9 Best Printers for Heat Transfer Paper

In heat transfer printing, specific tools are required. A printer is one of those essential pieces you must have. You have to move the design to the transfer paper before you can print it on a shirt. And for shifting, you need a printer.

With the best printers for Heat Transfer Paper, you will be able to get your design onto transfer paper effortlessly.

If the printer isn’t good, the quality of the print won’t be good enough. With good printers, you’ll never have to deal with images that are blurry, smudged, pixelated, or hard to see. Usually, inkjet printers are used, but you can use any printer as long as it is compatible with the transfer paper you are using. Lately, laser printers have taken the printing market by storm.

I bought 18 top-rated printers from Amazon. I tested each printer and found these nine to be the best for transfer paper. Here is the complete analysis.

Best Printer for Heat Transfer Paper

Here is a detailed review, ratings, pros, and cons of each heat transfer paper printer.

Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000

The very first thing you will notice about this best Epson printer for heat transfer paper is its auto-duplex feature. Using Epson cartridges exclusively will work on some fabrics, but not all. It is guaranteed to provide professional, ultra-HD-quality images.

The print tends to come with eye-catching borderless edges. With this wide-format printer, you will be able to get brilliant individual six colors Claria Photo HD inks.

You will be amazed by heightened black-and-white image printing by the Epson printer.

This compact printer for heat transfer is an ideal pick for completing professional-quality projects. In addition to a wide range of colors, it has a large tray for sheets, including single cardstock. You can use papers of various sizes effortlessly.

On the top of its specification list is automatic 2-sided printing with a front tray for 200 sheets. The addition of wireless connectivity makes it more convenient to use and maintain. 

Do you always forget to fill the ink? Not a problem anymore! It has a one-of-a-kind Dash Replenishment feature that ensures your printer will never run out of ink again. It prints quickly without wasting your time.

This printer for heat transfers can print documents at 9.2 ISO ppm in black, whereas at 9.0 ISO ppm in color. Its 2.4-inch color LCD seems like a big plus for easy navigation.

The user reviews show that Epson offers the best inkjet printer for heat transfers.

Epson also features in our list of top printers for cricut

Canon MX492 Printer

With excellent connectivity technology options, this inkjet printer is loaded with classic features. You will love how smoothly it works and speedily, too.

It has a fully integrated Auto-Document Feeder that enhances its efficiency. Its quick and efficient working will help you save your energy and time.

Besides printing, it can help scan photos as well as documents. You can connect the printer to your smartphone or PC freely for scanning and printing. But, you need to download the free Canon PRINT app first.

In case if you are a beginner in heat press printing, here is a guide on how to print on transfer paper.

It is time to print wirelessly and effortlessly with this space-saving printer. You can fit it anywhere, whether you are in the office or at home.

The optional XL ink cartridges of this printer for heat transfer paper 2023 help you print without replacing the cartridges again and again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x49jBMGCm0E

Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer

To begin with the distinguishing features, the Brother HL is the best laser printer for heat transfer paper. It has a pretty impressive printing speed. The speed goes up to 30 ppm. The Auto-Duplex is another classic feature to admire. It has a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface; it works seamlessly.

The local connectivity is also satisfactory.

While buying a printer, you must look into the sheet capacity, and it is loaded with the ability to carry 250 sheets. VIOLA! Its layout is made desk-friendly.

Do you know it has a one-of-a-kind toner-saving mode? Even though it only uses black ink, it helps cut down on how much ink is used when printing.

Moreover, the tray is adjustable for a variety of paper sizes. And, yes! this best printer for heat press has a manual feed slot solely kept for envelope printing.

This monochrome laser printer is an epic pick for small business owners as it is not only budget-friendly but also made with a smaller footprint, letting you fit it even in the corner. Its design prevents unnecessary paper bending and wrinkling.

Epson WF7710 WorkForce Wireless Printer

Just like many other printers, it has an Auto-Duplex feature where you can print on both sides. But, that is not all! It comes with a 35-page auto document feeder.

It comes with a good storage capacity of 22.3” W x 19.1” D x 13.4” H. It would not be wrong to say that it is a multi-purpose, all-in-one printer that can print, scan, copy, and fax.

Moving forward, it features PrecisionCore technology. It means you are welcomed to create borderless prints. Automatic 2-sided print speed is highly amazing, 8.7 ppm (ISO) when printing in black. But, it reduces to 6 ppm (ISO) when printing in color.

