Cricut are one of the top manufacturers of arts and crafts devices in the world, but one thing they don’t manufacture is printers. If you’re looking to invest in the best printer for Cricut devices, it can be frustrating not knowing which brand or model is best suited for printing your designs before they are cut or pressed.
We’ve put together a list of the best options, accounting for a wide range of budgets and craft needs. Depending on your particular specialty, some of these top printers may be better suited than others, so we’ve made sure to detail the distinct advantages that they may have over one another – but all are terrific printers for your graphic design or crafting venture!
- Editor’s Pick
Epson EcoTank ET-15000
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi, Ethernet
- Duplex Printing: Yes
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Best Budget Printer for CricutCanon MegaTank G3270
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: No
- Best Mid-Range Printer for Cricut
Epson EcoTank ET-2850
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Bluetooth, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes
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Best Premium Printer for CricutBrother MFC-J995DW
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes
How We Picked the Best Printer for Cricut
Cricut machines can be used for a number of different craft products: from sublimation printing designs onto mugs or t-shirts, all the way down to custom stickers. As such, the best printer for Cricut designs needs to be a great all-rounder for craft projects and capable of printing a wide range of specialist media. We’ve chosen InkJet printers for our top picks today, with them being the best for detailed and color-accurate prints on a variety of different materials.
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In addition to the physical functionality, we also took into account any additional features that make printing for Cricut easier: such as print speed, wireless connectivity options, and the general range of material available. We also considered a number of price points, so as to not alienate people working with limited funds for their hobby or small business. We settled on four products, each with their own respective merits, that all serve as excellent printers for Cricut.
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi, Ethernet
- Duplex Printing: Yes
Epson continue to dominate with their EcoTank range, and the ET-15000 is capable of stunning wide-format prints.
- High page yield – the ET-15000 remains another performance powerhouse, with fast print speeds and high-yield ink refills.
- Accommodating print size – boasting the ability to print borderless 13” x 19” images, you’ve got plenty of options for large-scale prints.
- Slow print speeds – especially with specialist sublimation ink, you’ll have to wait some time to retrieve your prints.
For the overall master of printing specialist media, the Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is our top pick for the best printer for Cricut machines. Boasting excellent print quality on a range of materials, this printer is ideal for crafters of any skill level.
The ET-15000 is capable of prints as large as 13″ x 19″, making it ideal for anything from large graphics down to stickers. Print quality is stellar with a vivid color gamut and terrific detail even in the darkest shades, and it has high compatibility with a number of specialist materials. Ink tank printers are among our favorites in the market, particularly the EcoTank range, and the quality on display with the ET-15000 is unmatched.
However, the level of quality that the ET-15000 provides is mitigated by the time taken to print: even on average-sized imagery, the print process is slower than average. It is hardly a black mark against this unit, though, and we still highly recommend this as the best printer for Cricut!
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: No
For a more affordable means of sublimation, the G3270 is a versatile printer under $200.
- Ideal for Cricut – prints dry quickly and with little-t0-no bleeding to the design, ready for the heat press.
- Affordable – the low cost of this printer makes it ideal for small businesses or hobbyists.
- Poor screen – the tiny status screen is near-impossible to read and interact with.
For a more affordable printer for Cricut, consider the Canon MegaTank G3270, a budget print solution from Canon. With a gamut of useful features found in much more expensive units, this printer serves as a great starting point for hobbyists or small businesses.
With a setup time measured in a handful of minutes, there’s immediately a lot to like about the G3270. Print resolution and speed are both sterling, and you have the option of printing onto various forms of specialist media such as cardstock – not just sublimation designs. The ink is quick to dry, and renders details beautifully with minimal, if any, errors.
However, what lets the G3270 down is the terrible screen: even in the best conditions, it is nearly illegible. Thankfully, connecting to WiFi can negate its use, and we still recommend the G3270 as a budget Cricut printer.
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Bluetooth, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Wi-Fi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes
Once again, Epson’s stellar range of EcoTank printers appears. We fell in love with the ET-2850 when we reviewed it, and still recommend it at a top Cricut printer.
- Fast printing – though you won’t reach the 33 pages per minute print speed that the ET-2850 manages with standard documents, the speed is still impressive.
- High yield – the ink economy on this printer is near-unrivaled.
