The new Cricut Maker 5 is here: 5 things crafters need to know

The crafting world is buzzing: Cricut has officially unveiled the new Maker 5, billing it as their most versatile smart cutting machine yet.

Having attended several workshops with the Cricut team recently, introducing this technology into our home has been a bit of a revelation. My daughter recently made her 13th birthday party invitations on ours. (Being a digital native, she has totally surpassed me as she susses out everything it can do.) As I hit menopause and she navigates the teenage years, having this shared, creative outlet has been genuinely joyous. We've taken over my eldest son’s old bedroom while he’s away at Uni, turning it into an anxiety-melting sanctuary where our brains buzz with the experience of trying something new.

We absolutely love our current machine, but the Maker 5 announcement has definitely caught our attention. As someone who knows exactly what makes these gadgets brilliant – and what features home crafters have been desperately waiting for – I’ve been poring over the newly announced specs.

So, does it actually warrant an upgrade or justify taking the plunge for the first time? If you're contemplating buying a Cricut cutting machine for the first time or upgrading one you already own, here are the five things I think you need to know about the newest launch.

1. It cuts thicker materials than ever

The standout feature of the Maker 5 is its advanced cutting and engraving capabilities. It can now handle compatible materials up to 3 mm thick – a 25% increase compared with the previous generation’s 2.4 mm limit. For us, this opens up entirely new project possibilities. In fact, my daughter and I are already plotting our first Maker 5 make: we're thinking of ditching the usual plastic-filled party bags for her birthday and creating personalised engraved make-up mirrors for her friends instead. This extra clearance means custom creations like this will have far more depth, dimension, and durability than we could previously achieve.

2. It takes up less space

If you are a ‘kitchen table crafter’ without a dedicated studio, finding space for a cutting machine and all your materials can be a real challenge. The Maker 5 is 30% more compact than previous models. While we’re lucky enough to have claimed my son’s old bedroom for our crafting sessions, I love that this new, stylish blue colourway won't completely dominate the space, while maintaining the 12-inch cutting performance and precision that Cricut is famous for.

3. It cuts almost any material

Versatility is where this machine really earns its keep. Compatible with more than 300 materials and 13 specialised tools, the Maker 5 doesn’t just cut and engrave. It writes, draws, foils, scores, debosses, and embosses. Thanks to brilliant improvements to its adaptive tool system, you can seamlessly switch from delicate crepe paper to heavy-duty materials like wood, leather, and acrylic. It’s exactly this flexibility that gets our brains buzzing with new ideas – from those engraved mirrors to custom clothing. As Cricut CEO Ashish Arora explains: “Cricut Maker 5 is about giving people the confidence and capability to make more of what they imagine... empowering people to turn more of their ideas into meaningful, personalised things.”

4. It's incredibly beginner-friendly

If you're worried about the technical learning curve, don't be. The Maker 5 works seamlessly with recent enhancements to Cricut Design Space™, which now offers a step-by-step process through guided flows and prompts. It even features AI-powered tools to help you turn ideas into reality. This is brilliant for me, as while my daughter intuitively susses out the digital side of things, I sometimes need a bit more hand-holding. With an expanding Cricut Access™ library boasting over 1.75 million images and thousands of ready-to-make templates, building your crafting confidence has never been easier.

5. It's better value than before

Historically, a cutting machine was a hefty investment, but Cricut is offering exceptional value here. Designed to welcome a new generation of makers, the Maker Bundle is launching at a much more accessible £399 (a brilliant saving compared to previous models that started at £449).

If you want the absolute best start, the Ultimate Bundle is the one I'd go for. Rather than buying advanced tools separately, this bundle includes the Engraving Tip, Knife Blade, Deep Point Blade, and Rotary Blade so you can jump straight into cutting even thick materials right away.

I literally cannot wait for Christmas, but friends and family beware: it is going to be a decidedly crafty one around here!