Heat press vs. embroidery

You can see its clear, precise, and understandable 4.3-inch color touch screen. Now, Wireless printing and networking is made easier with this wide-format printer.

Epson WorkForce WF-7210

One common thing offered by every printer is the unique Auto-Duplex feature, which enhances efficiency. The Precision Core technology takes its performance to another level. It is designed to deliver laser-sharp black text graphics in exquisite borderless prints.

With the use of genuine Epson inks, it ensures a high-quality image. Moreover, this is proved an economical printing option as it uses approximately 80% lesser power than other laser printers.

Do you want to save your time in printing? The 2. 2” LCD is manageable and precise. Its ultimate wireless connectivity offers smooth printing and networking.

If you need quality printing, you must have this printer, but always use Epson inks. It has Dash Replenishment to save you the trouble of constantly refilling ink cartridges. It handles 

versatile paper sizes and types with dual trays allowing a larger holding capacity.

BROTHER MONOCHROME LASER PRINTER

With the speed of approximately 32 pages per minute, this laser printer is worth the money. You don’t have to spend hours printing a few sheets.

Apart from Auto-Duplex, this digital transfer printer comes loaded with convenient features. It is engineered to provide maximum efficiency in printing along with maintaining class-leading quality.

The company has made it with dynamic specs to cater to your needs. It cut down the problems of refills as well as handling a variety of papers amazingly. Its manual feed slot adds flexibility in paper handling.

You can easily connect the printer to a desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet for printing. The easily understandable USB interface is a big plus.

Another feature that you must consider is the toner-saving mode. It specifically helps you save on toner expenses. Besides, low toner levels can be detected on time.

Impresora Hp Laserjet Pro M454dw

This network-ready printer has a high-speed USB 2.0 printing port. Apart from having an auto-duplex feature, it seems to have multiple beneficial specs. Most importantly, it is ENERGY STAR certified. A big victory, for sure.

Its amazingly intuitive automatic on/off technology not only saves electricity but also keeps you safe. It gets connected instantly without asking for any permissions.

What a combination to use for professional tasks. For Microsoft Files, you will get a walk-up USB port, and yes, it still offers a cloud printing option.

You will surely get high-quality documents and vivid graphics. Buying this wireless color laser printer is a good decision, as it comes embedded with security features. Its 2-inch color touchscreen is intuitive.

You will love the customizable settings for heat transfer. This best hp printer for heat transfer paper can print up to 28 pages per minute.

Canon PIXMA TR4520 Wireless Printer

All you need to do is download the Canon Print app and wirelessly connect your mobile devices and PCs to the printer for seamless and smooth operations.

You will get high-quality prints instantly. After all, it comes with an easy and quick setup. The two most distinctive features are AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. Moreover, auto power On/Off ensures safety.

The built-in ADF enhances the performance. With understandable and straightforward controls, its printing technology looks more impressive. 

One machine, multiple tasks: Printing, scanning, and faxing!

You will see how gracefully this compact and versatile office printer makes your tasks easier. The 2-sided printing is a time-saver.

The LCD screen is placed strategically and gives precise measurements. Moreover, the Dash Replenishment is a silver spec offered free of cost.

Heat press vs DTG

Xerox Phaser 6510/DNI Color Printer

The last candidate in our list of best inkjet printers for iron on transfers is Xerox.

On plain paper, it gives brilliantly colored graphics. It will quickly impress you with its high-quality prints. Its design is helpful and feasible in printing 30 pages in a minute.

Apart from speed, its 2-sided printing saves time, too. With adequate sheet capacity, this professional laser printer has a front Side USB Port enhancing its overall performance. In fact, making it more powerful, quicker, and more accessible. 

The built-in Wi-Fi connectivity eases the process of printing, letting you print emails, photos, and essential documents without causing any trouble. Private documents are secure with loads of safety features, including IPsec, IP Filtering, SNMPv3, and Secure Print. 

For maintaining the quality, Xerox EA Toner is used having smaller toner particles. It has Xerox color correction technology to guarantee top-notch results. It comes with Dash Replenishment.

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What to look for in a printer for heat transfer?

Following are some factors which you should consider if you are looking for the best printer for transfer paper.

Material options

One of the most critical aspects you must watch is whether the printer is designed to print black and white papers or colored. Similarly, certain printers are solely made for printing plain white paper only. At the same time, other models are compatible with heat transfer paper.

Before choosing a suitable machine, check if you will work on glossy, matte, airmail paper, envelopes, card stock, heat transfer paper, executive or legal paper, letter, Oficio paper size, etc. 

