Checklist · 12 picks · 5 categories

Cricut starter

Edited by Zach · updated Oct 31, 2026 · How I pick

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Small-desk starter Cricut Joy Xtra Best for cards, labels and small decals on a small desk$150-200Shop on Amazon
Cuts it all Cricut Maker 3 Best for crafters who want to cut 300+ materials$300-500Shop on Amazon
First tools Cricut Basic Tool Set Best for weeding vinyl and peeling cuts off the matunder $15Shop on Amazon

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A Cricut turns a design on your phone into a sticker, a water bottle decal or a custom tee, but the machine is only half the setup.

You also need vinyl, a sticky mat to hold it, and a weeder to pick out the bits you don't want. The machines here are Reviewed and BestReviews picks, from the compact Joy Xtra to the Maker 3 that Reviewed calls the best overall. The tool set and heat presses are BestReviews picks too, and the vinyl, spare mats, brayer and light pad come from Bustle's Cricut accessories guide. Each card shows the drawback the outlet called out, like which mats fit which machine. Start with a machine, vinyl, mats and the tool set, then add a heat press once iron-on tees become your thing.

Who this is not for. Skip this if you only need one vinyl project for a gift; Handmade Gifts has the Spotify glass art supplies with a Cricut Joy.

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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.

The must-haves

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01 Machine

the first pick is the one I would start with

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Cricut Joy Xtra	budget	$150-200	cards, labels and small decals on a small desk	2 outlets agree
Cricut Maker 3	splurge	$300-500	crafters who want to cut 300+ materials	1 outlet
Cricut Explore 4	mid	$200-300	fast vinyl, cardstock and iron-on projects	1 outlet

Best cutting machine

budget pick · Compact

Cricut Joy Xtra

Best for cards, labels and small decals on a small desk

Reviewed's best Cricut machine for hobbyists: a small, affordable cutter for casual crafters making cards, labels and small decals.

Heads up. It can't cut fabric, and standard 12-inch mats don't fit, so it needs its own mats

2 outlets agree. Reviewed best Cricut machine for hobbyists. BestReviews most versatile Cricut machine.

$150-200

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splurge pick · Full size

Cricut Maker 3

Best for crafters who want to cut 300+ materials

Reviewed's best overall Cricut machine: the most versatile machine in the lineup, worth it for serious crafters who want to experiment.

Heads up. Tools and accessories are sold separately

1 outlet. Reviewed best overall Cricut machine.

$300-500

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mid pick · Full size

Cricut Explore 4

Best for fast vinyl, cardstock and iron-on projects

BestReviews' best of the best Cricut machine: a versatile cutter for vinyl, foil and 100+ materials that runs faster than the Explore 3.

Heads up. Doesn't work on leather, metal or wood board

1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best Cricut machine.

$200-300

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02 Vinyl

Best permanent vinyl

budget pick · Roll

ORACAL 651 Permanent Adhesive Vinyl

Best for long-lasting decals, indoors or out

ORAFOL's 651 is a 2.5-mil calendered plotter film with a clear, permanent adhesive, made to last up to 6 years outdoors in standard colors.

Heads up. No outlet has reviewed this one yet; metallic colors last about 4 years outdoors, not 6

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

under $15

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mid pick · 12 x 12 in sheets

Ohuhu Permanent Vinyl Sheets (70-Pack)

Best for trying lots of colors without buying roll after roll

A pick in Bustle's Cricut accessories guide: 60 permanent vinyl sheets in 30 colors, plus 10 sheets of transfer tape.

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$25-50

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03 Mats

Best cutting mats

budget pick · 12 x 12 in

Xinart 12x12 Inch Adhesive Cutting Mats (3-Pack)

Best for spare mats so you're never waiting on a clean one

A pick in Bustle's Cricut accessories guide: budget replacement mats for the Maker, Maker 3, Explore Air and Explore Air 2.

Heads up. Bustle gives no drawback detail for this one; they won't fit the Joy Xtra

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

under $15

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mid pick · 12 x 12 in

Cricut Machine Mat Variety Pack (12 x 12 in, 3 ct)

Best for figuring out which grip each material needs

Cricut's own pack has one mat of each grip: LightGrip for paper and light cardstock, StandardGrip for vinyl, iron-on and heavier cardstock, StrongGrip for specialty cardstock, matboard and backed fabric.

Heads up. No outlet has reviewed these yet; they fit Maker and Explore machines, not the Joy Xtra

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$15-25

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04 Tools

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Cricut Basic Tool Set	budget	under $15	weeding vinyl and peeling cuts off the mat	1 outlet
Cricut Brayer	mid	$15-25	getting vinyl flat and bubble-free on the mat	Limited evidence
iVyne Rechargeable LED Light Pad	splurge	$25-50	seeing the cut lines on tiny, detailed decals	Limited evidence

Best crafting tools

budget pick · 5 tools

Cricut Basic Tool Set

Best for weeding vinyl and peeling cuts off the mat

BestReviews' best tool set: five Cricut tools, and Bustle lists what's inside: scissors, tweezers, a mat scraper, a weeder and a spatula.

1 outlet. BestReviews best tool set.

under $15

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mid pick · Roller

Cricut Brayer

Best for getting vinyl flat and bubble-free on the mat

A pick in Bustle's Cricut accessories guide: a rubber roller that smooths wrinkles and bubbles out of fabric, vinyl and iron-on, and helps lift them off the mat so mats last longer.

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$15-25

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splurge pick · Pad

iVyne Rechargeable LED Light Pad

Best for seeing the cut lines on tiny, detailed decals

A pick in Bustle's Cricut accessories guide: an ultra-thin light pad for easier weeding, for less than half the price of most Cricut BrightPads.

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$25-50

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05 Heat press

Best heat press

budget pick · Mini

Cricut EasyPress Mini

Best for iron-on designs on hats, baby items and other small spots

BestReviews' best heat press for sewing: a compact press with a ceramic plate for baby items, hats, plush toys and other small projects.

Heads up. It may not get as hot as larger presses, and big designs have to be pressed in sections

1 outlet. BestReviews best heat press for sewing.

$50-100

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splurge pick · 9 x 9 in

Cricut EasyPress 3

Best for iron-on vinyl on tees

BestReviews' best heat press: easier than using an iron for heat transfer, and it heats up fast.

Heads up. Projects max out at 9 x 9 in, and it needs activating in the mobile app

1 outlet. BestReviews best heat press.

$150-200

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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me

Questions people ask

Which Cricut should a beginner get?

For cards, labels and small decals, Reviewed picks the Joy Xtra as its best for hobbyists, but it can't cut fabric. If you want one machine for almost everything, Reviewed's best overall is the Maker 3, which also scores, engraves, debosses and perforates.

Which cutting mat do I need?

Cricut's StandardGrip mat is for vinyl, iron-on and heavier cardstock, LightGrip for paper and light cardstock, and StrongGrip for specialty cardstock, matboard and backed fabric. The Joy Xtra needs its own mats, since standard 12-inch mats don't fit it.

Do I need a heat press for iron-on vinyl?

Not right away. Reviewed notes a standard iron works too. BestReviews says the EasyPress 3 is easier to use than an iron, so it's worth it once you're making tees often.

Cricut starter

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The must-haves