7 Best Heat Press Machines of 2019

1. Super Deal Sublimation Transfer Press | Best Budget

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

The Best Budget pick goes to the Super Deal sublimation transfer press. It’s an excellent choice for the hobbyist or those starting a small business. It can do various size jobs and works on different surfaces.

• Best feature 1: Industrial strength
• Best feature 2: Digital LCD temperature control
• Plus points: Direct top-to-bottom pressure, built-in Teflon coated platen, digital timer control
• Minus points: Challenging for raw beginners

Suitable for: T-shirts, bags, various garments, materials (cotton, fiber, ceramic, metal, glass), jigsaws, mouse mats, plates, ceramic tiles, and other hard, flat items.

Super Deal Heat Press Highlights

Super Deal’s sublimation transfer press is a durable machine that boasts industrial strength pressure. It’s a swing-away design with 360° rotation of the upper platen. Users can adjust the pressure for the material and its thickness. This model comes with a digital LCD panel to control the timing. And the heating element stops warming the moment it reaches the preset temperature.

A digital timer control allows adjustments up to 16 minutes (999 seconds). Direct top-to-bottom pressure guarantees level contact every time. And the built-in 12×10” platen has a Teflon coat with a collection of heating coils. Combined, they ensure consistent results with every transfer.

The Not So Good

There’s little to fault considering the features and price of this sublimation transfer press. A handful of users report alignment problems, but it doesn’t seem to be a widespread issue. The only real downside to this swing-away model is that it’s not so easy for first-time users to grasp.

2. Fancierstudio Swing Away Heat Press | Best Value

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

Our Best Value heat press goes to the Fancierstudio’s 9×12 inch model. It has a swing-away design and is suitable for casual domestic use or light business operations.

• Best feature 1: Personal or light commercial use
• Best feature 2: High temperature and heavy pressure
• Plus points: Convenient size, easy to operate, electronic timer, full heat control
• Minus points: Small platen size, smelly, noisy

Suitable for: Various garments but marketed primarily as a t-shirt heat press.

Fancierstudio Heat Press Highlights

This heat press uses heavy pressure and high temperatures to ensure permanent, long-lasting transfers. The machine is an ideal size for people with space restrictions or those who don’t need a larger plate. Another attraction is that it’s easy to set up and use at the beginner level. The electronic timer, heat control, and adjustable pressure make light work of using this capable little press.

The Not So Good

Buying a heat press of the wrong size is a common mistake (see introduction). It’s also avoidable. Some users say the machine is too small for their needs. The makers clearly state the product dimensions and size of the platen, as do these reviews. The smaller size is only a downside if it fails to meet your needs. Two other gripes are the noise and smell this product emits.

3. TUSY Digital Industrial T-Shirt Heat Press | Top Pick

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

Our Top Pick is a TUSY clamshell heat press. It’s an industrial quality machine with a large 15×15” plate. It’s an easy-to-use product that repeatedly produces high-quality transfers.

• Best feature 1: Anti-overheating feature
• Best feature 2: Pressure adjustable
• Plus points: Large plate, strong arms, anti-slip pressure handle, LCD control board
• Minus points: Default Celsius setting, irritating beep

Suitable for: T-shirts, bags, garments, blankets, banners, mouse mats, (cotton, fabric, etc.).

TUSY Heat Press Highlights

This machine is well-made with a large heat plate. Users feel confident operating the press with its strong arms and anti-slip handle. First-time users find setting the time and temperature a cinch from the LCD panel. The pressure setting is also straightforward using the adjustment knob. An audible alarm lets you know when printing is complete.

TUSY’s digital t-shirt heat press comes with a safe, anti-overheating feature. It works by shutting the machine off if it detects temperatures that are too high. That’s reassuring as it safeguards against scorching, burning, and potential fire risk.

The Not So Good

US customers need to know that the default setting for this heat press is Celsius. You can change it to Degree Fahrenheit, so it may be a good idea to make that the first job. Another negative is the beep the machine makes when it’s ready, and it won’t stop until you start using it. That’s not a bad thing, but some users do find it irritating. It also beeps when the job’s done, but you’re ready for that.

4. Nurxiovo Heat Press Machine for Garments

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

The Nurxiovo heat press is a digital clamshell design and an excellent choice for tees. It has a large 15×15 inch plate and a silicon rubber sheet that makes operating it safe and secure.

• Best feature 1: Digital time display
• Best feature 2: Heavy duty build with steel frame
• Plus points: Eco-friendly silicone sheet, easy to use, fast heating, pressure regulating handle
• Minus points: Some reports of uneven heating

Suitable for: T-shirts, garments, bags, jigsaw puzzles, ceramic tiles, and other flat surface items.

