There are so many types of vinyl for Cricut that you will always be able to find what you need for any new project. If you are just starting out though, figuring out what vinyl you need can seem overly complicated.
Then, you end up wondering if you need official branded Cricut vinyl. Can you get other brands of vinyl? Are some vinyls better than others?
In this article, I break down vinyl so you leave understanding the basic differences. No more vinyl confusion stopping you from the fun part of working / playing with your Cricut!
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Two Main Types of Vinyl For Cricut Projects
How many types of vinyl for Cricut are there? Ultimately, all vinyl can be broken down into one of only two main types of vinyl for Cricut projects.
Based on their application methods, vinyls are either adhesive or heat transfer. Adhesive vinyls are applied directly to physical items through their sticky backing. For example, classic stickers and wall decals use adhesive material. Meanwhile, heat transfer vinyls use higher temperatures to fuse the the vinyl to the item. Iron-on vinyls are typically the type you will see used for any type of fabric, like when making t-shirts.
When you shop for vinyl, you will notice additional category breakdowns within the two main types of vinyl for Cricut.
Before getting confused with them, it's important to first know whether you need adhesive or heat transfer vinyl for your project.
It's important to first know whether you need adhesive or heat transfer vinyl for your project.
Different brands may have different names and labels across their vinyl selection. So, by recognizing the biggest and most important difference between adhesive and heat transfer, you set yourself up for success. No matter what brand vinyl you end up trying with your Cricut Maker!
Plus, the great news is that you can find all of the colors, glitter, and patterns for each vinyl application type. I'll even show you my favorite, absolute best places to buy vinyl for Cricut crafters!
All about Adhesive Vinyl
Adhesive-backed vinyl, or adhesive vinyl, is one of the most popular materials for both new and experienced Cricut makers. To apply, you simply use pressure to press-on the decal and flush up against a flat, smooth surface. Often, for larger or complex cuts, you use transfer tape to pick up the cut design from its paper backing and stick to its final home without damage in between.
Within this category, most brands offer several options of “stickiness,” which is why you may see some people say that there are three types of vinyl instead of two.
At the simplest level, we can say that adhesive vinyls are broken down into two more categories: permanent vinyl and removable vinyl. From there, the differences are only in color, style, patterns, etc.
So, let's first look at the difference between permanent and removable vinyl.
Permanent Adhesive Vinyl
Permanent vinyl is the stronger type of adhesive vinyl, meant to last on projects both indoor and out. For instance, sellers on Etsy making custom tumblers are using permanent vinyl. If you are shopping for permanent vinyl at a craft store, you will typically only see one strength, simply labeled as the “permanent vinyl” on the shelf. Despite it's name, it can be removed if necessary, but will likely leave damage and sticky goo behind when trying to peel off of painted walls, for example.
However, one fact that confused me for the longest time was in shopping for Oracal vinyl online. As a premium and professional-level vinyl supplier, Oracal has several industrial strength vinyl options for sale. I could not figure out which I needed, and how they compared with the Cricut and other craft brands! Don't get too tied up in deciphering Oracal 651 vs Oracal 751 (and all the others) like I did!
Go to a craft shop and it will be easier, I promise. Or, shop online somewhere crafters love (my personal favorite is Expressions Vinyl) and you can navigate with their foolproof menu! Each of the three brands below are permanent vinyl brands I know, love and trust and you can get them all at Expressions Vinyl for similar pricing.
Removable Adhesive Vinyl
Removable vinyl goes by many different names across brands. Some refer to it as “non-permanent vinyl,” while some call it temporary vinyl. Removable vinyl by any name is intended to stick onto an object, but later be removed without damaging it. An easy example of this would be wall decals. When you makeover a room with wall decals made with removable vinyl, they stick great. But later, when you want to change up your interior, the decals should remove without any damage to the paint on your wall. Note that removable vinyl is not intended to be reused after it has been removed. It may work once or twice, but it will lose stickiness and is not promoted as a “continuous use” type of vinyl.
Some projects definitively need permanent vinyl if you want the item to last. Other projects are highly recommended to be used with removable. And still others balance on the fence and could actually be made with either type of vinyl, depending on preference.
Car decals come to mind as an example. Some crafters are happy to make car window decals with temporary vinyl because they don't mind when or if the decal falls off. Or, they plan to use it on an interior window. Meanwhile, sports fans who buy a permanent decal for their back truck window will want a high-strength permanent vinyl that can withstand all of the outdoor weather.
All About Heat Transfer Vinyl
Heat Transfer Vinyl, or “HTV,” is also referred to as “iron-on vinyl” or “t-shirt vinyl.” As the name implies, it uses heat, typically with a heat press or iron, to apply the cut design onto the material.
Iron-on vinyl projects often need to be mirrored in Design Space, because the final image will be reversed when placed. The clear carrier sheet needed to buffer between the heat source and the vinyl itself is already attached as a clear layer on the HTV when you purchase it.
HTV is commonly used on a variety of fabric projects, from adult Koozies to baby Onesies. It is made to be washable when following some simple rules of thumb to keep it in good condition.
My absolute favorite heat transfer vinyl is Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl. It weeds easily – like the name says – and is thin but high quality for a perfect meld to the fabric. You can find it online at Expressions Vinyl or straight from Amazon.
All heat transfer vinyl tends to be slightly more expensive than adhesive vinyls. So if you are cost comparing different craft shops and vinyl brands, make sure you are comparing apples to apples!
Popular Brands of Vinyl For Cricut Projects
Some of the most popular brands of vinyl can be found at most hobby and craft stores. These include:
- Cricut
- Siser
- Oracal
- Paper Studio
Large box retailers like Michaels and Hobby Lobby typically have at least two of these brands on shelves at all times.
Additionally, a handful of online vinyl suppliers now offer their own brands of vinyl that many crafters trust and turn to. While Cricut brand is always quality, when it comes to vinyl, some of our secret brands are really
Personally, I now get ALL of my vinyl from Expressions Vinyl and I can't recommend them enough. It doesn't matter whether I buy the Expressions Vinyl brand, or the Siser and Oracal brands they also sell. At this point, I know I can mix and match anything in their shop and be satisfied with the quality when I use it.
What about the other “off brand” or “unbranded” vinyl on Amazon?
I admit, I tried many of those when I first got my Cricut Maker, because they were so inexpensive! But, I will say that in the area of vinyl, I highly recommend you do not skimp on cost. The “cheap vinyl options” on Amazon are equally cheap in quality, and really not all that much lower in price! I once bought a rose gold glitter HTV from a random seller on Amazon. Looking back now, no wonder it felt like it was never going to stick to my fabric. It was ridiculously thick and crappy!
Cricut Coaching Moment
New specialty vinyls are coming out so often that it can be hard to keep track. There are now printable vinyls, blackboard vinyls, glow-in-the-dark vinyls and so much more to use with your Cricut. When you buy quality vinyl from reputable places, you will have more inspiration than you can imagine. And just like most craft supplies, there's one more big secret.
The more vinyl you buy at a time, the cheaper it is per foot.
