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Short answer: Choose the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 for the best overall combination of colorful creative output, refillable ink, and large-format flexibility. Choose the Canon PIXMA G620 for photo stickers, the Epson ET-3850 for budget mixed use, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e for home-office speed, or the Brother MFC-J6955DW for 11 x 17-inch craft-business workflows.
All five are color inkjet printers, which is the appropriate category for Cricut Print Then Cut. Design Space sends the artwork and registration marks to the printer; the Cricut then reads those marks and cuts the printed sheet.
Quick verdict: which printer should you buy for Cricut projects?
For most serious Cricut crafters, the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is the strongest all-around choice because its six-color ink system is aimed at photo and graphic printing, it uses refillable ink bottles, and it can print borderless artwork up to 13 x 19 inches. Choose the Canon PIXMA G620 instead if photo stickers and refillable-ink photo printing matter more than speed or large paper sizes.
For a lower-cost mixed craft-and-home-office setup, the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is more practical. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e is the better fit when Cricut printing is occasional and fast document printing, scanning, copying, and automatic duplexing are more important. If you need 11 x 17-inch documents for a craft business, classroom, or home office, look at the Brother MFC-J6955DW.
#1 Best Overall
- BUNDLE INCLUDES - Cricut Joy Xtra, Fine-Point Blade, Fine Point Pen, Mini Weeder, Welcome card, USB cable, Power adapter, Free trial subscription to Cricut Access (for new subscribers), Materials for a practice cut, 30 bonus images in Design Space app
- ENDLESS CREATION & PERSONALIZATION - Cricut Joy Xtra works with 50+ materials, including vinyl, iron-on HTV, cardstock, stickers & so much more; This machine not only cuts, but it also draws, foils, & more
- COMPATIBLE WITH INKJET PRINTER - Create full-color designs for stickers & more with the Print-Then-Cut feature, compatible with most inkjet printers
- NO DESIGN EXPERIENCE REQUIRED — Design Space is the easy-to-learn design software that connects to all Cricut cutting machines; Our free content library includes 3,000+ images and 100+ fonts; Add our optional Cricut Access Subscription* to unlock more
- BONUS DIGITAL CONTENT – Bundle includes 30 additional premium-quality images with purchase
All five are color inkjet printers, which is the right starting point for Cricut Print Then Cut. The printer does not cut your material: Design Space creates the artwork, your printer produces the artwork and registration marks, and the Cricut sensor reads those marks before the machine cuts around the printed design.
Top five printers for Cricut projects
| Printer | Best for | Main advantage | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson EcoTank ET-8550 | Premium stickers, photos, cards, and large creative prints | Six-color output and borderless printing up to 13 x 19 inches | Higher initial cost and larger footprint |
| Canon PIXMA G620 | Photo stickers and small-format creative work | Six-color MegaTank system and broad creative-media support | Slow document output and letter-size maximum width |
| Epson EcoTank ET-3850 | Beginners and high-volume mixed use | Refillable ink, ADF, duplexing, Ethernet, and a 250-sheet tray | Less photo-specialized and letter-size only |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e | Home office plus occasional Cricut work | Fast documents, wireless printing, ADF, duplexing, and borderless letter-size output | Cartridge-based running costs and no wide-format capability |
| Brother MFC-J6955DW | Craft businesses and 11 x 17-inch office workflows | Ledger-size handling, large paper capacity, and duplex scanning | Bulky and more office-focused than photo-focused |
These are specification-based recommendations, not the results of hands-on testing. Actual color, ink consumption, noise, drying time, and registration accuracy vary with the paper, ink coverage, driver, operating system, maintenance condition, and Cricut calibration.
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1. Epson EcoTank ET-8550: best overall for creative Cricut work
The Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is the best fit when the printed image matters as much as the cut. Its six-color, cartridge-free system is designed for photo and graphic output, making it particularly suitable for vibrant stickers, photo stickers, greeting cards, scrapbook elements, art prints, and other projects with gradients or detailed color.
