Get the Cricut Maker 5 if:
- You want the wider range of projects.
- You need cuts wider than 8.5 in or longer than 4 ft.
- You make cards with fold lines.
The short answer
Wood, fabric, engraving, big decals? Maker 5
Stickers and small decals? Joy Xtra
The Maker 5 is 12 in wide, with up to 12 ft matless (Smart Materials), 14.1 in/s, 13 tools and cuts up to 3 mm. The Joy Xtra is the compact option: 8.5 in wide, 4 ft matless, 5.65 in/s and 3 tools, at 6 lb vs 10.9 lb.
Best for the widest project range
Pick the Cricut Maker 5 if
- You want to cut leather or foam core board up to 3 mm (Knife Blade, sold separately).
- You want 12 in decals, banners and folded cards (Scoring Tool included).
- You want engraving, debossing, perforating or fabric.
The Amazon listing is Cricut’s Maker 5 Essential Bundle, which adds starter tools and materials. Cricut says the machine comes with a Premium Fine Point Cutting Tool, Scoring Tool, dual-sided marker and a 12 x 12 in Light Grip mat.
See current price on AmazonBest for small spaces
Pick the Cricut Joy Xtra if
- Your projects fit the Joy Xtra’s 8.2 x 11.7 in mat area (8.5 in wide with Smart Materials).
- You want a small machine: 12.5 x 6 x 5.5 in.
- You mostly make stickers, labels and small decals.
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: Listings change, so check who the seller is and that it’s new before you order.
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Key specs
7Maker 5
spec rows won
spec rows won
2Joy Xtra
spec rows won
spec rows won
4even or
unclear
unclear
The Maker 5 wins most rows. The Joy Xtra wins on size and weight.
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 5 | Joy Xtra | |
|---|---|---|
| Widest matless cut | 12 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 23.75 in (large mat) | 8.2 x 11.7 in |
| Cut speed (maker figure) | Up to 14.1 in/s | Up to 5.65 in/s |
| Thickest material | 3 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; USB cable in the box | Bluetooth |
| Software / devices | Design Space: iOS, Android, Mac, Windows | Design Space: iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| Size (W x D x H) | 19.8 x 7.5 x 4.7 in | 12.5 x 6 x 5.5 in |
| Weight | 10.9 lb | 6 lb |
| In the box | Premium Fine Point Cutting Tool, Scoring Tool, dual-sided marker, 12 x 12 in mat | 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 Maker 5 weight: the product page says 10.9 lb; Cricut’s comparison chart says 10 lb.
- 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 weight check mark holds under every figure listed: Maker 5 10.9 or 10 vs Joy Xtra 6.
- The materials check mark holds under every figure listed: Maker 5 300 vs Joy Xtra 50 or 75.
- The cut speed check mark holds under every figure listed: Maker 5 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 5 | Joy Xtra |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl and iron-on | ||
| Shirt decal | Can doCuts iron-on (HTV). | Can doCuts iron-on (HTV). |
| 11 in decal | Can do12 in matless width. | 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 doScoring Tool in the box. | 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 doChart lists softwood and names balsa; Knife Blade cuts up to 3 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 doEngraves metal up to 3 mm (tool 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 a small machine for stickers and labels.
- You won’t cut wider than 8.5 in.
- You don’t need scoring or thick materials.
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Skip it if
Skip the Maker 5
Skip it if stickers and small decals are all you make. The Joy Xtra handles them in a smaller, lighter machine.
Skip the Joy Xtra
Skip it if you want wide decals, cards with fold lines, fabric or wood.
Questions about this pair
Can the Joy Xtra do what the Maker 5 does, just smaller?
No. Cricut lists 3 compatible tools for the Joy Xtra (fine-point blade, Foil Transfer Tool, pens and markers) and no scoring, fabric, wood or engraving.
Is the Maker 5 heavy?
It’s heavier than the Joy Xtra. Cricut lists 10.9 lb on the product page (10 lb on its chart), vs 6 lb for the Joy Xtra.
Same app?
Yes, both use Cricut Design Space.