What is the Best Cricut Machine for Shirts? The answer to this question is simple. However, it is important to understand that you need one that perfectly fits your needs. For this reason, we have reviewed 5 of the best and why.
In recent years printed customized shirts have cut a niche for themselves as an industry on its own. One of the easiest ways to print T-shirts is by the use of Cricut machines. Knowing the best machines for your needs will greatly influence the quality and speed of your output.
What is the best Cricut machine for making shirts
- Cricut Maker 3 Best Cricut Machine for Shirts
- Cricut Explore Air 2 – Cheapest Cricut Machine for Shirts
- Cricut Easy Press 2 – Best Heat Press for Home Use
- Cricut Joy – The best machine to create T-Shirts on the Go
- Cricut Easy Press Mini Heat Press
How can I make t-shirts with a Cricut machine?
The first step when printing a t-shirt with Cricut is the design sourcing process. You can get designs from different design resource sites such as creative market or any other silhouette site. To get print custom designs, however, we recommend hiring a freelancer on Fiverr to create the designs for you as per your description. Here is our best choice of T-shirt designer you can hire.
The second step involves cutting the design using a Cricut machine. The final step is pressing your design on the shirt to print. Below are some of the best machines for cutting and pressing you can use.
Best Cricut Machine for Heat Transfer Vinyl Cutting
Cricut Maker 3 Best Cricut Machine for Shirts
The Cricut Maker 3 is the latest machine from Cricut. Compared to its Cricut Explore predecessors, The Marker 3 stands out for its speed working 3 times faster.
Additionally, it will work on over 300 materials and can cut, write, and even engrave. The smart sensor on it allows it to cut and print on up to 12 feet of material at a go with unmatched precision.
Pros
- Cut over 300 materials
- Faster than The Maker, Explore 2 and Explore 3
- Cuts, Prints, and Scores
- Quick Swap Tools
- Print then Cut
- Cuts 12 ft in length
- Does not need a Mat
Cons
Cricut Explore Air 2 Cheapest Cricut Machine for Shirts
As one of the oldest cutting machines from Cricut, it is the cheapest option you can go for. For a fair price, you will be able to do most of what many expensive Cricut machines can do with the Explore Air 2.
Although you will be limited when it comes to the number of materials you can use with only 100, you need it for T-shirt printing in this case, and will work perfectly on Heat Transfer Vinyl. Overall with this machine, you will get great value without necessarily having to break the bank.
What does a Cricut Explore Air 2 do?
In the shirt printing process, Cricut Explore Air 2 helps you cut out your design on heat transfer vinyl.
Pros
- 6 cutting tools
- User Friendly
- Most Affordable Cricut Machine
- Allows Cutting and Writing
- Works with Over 100 materials
- Wireless Support
- Affordable
Cons
- Old version
If you have files in cartilage, you have to contact Cricut to have them loaded into Design Space. These 2 are the best but not the only ones. If you prefer portability oversize, then Cricut Joy is the one for you. For a faster and more modern version of Explore 2, the Cricut Explore 3 is a great upgrade.
Finally, if you like the Maker 3 but are a little above your budget, then you can try its earlier version which is equally as fast and similar in many ways. Get the Cricut Marker.
We have previously done a detailed review of the different types of Cricut machines. Feel free to check it out.
Heat Pressing for T-shirt Printing
The second step after cutting and weeding is ironing or pressing. For those who are new to these things, wedding refers to removing your cutouts from the original material.
Ironing or pressing in t-shirt printing refers to the application of heat and pressure to make the cutout letters stick on the fabric.
Cricut Easy Press2
Features
- Size: 9×9 inches and 12×10 inches option
- Weight: 0.139 ounces
- Product Dimensions: 13.07 x 13.98 x 7.36 inches
The Cricut EasyPress 2 is the first up on this list. It is designed to apply heat and pressure to imprint images on flat surfaces, mainly on fabric such as t-shirts or hoodies.
Size is a big factor to consider when choosing any printing machine. Any good printing device needs to fully cover the set area being printed.
The Easy Press 2 comes in 2 sizes either Small or Medium. The small size measures square 9 inches by 9 inches and can print A5 and closest to A4 sized prints.
