How to read the table
Each row is a material you are likely to cut on a Cricut. The columns show the Design Space setting family to look for, the mat that usually works, the blade, whether the design must be mirrored, and whether the Explore 3, Maker 3 and Joy Xtra can cut it. Use the search box to find a material by name, the machine and mat menus to narrow the list, and the Mirror filter to see only the materials that need it.
The table is a cheat sheet, not a replacement for Design Space. Cricut sets the blade depth and pressure automatically once you pick a material, and the Design Space material list changes as the app updates. Where this page says "See Design Space", we could not state a single value with confidence, so use the app's recommendation and make a test cut. The pressure column reads "Default" on purpose: start with the pressure Design Space chooses, and only increase it after a test cut shows the blade did not cut through.
What the mat colors mean
Cricut sells four standard mat grips, and the color tells you how sticky the mat is.
- Blue, LightGrip. For thin, easily damaged materials such as light cardstock, copy paper and sticker paper. Use it when a stickier mat tears the surface of the sheet.
- Green, StandardGrip. The all-round mat for medium materials: adhesive vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, medium cardstock and printable vinyl.
- Purple, StrongGrip. For heavier materials such as poster board, thick cardstock and chipboard. It holds stiff sheets that would otherwise lift.
- Pink, FabricGrip. For fabric, felt and other textiles, often used with a stabilizer or a fusible backing.
A worn mat loses grip, which can cause a failed cut that looks like a pressure problem. If a material slides or the corners lift, check the mat before you change any setting. The Joy Xtra uses its own smaller mats, so see Design Space for the grips available for that machine.
When Mirror matters
Mirror flips the design horizontally before the machine cuts. You need it when the finished piece will be flipped over during application. Heat transfer vinyl is cut with its shiny carrier face down and the adhesive facing up, so the design must be mirrored. Glitter HTV works the same way. Infusible Ink transfer sheets are cut with the liner side up and the design mirrored, because the inked side is pressed against the blank. Standard adhesive vinyl, cardstock, felt and sticker paper are not mirrored, because you apply them face up.
Window cling is the awkward case. If the design will be read through the glass from the other side, text needs the mirror, but if you apply it to the outside, it does not. Think about where the viewer will stand before you cut. In Design Space the Mirror toggle appears for each mat on the Make screen, so remember to check it for every mat in a project.
Choosing a blade
The Fine-Point Blade handles the majority of everyday work: paper, thin cardstock, vinyl, HTV, sticker paper and window cling. The Deep-Point Blade is for denser material such as heavier cardstock, poster board and thicker faux leather. The Knife Blade is a Maker-only tool for thick materials like chipboard, balsa and heavy leather, and it usually needs several passes. For felt and other fabrics, the Maker uses the Rotary Blade, while the Explore line uses a Bonded-Fabric Blade on fabric that has been backed. The Joy Xtra works with a Fine-Point Blade, so thick, dense material is outside its range.
A dull or nicked blade makes every setting look wrong. If a clean material suddenly tears, replace the blade tip before you change the pressure, and keep the housing free of lint and adhesive.
A test-cut routine that saves material
Before you cut a large project, make a small test shape in the corner of the sheet. A good routine is to use the Design Space shape, check the cut by lifting a corner, and look at the back of the sheet. With vinyl and HTV the carrier should stay in one piece. With cardstock the shape should lift out cleanly without fuzzy edges. If it does not cut through, raise the pressure one step or consider a new blade, and test again. Write the setting, material brand and result on a note taped to the box so you do not have to guess next time.
Brand and thickness matter more than the label. Two sheets both sold as "80 lb cardstock" can have different coatings, and a glittery iron-on can need a different approach from the same weight of smooth iron-on. That is why this page offers a starting point and a method rather than a fixed list of numbers.
Differences between Explore 3, Maker 3 and Joy Xtra
The Explore 3 and Maker 3 both cut at the 12 inch mat width and take the Fine-Point and Deep-Point blades, and both let you set the material in Design Space. The Maker 3 adds an adaptive tool system, which is what enables the Rotary and Knife blades. The Joy Xtra is a compact machine with 8.5 by 12 inch mats and a more limited material list, so heavy and thick materials do not apply. Smart Materials, which are sold without a mat, work on machines that support them; check the packaging and Design Space before you buy.
Sources
Mat grips and the materials each one suits are described in the Cricut Help Center article Which materials should I cut on the different machine mat grip strengths. Cricut's own Design Space material list is the final authority for your machine, and where Cricut's published guidance does not give one clear value for every machine, the cell says "See Design Space". Mirror and blade guidance reflects common practice and the Design Space prompts. Checked November 2026.