Whether you’re new to crafting with a Cricut or a seasoned user, having the right cutting mat is crucial. When a Cricut cuts into your material, you don’t want it crinkling, ripping, or cutting in the wrong place. Available in different sizes and levels of stickiness, you can find the exact mats that work for your projects.
When I first got my Cricut, I was overwhelmed with the amount of options out there. For me, it helped to understand what the different sizes and adhesives are used for. That’s what we’ll walk through in this buying guide. From helpful tips and tricks to common questions, and of course, my favorite Cricut cutting mats for 2024, you’ll have everyhing you need to get started on your Cricut journey or experiment with some new mats!
The Cricut Standard Grip Mat is the most compatible mat with the Cricut Explore and Expression machines. It’s available in two sizes: 12” x 12” and 12” x 24” with one adhesive strength, “StandardGrip”. This green mat is great for a variety of materials including: thing and thick cardstock, vinyl, and iron-on. It’s flexibility makes it easy to remove material that you are done cutting so your projects stay in-tact.
To store, just clear off any scrap bits of material, and return the film covering so that your mat isn’t sticking to anything it’s not supposed to. Though it’s not included with this mat, having a set of Cricut tools like a spatula and a scraper can help keep your may clean.
The Xinart Cutting Mat offers 17 combinations of size, adhesive, and quantity. If you’re someone who’s new to Cricut crafting and wants to try out a few different mat grips at a good price point, this product may be for you.
Whether you want a light, standard, or strong grip– Xinart has combos of all three. Each grip has a different color so you can easily tell them apart when storing them or switching betwen projects. This cutting mat brand is compatible with the Cricut Maker 3, Maker, Explorer 3, Air 2, Air, and One. Made of PVC plastic, it’s durable and flexible for crafting.
The HTVRONT Cutting Mat for Cricut comes in at least 10 combinations of grip strengths, sizes, and quanities. Like the other cutting mats on the market, each stickiness level has a different color (though every brand has a different color system). These cutting mats are compatible with the machines Cricut Explore Air, Air 2, One, and Maker.
Depending on which mat strentgth you get, these mats support materials like cardstock, vinyl, leather, fabric, and more. This brand also provides a plastic film, but additionally includes a free plastic scraper. This helps you clear off any leftover material before storing your mat, prologing its lifespan.
The Ecraft Cutting Mat for Cricut comes in six different grip, size, and quantity combos. But if you’re interested in just buying one type of mat, you can do that as well. Made of durable and environmentally friendly PVC material, this product will take care of all your craft cutting needs.
Even after several projects, this mat will keep its stickiness. For some people, the adhesive can be too strong for the first use. On the plus side, this brand as provides a bonus scraper to clean your mat of any scraps before covering with the film to protect its stickiness from dust and dirt.
This product from WorkLion is available in over six different variety packs as well as single-grip packs. Mats of all grip strengths including light, standard, strong, and fabric are available. Like other mats, the colors correspond to the level of adhesive needed to hold down your desired material.
Use the free scraper to easily clean and remove projects from your mat. Add the film and store with your other Cricut supplies. With reliable adhesive, your projects will stay put while you cut things out. When you’re ready to remove your project, just bend the fleixble PVC material and scrape gently.
When browsing through the different available Cricut cutting mats on the market, you’ll notice a variety of color options. With each brand, the colors correspond to a different adhesive strength. In this guide, I’ll go through the different grip strengths and colors as they are labelled by Cricut (not the off-brand options).
So if you’re interested in getting an off-brand option at a lower price point, just be sure to read the labels for how sticky your mat will be because those colors are not just for fun.
This Cricut cutting mat is best for use with materials that are lightweight. If you use a mat with a stronger grip to cut a delicate material, then the adhesive will be so strong that you won’t be able to remove it without damage. Materials like printer paper, cardstock, sticker paper, and standard vinyl are all best cut with LightGrip Cricut cutting mats.