For instance, Canon Pixma TS3320 seems a good option for plain paper but is unsuitable for transfer paper. On the contrary, Epson Stylus C88+ is a versatile tool for printing a comprehensive collection of papers, such as glossy and matte paper and transfer paper.

Along with the material option, don’t forget to check for multiple paper sizes.

Connectivity

A printer with wireless connectivity options must be a priority – a mess-free way of placing a printer anywhere. It lets you connect your printer to your smartphone, PCs, and other media devices. Now, you can even find Alexa-compatible printers. Between the choice of USB cables and a wireless connection, you can choose any because both tend to be reliable options. Cables have USB cords and carry Ethernet. 

In terms of convenience, cable printers are not preferable. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth offers ease of use within working space, but it makes a printer comparatively expensive. Printers having USB cables can become troublesome when you have to keep them close to the computer FOREVER! 

Automatic Document Feeder

It is one of the most vital factors to notice. Most modern printers don’t require any extra stand to keep, store, or feed the paper. Feel free to print even if you are in another room, as the machine will have Wi-Fi or cloud capability supporting automatic document feeder spec.

Paper Capacity

The paper-handling capacity is crucial and must be satisfactory. Few machines can readily handle as many as 500 or 700 pages. But some devices will only offer the capacity of 30 sheets of paper. The greater the paper capacity, the greater the size and weight of the printer will be!

Where Workforce WF-7210 Wireless Inkjet Printer can handle 500 papers, the Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer can keep only 250 sheets. The HP LaserJet Pro M452dw Color Printer has a capacity of 300 sheets.

Storing hundreds of papers in the feeder trays will save you from wasting your time and effort. The next paper will be automatically fed to the printer.

Speed

Apart from paper capacity, you must look into its speed of printing papers in a minute typically measured in PPM (pages per minute). We all know that efficiency is vital, and the greater the speed, the higher the efficiency will be by finishing your tasks rapidly. For business productivity, choose the printer with a speed of greater than 25 ppm. Color printing might require more time in comparison to black and white printing.

If a machine can print up to 30 pieces of paper within a minute, it is perfect!

Display screen

Heat transfer paper works best with printers that have an LCD screen. Choose a machine with a clear and understandable display screen. It gives precise information.

The display screen is a treasured addition for super-easy navigation, such as the setting of the ink level. But it makes the printer relatively expensive.

Compatibility

Before buying yourself a printer, check if it are compatible with your device, the paper you are using, and the existing software. You will get certain printers that can only work well with iOS or Android, Windows or Linux. It would help if you kept a printer that can tackle all devices with various operating systems.

The more comprehensive the approach, the easier the task will be. The compatible nature of your printer lets you use it suitably for any transferring media.

Printing Quality

Don’tDon’t you want your items to be printed in the best quality with no smear or residue, pixelated or blurry effects? It would help if you had the graphics transferred beautifully.

If you care about the final print appearance, then check for the resolution of the printer first. That is possible if you get a printer with a higher resolution than you should check in DPI (dots per inch).

A quality-made printer must possess a DPI of a minimum of 1200 x 1200. The high-resolution images give a better, vivid, and crispier look. If you can find it, buy yourself a printer with 4800 x 2400 dpi resolution.

You will be shocked with the quality of the Brother HL-2320D Mono Laser Printer that has 2400 dpi, but when it comes to Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Inkjet Printer, there is nothing else better. It carries 5760 x 1440 dpi resolution.

How Does Heat Transfer Printer Works?

Heat transfer is a task that can be completed in several ways without compromising the quality. Depending on the fabric and printer used, you can choose from the most popular inkjet transfers, dye sublimation transfers, digital appliqué transfers, and vinyl transfers. If we talk generally, we can break down the heat transfer into specific steps whenever you perform it. Let’s see.

1. Gather up all the supplies required for printing, such as transfer paper, heat press machine, cutters, printers, scissors, glues, tapes, fabric, Teflon sheets, etc.
2. Start with creating your design that needs to be printed on the substrate by taking help from the graphic designer or designing software.
3. Once you are done with your mock-up design, recheck to ensure perfect dimensions and color schemes.
4. Time to print the finalized design onto special heat transfer paper with the printer: inkjet, pigment, laser, or sublimation.
5. With a vinyl cutter, cut out and trim your design.
6. Switch on the Heat Press to set the temperature, pressure, and time. Make pressure adjustments considering the type and thickness of the fabric.
7. For time setting, keep Inkjet Transfer Paper for 14 – 18 seconds, Dye Sublimation Transfer paper for 25 – 30 seconds, Digital Appliqué Transfer paper for 20 – 30 seconds, and Vinyl Transfer paper for 45 – 60 seconds.
8. Settle down the substrate & position the Transfer in Place 
9. Close the machine and let the heat and pressure do the work
10. Once the timer alarm goes off, remove the transfer paper while hot.
11. Here is your heat-pressed custom apparel ready!

