From creative classroom decor to getting organized through labels, the benefits of Cricut machines for teachers are endless. Having a Cricut machine lets you do more while also saving you so much time–time that you can spend on preparing lessons or catching up with family and friends. But which Cricut is worth investing in? The portable Cricut Joy and the versatile Cricut Explore Air 2 are the best Cricut for teachers and our in-depth review below and sample classroom projects will tell you why.
Cricut's most portable cutting machine lets you personalize and organize almost everything. The Cricut Joy works well for fast cutting and writing projects and lets you cut without a mat, too.
Compatible with Deep-Point Blade and Scoring Stylus
Tool Holder
Single
Double
Mat-less Cutting
Yes
No
Software
Design Space
Design Space
Upload Own Design
Yes
Yes
Storage
No
Yes
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Colors
White/Turquoise
Blue, Cherry Blossom, Matte Black, Twilight, Mint, Persimmon, Rose
Cricut Joy: Best for Teachers Who Are New To Cutting
The compact Cricut Joy is great for printing super-long projects, label-making, and saving space
Teachers who are new to die-cutting will find the Cricut Joy extremely easy to use
This compact Cricut machine which you can hold in the palm of your hand can do a wide array of projects in and outside the classroom. It is best for teachers who don’t have a lot of extra space in the classroom as the Cricut Joy can easily fit in cubbies or in a tiny bag should you want to take it home.
Apart from its size, what sets the Cricut Joy apart from any other cutting machines is its ease of set-up and use, making it the perfect machine for teachers who are new to die-cutting. It is currently the only Cricut machine that features Smart Materials: labels, vinyls, and paper you can cut without having to use a cutting mat. This feature lets you feed a roll of vinyl and print up to 20-foot long projects without having to patch them together, making cutting different projects conveniently and efficiently. You can also print and cut 4-foot long individual shapes on one go. Even creating personalized cards for students has never been easier with Cricut Joy.
Print personalized cards and cut extra-long projects on one go with the Cricut Joy
If you like making labels for the classroom materials, you will get significant savings if you get the Cricut Joy + Label Making Materials Bundle. This bundle includes Smart Label paper, writeable vinyl, and various colors of fine point and extra-fine point pens for Cricut Joy. Starting with these materials alone can let you create an array of label designs for the classroom.
Cricut's most portable cutting machine lets you personalize and organize almost everything. The Cricut Joy works well for fast cutting and writing projects and lets you cut without a mat, too.
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Cricut Explore Air 2: Best For Teachers Who Want To Design Larger Projects
The Cricut Explore Air 2 offers a wider cutting space, letting teachers print bigger designs for bulletin boards, classroom decor, or T-shirt designs
The Cricut Explore Air 2 lets you cut more types of materials
Teachers who want to print bigger designs for classroom wall and window decals will benefit from the wider 12″ by 24″ cutting area offered by the Cricut Explore Air 2. The Cricut Joy is best for labels, greeting cards, tags, stickers, or long projects, but its max cutting width of 4.25 inches may seem too limiting for some. With the Explore Air 2, teachers can print and cut bigger letters and designs for classroom doors, bulletin boards, windows, or whiteboards.
In addition, the Cricut Explore Air 2 lets you cut more material types (up to 100) and has more compatible tools you can play with. It can further cut slightly thicker materials, including faux leather. The Explore Air 2 also features fast mode, letting you cut and write on different materials efficiently.
Unlike the extremely newbie-friendly Cricut Joy, the Cricut Explore Air 2 has some learning curve. This best-selling Cricut requires a cutting mat to print and cut various materials, so make sure you watch tutorials and get to know your Cricut way ahead of the start of the school year.
Create DIY designs quickly and easily with the Cricut Explore Air 2. Cut more than 100 materials twice as fast as previous Cricut models and personalize gifts, home decor and more.
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Why A Cricut Machine is Worth It: Project Inspirations for Teachers
From beautifully-labeled classroom materials to personalized pencils, here are some reasons why teachers find getting a Cricut worth it
1. Save time on transitions in style. These table bins help starting and doing group activities more efficiently, giving teachers and students more time for instruction and learning.
2. Whether it’s cards for students, co-teachers, or friends, the Cricut Joy lets you design and cut cards conveniently and quickly. Forgot that it’s Jane’s birthday today? Design and cut a birthday card in minutes using the Cricut Joy to have her classmates sign.
3. Personalize your (and other) teacher’s desk using vinyl.
4. Cricut and its wide array of materials let you personalize several items. Whether you personalize items for gifts, personal use, or even for school fundraising, it can be easily done with a Cricut cutting machine. For designing shirts and fabric, you can get the Cricut EasyPress for quick and convenient heat transfer projects.
5. Students (and parents) will love these personalized ornaments.
6. Hall passes have never been cuter. Cricut lets teachers personalize anything and everything in the classroom.
7. Save so much time from cutting giant letters like these for decorating bulletin boards or wood materials in and outside the classroom.
8. Having a classroom that works like a well-oiled machine requires organization. With these labels, students will easily find things without having to ask the teacher.
Verdict
Get the Cricut Joy if you want to design and cut smaller projects but if you want to do more with your Cricut, get the Explore Air 2
Cricut's most portable cutting machine lets you personalize and organize almost everything. The Cricut Joy works well for fast cutting and writing projects and lets you cut without a mat, too.
Create DIY designs quickly and easily with the Cricut Explore Air 2. Cut more than 100 materials twice as fast as previous Cricut models and personalize gifts, home decor and more.
We are reader supported. When you buy through our links we may earn an affiliate commission.
Whichever you decide to get for your classroom, you can’t go wrong with either the Cricut Joy or the Cricut Explore Air 2. These are the best Cricut machines for teachers as they are user-friendly and they let you design and cut a wide array of projects for the classroom at an attractive price point. At the time of writing, the Cricut Explore Air 2 is on sale and costs the same as the Cricut Joy. If you can take advantage of the sale, get the more versatile Explore Air 2. Since it has been in the market for a while, the Explore Air 2 also comes with more materials you can use.
FAQs
๐ Is a Cricut worth it for teachers?
Absolutely. As teachers, you already have a lot on your plate, so it’s helpful to have a cutting machine that lets you efficiently decorate and organize your classroom without compromising the overall look of your decor and labels.ย
๐ What can teachers do with a Cricut?
With the plethora of options, it’s hard to decide where to begin. For starters, you can print and cut classroom signs and decors for your door, announcement board, reading corner, holiday decor, etc. You can also print labels for your bins and learning centers or create customized birthday cards for students and colleagues.
๐ Does Cricut offer teacher discounts?ย
Unfortunately, Cricut has yet to offer discounts for educators. However, Cricut does offer discounts from time to time. For instance, when the Cricut Joy was released, the Cricut Maker and Explore Air 2 saw significant price reductions.ย
๐ What is the best Cricut to get for teachers?
We recommend the Cricut Joy or the Cricut Explore Air 2 for teachers. The Cricut Joy is recommended for its portability and ease of use while the Explore Air 2 wins for its value for money and versatility.ย
Managing Editor and Team Leader at Compare Before Buying. Writer and researcher passionate about people, product comparisons, culture, and current events.