Its biggest practical advantage is flexibility. The ET-8550 supports borderless printing up to 13 x 19 inches, so it can also serve as a wide-format creative printer for posters, scrapbook pages, and artwork that you may print and trim manually. Refillable ink bottles can reduce the cost of frequent printing compared with conventional cartridges, although the real saving depends on artwork coverage, paper, print quality, cleaning cycles, and how often the printer is used.
For Cricut work, the six-color system gives it a stronger photo-oriented specification than the four-color office models in this list. It is also a useful choice for someone who wants one printer for both Print Then Cut projects and larger creative prints.
- Choose it if: you make colorful stickers, photo projects, cards, or large artwork regularly.
- Do not choose it solely for: occasional letter-size sticker sheets. Its size and higher purchase price may be unnecessary for light use.
- Important limitation: 13 x 19-inch printer support does not mean a Cricut can Print Then Cut the entire sheet. Registration marks and the machine’s usable cutting area still control the final design size.
2. Canon PIXMA G620: best photo quality with refillable ink
The Canon PIXMA G620 is a strong alternative for crafters who prioritize photo stickers, greeting cards, and detailed small-format artwork. Its six dye-based inks are cyan, magenta, yellow, red, gray, and black. The expanded color set is designed to improve photo and graphic output compared with a basic four-color office printer.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesCanon lists wireless printing, borderless printing, and support for matte and glossy media, cardstock, greeting cards, restickable photo paper, magnetic photo paper, and iron-on transfers. Canon also lists an estimated yield of up to 3,800 4 x 6-inch photos from a full set of ink. That is a manufacturer estimate rather than a guarantee for Cricut sticker sheets: large, heavily saturated designs use ink differently from standard 4 x 6-inch photos.
The G620’s refillable tanks make it appealing for users who print many sticker sheets or cards and want to avoid frequent standard-cartridge replacements. Its rear feed is useful for feeding a variety of small creative media, but check the exact paper weight, surface, and printer settings before loading specialty material.
- Choose it if: photo stickers and refillable-ink economics matter more than speed.
- Its trade-off: Canon lists color-document speed at approximately 3.9 images per minute, so it is better for quality-focused crafting than fast office batches.
- Size constraint: its maximum listed paper width is 8.5 inches, so it is not a wide-format option.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-3850: best budget high-volume all-in-one
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is the sensible choice for a beginner, family, or home office that wants refillable ink without buying a specialized photo printer. It prints, scans, and copies; includes an automatic document feeder; supports Ethernet; offers automatic two-sided printing; and has a 250-sheet paper tray.
Rank #2
- 12 IN (30.5 CM) CUTTING MACHINE: Cricut Explore 5 is the newest generation of our Cricut Explore machines — perfect for making a variety of projects like custom decals, personalized apparel, full-color stickers, cards, and so much more. You can even make in multiples! 30% more compact than previous models, Cricut Explore 5 features an aesthetic new look and simplified interface for a more intuitive experience – all with the same dependable 12 in (30.5 cm) cutting performance. Available in a brand-new Taupe color.
- COMPATIBILITY: Precision-cuts 100+ popular materials, including vinyl, iron-on, cardstock & printable materials, plus this machine writes, draws, foils, scores & cuts intricate designs with precision. Works with six tools, including Deep Cutting Tool (sold separately) for working with thicker materials like foam & rubber. Plus, it features a new hassle-free snap-in pen holder.
- BUNDLE & SAVE: Make a wide variety of projects right out of the box and save even more! The Essential Bundle includes must-have tools and materials like Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Value Cardstock, Insert Card Sets, and Printable Vinyl. It's enough supplies to create up to 65 projects. Bundle also includes 25 additional premium-quality images with purchase, plus 1 font.
- FULL-COLOR POSSIBILITIES: Print your design with your home inkjet printer, then your Cricut cutting machine automatically recognizes & precision-cuts around inkjet-printed images to create full-color stickers, decals, apparel & more.
