Written by Paul Worrall
Cricut machines are one of the biggest Christmas buys in the craft world, and Black Friday is when their prices really move. This year is particularly interesting. Cricut launched a new generation of machines in the autumn, the Maker 5, Explore 5 and Joy 2, which means retailers are now clearing the previous models, and some of the discounts on those are the biggest I’ve seen.
I’ll be honest: I’m not a Cricut user myself. What I do know is pricing. I’ve spent sixteen years in the UK art and craft supplies industry, including nearly a decade at ARTdiscount, and I now track prices and sales across UK retailers every day. So rather than a hands-on review, this is a guide to what each machine is for, what it normally costs and what counts as a genuinely good Black Friday price.
Looking for art supply deals too? Our Black Friday art supplies deals are updated daily.
Cricut Black Friday Deals: Quick Picks
Best value overall: Cricut Maker 4 (clearance bundles)
Cheapest way to start: Cricut Joy 2
Best for stickers and T-shirts: Cricut Joy Xtra
Best all-rounder: Cricut Explore 5
Best for the latest tech: Cricut Maker 5
Best for mugs and merch: Cricut Mug Press
Prices move daily over Black Friday. The prices below were correct in mid-November and are a guide to what’s normal, so you can judge any deal you see.
When Are the Cricut Black Friday Deals?
Black Friday 2026 is on Friday 27 November, with Cyber Monday on 30 November. Retailers like Very and Amazon started cutting Cricut prices in early November, and Cricut’s own Black Friday sale usually follows in the last couple of weeks of the month.
From years of watching retail sales cycles, my advice is the same as for any big purchase: decide which machine suits you now, and buy when it hits a price you’re happy with. The clearance deals on older models in particular won’t last, because once the stock is gone, it’s gone.
The Big Story This Year: Old Models at Clearance Prices
With the new Maker 5, Explore 5 and Joy 2 now on sale, the previous Maker 4, Explore 3 and original Joy Xtra bundles are being discounted to make room. For most crafters, that’s the sweet spot. The new machines are lighter, more compact and a little more capable, but the older models still cut the same range of materials and do almost everything most people need.
In early November, for example, a Maker 4 Creative Pro bundle was down to around £399 at Very from a listed £647, and the Explore 3 was down to around £210 from £249.95. If you see prices at or below those levels over Black Friday, they’re genuinely good deals.
1. Cricut Maker 4: Best Value Overall
The Maker range is Cricut’s most capable machine, the one that can cut wood, engrave metal and handle fabric as well as the usual vinyl, card and paper. The Maker 4 was the flagship until the Maker 5 arrived, and it’s now being cleared at excelent prices, mostly in bundles with tools and materials included.
The Maker 5 is smaller, nearly 2kg lighter and handles slightly thicker materials, up to 3mm against 2.4mm, but both cut the same materials at the same top speed. Unless you specifically need the extra clearance, a heavily discounted Maker 4 bundle is the best value in the whole Cricut range this Black Friday. Around £400 or less for a Maker 4 bundle is a strong price.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
2. Cricut Joy 2: Cheapest Way to Start
The Joy 2 is the new version of Cricut’s smallest machine, designed for quick everyday projects: labels, small decals, simple cards and personalised bits and pieces. It’s compact enough to keep on a shelf and pull out when you need it.
Cricut lists the Joy 2 at £99.99 on its own, making it the cheapest way into the Cricut world. It’s a lovely starter machine, but it’s limited to smaller projects. If you think you’ll want to make stickers or T-shirts, look at the Joy Xtra instead.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
3. Cricut Joy Xtra: Best for Stickers and T-Shirts
The Joy Xtra is still compact, but it’s wider than the Joy, and crucially it can cut printed stickers. That makes it a favourite with people who want to turn their own designs into full-colour stickers, or make iron-on designs for T-shirts and tote bags.
Cricut lists it at £189.99, and it was down to around £179.99 from £219.99 at some retailers in early November. For artists who want to sell stickers of their work without spending Maker money, this is the one I’d look at first.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
4. Cricut Explore 5: Best All-Rounder
The Explore sits in the middle of the range. It cuts full 12-inch-wide materials, handles vinyl, iron-on, card, paper and printed stickers, and is built for making projects in multiples, which is useful if you’re producing things to sell. It can’t cut the thicker materials the Maker can, but for most crafters that doesn’t matter.
