Learn how to calibrate your Cricut Explore or Maker, why you should calibrate, and how often you should calibrate your cutting machine for print then cut.

When was the last time you calibrated your Cricut cutting machine? What? Never?

Do you know why you need to calibrate your Cricut cutting machine?

And do you know how often you should calibrate your machine?

Or do you even know what it means to calibrate your machine?

If you answered, "no" or "what?" to any of the above questions, don't worry. I'm gonna give you all the answers. And, if it makes you feel any better, we ALL had to learn this lesson at some point in our Cricut crafting journey.

So, let's tackle the questions one at a time so that you understand why, how, and when of calibrating your Cricut cutting machine.

Cricut Cutting Machines

As of February 2025, this is the line up of Cricut Cutting Machines. I currently use the Cricut Maker (no longer available for purchase), but I'm thinking it's time for an upgrade!

FAQs

Before we talk about how to calibrate your Cricut, let's address some of the most commonly asked questions.

Q: What does "calibrate" mean?

According to the dictionary, to calibrate means to correlate the readings of an instrument (your Cricut) with those of a standard (your printed calibration sheet) in order to check the instrument's accuracy.

Q: Why should I calibrate my Cricut cutting machine?

Print Then Cut calibration ensures your machine cuts precisely along the edge of your printed images. In other words, calibrating your machine helps to ensure you have the most accurate cuts every time.

Q: When should I calibrate my Cricut cutting machine?

You should calibrate your Cricut before using the knife blade or rotary blade for the first time. You should also calibrate your Cricut each time before you use Print then Cut. Like I said, calibrating your Cricut will give you the best and most precise Print Then Cut results.

Q: Do I need to calibrate my Cricut cutting machine every time before I use Print Then Cut?

Cricut recommends you calibrate your machine every single time before you use the Print Then Cut feature. I have to admit I don't do it every time, but if I'm working on something important, I definitely perform the calibration first.

How to Calibrate Your Cricut Explore or Maker Machine

You can calibrate your Cricut using a Windows, Mac, or iOS device. As of the time of writing this tutorial, It is not currently available for android devices.

And so, to repeat myself, calibrating your Cricut Explore, Maker, Joy, or Venture cutting machine will give you the best and most precise Print Then Cut results.

Video Tutorial

In this video, I will walk you through Cricut Design Space to calibrate your Cricut cutting machine.

How to Calibrate Your Cricut

Learn how to calibrate your Cricut Explore or Maker cutting machine.

No Ratings

Materials

printer paper

Tools

Cricut Explore or Maker
Fine Tip Blade
Light Grip Cutting Mat

Instructions

Sign in to Design Space and go to menu to select Settings.
The Design Space Settings dialog box will open.

Select the Machines tab.
Select your Cricut device from the drop down Machine Calibration menu.

Click on the Start button.
Select Print Then Cut from the Machine Calibration menu.
From the Print Then Cut Calibration screen, select your printer from the printer dropdown menu, then click on Print.
Place the printed calibration sheet on the top left corner of your cutting mat and then press the Continue button.
Select your machine from the Print Then Cut Calibration drop down menu.
Load the mat into your machine, then press the flashing Go button on your machine.
Your Cricut machine will begin to scan the calibration sheet for the calibration markings.

Once done, it will cut around the small square near the center of the sheet. DO NOT UNLOAD THE MAT. Take a look at the cut to see if the cut touches the printed line all the way around the small square.
- If it does, select Yes.
- IF you select No, Design Space will proceed to the next step. Once that step is complete, you’ll be prompted to go through the calibration once more to fine-tune it.
Cricut will begin making the calibration cuts along the top and side of the page. Once done, look closely at the lines (WITHOUT UNLOADING THE MAT) along the top and side of the page. Some of the cuts will touch the printed lines, others will not. Design Space will ask you to select which number and letter cuts are closest to the CENTER of the printed lines.

Select the Top then Right drop downs to indicate the line number or letter with cuts closest to the CENTER of the line. When done, select Continue.
Your machine will then perform a confirmation cut around the large rectangle on the calibration sheet. When it is done, unload the mat, remove the calibration sheet, and respond to the final question in Design Space.

- If you are happy with the cut, select Yes, then Continue to proceed to the final calibration screen.
- If you are not happy with the cut, select No, you will once again be guided through the calibration process to refine the calibration.
Select Close to save your calibration settings.
You are ready to Print Then Cut!

Notes

You can calibrate your Cricut Explore or Maker using a Windows, Mac, or iOS device. It is not currently available for android devices.

Recommended Products

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More Cricut Help

If you found this tutorial on How to Calibrate Your Cricut helpful, you might also like these Cricut tutorials:

Printed Cricut calibration sheet on Easy Grip mat in Cricut Explore

And if it's Cricut craft projects you like, be sure to check out these Cricut craft tutorials:

To see all the Cricut projects here on The Birch Cottage blog, just click here to go to the Cricut category page.

I hope you found this tutorial on how to calibrate your Cricut Explore or Maker machine helpful. If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.

How to Calibrate Your Cricut Explore or Maker for Print Then Cut