- NO DESIGN EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Use your mobile or desktop device and connect through Bluetooth to Design Space, our free, easy-to-use app that helps you turn your ideas into something one of a kind. With step-by-step design flows, customizable templates, AI-image generation, and a huge content library, it makes personalization feel effortless. Our free out-of-the box content library includes 3,000+ images, 100+ fonts, and 1,000+ projects to help get you started. Additional content can always be purchased a la carte, or go all in with a Cricut Access Subscription to unlock our ever-growing library for a small reoccurring monthly or annual fee.
Those office features matter when the printer will handle more than Cricut sheets. You can print labels, templates, schoolwork, forms, and sticker designs, then scan or copy physical artwork. The larger tray is also convenient for people who print regularly rather than loading one sheet at a time.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The compromise is image specialization. The ET-3850 uses a four-color system and is a letter-size printer, so it is not as photo-oriented as the ET-8550 or G620. It remains a practical Cricut printer for ordinary sticker sheets, labels, cards, and printable designs, but do not buy it expecting the same creative-media flexibility as a dedicated photo model.
- Choose it if: you want a cartridge-free color all-in-one for Cricut projects and everyday household printing.
- Its advantage: a tank system, ADF, duplexing, Ethernet, and 250-sheet capacity provide more general utility than a basic photo printer.
- Check before buying specialty media: confirm the paper’s thickness and surface against Epson’s current specifications and select the appropriate driver setting.
4. HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e: best everyday home-office printer
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e is the best match when Cricut printing is only one of several jobs. It is a four-cartridge thermal inkjet all-in-one with print, copy, scan, and fax functions. HP lists speeds up to 20 pages per minute in black and 10 pages per minute in color under its professional ISO-style mode, along with a 225-sheet input tray, a 35-sheet automatic document feeder, automatic duplexing, wireless connectivity, and borderless printing up to U.S. Letter for photo and brochure media.
HP lists support for photo paper, matte and glossy inkjet paper, thick plain paper, and card media in the 90-to-110-pound range. That makes the 8135e useful for invitations, household paperwork, school projects, labels, and occasional printable Cricut designs.
Its main advantage is convenience rather than specialized photo output. Automatic two-sided printing, the ADF, wireless features, and faster document output are more valuable than a six-color photo system if the printer will spend most of its time handling office work.
- Choose it if: you need a fast, versatile home-office printer that can also print Cricut designs.
- Its trade-off: it is not a wide-format or professional photo printer, and cartridge costs deserve careful consideration if you print many saturated sticker sheets.
- Before enrollment: review the current terms of HP+ or Instant Ink. These are service-plan decisions, not capabilities inherent to the printer itself.
5. Brother MFC-J6955DW: best for 11 x 17-inch office and craft workflows
The Brother MFC-J6955DW is the office-oriented pick for craft businesses, teachers, and serious home offices that need larger paper handling. Brother lists print, scan, copy, and fax support up to 11 x 17 inches, print speeds up to 30 pages per minute, two 250-sheet paper trays, a 100-sheet multipurpose tray, automatic duplex printing, duplex scanning and copying, wireless networking, and Ethernet.
The multipurpose tray is useful for cardstock and specialty papers, while the large trays reduce the need to reload paper during office batches. That combination makes the J6955DW a flexible partner for signs, classroom materials, business documents, large templates, and Cricut-related artwork.
There is an important distinction between the printer’s paper size and Cricut’s cutting area. The Brother can print an 11 x 17-inch page, but that does not expand the Print Then Cut area of your Cricut. Registration marks consume space, and the usable area depends on your particular machine, page size, and design proportions. You may print larger artwork for manual trimming, but you should not assume that an 11 x 17-inch sheet can be cut edge-to-edge in Design Space.
- Choose it if: you need ledger-size documents, strong paper handling, or a printer for a craft business.
- Its trade-off: it is physically larger and more office-focused than the photo-oriented Epson and Canon models.
- For Cricut media: use the multipurpose tray where appropriate and verify the exact media specification before feeding thick or coated sheets.
