Short answer: Only very thin acrylic. Cricut's own materials guide has no setting for acrylic sheet and limits materials to under 2.0 mm on Explore machines and under 2.4 mm on Maker machines, with the Knife Blade (Maker only) for the thickest. In practice, thin plastic sheets around 0.020 in. (0.5 mm) can be cut or scored with many passes, while standard 1/8 in. (3 mm) acrylic is beyond any Cricut and needs a CO2 laser, a router, or a saw.
Key facts
- No acrylic setting: Cricut's "Materials to Cut" guide lists acetate, foils, and plastics like it, but no acrylic sheet.
- Thickness ceiling: under 2.0 mm for Explore, under 2.4 mm (3/32 in.) for Maker, and only on soft, dense materials like balsa and leather.
- What works: acetate and very thin plastic sheet, about 0.020 in. (0.5 mm) or less, often with many passes.
- What doesn't: 1/16 in. (1.5 mm) acrylic is marginal; 1/8 in. (3 mm) and thicker is out of reach.
- Better tools: a CO2 laser for shapes, a scoring knife for straight cuts in sheet up to about 1/4 in.
Why can't a Cricut cut acrylic sheet?
A Cricut drags a small blade through the material. That works on paper, vinyl, and leather because they part cleanly under a sharp edge. Acrylic is hard (Rockwell M-94 to M-100, according to ACRYLITE and Plexiglas data) and brittle, with only about 4 to 6% elongation before it breaks. A drag blade can score its surface but can't push through 3 mm of it, and after dozens of passes the groove chips and the blade wears out. Cricut's guide also caps material thickness at 2.4 mm on its strongest machines, and that figure is for softer materials such as basswood and tooling leather.
What thin "acrylic" can a Cricut cut?
- Acetate and PET sheets (0.005 to 0.010 in.): yes, with the Fine-Point Blade on an acetate-type setting. This is what most "Cricut acrylic" shaker cards and window projects use.
- Thin plastic blanks around 0.020 in. (0.5 mm): crafters report success on a Maker with the Knife Blade and many passes, or by scoring and snapping.
- 1 mm sheet: unreliable even with many passes; scoring then snapping by hand is usually the better plan.
- 1/16 in. and up: not practical. Use another tool.
Many products sold as acrylic blanks for crafters (keychains, earrings, cake toppers) are 1/8 in. cast acrylic. A Cricut can apply vinyl to those, but it can't cut them.
What should I use to cut acrylic instead?
| Tool | Good for | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 laser | Any shape, small details, glossy edges | Up to about 1/2 in. thick |
| Diode laser | Engraving; cutting some dark, opaque colors | Can't cut clear acrylic; see why diode lasers can't cut clear acrylic |
| Scoring knife, then snap | Straight cuts at home | Plexiglas limits it to 0.236 in. (6 mm) and thinner |
| Fine-tooth saw (jigsaw, table saw) | Straight and gentle curves | Edge needs finishing; see how to cut acrylic at home |
| CNC router | Any thickness, including 3/4 and 1 in. | Machined satin edge unless polished |
Can I design in Cricut Design Space and have it laser cut?
Yes. Design Space can export SVG files, and an SVG of your cut lines is exactly what a laser needs. Check that the shapes are closed outlines, the size is right at 1:1, and text has been converted to shapes. Then upload the SVG to our instant quote, pick a thickness and color, and see the price as you type. Our guide to preparing a file for laser cutting covers the details.
A common crafter workflow: we laser cut the acrylic shapes, and you add the vinyl, paint, or glitter on your Cricut. That gets you clean, glossy edges on 1/8 in. acrylic without a machine that can't handle it.
Questions
Can a Cricut engrave acrylic?
The Maker's Engraving Tip can scratch designs into soft plastics and some thin acrylic. The result is a light surface scratch, not the frosted white mark a laser leaves; see laser engraving acrylic.
Will cutting acrylic damage my Cricut blade?
It wears blades quickly. Even the Knife Blade is meant for softer dense materials like balsa, basswood, and leather, and hard acrylic is much tougher on a fine edge.
Is a laser cutter worth it instead of a Cricut for acrylic?
For regular acrylic work, a CO2 laser is the right tool, but it needs proper ventilation for the fumes; see are laser-cut acrylic fumes toxic. For occasional projects, ordering cut parts is usually simpler.