How to Load a Cricut Machine

On this page (8 sections)

1. How do you get the material ready before loading?
2. How do you load a cutting mat into the machine?
3. Which way does the mat go in?
4. How do you line up the design with the mat?
5. What do the load buttons and clamp lever do?
6. Why does the mat feed in crooked, and how do you fix it?
7. How do you unload and store the mat after cutting?
8. What should you check before every load?

To load a Cricut machine, place your material flat on the mat, line the mat up with the guide rails, and feed it in until the rollers grip it evenly. Then press Load or lower the clamp lever so the machine knows where the mat starts.

A square load is the difference between a clean cut and a design that drifts off the edge.

This guide covers how to load a Cricut machine for mat cutting and matless cutting, how to keep the material flat and stuck down, and what to check when the mat feeds in crooked. The steps are the same across Explore and Maker models, with one lever or button standing in for the other.

How do you get the material ready before loading?

Start with clean hands, a flat mat and material cut to fit. Peel the clear cover off the mat's sticky side and set the cover aside for storage.

Dust, lint and fingerprints on the adhesive are the main reason material shifts mid-cut.

Lay the material on the mat and press it down from the center outward. Run a brayer or your palm across the whole sheet so every corner sticks.

Curled paper or vinyl is the usual cause of a crooked feed, so flatten it first.

Trim the material to the mat's size or smaller. A sheet that overhangs the edge catches on the guide rails and pulls the mat off line.

Leave the border clear if the design needs a margin.

The LightGrip mat pack suits paper, thin cardstock and printable materials. Heavier vinyl, cardstock or fabric needs a stronger grip, so match the mat to the material rather than forcing a light mat to hold something it wasn't made for.

How do you load a cutting mat into the machine?

Slide the mat into the machine between the guide rails until the rollers grab it, then press Load. Keep the mat's edges parallel to the rails as it goes in.

The machine pulls it the rest of the way.

1. Turn the machine on and let it connect to Design Space.
2. Lift the carriage or open the clamp so the blade can reach the mat.
3. Feed the mat in from the front, sticky side up and material facing the blade.
4. Stop when the mat is under the rollers and feels held on both sides.
5. Press Load, or lower the lever on machines that use one, and let the machine pull the mat to its start position.

Feed it slowly. Shoving the mat in at an angle is the most common way to get a skewed load, and the machine can't correct a mat that went in crooked.

On the Cricut Explore 5 Essential bundle, the simplified interface prompts you through the same steps on screen.

Which way does the mat go in?

The mat goes in sticky side up, with the material facing the blade. The cutting edge comes down from the carriage above, so the design side has to face upward.

A mat loaded upside down cuts into the back of the material and can scrape the mat's surface.

Line the mat up so the top edge points toward the machine. The numbered grid on the mat helps you keep the design aligned with the mat's origin corner.

Design Space tells you which corner to use, so follow that rather than guessing.

If the mat won't slide in smoothly, stop. A warped mat or one with a raised edge will catch and feed crooked.

Check the rails for debris and flatten the mat before trying again.

How do you line up the design with the mat?

Place the design in Design Space first, then match the material to where the machine will cut. The software shows the mat layout on screen, so you can see which corner the design sits in.

Put the material in that same corner on the physical mat.

Leave a small margin at the edges. Cutting right up to the border risks the blade running off the material, and it also makes the mat wear out faster along the edge.

Center small pieces so the pressure stays even.

For print-then-cut projects, the machine reads the registration marks printed on the sheet. Keep those marks clear of the mat's edge and load the sheet square, or the sensor won't find them.

A crooked load here sends the whole cut off the printed image.

How do you load matless materials?

Feed matless materials straight into the rollers, lining the edge up with the guides. Smart Vinyl and other Smart Materials skip the mat, so the material's own edge becomes the alignment line.

Keep that edge flat and straight.

Slide the material in until the rollers hold it, then press Load. The machine measures the width and starts cutting from the edge.