Which printer is right for your Cricut projects?
| Your priority | Best match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vivid photo stickers and large creative prints | Epson ET-8550 | Six-color output, refillable ink, and 13 x 19-inch borderless printing |
| Photo stickers with refillable ink | Canon G620 | Six-color MegaTank photo system and creative-media support |
| Low cartridge dependence plus scanning and copying | Epson ET-3850 | Tank system, ADF, duplexing, Ethernet, and 250-sheet tray |
| Occasional Cricut work and frequent documents | HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e | Fast office output, ADF, duplexing, and wireless features |
| 11 x 17-inch documents or a craft-business workflow | Brother MFC-J6955DW | Ledger-size printing, duplex scan/copy, and high paper capacity |
What to look for in a Cricut printer
1. Inkjet technology
Cricut recommends a color inkjet printer for Print Then Cut, particularly for printable vinyl, sticker paper, printable iron-on, and similar materials. A laser printer may work for ordinary paper and some laser-compatible media, but laser heat can damage or deform heat-sensitive materials. If your projects include printable iron-on or other coated craft media, inkjet is the safer default.
Rank #3
- BUNDLE INCLUDES – Cricut Maker 4, Fine-Point Blade, Materials Sampler (Smart Vinyl, Matless Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Matless Heat Transfer Vinyl, Cardstock, Transfer Tape), Fine Point Pen, Light Grip Mat, Weeder & 30 bonus images in Design Space app
- ENDLESS CREATION & PERSONALIZATION - Cricut Maker 4 works with 300+ materials, including leather, wood, vinyl, iron-on HTV, cardstock, stickers & more. This machine not only cuts, but it also draws, foils, scores, engraves, debosses, perforates, & more
- COMPATIBLE WITH INKJET PRINTER - Create full-color designs for stickers & more with the Print-Then-Cut feature, compatible with most inkjet printers
- NO DESIGN EXPERIENCE REQUIRED — Design Space is the easy-to-learn design software that connects to all Cricut cutting machines. Our free content library includes 3,000+ images and 100+ fonts. Add our optional Cricut Access Subscription* to unlock more
- BONUS DIGITAL CONTENT – Bundle includes 30 additional premium-quality images with purchase
Do not interpret “inkjet” as “compatible with every Cricut material.” The printer, material, ink, and Cricut machine must all be suitable for one another. Check the media manufacturer’s instructions and the printer’s current paper specifications before purchasing a large pack.
2. Color and photo output
Six-color models such as the ET-8550 and G620 are the most photo-oriented choices here. They make the most sense for artwork containing skin tones, gradients, subtle shadows, photographs, and highly saturated illustrations. Four-color models can still produce excellent craft sheets and are often more sensible when the printer also handles documents.
For Print Then Cut, color quality and registration reliability are separate issues. A beautiful print is not useful if the sensor cannot read the registration marks, so media surface and correct print settings matter as much as the ink system.
3. Running cost and print volume
Refillable tank printers usually make more financial sense for frequent printing than cartridge models, but the purchase price is only part of the calculation. Ink use increases with heavy coverage, high-quality modes, repeated cleaning, and large-format prints. Specialty paper can also cost more than ordinary copy paper.
If you print only a few letter-size sheets each month, a fast cartridge all-in-one may be simpler. If you print stickers, cards, or photos every week, a tank printer can reduce the interruption and recurring cost of replacing cartridges. Compare the complete system—ink, printable media, maintenance, and waste—not just the printer’s headline yield.
4. Paper handling
Look for a rear or multipurpose feed when you use cardstock, coated paper, greeting-card stock, or other specialty media. A large paper tray is useful for office work but does not automatically mean the printer can accept every thick Cricut material. Paper weight, coating, flexibility, and feed direction all matter.
Wide-format support is useful for artwork that you will manually trim, but it does not change the Cricut machine’s Print Then Cut limits. Choose a larger printer because you need larger printed artwork or office documents—not because you expect it to make the Cricut cut area larger.
