Heat PressesGuide
Heat Press Time and Temperature Chart (HTV, Sublimation, DTF)
By Kerf & Press EditorialResearched by the Kerf & Press teamUpdated How we research & testResearched lab test pending
The short answer
Most standard HTV presses at about 305–320°F for 10–15 seconds with medium pressure. Siser EasyWeed is 305°F. Sublimation on polyester runs hotter, around 380–400°F for about 45 seconds. DTF transfers usually press at 290–330°F for 7–15 seconds. Always follow the sheet for your exact material. Brands differ, and your press's display may not match the real platen temperature.
The number
305°F · 10–15 s
Source: siserstore.com
Short version: standard HTV is about 305–320°F for 10–15 s. Sublimation on polyester is about 380–400°F for 45 s. DTF transfers are about 290–330°F for 7–15 s. Every row below links to the brand instructions it came from.
This page is built to be printed and pinned next to your press. Use your browser’s Print command. The tables are plain HTML and print on one or two pages.
How to read the chart
- Temperature: the platen setting. We convert to Celsius and round to the nearest degree.
- Time: press time once the item is in the press. For mugs, US Cutter says to start the countdown once the mug and press are both up to temperature.
- Pressure: the brand’s word. Roughly: light closes with little effort, medium takes firm hand pressure, firm/heavy takes real effort to lock. We show psi only where the source gives it.
- Peel: hot = right away. Warm = after a few seconds. Cold = when the carrier is cool to the touch.
Heat transfer vinyl (HTV)
| Material | Fabrics | Temp (°F) | Temp (°C) | Time | Pressure | Peel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siser EasyWeed (standard HTV) | Cotton, polyester, poly/cotton blends | 305°F | 150°C | 10–15 s | Medium–firm | Hot or cold | Siser North America |
| Siser EasyWeed Stretch | Stretch fabrics (spandex, lycra, blends) | 250°F | 120°C | 10–15 s | Medium | Hot | Siser North America |
| Siser Glitter | Cotton, polyester, blends | 320°F | 160°C | 10–15 s | Medium | Warm | Siser North America |
| Siser StripFlock Pro (flock) | Cotton, polyester, blends | 311°F | 155°C | 10–15 s | Medium | Warm | Siser North America |
| Siser Holographic | Cotton, polyester, blends | 320°F | 160°C | 15–20 s | Medium–firm | Cold | Siser North America |
| Siser Brick 600 (thick HTV) | Cotton, polyester, blends | 310°F | 155°C | 20 s | Medium | Cold | Siser North America |
| Siser Metal | Cotton, polyester, blends | 305°F | 150°C | 10–15 s | Medium | Cold | Siser North America |
| Siser Sparkle | Cotton, polyester, blends | 305°F | 150°C | 15–20 s | Medium–firm | Hot or cold | Siser North America |
More HTV and specialty films (Stahls’ tech sheet)
Stahls’ publishes one sheet covering its CAD-CUT line and some Siser films (Stahls’ application instructions). The main rows:
| Material | Temp (°F) | Time | Pressure | Peel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siser EasyWeed (per Stahls’) | 305 | 10–15 s | Medium | Hot or cold |
| CAD-CUT UltraWeed | 260–300 | 12 s | Medium | Hot |
| CAD-CUT Premium Plus High Tack | 280–300 | 8–12 s | Medium | Hot |
| CAD-CUT Glitter Flake | 290–302 | 10–12 s | Medium | Hot |
| CAD-CUT Soft Metallic | 285 | 8–10 s | Medium | Cold |
| CAD-CUT Puff | 280 | 8–10 s | Medium | Hot |
| CAD-CUT Soft Flock | 311 | 15 s | Medium | Warm |
| CAD-CUT Glow | 305 | 10–15 s | Medium | Warm |
| CAD-CUT Hologram | 320 | 10–15 s | Firm | Cold |
| CAD-CUT Reflective II | 290–302 | 10–12 s | Medium | Hot |
| CAD-CUT ReflectPRO (3M Scotchlite) | 325–350 | 10–20 s | Firm | Hot |
| CAD-CUT Silicone Dye-Block | 290–302 | 10–15 s | Medium | Cold |
| CAD-CUT Thermo-FILM | 330 | 6–8 s | Medium | Hot |
| CAD-CUT Perma-TWILL | 350 | 20 s | Firm | Hot |
Cricut Iron-On and Infusible Ink: Cricut publishes settings through the interactive Cricut Heat Guide. You pick the material, the base material and your press model, including EasyPress, EasyPress Mini, AutoPress and Mug Press. The numbers change with those choices, so we don’t copy them here.
