Cricut Maker Series FAQ

Yes, Design Space is the same for all Cricut cutting machines. Use the same URL (design.cricut.com) to download the app and use your Cricut ID to sign in. Design Space will adjust available options – such as tools, material cut settings, and material load options – based on machine selected.

The key differences are speed, length, and Smart Materials compatibility for cutting without a mat.

• Height: 15.06 cm (5.93 in)
• Length: 53.80 cm (21.18 in)
• Depth: 17.75 cm (6.99 in)
• Weight: 4.84 kg (10.68 lbs.)

Cricut Maker

• Input: 100-240V~50/60Hz 1.5 A

Cricut Maker 3

• Input: 100-240V~50/60Hz 1.6 A

Note: All the power requirements can be found on the machine's power adapter.

It is a charging port for your tablet or mobile device.

No. Your cartridges (image sets), projects, and uploaded images are linked to your Cricut ID account. Activate your new machine with the same Cricut ID to keep using your content.

Cricut Explore 3 and Cricut Maker 3 have been designed, optimized, and rigorously tested for use with Smart Materials. Smart Materials are not intended for use with previous-generation Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker machines unless placed on a machine mat. Using Smart Materials with older machines without a mat may cause material jams, compromise cutting precision, and damage machine parts, so this use is at your own risk.

The Cricut Maker power adapter has been upgraded to allow for 3 Amps of output. Cricut Explore machines have an output of 2.5 Amps. The upgraded capacity delivers 10X the cutting force and enables you to charge a mobile device via charging port on machine while in use.

The Cricut Maker 3 power adapter is more powerful than the power adapter of Cricut Maker to facilitate faster speeds and cutting without a mat.

Using a Cricut Explore power cord with any Cricut Maker machine will not damage the machine. However, if you are charging a mobile device while the machine is cutting, especially if cutting thicker materials, or materials that require more pressure, the motor may stutter, slow down, or turn off.

Important: We recommend using the power adapter that comes with your machine.

Note: Cricut Maker 3 and Cricut Maker power cords are not interchangeable, connectors/receptacles on each cord are different sizes.

Our Adaptive Tool System in every Cricut Maker machine allows for active management of the blade’s position by intelligently lifting and rotating the blade into the optimal position for your next cut. This allows for greater precision, especially with smaller, more intricate projects or thicker materials.

Cut Smart technology in Cricut Explore machines cuts material by passively dragging the blade across the material, allowing the curves and angles of your design to change the blade direction.

Cricut Maker: Yes, it does have a Fast Mode option for cutting and writing up to 2X faster than Cricut Explore Air when using some Vinyl, Iron-on, and Cardstock settings.

Cricut Maker 3: By default, Cricut Maker 3 runs at Fast Mode speeds for cutting and writing with certain materials on a mat. The machine has also been optimized to ensure top speed and precision with Smart Materials without a mat, so no Fast Mode needed!

When cutting a project, Cricut Maker machines will move the carriage to the right (this is calling "homing"), then scan the blade to see which blade is installed.

Follow these instructions to remove and replace your Accessory Adapter on all Cricut Maker models.

3/32 of an inch, or 2.4mm. Click here for more info on cutting thicker materials.

Not necessarily. With the Design Space app installed on your computer or iOS mobile device, you can still design and send projects to your machine without internet connectivity. However, for certain features and functionality, such as content sync and uploading images, you’ll need to be connected to the internet and signed in.

Note: Offline feature not currently available for Design Space on Android mobile devices.

Tip: Click here to learn more about designing and cutting offline on Desktop. Click here to learn how to use the Offline feature in the iOS app.

• Cricut Maker 3 machine
• Premium Fine-Point Blade + Blade Housing (pre-installed in the B clamp)
• Accessory Adapter (pre-installed in the A clamp)
• Quick Start Guide
• Safety document
• Warranty document
• USB Cable
• Power adapter and power cord
• Material for test cut
• Bonus materials

No. Go to Cricut.com/setup to activate your Cricut Maker 3 machine.

Align Smart Materials with left material guides. Push material gently against rollers as you press Load Button.

No. We recommend using a machine mat when using other brands of vinyl or iron-on. Cricut Smart Materials have been rigorously tested to cut without a mat on Cricut Maker 3 machines.

These clever materials work without a machine mat, just load the material directly into your Cricut Maker 3 machine and go. Smart Materials come in a variety of material types, including Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, and Smart Paper Sticker Cardstock. Visit this article for information.

No, you can load Smart Materials directly into your machine without measuring, or precutting.

Cricut Maker 3 measures loaded Smart Materials for each project before cutting. If more material is needed to cut your project, Design Space will prompt you to load the required material length.

Tip: You’ll need at need at least 13 in x 6 in (33 cm x 15.2 cm) of Smart Materials to cut without a mat.

No, Cricut Maker 3 is designed to work with rolls of Smart Materials up to 75 ft (22.8 m) right out of the box. While not required, Cricut Roll Holder is extremely helpful when using larger rolls and it helps keep your material aligned for clean, precise cuts.

In short, we made substantial improvements to both Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore Air 2 to make them smarter and faster than ever. Because Cricut Explore 3 was launched in concert with Cricut Maker 3, it was easier to give them both the same 3rd generation reference, because really, they both deserve it!

With its ability to cut 300+ materials, 13 tools, and compatibility with our all-new Smart Materials for super-fast (up to 2X faster than its predecessor) and super-long cuts without a machine mat, Cricut Maker 3 is the most powerful smart cutting machine we've ever made, for every craft and every crafter.

Cricut Explore 3 cuts 100+ materials, works with 6 tools and is a fantastic (and fantastically affordable) entry into pro-level crafting. It is also compatible with Smart Materials for super-fast (up to 2X faster than its predecessor) and super-long cuts without a machine mat.

Servo motors.

The roll of material is 13 in (33 cm) wide. The maximum cuttable width is 11.7 in (29.7 cm).

By default, Cricut Maker 3 runs at Fast Mode speeds for cutting and writing with certain materials on a mat, and is already optimized for top speed when cutting Smart Materials without a machine mat, so no Fast Mode needed!

Follow these instructions to apply long cuts of vinyl onto your project surface.

Required tools will vary depending on the project. We recommend starting with our Essential Tool Set. 

A small amount of data for your project is stored in your machine so it knows what to do next. When pausing a cut, there is a small delay while your machine processes the pause.

Both models runs at Fast Mode speed when possible (for Cricut Maker, when the Fast Mode toggle is on), we just don’t show the Fast Mode toggle when using Cricut Maker 3 since it runs at Fast Mode speeds by default. However, unlike Cricut Maker, Cricut Maker 3 takes a few moments to measure your mat before cutting to ensure your mat/material is long enough.