The Medium one measures 12 inches by 10 inches and can print perfect A4s and near A3 sizes. A5, A4, and A3 print sizes cover all sizes you might need to print on T-shirts. Cricut Express 2 does not have a large option so there is no A2-sized option for t-shirt print.
The temperature is easily regulated using the Cricut mobile App. The press can reach up to 205 degrees C and allows you to print on T-Shirts, Tote Bags, Pillows, Aprons & More, Precise Temperature Control, Features an Insulated Safety Base & Auto-Off, Raspberry plus many more.
What does Cricut Easy Press2 do?
The Cricut Easy Press2 applies heat and pressure to Vinyl Cut out to print on shirts.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- User Friendly
- Light and Portable
- Unlike normal iron, it is flat and evenly heated
- Long lasting Print
- Variety of products
Cons
- Not the best when working on many prints
Cricut EasyPress Mini Heat Press
Both sizes of the EasyPress 2 are both very fairly priced and affordable. However, if you still need a good but cheaper alternative, then the Cricut EasyPress Mini Heat Press is the option for you.
Although you will forgo some of the efficiency of the Easypress 2, it is the cheapest Cricut Press you can buy. You will mainly be able to print on small surfaces such as Hats, Ceramics, and Pocket t-shirts.
Pros
- Affordable Pricing
- Compact and portable
- Prints well on improbable objects like hats
Cons
- Small and can not print large designs
How do I choose a Cricut machine?
Size and portability
You need to consider the machine’s size and weight if you plan to move it around or store it. The machine’s cutting width, pressure, and speed are also important to ensure it can handle the materials you plan to use.
Price and Compatibility
Compare the cost of the machine to its features and capabilities to ensure you are getting the best value for your money. You also need to check whether the machine is compatible with the software and design programs you plan to use. Some Machines have some cool additional features such as a built-in scanner, wireless connectivity, or the ability to cut fabric. Check whether your preferred machine has any
Brand reputation and Support
Research the brand and check its reputation in the market. Cricut and Silhouette are some of the top brands in the industry. Check the company’s website and see if they have a support chat or customer service that can help you with any questions you may have.
Which Cricut is used for t-shirts?
Before we go to the machines, it is important to understand some important points. First of all, you can either have your design printed on the garment or sewn in through embroidery.
Embroidery lasts longer but is a little less flexible compared to printed ones. Cricut machines will help you create the latter. As for the material, make sure to use Heat Transfer Vinyl material.
There 2 main steps when printing t-shirts with Cricut. First, you need to cut out your design on heat transfer vinyl. After this, you need to weed and iron the design on your merchandise.
When it comes to cutting, The Cricut Maker 3 is by far the latest and best option you can buy. It however has an equal share of disadvantages and may not be a perfect fit for everyone. We will look at it in depth later on.
For heat pressing, we recommend the Cricut EasyPress 2. Although the press applies both heat and pressure to imprint the image on the shirt, it is important to note that you can not use a normal iron for the same purpose.
This is because a normal iron has an imbalanced heat and pressure distribution compared to a more balanced Cricut Easy Press. You will only end up ruining most of the shirts.
The best Cricut machines: available now
- Cricut Maker 3 Best Cricut Machine for Shirts
- Cricut Explore Air 2 – Cheapest Cricut Machine for Shirts
- Cricut Easy Press 2 – Best Heat Press for Home Use
- Cricut Joy – The best machine to create T-Shirts on the Go
- Cricut Easy Press Mini Heat Press
- What Cricut machine do I need to make t-shirts?
if you want to make and print t shirt designs, Cricut Maker 3 is the best machine for cutting and Cricut EasyPress is the best to use to transfer the image to the shirt.
- Which Cricut is best for t-shirts and stickers?
Cricut Explore series of machines are the best for T shiirts and stickers. They are economical and cut a wide variety of materials.
- Is it cheaper to make shirts with Cricut?
Yes. When you buy a Cricut machine, you will only spend money to buy the plain t shirts and materials to stick on such as vinyl which is relatively cheap
- Can you start a Tshirt business with a Cricut?
Yes you can. All you need is a source of digital files to print such as an online resource, then with your cricut machine, you can make and sell t shirts on merch stores or neighbourhood.
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