Sublimation
Sublimation needs polyester or a sublimation coating, and white or light colors. See DTF vs sublimation for why.
| Substrate | Press | Temp (°F) | Temp (°C) | Time | Pressure | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester shirts / fabric, mousepads | Flat press | 380–400°F | 193–204°C | 45 s | Medium (~40 psi) | White or light, high-polyester fabric only. Protect with paper to stop ghosting. | US Cutter |
| Coated ceramic mug (11–15 oz) | Mug press | 370–400°F | 188–204°C | 2.5–3.5 min | Medium (~40 psi) | Start the timer once mug and mug press are up to temperature. | US Cutter |
| 20 oz skinny sublimation tumbler (coated stainless) | Tumbler press | 360–365°F | 182–185°C | 40 s | Medium | Per MakerFlo for its own tumblers; repeat for each side the press covers. | MakerFlo |
| 20 oz skinny sublimation tumbler (coated stainless) | Convection oven | 375°F | 190°C | 5–6 min | Light | Convection oven dedicated to sublimation (never used for food). Rotate halfway if lying flat. | MakerFlo |
| Sublimation photo slate | Flat press | 400°F | 204°C | 7 min | Medium | Settings vary by press and slate size; lift without shifting to prevent ghosting. | ColDesi |
| ChromaLuxe aluminum photo panel (≤ 11.5 in) | Flat press | 385°F | 195°C | 90–95 s | Firm | Larger panels (11.5–20 in): 105–120 s. Remove immediately when the timer ends. | ChromaLuxe |
| ChromaLuxe MDF photo panel | Flat press | 385°F | 195°C | 80–100 s | Firm | ChromaLuxe | |
| Sublimation-coated metal (white/silver/stainless/bronze) | Flat press | 375–400°F | 191–204°C | 60–80 s | Medium (~40 psi) | Use heat tape and non-stick sheets. | US Cutter |
| Coated ceramic or glass tile | Flat press | 380–400°F | 193–204°C | 5–12 min | Medium (~40 psi) | Press face-down; close the press carefully. | US Cutter |
US Cutter’s sheet also lists sublimation apparel lines with their own ranges: Soft L’INK T-shirts at 380–400°F for 35–40 s, Vapor Apparel at 380–390°F for 45–55 s, and FR plastic at 380–400°F for 45–90 s (US Cutter). Stahls’ lists its CAD-PRINTZ sublimation transfers at 395°F for 60 s, medium pressure, hot peel (Stahls’).
DTF transfers
DTF settings depend on the supplier’s film (hot-peel vs cold-peel) and powder. Use the sheet that came with your transfers. These rows show how much published settings vary.
| Transfer | Fabric | Temp (°F) | Temp (°C) | Time | Pressure | Peel | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTF transfer (hot/cold peel film) | Cotton, polyester, blends | 300°F | 149°C | 7–10 s | Heavy | Hot or cold | Pre-press the garment; post-press 5–10 s with Teflon (gloss) or parchment (matte). Jute/textured: 15 s. | 613 Originals |
| DTF transfer, hot-peel film | Cotton | 310–325°F | 154–163°C | 12–15 s | Firm | Hot | Blends 300–315°F; polyester 285–305°F. Heavy garments 15–20 s. | DTFTransfers |
| DTF transfer, cold-peel film | Cotton | 320–330°F | 160–166°C | 12–15 s | Firm | Cold | Let cool completely (about 30–60 s) before peeling. | DTFTransfers |
| Stahls’ UltraColor MAX | Cotton, poly, blends, tri-blends | 290°F (325°F on 100% cotton) | 143°C (163°C) | 12–15 s | Medium | Hot | Stahls’ product page lists the 325°F cotton setting. | Stahls’ |
Troubleshooting by symptom
| Symptom | Most likely cause | First fix |
|---|---|---|
| HTV lifts at the edges after washing | Too little pressure or time; washed too soon | Raise pressure, re-press 5–10 s, wait 24 h before washing (Siser) |
| HTV carrier won’t release | Wrong peel temperature for the film | Check hot vs cold peel on the sheet |
| Scorch marks or shiny box on fabric | Too hot, too long, or no cover sheet | Lower temperature; use a Teflon or parchment cover |
| Sublimation looks faded | Low-poly fabric, too cool or too short, cheap coating | Check fabric content; confirm real platen temp |
| Blurry “ghost” image (sublimation) | Paper shifted when the press opened | Tape the transfer with heat tape; lift straight up |
| DTF cracks when stretched | Under-cured powder or low pressure | Check cure; raise pressure; post-press with a cover sheet |
| Uneven result across the platen | Uneven heat or pressure | Test with temperature strips; check the press is level |
The fixes are standard practice and match the notes in the brand sheets we cite. Tape and cover-sheet advice comes from US Cutter. The 24-hour wash wait comes from Siser.