5. Driver and operating-system support
Design Space relies on your computer or mobile device and the printer’s normal driver and print dialogue. Before buying, confirm that the model supports your operating system and that you can obtain current drivers and printer software from the manufacturer. If a print looks scaled, cropped, or incorrectly positioned, the printer dialogue—not just Design Space—may be applying the wrong paper size or scaling option.
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What you need besides the printer
A printer alone is not a complete Print Then Cut setup. Cricut’s printable sticker-paper workflow calls for a compatible Cricut machine, Design Space, an inkjet home printer, a fine-point blade, a LightGrip mat, and printable sticker paper.
Rank #4
- 12 IN (30.5 CM) CUTTING MACHINE: Cricut Explore 5 is the newest generation of our Cricut Explore machines — perfect for making a variety of projects like custom decals, personalized apparel, full-color stickers, cards, and so much more. You can even make in multiples! 30% more compact than previous models, Cricut Explore 5 features an aesthetic new look and simplified interface for a more intuitive experience – all with the same dependable 12 in (30.5 cm) cutting performance. Available in a brand-new Taupe color.
- COMPATIBILITY: Precision-cuts 100+ popular materials, including vinyl, iron-on, cardstock & printable materials, plus this machine writes, draws, foils, scores & cuts intricate designs with precision. Works with six tools, including Deep Cutting Tool (sold separately) for working with thicker materials like foam & rubber. Plus, it features a new hassle-free snap-in pen holder.
- BUNDLE & SAVE: Make a wide variety of projects right out of the box and save even more! The Deluxe Bundle includes must-have tools and materials like Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Value Cardstock, Insert Card Sets, and Printable Vinyl. It's enough supplies to create up to 100 projects. Bundle also includes 25 additional premium-quality images with purchase, plus 1 font.
- FULL-COLOR POSSIBILITIES: Print your design with your home inkjet printer, then your Cricut cutting machine automatically recognizes & precision-cuts around inkjet-printed images to create full-color stickers, decals, apparel & more.
- NO DESIGN EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Use your mobile or desktop device and connect through Bluetooth to Design Space, our free, easy-to-use app that helps you turn your ideas into something one of a kind. With step-by-step design flows, customizable templates, AI-image generation, and a huge content library, it makes personalization feel effortless. Our free out-of-the box content library includes 3,000+ images, 100+ fonts, and 1,000+ projects to help get you started. Additional content can always be purchased a la carte, or go all in with a Cricut Access Subscription to unlock our ever-growing library for a small reoccurring monthly or annual fee.
Common supplies include Cricut printable sticker paper, printable vinyl, printable iron-on, a Cricut LightGrip mat, and a Cricut fine-point blade. Match the material to the project: sticker paper is convenient for labels and stickers, printable vinyl may be useful when you need a different surface or adhesive behavior, and printable iron-on is intended for fabric projects. Follow the instructions for the specific material rather than assuming that a setting for one product applies to another.
For waterproof or outdoor-oriented stickers, Cricut describes some of its printable sticker sets as waterproof and UV protective. That is the material’s stated property, not independent long-term durability testing. Outdoor exposure, abrasion, water chemistry, and application surface can affect how long a finished sticker lasts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Cricut Print Then Cut works
- Confirm machine compatibility. Print Then Cut is supported on Cricut Explore models, Maker models, Venture, Joy Xtra, and Joy 2. The original Cricut Joy does not support Print Then Cut.
- Build the design in Design Space. Flatten printable artwork as needed so Design Space treats it as a printable image with a cut outline.
- Prepare the material. Use the material recommended for your printer and project. Non-reflective matte surfaces are generally the most reliable for the sensor.
- Send the project to the printer. Design Space adds registration marks around the printable design. The printer prints both the artwork and those marks.
- Use the recommended print settings. Print in portrait mode, select the highest available quality, print one page per sheet, and do not use scaling, “fit to page,” or similar resizing options.
- Load the printed sheet. Place it on the appropriate Cricut mat according to the material instructions and machine prompts.
