# How to cut the camera hole in a phone case insert

Fold the top of the insert gently through the X printed in the camera window, make one small snip into the fold, unfold it, then cut around the dotted line. For round separate lenses, use a hole punch instead. Cut just inside the line so no white paper shows around the camera.

By Matt Warcholinski · Updated 19 October 2026

## The fold-and-snip method (scissors only)

**1. Cut the outline** Cut along the orange dashed line. Stay just inside it so the insert slides in easily.

**2. Fold through the X** Bend the top of the insert gently so the fold runs through the X in the camera window. Don’t crease it across your picture.

**3. Snip, then cut around** Make one small snip into the fold, unfold, then cut around the dotted window. Curved nail scissors make round corners easy.

**4. Slide it in** Picture facing out. If it bends, trim half a millimetre off the long sides. A hole punch also works for small round lenses.

## The craft-knife method (cleanest)

1. Put the insert on a cutting mat or a thick magazine.
2. Cut the straight edges of the window with a craft knife against a metal ruler.
3. Cut the rounded corners freehand with small strokes, turning the paper, not the knife.
4. Adults only: keep the knife away from kids, or do this step for them.

## By camera type

| Camera | Phones | Best method |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Square module | iPhone 11 to 16 Pro, Galaxy S25 Edge, many Xiaomi | Fold and snip, or craft knife |
| Separate round lenses | Galaxy S22 Ultra to S25, Galaxy A series | A large round craft punch (10 to 13 mm), or snip each lens with curved nail scissors |
| Full-width camera bar | Pixel 6, 7 and 8 | No hole: the template prints two pieces, above and below the bar |
| Camera plateau across the top | iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air | No hole: the insert stops below the plateau |
| Centred camera island | Pixel 9 and 10, Nothing Phone | Fold and snip; it is a long rounded slot |

## Tips

- Cut the camera window **before** you trim the outline. The paper is easier to hold.
- The X marks the middle of the window, so the fold always lands in the part you remove.
- If the flash or a sensor sits outside the printed window on your case, cut a small extra notch; case makers differ.

[Make your insert](https://phonecaseinserts.com/create)

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Source: https://phonecaseinserts.com/diy/how-to-cut-the-camera-hole
Agent index: https://phonecaseinserts.com/llms.txt