To understand the factors affecting cutting force in tobacco stem cutting, single factor and multi-factor test were carried out on tobacco stem samples using the universal testing machine with a homemade fixture. The results of the single factor test showed that the cutting force with smooth blade or serrated blade in the way of slide cutting is the smallest; cutting forces in sliding cutting test using smooth blade and serrated blade are negatively related to the cutting speed, while positively related to the cutting angle and the diameter of the stem. The results of multi-factor test showed that cutting force in tobacco stem cutting was influenced mostly by cutting speed, followed by cutting way, cutting angle, stem diameter and cutting blades. The best program for tobacco stem cutting includes a slide cutting with cutting speed of 300 mm/s, a smooth blade with a cutting angle of 0° and a stem diameter of 26.5 mm.