- Let the Cricut read the marks and cut. The machine’s sensor locates the marks and calculates where to cut around the printed shapes.
- Finish the job in the same Design Space session. Cricut advises completing the print-and-cut process in one session rather than saving the printed page for a later, altered session.
Print Then Cut rules that prevent common failures
Use matte, non-reflective material when possible
Glossy, metallic, glitter, holographic, and strongly patterned surfaces can interfere with the sensor’s ability to read registration marks. For the most predictable results, start with a plain, matte, non-reflective sheet.
Current-generation machines such as Explore 3 and later, Maker machines, Venture, Joy Xtra, and Joy 2 permit white, lightly colored, and simple patterned materials in situations where older machines are more restricted. The exact material and machine combination still matters, so check the instructions for your model before using colored or patterned media.
Do not confuse printer size with cut size
The registration marks occupy part of every Print Then Cut page. As a result, the Cricut’s usable area is smaller than the sheet itself. A 13 x 19-inch printer or an 11 x 17-inch printer can produce a large page, but it does not allow the Cricut to cut the entire page in one operation. Design proportions, selected page size, machine model, and registration-mark requirements determine the usable area.
Keep scaling off
Scaling is one of the easiest ways to create a mismatch between the printed artwork and the cut path. Use the page size requested by Design Space, print at 100% or the equivalent unscaled setting, and turn off “fit to page.” If your operating system shows a second print dialogue, check it too.
Troubleshooting Cricut printer problems
The Cricut cannot read the registration marks
- Replace glossy, metallic, glitter, holographic, or strongly patterned material with a matte, non-reflective sheet.
- Confirm that the sheet is loaded in the orientation Design Space requested.
- Check that the printer did not scale, crop, rotate, or alter the page.
- Print in portrait mode and use one page per sheet.
- Make sure the page was printed from the same Design Space session that is now cutting it.
- If the machine still fails, follow Cricut’s model-specific calibration and sensor-support instructions rather than changing several settings at once.
The cuts are offset from the printed artwork
First check scaling and paper size. A printer set to “fit to page” or a driver using a different paper size can shift the relationship between the marks and the artwork. Then check that the material is flat and loaded straight on the mat. If the problem continues, use the calibration process available for your Cricut model and verify that the selected material setting matches the actual material.
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Do not assume that a printer’s ability to print cardstock means it supports every coated or unusually thick Cricut sheet. Verify the media specification, use the recommended feed path, and test one sheet before committing to a large project. Allow the printed surface to dry as directed for the specific material, especially when using dense, high-quality color coverage.
The colors look dull or inaccurate
Confirm that the correct paper type and quality setting are selected in the printer driver, and check ink levels and printhead condition. Photo-oriented six-color printers are the better specification-based choice for gradients and photographs, but paper coating and the artwork itself also affect the final appearance. Make a small test print before producing a complete sticker run.
Best Value
- COMPLETE CRICUT EXPLORE 5 KIT: Start crafting right out of the box with the Cricut Explore 5 cutting machine plus Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On (HTV), printable vinyl, cardstock, insert cards, and project inspiration. Create decals, labels, stickers, greeting cards, personalized gifts, and custom apparel without purchasing additional supplies. 30% more compact than previous models.
- CUTS 100+ MATERIALS WITH PRECISION: The Cricut Explore 5 smart cutting machine works with vinyl, heat transfer vinyl (HTV), cardstock, printable materials, paper, felt, and more. Create custom home decor, business products, apparel, scrapbook projects, stickers, and event decorations with clean, accurate cuts. Compatible with Cricut Smart Materials for continuous matless cuts up to 12 feet long. Easily make wall decals, signs, banners, labels, and bulk crafting projects while reducing setup time and material waste.
- RAINBOW ESSENTIALS BUNDLE: Make a wide variety of projects right out of the box and save even more! The Essential Bundle includes the all-new Cricut Explore 5 Cutting Machine as well as must-have tools and materials like Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Value Cardstock, Insert Card Sets, and Printable Vinyl. In addition you will receive 6 Smart Vinyl Sheets (9.5" x 13"), 6 Smart Heat Transfer Vinyl Sheets (9.5" x 13"), and access to 400+ Projects and How-To's in Design Space.
- CREATE STICKERS, SHIRTS, CARDS & MORE: Make custom stickers, vinyl decals, labels, greeting cards, iron-on shirts, tote bags, party decorations, wedding projects, and personalized gifts. This all-in-one Cricut bundle provides the most popular materials needed for a wide variety of projects. Designed for first-time Cricut users and growing makers, this bundle makes setup simple and crafting approachable. A thoughtful gift for birthdays, holidays, Mother’s Day, graduation, weddings, or anyone starting a DIY journey.
- BEGINNER-FRIENDLY CRAFTING MACHINE: Bluetooth connectivity and Cricut Design Space provide an easy setup experience with guided project tutorials and templates. Ideal for first-time Cricut users, hobby crafters, teachers, and small business owners. With step-by-step design flows, customizable templates, AI-image generation, and a huge content library, it makes personalization feel effortless. Our free out-of-the box content library includes 3,000+ images, 100+ fonts, and 1,000+ projects to help get you started.
Print Then Cut is missing from Design Space
Check the Cricut model first. The original Cricut Joy does not support Print Then Cut, while Explore models, Maker models, Venture, Joy Xtra, and Joy 2 do. Also make sure Design Space and the machine connection are using the current supported software for your device.
Our final buying advice
Buy the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 when creative print quality and flexibility are the priority. Pick the Canon PIXMA G620 for photo stickers and refillable-ink photo work in a compact, letter-width format. The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is the most balanced choice for a household that prints both Cricut projects and everyday documents. Choose the HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e for occasional Cricut use alongside a busy home office. Choose the Brother MFC-J6955DW when 11 x 17-inch office and craft-business capability justifies a larger machine.
Whichever printer you choose, prioritize a color inkjet, compatible printable media, correct Design Space scaling, and a matte surface that the Cricut sensor can read. Those workflow details often matter more than buying the printer with the largest maximum paper size.
Source and testing note
The recommendations above are inferred from the manufacturers’ listed specifications and Cricut’s documented Print Then Cut requirements. This guide does not claim independent measurements of color accuracy, ink yield, noise, durability, or comparative cut-registration performance. Specifications, drivers, materials, service plans, and availability can change, so verify the current details for your region before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a laser printer for Cricut projects?
Yes. Cricut recommends a color inkjet printer for Print Then Cut, especially for printable vinyl, sticker paper, printable iron-on, and similar materials. Laser heat may damage heat-sensitive media, so use a laser printer only with materials specifically designed for it.
Does the original Cricut Joy work with Print Then Cut?
No. The original Cricut Joy does not support Print Then Cut. The workflow is supported on Cricut Explore models, Maker models, Venture, Joy Xtra, and Joy 2.
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Does a wide-format printer let a Cricut cut a full 13 x 19-inch sheet?
No. A 13 x 19-inch or 11 x 17-inch printer can print a larger sheet, but registration marks reduce the usable area and the Cricut machine has its own Print Then Cut limits. The actual cuttable area depends on the machine, selected page size, and design proportions.
Why does Cricut recommend matte material for Print Then Cut?
Matte, non-reflective material is usually the safest starting point because glossy, metallic, glitter, holographic, and strongly patterned surfaces can interfere with the Cricut sensor’s ability to read registration marks. Newer Cricut models support some lightly colored and simple patterned materials, but compatibility remains model- and material-specific.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 is the best overall fit for frequent, colorful Cricut projects; the Canon PIXMA G620 is the photo-and-refillable-ink alternative; and the Epson ET-3850 is the practical mixed-use value pick. Choose HP for office convenience or Brother for 11 x 17-inch business workflows—but remember that a larger printer does not enlarge the Cricut Print Then Cut area.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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