The most commonly used Cricut cutting mat is the StandardGrip mat (which I reviewed in the product section of this guide). Designed for medium weight materials, it is compatible with heavy cardstock, permanent or removable vinyl, iron-on vinyl, bonded fabric, suede, and faux leather. With some Cricut machines, a StandardGrip mat may be included with your purchase.
As its name suggests, the StrongGrip Cricut cutting mat is the strongest mat for materials outside of fabric. This super sticky adhesive works best with materials including but not limited to: glitter cardstock, chipboard, leather, balsa, and poster board. Do not use this mat for delicate project as it will be nearly impossible to remove without tearing.
Art Life Today Tip: If your project has multiple elements, you can switch mats when cutting the different materials and then assemble off of the mat.
A new addition to the world of Cricut cutting mats, the FabricGrip mat is cutting mat made exclusively for… you guessed it… fabric! This fabric friendly mat works great with cotton, polyester, denim, felt, canvas (and more). If you’re someone who loves sewing or quilting, this mat is great for cutting your panels or patterns.
Cricut cutting mats are available in two different sizes: 12 x12 inches and 12 x 24 inches. The 12” x 12” size has a maximum cut area of 11.5” x 11.5”, while the 12” x 24” cutting mat has a maximum cut area of 11.5” x 23.5”. The Cricut blade does NOT go to the very edge of the mat so keep that in mind as you plan out your cuts through the Cricut app. These sizes are used by the Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker machines.
If you’re using the Cricut Joy cutting machine, then the sizing will be slightly different. This machine uses mats of sizes 4.5” x 6.5” with a maximum cut size of 4” x 6” and 4.5” x 12” with a maximum cut size of 4” x 11.5”. However, the ideal size mat for you depends entirely on your project.
Personally, I have 12” x 12” size and it is sufficient for all of my projects (card making, vinyl letters, banners). If you’re a teacher or someone who plans on constantly creating, the 24″ mat makes it easier to cut more items at one time.
Art Life Today Tip: Already have a 12” x 12 mat, but need to cut a larger quantity? Prep two mats. When one finishes, you can load in the next like an assembly line!
Keeping your Cricut cutting mat clean is essential to its longevity. To prevent rapid adhesive loss between uses, here are some helpful tips in keeping your mats clean (and sticky!).
An expert on all things Cricut, watch the video below by Cricut Tutorials to see how to clean your cutting mats.
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When you are using a brand-new Cricut cutting mat, the adhesive may be too strong for your first project. To lessen the adhesive on a new mat, you basically do the opposite of everything I’ve explained so far. Here are two easy ways to prime your mat when it feels too sticky for the material you want to use:
Typically, you shouldn’t need to do his if you got the right kind of grip, but it can be useful when you’re working with delicate materials.
Art Life Today Tip: If you have enough material, you can test a swatch of on your mat to see how easily you can remove it. This should help gauge whether your finished product will survive removal.
A Cricut mat is a flexible, reusable cutting mat that you can use with your Cricut machine to cut projects. Each mat has an adhesive area that holds your material in place during cutting. It has a grid that aligns with the Cricut app to help you accurately scale your creations. It can also be used for other crafts like Cricut drawing and stenciling.
Storing your Cricut cutting mat properly is another way to make it last longer. Cover your mat with a clear plastic sheet between uses and store flat or upright. I do not recommend rolling or folding it because it's main function requires it to be flat. See the buying guide above for best practices on keeping your mat clean!
You can use a spray adhesive or a glue stick to make your mat sticky again (after a proper cleaning) which may give you a bit more longevity. If you add your own adhesive, it's harder to regulate how strong it is and what mateirals it will be compatible with so it's best to replace it once it loses its stickiness.
These cutting mats usually last between 40-50 uses before it starts to wear out. However, if you use best practices when it comes to cleaning and care, you may get even more out it.
At Art Life Today, our passion for arts and crafts is at the heart of everything we do. We understand that the right tools and materials can make all the difference in your creative projects, so we take our responsibility as reviewers seriously. Our goal is to help you discover the best products that will inspire your creativity and bring your artistic visions to life.