl+R
TopologyEasily leaves triangles and n-gonsKeeps clean rows of quads

Use a loop cut for clean, even rows of detail, and the knife when you need a cut in one spot or along a custom path.

Where the knife tool is used

  • Cutting a window, panel line or vent shape into a surface
  • Rerouting topology by hand in a small area
  • Adding a single edge where a full loop would spread too far

Beginner tip

After a knife cut, look for n-gons and stray triangles nearby. A few extra cuts that turn them back into quads keep the mesh smooth under subdivision.

Terms related to the knife tool

Knife tool FAQ

How do I use the knife tool in Blender?
Select a mesh, press Tab for Edit Mode, then press K. Click to drop points along your cut and press Enter to confirm, or Esc to cancel. The knife also sits in the toolbar on the left of the viewport.
What is the knife tool shortcut?
K, in Edit Mode. If nothing happens, check that the mouse is over the 3D viewport and that you are editing a mesh, since the shortcut only works there.
How do I cut through the whole mesh?
Turn on the knife’s cut through option, listed in the status bar while the tool is active. The cut then also slices the hidden faces on the far side, which is handy for splitting a part all the way across.
Why does the knife tool make triangles?
Because a cut that ends partway across a face leaves an uneven shape that the software splits up. Finish cuts on edges or existing vertices where you can, and tidy the leftovers into quads afterward.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms