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Exact size for the plotter, and a grip level for the material

The best plotter cutting mats for 2026

A cutting mat holds material flat and still while a plotter cuts it, and it is a consumable that loses grip with use. Size and machine fit come first: the mat has to match the plotter's feed width and length, and the listing should name compatible machines. Grip level is the key specification — light grip for paper and thin card, standard grip for vinyl and cardstock, strong grip for thick card, fabric and chipboard — and makers mark it by colour, which differs between brands. Material suitability follows from grip: too much tack tears thin paper, too little lets heavy material shift mid-cut. Grid markings help place material where the design sits in the software. Pack contents often mix grip levels. The protective film keeps the adhesive clean between uses and should be kept. Care advice — cleaning, restoring tack, avoiding heat — is the maker's and extends the mat's life. Fabric mats and mats for specific materials are separate products with their own grip. We compare size and machine fit, grip level, material suitability, grid markings, pack contents, film and care advice.

The parts and materials worth a place on the bench

  1. Three transparent StandardGrip mats with inch grids, labelled 8 in × 12 in (20.32 × 30.48 cm)

    Prime Vinyl Standard grip cutting mats 30.5 × 20.3 cm for Silhouette Portrait, 3 pack

    Three transparent standard grip cutting mats from Prime Vinyl, 30.5 × 20.3 cm (12 × 8 in) with a grid, made for Silhouette Portrait cutting machines, holding vinyl, craft paper, sticker paper and light card, in reusable PVC with a protective film.

    Size and machine fit
    30.5 × 20.3 cm (12 × 8 in) for Silhouette Portrait cutting machines, title and first bullet; Silhouette Cameo named in the fourth and fifth bullets
    Grip level
    Standard grip, title and first and second bullets
    Material suitability
    Vinyl, craft paper, sticker paper and light card, second bullet
    Grid markings
    Gridded, title; the product photograph shows an inch grid
    Pack contents
    3 transparent mats, title and first bullet
    Film
    Protective film to put back after use, fifth bullet
    Care advice
    Replace the film after use; remove residue carefully with a spatula, fifth bullet
    Amazon reference
    B0DG8V8P5J (same reference on 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0769047696996
    • The Silhouette Portrait size: 12 × 8 in
    • Materials for standard grip named
    • Portrait in the title, Cameo in the bullets

    Best for: A Silhouette Portrait cutting machine owner replacing worn standard mats.

    ≈ 10 €
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  2. Three white mats labelled Standard Adhesive with black inch grids and a note for Silhouette Cameo 3 and other cutters

    LCOUACEO Standard grip cutting mats 12 × 12 in for Silhouette Cameo 1–4, 3 pack

    Three standard grip PVC cutting mats from LCOUACEO, 12 × 12 in with an overall size of 34.5 × 32.5 cm and translucent black grid lines, for Silhouette Cameo 1, 2, 3 and 4 cutting machines, with a light adhesive in the grid area and a protective film.

    Size and machine fit
    12 × 12 in cutting area, 34.5 × 32.5 cm overall, for Silhouette Cameo 1, 2, 3 and 4 and other digital cutting machines, title and second and fourth bullets
    Grip level
    Standard grip, light adhesive in the grid area, title and first and second bullets
    Material suitability
    Stickers, embossed and light card, card, patterned paper, iron-on and vinyl, fifth bullet
    Grid markings
    Translucent black measuring lines, third bullet
    Pack contents
    3 cutting mats, fifth bullet
    Film
    Protective film to remove before use and replace after, fourth bullet
    Care advice
    Put the film back after use to keep dust off the adhesive, fourth bullet
    Amazon reference
    B0BR28FKHG (same reference on 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0754008156312
    • Overall size given: 34.5 × 32.5 cm
    • Black grid lines for measuring
    • Standard grip only

    Best for: A Silhouette Cameo 3 or 4 cutting machine owner who wants spare standard mats with clear grid lines.

    ≈ 13 €
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  3. Three blue RANCOVY LightGrip mats with grids marked to 12 in and 30 cm

    RANCOVY LightGrip cutting mats for Cricut Maker and Explore, 3 pack

    Three LightGrip self-adhesive cutting mats from RANCOVY with grid lines, for Cricut Maker 4, Maker 3, Maker, Explore 5, 4, 3, Air 2, Air and One cutting machines, holding office paper, printable fabric, light card, thin scrapbook paper, gift wrap and vinyl, in PVC with a protective film.

    Size and machine fit
    Size absent from the listing text — the grid in the product photograph runs to 12 in on both edges; Cricut Maker 4, Maker 3, Maker, Explore 5, 4, 3, Air 2, Air and One cutting machines, first bullet
    Grip level
    LightGrip, title and second bullet
    Material suitability
    Office paper, printable fabric, light card, thin scrapbook paper, gift wrap, Vinyl 651 and heat transfer vinyl, second bullet
    Grid markings
    Exact grid lines, first bullet
    Pack contents
    3 mats, title and first bullet
    Film
    Transparent protective film, fifth bullet
    Care advice
    Scrape off excess with a scraper, lift cuts with a spatula, keep the film on after use, fifth bullet
    Amazon reference
    B09TVP4X1X (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0762102992095
    • Light grip for thin paper and printable fabric
    • Cricut cutting plotter models named one by one
    • Mat size readable only from the photographed grid

    Best for: A Cricut Maker or Explore cutting machine owner cutting thin paper who has confirmed the mat size elsewhere.

    ≈ £11 / 13 €
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  4. Three gridded mats: blue labelled LightGrip, purple labelled StrongGrip, and green also labelled StrongGrip, its film peeled back

    AOOIIN Cutting mats 12 × 12 in, light, standard and strong grip, for Cricut cutting plotters, 3 pack

    Three 12 × 12 in PVC cutting mats from AOOIIN, one each of light, standard and strong grip, for Cricut Explore 5, 4, 3, One, Air and Air 2 and Maker, Maker 3 and Maker 4 cutting machines, with a clear film to keep on in storage.

    Size and machine fit
    12 × 12 in, for Cricut Explore 5, 4, 3, One, Air, Air 2, Maker, Maker 3 and Maker 4 cutting machines, title and first bullet
    Grip level
    Light, standard and strong grip, first bullet
    Material suitability
    Card, construction paper, printable fabric and iron-on, pearl paper, printer paper, parchment, vinyl, washi sheets, window film, fourth bullet
    Grid markings
    Absent from the listing text — the product photograph shows inch grids
    Pack contents
    3 mats of 12 × 12 in, first bullet; in the product photograph the green mat is labelled StrongGrip, like the purple one
    Film
    Clear film, fifth bullet
    Care advice
    Keep the clear film on in storage to keep off paper scraps and dust, fifth bullet
    Amazon reference
    B08PSKT5MT (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0738629607033
    • Three grip levels in one pack
    • Cricut cutting plotter models named one by one
    • Two mats labelled StrongGrip in the photograph, none StandardGrip

    Best for: A Cricut Maker or Explore cutting machine owner who wants to try all three grips before buying more of one.

    ≈ $10 / £11 / 13 €
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  5. Three long gridded mats in green, blue and purple, the purple one printed with a grip colour key

    QWORK Cutting mats 30.5 × 61 cm, light, standard and strong grip, for Cricut Maker and Explore Air 2, 3 pack

    Three 30.5 × 61 cm cutting mats from QWORK in light, standard and strong grip, for Cricut Maker, Explore Air 2, Air and One cutting machines, with light grip for paper, standard for card and vinyl, and strong for thick card and bonded fabric.

    Size and machine fit
    30.5 × 61 cm, for Cricut Maker, Explore Air 2, Air and One cutting machines, title and first and second bullets
    Grip level
    Light grip, standard grip and strong grip, first bullet
    Material suitability
    Light grip: paper, board and light materials; standard: card, vinyl and medium materials; strong: thick card and reinforced fabric, third to fifth bullets
    Grid markings
    Absent from the listing text — the product photograph shows grids and a colour key: blue light, green standard, pink fabric, purple strong
    Pack contents
    3 mats, title and first bullet
    Film
    Absent from the listing
    Care advice
    Absent from the listing
    Amazon reference
    B0F6XG7S7K (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0795973945013
    • The long 30.5 × 61 cm format
    • Each grip matched to materials
    • No grid, film or care advice

    Best for: A Cricut Maker or Explore Air 2 cutting machine owner cutting long banners or borders.

    ≈ 16 €
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  6. Eight Lya Vinyl mats fanned out — purple Strong, pink Fabric, five green Standard, blue Light — with a yellow scraper

    Lya Vinyl Cutting mats 12 × 12 in, 5 standard, 1 light, 1 strong, 1 fabric grip, with scraper

    Eight 12 × 12 in PVC cutting mats from Lya Vinyl for Cricut Explore Air and Maker cutting machines — five green standard grip, one blue light grip, one purple strong grip and one pink fabric grip — with a vinyl scraper and a protective film on each.

    Size and machine fit
    30.5 × 30.5 cm (12 × 12 in), for Cricut Explore Air series and Maker cutting machines, title and first bullet
    Grip level
    5 standard (green), 1 light (blue), 1 strong (purple), 1 fabric (pink), first and second bullets
    Material suitability
    Fabric grip for any fabric; standard for medium materials; light for light materials; strong for heavy materials, second bullet
    Grid markings
    Absent from the listing text — the product photograph shows inch grids
    Pack contents
    8 mats and 1 vinyl scraper, first bullet; the product photograph matches the colours and count
    Film
    Protective film on each mat, third and fourth bullets
    Care advice
    Keep the clear film on in storage; one set is stated to last a professional vinyl crafter 6 months, fourth bullet
    Amazon reference
    B0BCNYDB3R (same reference on 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0713424693726
    • Five standard grip mats, the grip the listing says gets used most
    • Four grips colour-coded
    • Only one each of light, strong and fabric grip

    Best for: A regular vinyl crafter on a Cricut Explore Air or Maker cutting machine who wears out standard mats fastest.

    ≈ 16 €
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  7. Five AIRCUT gridded mats fanned out in purple, blue, pink and two greens, labels reading StrongGrip, LightGrip and FabricGrip

    AIRCUT Cutting mats 12 × 12 in, light, standard, strong and fabric grip, for Cricut cutting plotters, 5 pack

    Five 12 × 12 in PVC cutting mats from AIRCUT in four grip levels — light, standard, strong and fabric — for Cricut Explore 5, One, Air, Air 2, 3 and 4 and Maker, Maker 3 and Maker 4 cutting machines, with a clear film to keep on in storage.

    Size and machine fit
    12 × 12 in, for Cricut Explore 5, One, Air, Air 2, 3, 4, Maker, Maker 3 and Maker 4 cutting machines, first bullet
    Grip level
    Light, standard, strong and fabric grip across 5 mats, first bullet; split not given
    Material suitability
    Card, construction paper, printable fabric and iron-on, pearl paper, printer paper, parchment, vinyl, washi sheets, window film, fourth bullet
    Grid markings
    Absent from the listing text — the product photograph shows inch grids
    Pack contents
    5 mats of 12 × 12 in, first bullet; in the product photograph the front green mat is labelled StrongGrip and no StandardGrip label is legible
    Film
    Clear film, fifth bullet
    Care advice
    Keep the clear film on in storage to keep off paper scraps and dust, fifth bullet
    Amazon reference
    B0C6JTP73L (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0762102992545
    • Four grip levels including fabric grip
    • Five mats
    • Which grip comes twice is not said

    Best for: A Cricut Maker cutting machine owner who cuts fabric as well as paper and vinyl.

    ≈ $14 / £13 / 17 €
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A price quoted in the text of a MakerVerdict page dates from the day that page was written; the live figure beside each product is fetched while you read and replaces it.