Cricut guide

How to cut stickers on a Cricut

Cricut’s Print Then Cut prints your sheet on your home printer, then cuts each sticker exactly on its outline. Here is the workflow that gets clean cuts the first time.

Make a sticker sheetRead the guide
01

Start from a sheet with real cut lines

Print Then Cut needs an artwork layer plus a precise cut path. A sheet that ships a vector cut line per sticker drops straight into Design Space without you tracing anything by hand.

  • ✓Use a layered file: printed artwork + a separate vector cut layer
  • ✓A transparent background keeps the kiss-cut edges crisp
  • ✓Per-sticker cut SVGs let you cut a single sticker or the whole sheet
02

Import and print with bleed

In Cricut Design Space, choose Print Then Cut, place your artwork, and send it to your printer. Keep “Add Bleed” on so a hair of color extends past each cut line — that prevents thin white slivers on the edges.

  • ✓Letter (8.5×11) is the standard Print Then Cut sheet size
  • ✓Leave “Add Bleed” enabled for borderless-looking cuts
  • ✓Print at your printer’s highest quality on sticker paper
03

Calibrate Print Then Cut

Run Cricut’s Print Then Cut calibration once per machine. It prints a target sheet and dials in exactly where the blade lands relative to the printed registration marks — the single biggest fix for cuts that land slightly off.

  • ✓Calibrate under good, even lighting so the sensor reads the marks
  • ✓Re-calibrate if you change printers or notice drift
  • ✓Keep the registration box clean — no smudges or shadows
04

Set material, then cut

Load the printed sheet on a LightGrip (blue) mat, pick the matching material (sticker paper / vinyl), and let the machine read the registration marks before it cuts. For kiss-cut, set the blade to cut the vinyl but not the backing.

  • ✓LightGrip mat for paper-based sticker stock
  • ✓Kiss-cut: cut through the face, not the backing sheet
  • ✓Run a test cut on a corner if you switch materials
05

Laminate for durability (optional)

For laptop- or bottle-grade stickers, laminate the printed sheet before cutting so the blade cuts through the laminate too. This makes inkjet stickers water- and scratch-resistant.

  • ✓Laminate first, then Print Then Cut over the laminated sheet
  • ✓Inkjet prints especially benefit from a protective top layer
  • ✓Skip lamination for paper planner stickers used in books
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

01What file works best for Cricut Print Then Cut?+
A high-resolution printed artwork layer plus a vector cut path. Clearly’s sheets ship a Cricut-ready bundle — a cleaned PNG and a cut-line SVG — so you can import and cut without tracing.
02Why is my Cricut cutting in the wrong place?+
Almost always a calibration or lighting issue. Run Print Then Cut calibration, make sure the registration marks are clean and well-lit, and keep “Add Bleed” on. After calibrating, cuts should land on the line.
03What is the maximum Print Then Cut size?+
Cricut Print Then Cut works within an 8.5×11 letter sheet (with a printable area inside the registration marks), which is exactly why Clearly sheets are built at 8.5×11.
04Do I need to laminate my stickers?+
Only if they need to survive water or handling — laptops, bottles, outdoor use. Laminate the printed sheet before cutting. Planner and journal stickers used indoors generally don’t need it.
05Kiss-cut or die-cut on a Cricut?+
Both work. Kiss-cut leaves stickers on a peelable backing sheet (great for sets); die-cut cuts all the way through for individual stickers. See our kiss-cut vs die-cut guide for when to use each.
Keep going

Related guides

Kiss-cut vs die-cut

Print sticker sheets at home

Sheet specs & file formats

Make a sticker sheet

Make your sticker sheet

Pick a style, preview the full 8.5×11 sheet free, and download a print-ready pack with vector cut lines — from $19.99, no subscription.

Preview a sheet freeSee pricing ⟶