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Using a heat press properly: temperature, time and pressure

Heat presses5 min readUpdated: 10/2026

are explained briefly when you hover over or tap them.

A heat press transfers flex film, sublimation and DTF using three variables: temperature, time and pressure. The right values are always in the instructions for the transfer or film, not in the press. The table below shows typical starting values so that you know which range you are in.

Guide values

MaterialTemperatureTimePressurePeelSource
Flex film (Siser EasyWeed)150 °C10 to 15 smediumhot or coldSiser via Stahls
Flock film (Siser StripFlock Pro)155 °C15 smedium (3 to 4 bar)warmSiser data sheet
Sublimation on polyester fabric205 °C45 smediumno informationSawgrass
Sublimation on ceramic mug180 to 205 °C150 to 300 smediumno informationSawgrass
Sublimation on metal205 °C60 smediumno informationSawgrass
DTF transferabout 110 to 177 °C10 to 20 sfirmdepends on the filmRicoma, Sticker Mule, Wunderlabel

With DTF the figures differ especially widely. For polyester and softshell, Wunderlabel gives only 120 to 125 °C, and Ricoma gives up to about 177 °C for cotton. Always follow the instructions of your transfer supplier. Cricut does not publish its values as a table but through the interactive Heat Guide for material and base.

With the xTool WonderPress, Nadin experienced a preset that was too hot and a DTF transfer suffered as a result. Her advice: rather follow the transfer supplier’s figures than the press’s preset.

How to proceed

  1. Prepare the fabric: Cricut recommends washing new textiles beforehand without fabric softener. This gets shrinkage out of the way and removes residue that interferes with adhesion.
  2. Pre-press: 5 to 10 seconds without a transfer. This smooths out creases and drives out moisture.
  3. Place the transfer: flex film with the glossy carrier side up, sublimation paper with the image side down. Fix sublimation prints with heat-resistant tape.
  4. Protective paper: baking paper, Teflon sheet or kraft paper between the press and the transfer. According to Wunderlabel, a Teflon sheet may need a little more time or heat. For Cricut Infusible Ink, Cricut recommends white butcher paper and advises against reusing it, because colour can build up on it.
  5. Press with the values from the instructions.
  6. Peel: With hot peel you peel off the carrier immediately, with cold peel only once everything has cooled down. What your transfer needs is printed on the packaging.

Aftercare

Wash after 24 hours at the earliest, inside out and without bleach, according to Cricut for flex film. Siser allows up to 60 °C for StripFlock Pro. Iron only from the inside, never directly on the design.

Which press?

  • Handheld heat presses such as the Cricut EasyPress are cheap and small, but you provide the pressure yourself by hand.
  • Clamshell and auto presses such as the Cricut AutoPress 2, the HTVRONT Auto Heat Press 2 or the xTool WonderPress set the pressure evenly and open automatically. That is an advantage for batches and for reproducible results.
  • Mug presses such as the Cricut Mug Press are fixed to straight mugs of certain sizes.

You will find all presses with data and prices in the machine overview.

Safety

Heating plates get hotter than 200 °C. Always put a handheld press on its safety stand. For the EasyPress Mini, Cricut writes that it is not intended for children up to 12 years, and for the Mug Press: adults only and in a well-ventilated room, because fumes are produced during the transfer. Zips, buttons and metal parts store heat and can cause burns.

Sources