Why the same setting fails on two presses
Two presses set to 305°F rarely deliver 305°F evenly. A heating element can run cooler at the edges than in the center, and a display is only as good as its sensor. Before a production run:
- Heat up fully and wait a few extra minutes after the display says it’s ready.
- Check the center and all four corners with a surface thermometer.
- Do a pressure test with a sheet of paper at each corner. It should grip equally.
We’ll publish our own platen-uniformity measurements once we start lab testing. Until then, press specs and the tables above are all we cite. For choosing a press, see best heat press for small business and clamshell vs swing-away. Price your finished pieces with the pricing calculator.
Dataset last reviewed 2026-09-25. These are starting points from the cited brand instructions. Your press’s real platen temperature can differ from its display — verify with a surface thermometer.Specs side by side
Manufacturer-published specs. Lab results will be added as we test each machine.
| Spec | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Researched lab test pending | Researched lab test pending | Researched lab test pending | Researched lab test pending |
| MSRP USD | $349 | $236 | $139.99 | $149.99 |
| Power drawW | — | 1,500 W | 600 W | 500 W |
| Dimensionsin | 21.0 × 16.2 × 11.6 in | 20 × 20 × 16 in | — | 11 × 6.2 × 6.5 in |
| Weightlb | 41.9 lb | 36 lb | — | — |
| Heat plate sizein | 15 × 15 in | 15 × 15 in | — | — |
| Press style | clamshell | clamshell | tumbler | mug |
| Slide-out lower platen | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Max item thicknessin | 1.8 in | — | — | — |
| Supported drinkwareoz | — | — | 10–30 oz | 10–16 oz |
| Tumbler diameter rangein | — | — | 2.95–3.18 in | — |
| Max temperature°F | 410 °F (highest listed) | 410 °F (highest listed) | 390 °F | — |
| Temperature range°F | — | — | 210–390 °F | — |
| Heat-up timemin | — | 4 min | — | — |
| Max timers | — | — | 600 s | — |
| Pressure | auto | auto | auto | auto |
| Pressure rangelb | up to 220 | — | — | — |
| Opens automatically | — | Yes | — | — |
| Heating element | — | Dual-zone heating | — | — |
| Digital time/temp controls | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Presets | 4 | — | — | — |
| App connection | Bluetooth (Cricut Design Space mobile app) | — | — | None (USB to computer for activation and firmware) |
| Auto-off aftermin | — | 15 min | 15 min | — |
| VoltageV | — | 110 V | 120 V | — |
| Warrantyyr | — | 1 yr | — | — |
| Where to buy | Where to buy coming soon | Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks. | Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks. | Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks. |
- Cricut AutoPress 2 15 in x 15 inResearched lab test pending
- MSRP
- $349
- Dimensions
- 21.0 × 16.2 × 11.6 in
- Weight
- 41.9 lb
- Heat plate size
- 15 × 15 in
- Press style
- clamshell
- Slide-out lower platen
- Yes
- Max item thickness
- 1.8 in
- Max temperature
- 410 °F (highest listed)
- Pressure
- auto
- Pressure range
- up to 220
- Digital time/temp controls
- Yes
- Presets
- 4
- App connection
- Bluetooth (Cricut Design Space mobile app)
Where to buy coming soon
- HTVRONT Auto Heat Press 15" x 15"Researched lab test pending
- MSRP
- $236
- Power draw
- 1,500 W
- Dimensions
- 20 × 20 × 16 in
- Weight
- 36 lb
- Heat plate size
- 15 × 15 in
- Press style
- clamshell
- Slide-out lower platen
- Yes
- Max temperature
- 410 °F (highest listed)
- Heat-up time
- 4 min
- Pressure
- auto
- Opens automatically
- Yes
- Heating element
- Dual-zone heating
- Digital time/temp controls
- Yes
- Auto-off after
- 15 min
- Voltage
- 110 V
- Warranty
- 1 yr
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
- HTVRONT Auto Tumbler Heat Press 120VResearched lab test pending
