Get the Cricut Maker 4 if:
- You want one machine that can grow into wood, fabric and engraving.
- You need cuts wider than 8.5 in.
- You make folded cards.
The short answer
Wood, fabric, big decals? Maker 4
Stickers and small decals? Joy Xtra
Very different machines. The Maker 4 cuts 11.7 in wide and up to 12 ft without a mat (Smart Materials). It runs up to 14.1 in/s and has 13 tools, covering wood, fabric and engraving. The Joy Xtra cuts 8.5 in wide and up to 4 ft without a mat, at 5.65 in/s, with 3 tools. It weighs 6 lb vs 15.4 lb.
Best for the widest project range
Pick the Cricut Maker 4 if
- You want to cut balsa up to 2.4 mm or unbacked fabric.
- You want decals up to 11.7 in wide or long banners.
- You want engraving, debossing or perforating.
The Amazon listing is the Maker 4 with a digital content bundle. Cricut says the box has a Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing, a fine point pen, a 12 x 12 in Light Grip mat and a mini weeder.
See current price on AmazonBest for small spaces
Pick the Cricut Joy Xtra if
- Your projects fit 8.5 in wide.
- You want a 6 lb machine you can put away.
- Stickers, labels and small decals are the plan.
The Amazon listing is the Joy Xtra with a digital content bundle. Cricut says the box has the Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing, a fine point pen and a mini weeder; a machine mat is not listed in the box.
See current price on AmazonBefore you buy: Cricut’s comparison chart lists the Maker 5, not the Maker 4. Cricut doesn’t list a mat in the Joy Xtra box. Listings change, so check who the seller is and that it’s new before you order.
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Key specs
7Maker 4
spec rows won
spec rows won
2Joy Xtra
spec rows won
spec rows won
4even or
unclear
unclear
The Maker 4 wins most rows. The Joy Xtra wins only size and weight, which is the whole point of it.
A green check marks the clearly better spec for most people, no check means a tie, a tiny gap or a spec the makers measure differently, and every figure comes from Cricut’s own product pages and comparison chart, not from Amazon.
| Maker 4 | Joy Xtra | |
|---|---|---|
| Widest matless cut | 11.7 in x 12 ft (Cricut Smart Materials only) | 8.5 in x 4 ft (Cricut Smart Materials only) |
| Biggest cut on a mat | 11.5 x 23.5 in | 8.2 x 11.7 in |
| Cut speed (maker figure) | Up to 14.1 in/s | Up to 5.65 in/s |
| Thickest material | 2.4 mm (Knife Blade) | Not listed |
| Compatible tools | 13 | 3 |
| Materials (maker count) | 300+ | 50+ or 75+ (Cricut lists both) |
| Print then Cut | Yes (home inkjet printer) | Yes (home inkjet printer) |
| Extra effects | Engraves, debosses and perforates (tools sold separately) | No scoring, engraving, debossing or perforating |
| Connection | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Software / devices | Design Space (desktop and mobile) | Design Space: iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| Size (W x D x H) | 22.1 x 7.1 x 6.2 in | 12.5 x 6 x 5.5 in |
| Weight | 15.4 lb | 6 lb |
| In the box | Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing, fine point pen, 12 x 12 in mat, mini weeder | Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing, fine point pen, mini weeder |
Spec notes
- Matless lengths (12 ft and 4 ft) need Cricut Smart Materials.
- Cricut doesn’t list a thickness limit for the Joy Xtra.
Where the sources disagree
- Cricut Joy Xtra materials: the product page says 50+ materials; Cricut’s comparison chart says 75+. Cut speed is 5.65 in/s on the product page and 5.6 in/s on the chart.
- Cricut Joy Xtra sheet size: the product page says it works with US Letter and A4 material sizes, but lists the largest cut on a machine mat as 8.2 x 11.7 in, and a Letter sheet is 8.5 in wide. We use the 8.2 x 11.7 in figure for what fits on a mat.
- The materials check mark holds under every figure listed: Maker 4 300 vs Joy Xtra 50 or 75.
- The cut speed check mark holds under every figure listed: Maker 4 14.1 vs Joy Xtra 5.65 or 5.6.
- The biggest cut on a mat check mark holds whether the Joy Xtra is 8.2 in or 8.5 in wide.
What it can make
Common projects, judged only from what each maker says the machine and its tools can do. Short names, grouped by type; the line under each badge is the spec behind it.
- Can do the maker lists it for this machine (some tools are sold separately)
- Just barely possible, with a limit the maker states (size, material brand or blade)
- Can’t the maker doesn’t list it for this machine, or a listed spec rules it out
| Project | Maker 4 | Joy Xtra |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl and iron-on | ||
| Shirt decal | Can doCuts iron-on (HTV). | Can doCuts iron-on (HTV). |
| 11 in decal | Can do11.7 in matless, 11.5 in on a mat. | Can’t8.5 in max width. |
| 6 ft banner | Can do12 ft matless, Smart Materials only. | Can’t4 ft matless max. |
| Paper | ||
| Folded cards | Can doNeeds Scoring Stylus or Wheels (sold separately). | Can’tCricut lists no scoring for Joy Xtra. |
| Color stickers | Can doPrint then Cut with a home inkjet. | Can doPrint then Cut. Cricut lists US Letter and A4 material sizes; the mat cut area is 8.2 x 11.7 in. |
| Thick and specialty | ||
| Balsa ornaments | Can doKnife Blade cuts balsa up to 2.4 mm (sold separately). | Can’tCricut lists no thick-material blade. |
| Quilt pieces | Can doRotary Blade cuts cotton, fleece, denim (sold separately). | Can’tCricut lists no fabric for Joy Xtra. |
| Metal tag | Can doEngraving Tip for metal (sold separately). | Can’tNo engraving. |
“Sold separately” tools are extra purchases. Cut limits are the maker’s maximums; real results depend on the material and blade.
Notes and sources
Cricut’s longest matless cuts (up to 12 ft, or 4 ft on Joy machines) only work with Cricut Smart Materials; everything else goes on a machine mat.
Sources (maker pages, checked October 9, 2026):
Who should buy which
Get the Cricut Joy Xtra if:
- You want something small for stickers and labels.
- You’ll rarely cut wider than 8.5 in.
- You don’t need scoring.
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Skip it if
Skip the Maker 4
Skip it if you’ll only make stickers and small decals. That’s 15.4 lb of machine for jobs the Joy Xtra covers.
Skip the Joy Xtra
Skip it if you want cards with fold lines, wide decals, fabric or wood.
Questions about this pair
Can the Joy Xtra cut wood?
No. Cricut lists no wood for the Joy Xtra.
Which is faster?
The Maker 4: up to 14.1 in/s vs 5.65 in/s.
Do both work with phones?
Yes. Both use Cricut Design Space over Bluetooth on desktop and mobile.