- Poor color accuracy – for sublimation ink and other ink types, we found the ET-2850 to be somewhat desaturated.
The bestselling Epson EcoTank ET-2850 takes the penultimate spot in our rankings. Not as premium quality as it’s older sibling the ET-15000, but also not as expensive, this printer is ideal as a median printer for Cricut.
The ET-2850 is extremely efficient – with large reservoirs of ink that rarely need refilling. Prints are rendered quickly and efficiently, with your standard monochrome documents printing at a rate of 33 pages per minute. But that’s not all: you can create detailed art prints and photos – and Cricut printing materials, of course – in stunning 5,760 x 1,440 dpi resolution up to 8.5″ x 14″ in size, which opens the door to all manner of creative projects.
That said, these materials may not be quite as saturated as you may like: we found that the ET-2850’s color reproduction was poor, which may require fixing with an ICC color profile. It’s a small hurdle to overcome, however, and we still recommend the ET-2850.
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes
Boasting smart correction features and stunning print quality, the MFC-J995DW is a great option for the most detailed transfer sheets or sublimation prints.
- Intelligent analysis – the MFC-J995DW can detect errors and optimize print performance intelligently.
- Stellar print quality – for photo-realistic Cricut designs, this is an ideal solution.
- Premium pricing – the MFC-J995DW is far from cheap, however, which can make it less appealing.
At the other end of the spectrum, we have the Brother MFC-J995DW, a premium InkJet printer that offers great print quality. We’re big fans of Brother printers here at PC Guide, and this unit is ideal for pairing with Cricut Machines.
Print resolution is incredible, with 4K-quality images up to poster-sized prints. Employing a larger and smarter ink tank system, the MFC-J995DW boasts of having a whole year’s worth of ink complete with the printer (though of course this will vary with use). Regardless of use, the print quality relative to the cost-per-print is extremely valuable, and makes this printer an ideal pairing for large amounts of Cricut machine usage.
However, as the “Premium” header suggests, this printer isn’t cheap. If you can afford the high upfront cost, then the MFC-J995DW is an ideal printer for Cricut machines!
Features and Considerations
There are many factors that go into making the best printers for Cricut machines. Here are the top ones to consider before buying your choice printer:
Sublimation Compatibility
If you use Cricut heat presses for sublimation printing – a method of chemically bonding ink to a surface using heat – then you need to make sure that your printer is compatible with sublimation ink. Though specialist sublimation printers are always the better choice, many name-brand printers such as the Epson EcoTank range are capable of being converted for use in sublimation. Be warned: this process is irreversible.
Ink Cost
Regardless of sublimation ink, the cost of standard printer ink can vary wildly. Printers famously use the “razor and blades” model of business, where ink costs can quickly become untenable. Research the cost of ink for your choice of printer, so as to keep your overall balance stable.
Print Resolution
As mentioned before, the print resolution is valuable for those wanting to print photographs for scrapbooking or other image-based crafting with Cricut. Generally, photographs need a minimum of 1200 dots per inch (DPI) to be of good quality – though more is always better.
Connectivity
How you connect to your printer is just as important as what you print with it. We always prefer a wireless connection for convenience’s sake, but ensure that whatever device you intend to print from is compatible with the printer. General connection options include WiFi Direct, Bluetooth, Cloud Printing or Apple AirPrint.
Print Speed
Print speed generally isn’t as important as the quality of the print itself, but for high-pressure environments, it is always helpful to have a faster print speed. Equally, InkJet printers use hefty amounts of ink, so ensure that drying times aren’t too long either.
FAQs
No: Specialist printers require sublimation ink in order to work, which can damage standard printheads. Make sure your printer is compatible before converting it for sublimation.
Depending on what you plan to print and design, a printer can help you create more complex designs when cutting with the Cricut Maker 3. For example, printing a more complex pattern onto your specialist media before cutting can give you more variety before the design is finalized.
Verdict
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi, Ethernet
- Duplex Printing: Yes
Though it can be slow to print, the Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is easily the best printer for Cricut machine crafting! With great color depth and detail, you can create far more varied and detailed designs before coupling them with your choice of Cricut craft process, resulting in stunning end-products!
Looking to craft with even more variety? We have guides on all kinds of printers, for everything from standard documents to edible ink – check them out today!