Nurxiovo Heat Press Highlights

This heat press is a heavy-duty product with a steel frame structure. It has a professional look at feel to it which is not something all machines can boast. The silicone rubber sheet is an eco-friendly material. Nurxiovo’s heat press has a digital time display to make setting up jobs foolproof. The device uses a labor-saving pressure regulating handle, heats fast, and is easy to operate at any level.

The Not So Good

There are reports of uneven heating though it’s not something all users experience. It’s possible that a few machines are faulty, like a warped platen for example. It’s most likely user error, though, caused by not applying enough pressure. The Nurxiovo heat press does have a pressure regulating handle.

5. PowerPress HPM-1515-BK Quality Heat Press

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

This machine is the PowerPress HPM-1515-BK clamshell. It’s an industrial-quality sublimation t-shirt press with a large 15×15 inch heat platen. The product is suitable for domestic and light business use.

• Best feature 1: 6 safety protection features
• Best feature 2: Teflon coated surface
• Plus points: Easy to operate, LCD control board, pressure knob, excellent value
• Minus points: Heat setting may be off, hard to open

Suitable for: Various garments but marketed primarily as a t-shirt heat press.

PowerPress Heat Transfer Highlights

The PowerPress HPM-1515-BK has 6 safety protection features. They include protections for short circuit, reverse polarity, overvoltage, under-voltage, over-temperature, and over-current. This model’s Teflon-coated heated plate means there’s no need for coated sheets. It also looks smart and is simple to clean. The LCD control board and pressure adjustment knob make using this machine a breeze.

The Not So Good

Some users say the heat setting of their machine is off by about 15+ degrees. It’s not an issue shared by all heat press owners. Even so, there’s enough feedback for it to be a potential issue with some machines. It’s wise to test the settings on 1 or 2 throw-away projects, and then compensate if necessary. The other gripe is that the door’s quite hard to open once the machine’s in use.

6. F2C Pro Multifunction Digital Heat Press

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Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

The F2C Pro is a 5-in-1 swing-away design digital transfer sublimation heat press. The machine has a 12×15 inch plate and 360° rotation. It’s a superb choice for hobbyists and small business.

• Best feature 1: 5-in-1 multifunctional appeal
• Best feature 2: Industrial strength
• Plus points: Easy to use, LED controller, Fahrenheit/Celsius scale, timer, audible alarms
• Minus points: No clear instructions, needs space to operate

Suitable for: T-shirts, garments, hats, mouse pads, custom coffee mug, plates, placemats, etc.

F2C Heat Press Highlights

Multifunction heat presses appeal to folks who need to do more than just print t-shirts. This is a 5 in 1 model and comes with a variety of hat, mug, and plate attachments. It’s strong and durable which makes it an excellent choice for regular, long-term use. Most important of all is that it’s easy to assemble and simple to use, even for novice users.

The digital LED controller gives full control from one handy panel. You can choose Fahrenheit or Celsius, set the accurate temperature, and the precise time. The heat press also has an audible alarm that notifies you once the transfer is complete.

The Not So Good

The main complaint with this heat press is the lack of instruction. It’s easy to set up and use with the proper guidance. It’s hard to fathom at first because the booklet it comes with is useless. There are helpful videos on YouTube, but new owners shouldn’t have to go searching.

The second negative is something to be aware of rather than a fault. That is, the swing-away design and 12×15” plate need space to function.

7. VEVOR 15×15″ Multifunctional 5-in-1 Heat Press

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

The last of our reviews is the VEVOR 15×15 inch multifunctional 5-in-1 heat press. The machine is a 360° swing-away design and a perfect choice for small business or heavy personal use.

• Best feature 1: Multi-functional 5-in-1 heat press
• Best feature 2: Overload protector
• Plus points: Teflon coated 12×15″ heat platen, pressure adjustment knob, digital LED timer
• Minus points: Poor instructions, thin Teflon sheets

Suitable for: T-shirts, lettering & numbers, fabrics (cotton, nylon, flax, chemical fiber), caps, ceramics (plates, coasters, tiles, mugs), jigsaw puzzles, mouse pads, glasses, and much more.

VEVOR Heat Press Highlights

Consider the VEVOR 15×15 inch, 5-in-1 heat press if you do multifunctional projects. The machine arrives fully assembled and ready to go. It includes the platen press, hat/cap press, a mug press, and two plate presses. The platen press has a Teflon coat, so there are no scorching issues to worry about. Other standout features are the overload protector, pressure adjustment knob, and a digital LED timer.

It’s easy to set the transfer time and exact temperature with the digital LED controller. Users can also choose either Fahrenheit or Celsius. An intelligent audible alarm sounds once the transfer ready.

The Not So Good

The instructions are inadequate both in guidance and in print quality. It seems to be an issue with a lot of heat press machines so let’s hope the makers are listening. At least there’s YouTube. Still, buyers deserve an easy-to-follow setup and operation guide. Another con is the thinness of the included Teflon sheet. That’s a potential flaw as it’s vulnerable to tearing and provides little cushioning.