Types of printers for heat transfer printing

Commonly, Inkjet Printers and Laser Printers are used whenever you plan to carry out heat transfer projects. There are Sublimation printers also, but they are not readily available in the market and are not considered suitable enough for home or small business tasks. They are best suited for gatherings, parties, or massive wedding photo booths. Besides, the inkjet and laser printers come with the ability to tackle heat transfer paper efficiently. But, remember, every printer doesn’t perform similarly.

Inkjet Printers

Inkjet printers can be simply explained as “regular run-of-the-mill printers.” They serve the purpose of printing high-quality images right within the comfort of your home. It has two varieties: dye-based inks and pigment/sublimation-based inks. In comparison, inkjet printers using pigment-based inks are expensive. But, it is worth the money as it has plenty of benefits to offer.

Dye-based inks are the most inexpensive inks, but they are prone to wash off or get faded. They might bleed after printing as well. That is why sublimation ink-based inkjet printers are recommended. Moreover, They offer incredible durability.

Coming to its working, it uses the “spraying” technique. It sprays the selected liquid inks of any color onto the substrate/paper through tiny, microscopic nozzle openings. The inks come in cartridges. They are reasonably priced and considered highly versatile. Being a multi-purpose device, it comes in a broad range of sizes, so you will find one to suit your business and space. You are welcomed to pick any shade from the classic collection of colors and inks.

Laser Printers

If you are planning to print documents, laser printers are the best option. Especially when you are using black ink on plain white paper, don’t worry. You can use it to print colorful images, logos, and graphics on special paper. But, you might not be satisfied with the print quality. Usually chosen for office work, they are not suitable for printers when dealing with heat printing. They are more cost-effective printers and print more rapidly, as well.

Well, laserjet printers will ruin a few types of heat transfer paper. They run on a power cartridge and work on the heat fuse technique to prevent overheating and jamming issues for transferring color onto the paper. Apart from having heat-resistant paper, you need a specialized white toner if you want your colors to work precisely, giving excellent fabric print.

Dye Sublimation Printers

Another special kind of printer – the Dye-sublimation printer for heat transfer paper!

It is an exceptional printer mainly designed to help you print on the final material instead of paper. The product could be anything such as fabrics (T-shirts, napkins, and caps), canvas bags, hardboard and cardboard, plastic, greeting card, or even a piece of a plain sheet of paper. It negates the demand for a heat transfer.

Heat Press Time And Temperature Chart

Although, you need to be extra careful when dealing with fabrics as it is not suitable for all. Or else it will adhere to the substrate. It is best for polyesters.

Dye sublimation printers are the best printers for t shirt transfers. These printers are versatile and deliver vivid, sharp prints. For dye-sublimation, you must have detailed knowledge of the use of the printer. They are suitable for professional and consumer tasks.

Top Heat Transfer printer brands

Epson

A Japanese company Epson, established in 1942, is a global leader in manufacturing top-quality and versatile printers to cater to your business and personal needs. Epson is known for creating all-in-one inkjets.

They have been making an extensive collection of specialty printers, label printers, and disc printers. The most popular collections include WorkForce, Expression, and EcoTank.

Epson printers have incredible running costs. Its diverse lineup of printers for home and business use makes it an attractive option.

You can buy yourself a dot matrix printer, too. Monochrome inkjet printers are worth the money. Epson is one of the few companies that make monochrome inkjet printers. Unfortunately, Epson is no longer making laser printers. 

Coming to the performance, it is more middle-of-the-pack. For instance, an inkjet printer comes with a slower paper printing speed.

Hp

Hewlett-Packard (HP), established in 1939 by Bill Hewlett and David Packard, is one of the top-rated US companies with a reputable history of unlimited pioneering achievements. HP printers are considered highly reliable, long-lasting, rugged, and equally affordable, with a rich history of technological advancements.

They have robust construction. Their designs are feasible and practical, allowing easy and instant access to paper jams or ink cartridges. 

They make their printer for heat transfer in wired and wireless connectivity options. Keeping the ’customers’ needs in mind, HP produces quality printers at affordable prices.

