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Cricut Joy 2 review

Name: Cricut Joy 2
Brand: Cricut

By Justin · Updated September 25, 2026

Research-based review. This model has not been hands-on tested by CraftGearGuide.

Quick verdict

CraftGearGuide editorial score7.0/10

The Joy 2 is a palm-size cutter for labels, cards and narrow decals. It adds print then cut and a scoring tool, both new for the Joy line. The 4.5-inch width is the catch: stickers come out in narrow strips, and anything wider needs a bigger machine.

Buy it if

You want labels, name decals, cards and small gifts with almost no setup.
You have very little space, or want to carry the machine around.
You want the lowest-cost way into Cricut's app and materials.

Skip it if

You want to make full sticker sheets. Its print area is 3.19 in wide.
You want shirt designs or decals wider than 4.5 in.
You want to cut foam or magnet sheet. Jennifer Maker says it doesn't.

Check price on AmazonLinks to a bundle with extra materials. Specs here are for the machine.

Specs

Max cut width (matless)	4.5 in (Cricut Smart Materials)
Max length (matless)	4 ft (Smart Materials)
Max cut area on mat	4.2 x 6.2 in (small mat); 4.2 x 11.7 in (large mat)
Print-then-cut max (US Letter)	9.94 x 3.19 in; Design Space splits a page across two mats
Max material thickness	Not stated by Cricut
Tools	Cutting blade, Scoring Tool, pens (foil tool sold separately)
Cutting tool in the box	Cutting blade
Also in the box	Scoring Tool, dual-sided black marker, 4.5 x 6.5 in LightGrip mat, power adapter
Claimed cut speed	5.3 in/s
Connectivity	Bluetooth
Design software	Cricut Design Space (desktop and mobile)
Subscription	Not required to cut; paid Cricut Access unlocks the full library and some features
Size (W x D x H)	9.1 x 5.4 x 2.8 in
Weight	2.7 lb
Warranty (US)	1-year limited

Specs checked against Cricut's product page and help documents on September 25, 2026. Values are manufacturer claims unless marked otherwise. Box contents are for the maker's standard machine package; Amazon listings and bundles can include more.

Advantages and limitations

Advantages

Tiny: 9.1 x 5.4 x 2.8 in and 2.7 lb.
Print then cut and scoring, both new to the Joy line.
Up to 4 ft long matless with Smart Materials.
Scoring Tool, a marker and a 4.5 x 6.5 in mat in the machine-only box.

Limitations

4.5 in maximum width (4.2 in on a mat).
Print then cut limited to 9.94 x 3.19 in on Letter, split across two mats.
Tom's Guide had a vinyl misfeed and early app bugs.
Bluetooth only.

What's new

Cricut launched the Joy 2 on February 27, 2026, alongside the Explore 5. The two big additions are print then cut, for full-color stickers, and a scoring tool for folded cards. Jennifer Maker reports it's about 30% smaller than the original Joy, and Cricut now lists only the Joy 2 and Joy Xtra as current Joy machines.

Sizes, and the 4.5-inch ceiling

Cricut lists 4.2 x 6.2 in on the small mat, 4.2 x 11.7 in on the large mat, and 4.5 in x 4 ft matless with Smart Materials. That makes the Joy 2 a machine for narrow things: labels, name decals, bookmarks, card fronts and small iron-on designs.

Print then cut, in strips

Cricut's help center gives the Joy 2's print-then-cut limit as 9.94 x 3.19 in on US Letter and 10.62 x 3.07 in on A4. Cricut's Joy 2 guide says Design Space splits a printed page into two halves on two mats.

Worked example: 2-inch round stickers

Each sticker plus a 0.1 in gap needs 2.1 in. Across the 3.19 in width: 3.19 / 2.1 = 1.5, so 1 sticker. Down the 9.94 in length: 9.94 / 2.1 = 4.7, so 4 stickers. That's 4 per mat. On a Joy Xtra or Explore 5, the same stickers fit 3 across and 4 down: 12 in one pass.

Calculated estimate. Assumes 2.0 in circles, 0.1 in spacing and no bleed. Design Space may space items differently.

What independent testers found

Tom's Guide's Lucy Scotting tested vinyl decals, stickers and cards from the Essentials bundle. She liked the size, the new sticker sensor and the automatic loading. She also hit problems: a vinyl misalignment that chewed the material, bugs in the early Design Space beta, and some trial and error getting scored cards right. Her verdict was that it's hard to beat for occasional beginners, but not meant for power users or small businesses. That matches the spec sheet.

How it compares

The Joy Xtra is the obvious step up: nearly twice the width and full Letter-width print then cut.

Specs side by side. Values are manufacturer claims unless marked otherwise.
Spec	Cricut Joy 2	Cricut Joy Xtra	Cricut Explore 5
CraftGearGuide editorial score	7.0/10	8.0/10	8.5/10
Max cut width (matless)	4.5 in (Cricut Smart Materials)	8.5 in (Cricut Smart Materials)	11.7 in (Cricut Smart Materials)
Max length (matless)	4 ft (Smart Materials)	4 ft (Smart Materials)	12 ft (Smart Materials)
Max cut area on mat	4.2 x 6.2 in (small mat); 4.2 x 11.7 in (large mat)	8.2 x 11.7 in	11.5 x 11.5 in (12 x 12 mat); about 11.5 x 23.5 in (12 x 24 mat, per Jennifer Maker)
Print-then-cut max (US Letter)	9.94 x 3.19 in; Design Space splits a page across two mats	9.94 x 7.44 in	9.94 x 7.44 in
Max material thickness	Not stated by Cricut	Not stated by Cricut	Not stated by Cricut; about 1.5 mm with the optional Deep Cutting Tool (per Jennifer Maker)
Tools	Cutting blade, Scoring Tool, pens (foil tool sold separately)	Blade, Foil Transfer Kit, pens and markers (one tool clamp)	6 compatible; one tool clamp plus a snap-in pen holder
Connectivity	Bluetooth	Bluetooth	Bluetooth; USB cable included
Subscription	Not required to cut; paid Cricut Access unlocks the full library and some features	Not required to cut; paid Cricut Access unlocks the full library and some features	Not required to cut; paid Cricut Access unlocks the full library and some features
Size (W x D x H)	9.1 x 5.4 x 2.8 in	12.5 x 6 x 5.5 in	19.8 x 7.5 x 4.7 in
Weight	2.7 lb	6 lb	About 10 lb (per Jennifer Maker; not on Cricut's page)
Links	Check price on AmazonBundle listing	Check price on AmazonBundle listingCricut Joy Xtra review	Check price on AmazonBundle listingCricut Explore 5 review

Questions

Can the Cricut Joy 2 make stickers?: Yes. Print then cut is new on the Joy 2, but the image can be at most 9.94 x 3.19 in on US Letter, and Cricut says Design Space splits the job across two mats.
How is the Joy 2 different from the original Cricut Joy?: Cricut added print then cut and scoring. Jennifer Maker reports it's about 30% smaller. Cricut no longer lists the original Joy among its current Joy machines.
Does the Joy 2 need a computer?: No. Cricut says it connects by Bluetooth to a phone, tablet or computer running Design Space, and it needs an internet connection for setup and Print Then Cut.
Can it cut iron-on for T-shirts?: Yes, for designs up to 4.5 in wide, like pocket logos, names and kids' designs.

Bottom line

The Joy 2 is a good fit for labels, cards and small personalization jobs, and its size is a real advantage. For sticker sheets or anything wider than 4.5 inches, the Joy Xtra is worth the step up.