The new Explore 5 is listed at £199.99 on its own. The older Explore 3 was also down to around £210 in early November. If you’re choosing between the two at similar prices, go for the newer Explore 5, as you’re getting the latest model for no extra cost.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
5. Cricut Maker 5: Best for the Latest Tech
If you want the newest flagship, the Maker 5 is it. It’s about a third smaller and nearly 2kg lighter than the Maker 4, it has an open-top design that makes loading easier, and it handles materials up to 3mm thick. It’s listed at £349.99 on its own, or around £399.99 in Cricut’s Essential bundle.
Being brand new, it’s unlikely to see the deep discounts the older models are getting, so this is one to buy if you value the smaller size and latest design. If price is the priority, the Maker 4 clearance deals are hard to beat.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
6. Cricut Mug Press and EasyPress: Best for Mugs and Merch
Cricut’s heat presses are what turn cut designs into finished products. The Mug Press transfers designs onto mugs and was around £179.99 in early November, and the EasyPress range is used for T-shirts, tote bags and other fabrics. There’s also a Hat Press for caps.
They’re often bundled with machines over Black Friday, which can be a good way to save if you’re planning to make printed merch. If you already have a machine, keep an eye out for standalone deals on the presses themselves.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
Machine or Bundle?
Bundles are everywhere over Black Friday, and they can be very good value, but read what’s actually in them. Most add starter materials like vinyl, iron-on and card, basic tools and sometimes a trial of Cricut Access, Cricut’s design subscription. If you’ll use those extras, a bundle almost always works out cheaper than buying them separately later. If you won’t, the machine on its own is the better deal.
The same goes for the “worth £X” figures on bundles. That’s the total value of everything included at full price, not the price anyone actually pays. Compare the bundle price against the machine’s standalone price, plus what you’d genuinely spend on the extras.
Cricut for Artists
This is the angle I find most interesting. A lot of artists in our community use a Cricut to turn their artwork into products: full-colour stickers, vinyl decals, cards and printed T-shirts and tote bags to sell online or at craft markets. Print your design, let the Cricut cut it out, and you’ve got a product. Add a heat press and the same artwork can go onto fabric or mugs.
If you’re thinking about selling your work this way, our guides to Etsy vs Shopify for UK artists and Printful vs Printify cover where and how to sell. For printing stickers and prints at home, see our guides to the best printer for art prints and the best paper for printing art prints at home.
Where to Buy a Cricut on Black Friday
Cricut machines are sold by Cricut directly, plus Amazon, Very, Argos, John Lewis and Hobbycraft, and prices vary a lot between them, especially on bundles. Cricut’s own store tends to have the widest range of bundles, while Very and Amazon have been the places to watch for clearance prices on older models. Hobbycraft often runs its own Cricut offers in store too.
Whatever you’re buying, compare the same machine and bundle across a few retailers. It’s definitly worth ten minutes when the price differences on a £300 to £500 machine can run to £50 or more.
Cricut Black Friday Deals: FAQs
When are the Cricut Black Friday deals in the UK?
Black Friday 2026 is on Friday 27 November, with Cyber Monday on 30 November. Retailers such as Very and Amazon started discounting Cricut machines in early November, and Cricut usually runs its own Black Friday sale in the final weeks of November.
Should I buy the new Cricut Maker 5 or the Maker 4?
The Maker 5 is smaller, lighter and handles slightly thicker materials, but both machines cut the same range of materials at the same top speed. With the Maker 4 heavily discounted over Black Friday, it is excellent value if you do not need the extra clearance of the Maker 5.
Which Cricut is best for beginners?
For small projects like labels, decals and cards, the Cricut Joy 2 is the cheapest way to start. For stickers and T-shirts, the Joy Xtra is a better fit. If you want one machine that handles most everyday crafts, the Explore range is the best all-rounder.
Are Cricut bundles worth it on Black Friday?
Often, yes, but check what is included. Bundles add materials, tools and sometimes a Cricut Access subscription. If you will use the extras, a bundle usually works out cheaper than buying them separately. If not, the machine on its own may be the better deal.
Can artists use a Cricut?
Yes. Many artists use a Cricut to turn their artwork into stickers, vinyl decals, cards and printed T-shirts to sell online or at markets. The Joy Xtra and Explore machines can cut printed stickers, and a heat press lets you transfer designs onto fabric.
I’ll keep this page updated through to Cyber Monday as the deals change. For more Black Friday bargains, see our biggest price drops and our sewing machine Black Friday deals.
