HTV Heat Press Chart: Time & Temperature by Material
Starting points for common heat transfer vinyl jobs. These are consensus ranges compiled from Siser and Cricut official guides plus craft-industry sources, but exact settings differ meaningfully by brand and product line (e.g., Siser EcoStretch at 250F vs Cricut SportFlex at 305F), so always follow the instruction sheet for your specific vinyl and test on a scrap or hidden area first. Note that Cricut EasyPress users generally need roughly 10-30F more heat and longer presses (about 30s) than commercial clamshell heat-press settings, and press temperature displays can drift, so verify with an infrared thermometer for critical jobs.
| Material | Temp | Time | Pressure | Peel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard HTV on 100% Cotton | 305-315°F (150–155°C) | 10-15s | medium | hot | Preheat the garment 2-3 seconds first; Siser EasyWeed peels hot or cold, while Cricut Everyday Iron-On runs 315F for 30s with a warm peel. |
| Standard HTV on 100% Polyester | 270-305°F (130–150°C) | 10-20s | medium | hot | Drop to 270-280F and press 15-20 seconds on thin or heat-sensitive polyester to avoid scorch and shine marks from the platen. |
| Standard HTV on Cotton/Poly Blend | 305-315°F (150–155°C) | 10-15s | medium | hot | Blends take the same settings as cotton; use a cover sheet or parchment to protect the fabric and any surrounding print. |
| Standard HTV on Canvas Tote | 305-320°F (150–160°C) | 15-20s | firm | hot | Pre-press 3-5 seconds to drive out moisture and slip a pressing pillow inside the bag; canvas is thick, so never go under ~12-15s (Cricut's EasyPress chart goes as high as 340F/30s on cotton canvas). |
| Glitter HTV on Cotton/Poly/Blends | 320-330°F (160–165°C) | 15-20s | medium | warm | Glitter needs more heat and time than standard HTV: Siser Glitter runs 320F for 15-20s with a warm peel, while Cricut Glitter Iron-On wants 330F for 30s on an EasyPress with a cool peel. Never layer other vinyl on top. |
| Foil HTV on Cotton/Poly/Blends | 295-305°F (145–150°C) | 10-15s | medium | cold | Always peel completely cold to preserve the mirror finish; Cricut Foil uses gentle pressure at 295F/30s while Siser Metal presses at 305F. |
| Holographic HTV on Cotton/Poly/Blends | 320-330°F (160–165°C) | 15-20s | firm | cold | Use medium-to-firm pressure and let the carrier cool completely before peeling or the opalescent layer can lift. |
| Stretch/Athletic HTV (SportFlex, EcoStretch) | 250-305°F (120–150°C) | 10-15s | medium | hot | The most brand-dependent category: Siser EasyWeed EcoStretch applies at just 250F/10-15s hot peel, while Cricut SportFlex runs 305F/30s warm peel and is meant for polyester, nylon, and spandex activewear. |
| Flock HTV on Cotton/Poly/Blends | 310-320°F (155–160°C) | 10-15s | medium | warm | Siser StripFlock Pro presses at 311F/10-15s with a warm peel; the suede-like nap makes even pressure especially important, so check for lifting edges and re-press 5-10s with a cover sheet if needed. |
Where the designs come from
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Every project needs an SVG or font before it needs a press. We use Creative Fabrica — one subscription covers fonts, cut files, and sublimation designs with commercial licensing included. Read the license terms before selling: craft SVG cut files carry a lifetime license, while for fonts and graphics you can create new for-sale designs only while the subscription is active (anything made during it can be sold forever).
Small gear, big saves
Product suggestions are editorial picks. See our affiliate disclosure.
- Infrared thermometer gun — Press dials lie — a $15 thermometer tells you the real platen temperature before you ruin a blank.
- Teflon (PTFE) sheets — Protects vinyl and blanks from scorching, and keeps sublimation ink off your platen.
- Heat-resistant tape — Sublimation ghosting is almost always a shifted transfer — tape it down and it can't move.
- Lint roller — One stray fiber under HTV shows forever. Roll every blank first — the 3-second habit that saves shirts.