- MSRP
- $139.99
- Power draw
- 600 W
- Press style
- tumbler
- Supported drinkware
- 10–30 oz
- Tumbler diameter range
- 2.95–3.18 in
- Max temperature
- 390 °F
- Temperature range
- 210–390 °F
- Max timer
- 600 s
- Pressure
- auto
- Digital time/temp controls
- Yes
- Auto-off after
- 15 min
- Voltage
- 120 V
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
- Cricut Mug PressResearched lab test pending
- MSRP
- $149.99
- Power draw
- 500 W
- Dimensions
- 11 × 6.2 × 6.5 in
- Press style
- mug
- Supported drinkware
- 10–16 oz
- Pressure
- auto
- Digital time/temp controls
- No
- App connection
- None (USB to computer for activation and firmware)
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
Manufacturer-published figures; not lab-measured. marks the highest (or lowest, where lower is better) listed value.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should a heat press be for vinyl?
For standard HTV, the usual range is 300–320°F. Siser lists EasyWeed at 305°F for 10–15 seconds with medium pressure. Some specialty films run cooler: Siser lists EasyWeed Stretch at 250°F, and Stahls' lists CAD-CUT Puff at 280°F. Check your film's instructions.
What temperature do you sublimate a shirt at?
US Cutter's quick reference lists 380–400°F for 45 seconds at medium (about 40 psi) pressure for polyester fabric. It recommends a lower 380–390°F range for Vapor Apparel. Pre-press to remove moisture and use protective paper to prevent ghosting.
How long do you press a sublimation mug?
US Cutter lists 150–210 seconds at 370–400°F for ceramic mugs, starting the timer once the mug and mug press are up to temperature. Cricut's Mug Press has fixed settings, and Cricut lists an average press of about 6 minutes per mug.
What are DTF heat press settings?
They vary by supplier and film type. Stahls' lists 290°F for 12–15 seconds, medium pressure, hot peel for its UltraColor MAX (325°F on 100% cotton). 613 Originals lists 300°F for 7–10 seconds at heavy pressure. DTFTransfers lists 310–325°F for 12–15 seconds on cotton for hot-peel film.
Why do my transfers peel off after washing?
The most common causes are too little pressure, too low a real platen temperature, too short a press, or washing within 24 hours. A press display can differ from the real platen temperature, so check with a surface thermometer, and do a pressure test across the whole platen.
Where are the Cricut Infusible Ink and Everyday Iron-On settings?
Cricut publishes its settings through the interactive Cricut Heat Guide, where the numbers depend on your press model and base material. We link to it instead of copying numbers that change by press.
Sources
Every spec and number on this page links back to where it came from.
- Siser — EasyWeed product details and application settings
- Siser North America — HTV Application Instructions (PDF)
- Stahls' — Application Instructions tech sheet (PDF)
- US Cutter — Sublimation Temperature Setting Chart (PDF, v1.1)
- MakerFlo — Sublimation Tumbler Times and Temperatures
- ChromaLuxe — Aluminum Photo Panels (Small Format) step-by-step
- ChromaLuxe — MDF Photo Panels step-by-step
- ColDesi — How to Sublimate Rock Photo Slates
- 613 Originals — DTF Application Instructions
- DTFTransfers — DTF Heat Press Settings: Temperature, Time and Pressure
- Stahls' — UltraColor MAX DTF transfers
- Cricut Heat Guide (interactive)
- Cricut Help Center — Cricut Mug Press FAQ
Update history
Site changelogNo revisions logged for this page yet. Corrections and re-tests will be listed here with dates.
Written & researched by
Kerf & Press Editorial
Research & lab team
We research and test laser engravers, heat presses, printers, cutters and embroidery machines for people running small personalization businesses. We buy our lab machines with our own money and publish our methods and raw data.