Best Printer for Cricut Print Then Cut (2026): Top Picks + Setup Tips

Published September 30, 2026. Written by William Elward, founder of Castle Ink.

Quick answer

The best printer for Cricut Print Then Cut is an inkjet printer with a rear or straight paper feed, borderless printing, and cheap ink. Our top pick is the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 for serious crafters. The Canon PIXMA G620 is the best mid-price choice, the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is the best budget tank, and the Canon PIXMA TS6420a is the cheapest way to start. Any printer that can print a PDF or image from Cricut Design Space will work. What matters for Print Then Cut is clean sensor marks, accurate paper handling, and matte-friendly output.

Printer	Best for	Why it works for Cricut
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550	Best overall	6-color output, rear feed for thick stock, up to 13x19 (Venture users)
Canon PIXMA G620	Best mid-price	Vivid 6-color MegaTank, cheap refills
Epson EcoTank ET-2800	Best budget ink tank	Low cost per sheet for big sticker runs
Canon PIXMA TS6420a	Cheapest to start	Low price, good color, borderless photos
Canon PIXMA TR8620a	Crafts plus home office	Rear feed, document feeder, 5-ink system

What is Cricut Print Then Cut?

Print Then Cut is a Cricut Design Space feature. Your design prints on your home printer with a black registration rectangle (sensor marks) around it. Then your Cricut machine's sensor reads those marks and cuts precisely around the printed image. It's how people make stickers, labels, cake toppers, and planner decals. Cricut explains the full workflow in How to Print Then Cut in Design Space.

What makes a printer good for Print Then Cut?

• Inkjet is the safe choice. Most printable vinyl and sticker paper is made for inkjet. A laser can work with laser-rated media, but toner has a slight sheen, and Cricut notes that glossy or reflective surfaces can confuse the sensor.
• Straight paper path. A rear feed or manual slot handles thick sticker paper and cardstock without jams or skew. Skewed prints are the top cause of misaligned cuts.
• Accurate scaling. The printer must print at 100% size. Scaling or "fit to page" breaks alignment.
• Cheap ink. Crafters print a lot of full-color designs. Ink tanks, or printers with inexpensive compatible cartridges, keep costs down.
• Paper size support. Cricut Explore and Maker machines can Print Then Cut on larger sheets, including tabloid-size material, and Cricut Venture goes larger still. The small Joy 2 is much more limited. See Cricut's maximum Print Then Cut sizes by machine.

The best printers for Cricut in 2026

1. Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550: best overall

The ET-8550 has six-color photo quality, a rear feed that takes heavy cardstock and vinyl, and wide-format support up to 13x19 inches, which is useful with larger-format Cricut machines. Refill bottles make heavy use affordable.

Full review: Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 review. Check price on Amazon.

2. Canon PIXMA G620: best mid-price

The G620 is a six-color MegaTank photo printer with punchy color and low refill costs. It's a favorite for sticker shops starting out.

Check price on Amazon.

3. Epson EcoTank ET-2800: best budget ink tank

Four-color, basic, and very cheap to run. If you print mostly labels, simple stickers, and planner decals, the ET-2800 keeps cost per sheet in the pennies. It uses Epson 522 bottles, and our compatible 522 4-pack cuts costs further.

Full review: Epson EcoTank ET-2800 review. Check price on Amazon.

4. Canon PIXMA TS6420a: cheapest to start

If you're just trying Print Then Cut, the TS6420a is an inexpensive way to begin. Color is good and it supports borderless printing. Use compatible PG-275XL and CL-276XL cartridges to keep ink costs reasonable.

Full review: Canon PIXMA TS6420a review. Check price on Amazon.

5. Canon PIXMA TR8620a: crafts plus home office

The TR8620a has a rear feed for craft media, a front cassette for plain paper, a document feeder, and fax. It's good for a household where one printer does it all.

Full review: Canon PIXMA TR8620a review. Save on ink: cheapest ink for the TR8620. Check price on Amazon.

How to set up your printer for Print Then Cut

1. Calibrate your Cricut first. In Design Space, open the menu and choose Calibration → Print Then Cut. Cricut's guide: calibrating for Print Then Cut.
2. Send to printer at 100%. In the print dialog, turn off "fit to page" and any scaling.
3. Turn off "Add Bleed" only if you don't want it. Bleed extends colors past the cut line so there are no white edges. Most people leave it on.
4. Choose the right paper type in your printer settings, such as matte photo paper for matte sticker paper. This controls ink amount and drying.
5. Use the rear feed for sticker paper and cardstock, and load one sheet at a time for thick media.
6. Let the print dry a few minutes before placing it on the mat, so ink doesn't smear onto the sensor marks.

Print Then Cut not reading the marks? Fixes

• Glossy paper glare: Cricut suggests placing matte transparent tape over the sensor marks, or switching to matte media.
• Bright lights: shield the machine from direct sunlight or overhead lamps while it scans.
• Faded marks: low black ink makes marks gray. Replace or refill black ink. Look up your cartridge in Find Ink by Printer.
• Streaky or missing lines across the marks: clean the printhead. See how to clean print heads and printer streak fixes.
• Paper placed wrong on the mat: align it to the top-left corner of the grid.

More from Cricut: machine cannot read the cut sensor marks.

Best paper for Cricut Print Then Cut

• Matte printable vinyl for durable stickers (laminate for water resistance).
• Matte sticker paper for planner and paper stickers.
• 65–80 lb cardstock for toppers, tags, and cards. See how to print on cardstock.

Browse Cricut-compatible printable vinyl on Amazon. Cricut also publishes a list of Print Then Cut compatible materials.

Common questions

Does Cricut work with any printer?

Yes. Design Space sends the job through your computer's or phone's normal print dialog, so any working printer can print Print Then Cut sheets. Inkjets simply give the best results on vinyl and sticker paper.

Can I use a laser printer with Cricut?

Yes, with laser-compatible sticker paper or cardstock. Watch for glare on the sensor marks, and never run inkjet vinyl through a laser printer.

Why are my Print Then Cut cuts off-center?

Usually because the printer scaled the page, the paper fed crooked, or the machine needs calibration. Print at 100%, use the rear feed, and run Print Then Cut calibration.

Can I print on white or clear vinyl for Cricut?

Yes. Inkjets can't print white, so on clear vinyl the white areas of your design stay transparent.

What about sublimation with Cricut?

Cricut machines can cut sublimation prints, but sublimation needs a dedicated printer and ink. See best sublimation printers and sublimation ink.

Keep crafting for less

Crafters go through a lot of ink. Find compatible and remanufactured cartridges for your printer in Find Ink by Printer, or shop Canon, Epson, and HP ink. Shopping for a printer? Take the 60-second PrinterIQ Finder quiz.

Related guides

• Best printer for stickers (2026)
• How to print stickers at home
• Best ink tank printers (2026)
• How to print iron-on transfers
• How to print business cards at home

As an Amazon Associate, Castle Ink earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability change often; check the retailer for current details.

About the author: William Elward is the founder of Castle Ink and has written about printers, ink cartridges, and printing technology for more than 20 years.