A bent or ragged edge feeds crooked, so trim it square first.

Matless cutting saves a mat and suits long cuts, but it leaves less room for error. Straighten the material before loading and keep your hands off it once the rollers take hold.

What do the load buttons and clamp lever do?

Load feeds the mat in and holds it in place; Unload releases it when the job ends. The clamp lever or carriage lock does the same job on machines that use a lever instead of a button.

Both tell the machine the mat is ready and where its start point is.

Press Load only after the mat sits square between the rails. The machine pulls it to the cutting position and waits for you to send the design.

If you press Load with the mat at an angle, unload and start over rather than letting the cut begin.

When the job finishes, press Unload before lifting the mat. Pulling a still-clamped mat can drag the material against the blade and tear the design.

Let the machine release it first.

Why does the mat feed in crooked, and how do you fix it?

A crooked feed usually comes from a curled mat, a dusty surface or a mat pushed in at an angle. Fix the cause before the next load, because the machine can't straighten a mat once the rollers grab it.

• A curled mat: flatten it under a book or reload it after storing it flat.
• Dust or lint on the rails: wipe them clean so the mat slides evenly.
• Material overhanging the edge: trim it so nothing catches on the guides.
• A mat shoved in fast: feed it slowly and watch both edges against the rails.
• A worn mat with a lifted edge: replace it, since the raised lip will catch every time.

If a cut still drifts, unload and reload before sending the design again. Re-running the same crooked load just repeats the problem.

Check the mat's edges against the rails each time you load, and the feed stays square.

How do you unload and store the mat after cutting?

Press Unload, lift the mat out flat, and peel the material away slowly from a corner. Rushing this step is how cuts tear and how mats lose their grip early.

Pull the mat toward you as you peel, so the material curls away from the adhesive.

Put the clear cover back on the mat when you're done. The cover keeps dust off the adhesive, which is what keeps the mat reusable.

Store mats flat, not rolled or stacked under heavy items, so the edges stay straight for the next load.

Wipe the mat with a light touch when it stops holding material. The Cricut Essential Tool Set includes a scraper and a weeder that help lift leftover pieces and clean the surface without gouging it.

A mat that still won't hold after cleaning is ready to replace.

What should you check before every load?

Check four things: the mat is flat, the material is stuck down, the edges line up with the rails, and the blade is the right one for the material. A minute of checking saves a ruined sheet and a wasted mat.

The LightGrip mat pack gives you 6 reusable 12 in x 12 in mats for paper and light cardstock, so you can keep one loaded while another dries after cleaning. Swap mats between materials rather than forcing one mat to handle everything.

Once the mat is loaded, let the machine do the rest. For projects beyond flat cutting, see whether you can use dies in a Cricut and our picks for Cricut machines for t-shirts.

If you're still deciding on a machine, our Cricut Joy 2 review covers the compact option, and how to choose the right Cricut machine walks through the full range.

Frequently asked questions

Which side of the cutting mat goes face up?

The sticky side goes up. Peel the clear cover off the top, press your material onto that tacky surface, and keep the cover for storage so dust doesn't dull the adhesive.

How do I know the mat is loaded straight?

The mat should sit flat between the guide rails with its edges parallel to them. If one corner lifts or the mat feels tight on one side, pull it out and reload it before you press Go.

Can you load a Cricut machine without a mat?

Yes, on machines that accept matless cutting. Smart Vinyl and other Smart Materials feed directly through the rollers with no mat, but the material still has to line up with the guides before you load it.

Why does my Cricut keep pulling the mat in crooked?

A mat that's curled, dusty or pushed in at an angle is the usual cause. Flatten it, keep the edges against the guides, and feed it in slowly until both rollers grip evenly.

What do the load and unload buttons do?

Load feeds the mat in and holds it in position for cutting. Unload releases it when the job is done so you can lift the mat out without dragging the material against the blade.