Owning a Cricut machine is only half the equation. The tools you use to weed, smooth, lift, and score your materials determine whether your finished project looks polished or ragged. Cricut’s own accessory line is purpose-designed to work with their machines and materials, and a few key pieces from that lineup - along with one excellent third-party option - form a toolkit that handles everything from intricate vinyl decals to scored and folded greeting cards. Here are the five best Cricut tools you should have on your craft table in 2026.
| Product | Best For | Est. Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cricut Weeding Tool Set | Removing vinyl negatives precisely | $10-$16 | ★★★★★ |
| Cricut Basic Tool Set | All-in-one starter toolkit | $20-$28 | ★★★★★ |
| Cricut Scraper & Spatula | Smoothing and lifting cuts | $8-$12 | ★★★★☆ |
| Cricut Brayer | Pressing material flat before cutting | $8-$12 | ★★★★☆ |
| Cricut Scoring Stylus | Scoring cards and paper folds | $10-$15 | ★★★★☆ |
1. Cricut Weeding Tool Set - Best for Vinyl Work
The Cricut Weeding Tool Set is the single most important accessory for vinyl and iron-on projects. The fine-tipped hook slides cleanly under cut edges without stretching or tearing, and the dual-tip design in the expanded set covers both broad weeding sweeps and intricate lettering. The ergonomic handle reduces hand fatigue during long weeding sessions, and the stainless steel tips hold their point through thousands of uses. No vinyl crafter should be without one.
2. Cricut Basic Tool Set - Best Value Bundle
The Cricut Basic Tool Set is the most cost-effective way to stock your craft table all at once. It includes the weeder, scraper, spatula, scissors, tweezers, and scoring stylus in a tidy zipper pouch. For new Cricut owners who want to cover every common task from day one, this bundle costs significantly less than buying each tool separately. The tool quality matches Cricut’s individual accessories, and the included pouch keeps everything organized.
3. Cricut Scraper and Spatula - Best for Mat Management
The Cricut Scraper and Spatula are often sold together and work as a pair for different stages of the cutting process. The scraper has a firm, flat edge that presses vinyl and cardstock firmly onto the mat before cutting and cleans dried adhesive off the mat after use, extending mat life considerably. The spatula’s thin, flexible blade slides under delicate cuts - thin paper, intricate lace designs, tiny text - and lifts them off the mat without tearing.
4. Cricut Brayer - Best for Preventing Lift-Off
The Cricut Brayer is a small foam roller that solves one of the most common causes of ruined cuts: material lifting off the mat mid-project. Roll it over your vinyl, fabric, or sticker paper before cutting and the material adheres evenly with no air pockets. It’s particularly valuable when working with lightweight materials like tissue paper or thin printable sticker paper that tend to catch the blade. At under $12, it’s an inexpensive way to prevent expensive material waste.
5. Cricut Scoring Stylus - Best for Card and Paper Projects
The Cricut Scoring Stylus fits into the accessory clamp on Explore and Maker machines and creates precise fold lines on cardstock and paper without cutting through. Use it for greeting cards, envelopes, gift boxes, and origami-style paper projects. Design Space has built-in scoring line tools that automatically route the stylus along your fold paths, making it straightforward to incorporate scored folds into complex multi-piece designs.
What to Look For
- Material match - Choose weeding tools with the right tip gauge for your work; fine tips for intricate lettering, broader hooks for large vinyl shapes.
- Ergonomics - Tools you use for extended sessions (weeding, especially) should have a comfortable grip to reduce hand fatigue.
- Bundle vs. individual - The Basic Tool Set is the best value if you’re starting out; individual tools make more sense for replacing or upgrading specific pieces.
- Build quality - Stainless steel tips and rigid plastic handles outlast cheaper off-brand alternatives; Cricut’s own tools strike a good balance of quality and price.
Final Thoughts
Every Cricut crafter needs at minimum a weeder, scraper, spatula, and scissors - the Cricut Basic Tool Set delivers all of these in one purchase. Add the brayer once you start working with thinner or more delicate materials, and pick up the scoring stylus when your projects expand into cards and paper goods. With these five tools on your craft table, you’re equipped for virtually any Cricut project.
Frequently asked questions
What Cricut tools do I need to get started?+
The four most essential Cricut tools are the weeder, scraper, spatula, and scissors. The weeder removes negative vinyl pieces, the scraper smooths material onto the mat, the spatula lifts delicate cuts without tearing, and scissors trim materials to size. These four tools cover the majority of vinyl, iron-on, and cardstock projects.
What does a Cricut brayer do?+
A Cricut brayer is a small handheld roller that presses material firmly and evenly onto the cutting mat before you start cutting. Using a brayer prevents materials from lifting mid-cut, which is especially important for thin vinyl, fabric, and printable sticker paper. It takes just a few seconds and significantly reduces wasted cuts.
Is the Cricut scoring stylus different from the scoring wheel?+
Yes. The scoring stylus fits in the accessory clamp of Explore and Maker machines and creates a light score line for folding paper and cardstock. The scoring wheel (Maker-only) uses a wheel tip that creates a deeper, cleaner score line on heavier materials like thick cardstock, chipboard, and kraft board. For most card-making projects, the stylus is sufficient.