It has revolutionized the perception of 3D printing, changing the face of digital prototyping. They have All-in-One printers, large format printers & tremendous digital presses.

Canon

Canon is another well-known Tokyo multinational company. They manufacture premium printers that can be used for personal as well as professional use. Founded in 1937, it has products including cameras, printers, and copiers.

Most of Canon’s printers offer impressive photo printing quality without putting strain on your budget. They tend to provide a greater color page yield along with better speed and paper handling.

Brother Industries

Brother Industries is another well-known Japanese multinational company that makes electrical and electronic equipment. They are selling state-of-the-art printers at high quality and low prices. They offer practicality, enhancing business efficiency. Moreover, these are sturdy and well-built, giving high page yields.

They have the best assortment of affordable printers for personal use. Brother printers are cheaper but have an outstanding printing speed for black-only text documents. 

The major problem is their short life, or you might face paper jams.

The printers for heat transfer paper from brother industries ensure low-cost-per-print, but it fails at offering reliable Bluetooth support. And remember, it is not suitable for printing photos. Known for their straightforward design, they are best suited for office use. They come short on color inkjet printers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a regular printer for heat transfer paper?

You can and cannot. For Heat Transfer paper, you need a paper-compatible printer and vice versa. Heat transfer papers are best suited for either inkjet or laser printers. But they are not cross-compatible. For an inkjet printer, you must have inkjet transfer paper. For a laser printer, you should use laser transfer paper.

What kind of printer do you need for printable heat transfer vinyl?

For printable HTV, you must have a wide-format printer. If you choose inkjet or laser printers, you will fail at your project. The wide-format printers cost as minimum as $5,00 but are generally much more expensive.

What kind of printer do I need to print iron on transfers?

For printing iron-on transfers, you should have an inkjet or a laser printer. They are best for heat transfer. Besides, you must buy iron transfer paper that seems compatible with your choice of printer. Generally, inkjet iron on fabric transfer paper is not workable with laser printers.

Is inkjet or laser better?

Inkjet printers are a good pick for printing images/photos and colored documents. But laser printers are best for printing office documents. In terms of money, laser printers are cheaper as they don’t use ink but toner.

What is the best inkjet printer for heat transfer?

• Epson Stylus C88+ Color Inkjet Printer
• Epson WorkForce WF-7110 Inkjet Printer

Could I use sublimation transfer paper in a normal inkjet printer?

No, because sublimation paper is solely made to lock in the gas efficiently, the sublimated ink releases that. The print result will be smudgily when you use regular ink on sublimation paper, giving a smear right off the page.

We reviewed the 9 best printers for heat transfer paper. Our experience showed that Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 and Canon MX492 Printer are the best printers for heat transfer.

Best heat press machine for beginners

Additional Questions

Which printer can I use to print on heat transfer paper?

While there are several types of printers that you can use to print on heat transfer paper, the most commonly used ones are inkjet printers, sublimation printers, and laser printers. Both inkjet and dye-sublimation printers tend to offer a higher quality image. However, it’s worth mentioning my personal experience here. As a graphic designer, I’ve found that using an inkjet printer for heat transfer paper offers a more vibrant color payoff, especially when I need to print detailed designs. Good quality inkjet printers can produce clear, crisp images which really stand out when printed on transfer paper.

What sort of printer is necessary for printable heat transfer vinyl?

When it comes to printing on printable vinyl, you’ll want to consider either inkjet or laser printers. I personally favor inkjet printers, as they use liquid ink that seeps into the vinyl and produces beautiful, high-resolution images with rich colors. But, you might also consider laser printers, which have their own set of advantages. For photography printing or those designs where color detail is paramount, inkjet printers are often the go-to. They also come with the added bonus of being able to print borderless photos, which can be a fantastic feature when you’re looking to create standout designs. Trust me, I’ve had nothing but success with my inkjet printer when working with printable vinyl!

Is an inkjet or laser printer a better option for heat transfer paper?

Both inkjet and laser printers can produce excellent results with heat transfer paper if handled the right way with the right type of paper. Laser printer transfers often have better image quality and produce more vibrant colors. But this isn’t to say that inkjet printers are inferior. In my past experiences, I’ve achieved impressive results even with an inkjet printer. It all comes down to how you use it and the quality of the paper you choose. The point to take away here would be that you can achieve top-notch results with either a laser or inkjet printer, provided you keep in mind their respective strengths and weaknesses.

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