The 12 Best Printers for Heat Transfers & T-Shirt Printing

Ever wanted to create your own custom t-shirt designs? Thanks to heat transfer printing, you can now achieve that goal. 

Whether you are a fashionista or an artist who wants to make custom t-shirts, you can create your own flashy t-shirt designs through printers capable of heat transfers. However, you would want to choose the best model with good printing resolution and color reproduction to bring your designs to life. 

Most modern printers available on the market today are capable of heat transfer printing. But given the plethora of choices, which one do you choose? 

If you are already scratching your head about which printer you should get, worry no more! Here we have prepared a list of the 12 best heat transfer printers for you to choose from. 

Moreover, you need sufficient heat transfer papers for your printers, and choosing the right one is another headache. Fear not! We are here for you, Check out our exclusively curated article on top-notch heat transfer papers, to give you an excellent printing experience. 

So without any more delays, let’s get straight to it! 

Best Heat Transfer Printers

Here is the list of the 12 best printers for heat transfer.

1. Epson Heat Printer Ecotank ET-2750 – Best Overall

Epson is one of the leading names in manufacturing printing and imaging equipment. Consequently, the ET-2750 Ecotank inkjet printer lives up to its brand name. It is a wireless printer that you can use for both heat transfers and regular printing.

The Epson Ecotank ET-2750 is a wireless inkjet printer favored by users for its cartridge-free printing capabilities. It comes with enough ink to last for two years or print 5,200 color pages.

Furthermore, it does not compromise on quality, as it can print resolutions of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi, which makes it ideal for heat transfer. The printer also comes with supersized ink tanks that are pretty easy to fill.

Additionally, the replacement ink bottles are low-cost, making them highly efficient for heat transfer printing.

The wireless interface and voice-activated printing also make it easy to transfer high-quality artwork from your device onto heat transfer paper. You can then print them on your T-shirts.

Despite the attractive features, the printer’s initial setup can be somewhat of a hassle, especially if you are not that tech-savvy. The Wi-Fi reception range for this printer is also relatively small, due to which you need to be near the device to print your designs.

2. HP Printer OfficeJet Pro 9015 – Best Productivity

HP as a brand needs no introduction, especially in the printing and imaging space. The HP OfficeJet Pro 9015 is one of the leading products in the OfficeJet line: well known for its quality and reliability. This is a multi-functional printer, which means you can also use it for copying and scanning.

The OfficeJet Pro 9015 is a standard inkjet printer that you can use for multiple printing purposes, including high-quality heat transfers. One of the most exciting aspects that we observed for this printer is its range of digital features that make any printing task convenient.

It comes with ethernet connectivity, cloud compatibility, search functionality, in-built security, and wireless, remote printing. All of these features make it convenient for your printing tasks so you can consider this printer to be a worthy option. 

What’s more, the printer is manufactured from recycled plastic, which makes it a very sustainable printing choice. Also, we observed that the printer could print designs on heat transfer paper very quickly.

While using the printer, we noticed that its software could be a bit buggy. This can be a significant hurdle for this printer, considering the range of digital features it possesses.

Also, the ink efficiency is relatively low due to its high ink usage, due to which you may need to buy ink cartridges frequently.

3. Brother Transfer Printer HL-L2320D – Best Budget Friendly

The HL-L2320D Mono is one of the many laser printers manufactured by Brother Industries. It is pretty good for heat transfers, despite being monochrome.

Furthermore, it has a wired interface, which is a departure from the previous wireless options on our list. Nonetheless, due to this aspect, it is a relatively affordable option.

Despite being a monochrome printer, the Brother HL-L2320D caught our attention due to its affordability. So, if you are looking for a superb, budget printer for heat transfer and have no problems with monochrome designs, this is the one to get. 

Furthermore, this printer is relatively fast and has a large tray capacity. So, you can effectively use it for bulk heat transfer printing. Also, since it uses a wired interface, it is relatively easy to set up and use.

The printing quality is excellent, especially the resolution and clarity. While using this printer, we observed that the prints on the heat transfer papers were crisp and detailed, which helped us print some great t-shirt designs.

This aspect of the printer can more than makeup for its monochrome output.

Being a monochrome printer, the obvious limitation of this printer is the lack of color printing. In addition to that, despite using high-speed USB 2.0 connectivity, you may find the wired interface to be somewhat more inconvenient than a wireless interface.

4. Epson Heat Printer Workforce WF-7710 – Best In Flexibility

Up next on our list, we have another one of Epson’s many inkjet printers. The Epson Workforce WF-7710 is an all-in-one color inkjet printer. This means that, in addition to conventional printing, this printer is equipped for printing on both glossy photo paper and heat transfer paper.

There is quite a lot to like about the Epson Workforce WF-7710. This is an all-in-one printer that can produce borderless prints of up to 13” x 19” in size. Additionally, the wide-format printing support makes it a really great option for heat transfers.

The printer also comes with wireless and wired connectivity options. Thus, it offers excellent flexibility in terms of connectivity so that you can print according to your convenience.

Moreover, its PrecisionCore printhead makes it great for high-quality printing. It also comes with DURABrite Ultra ink cartridges, which contain smudge-free, waterproof ink.

We observed that the printer comes with a sizeable 250-page tray capacity, along with a rear tray for specialty paper. This supports heat transfer papers, among other paper types, making it a really versatile choice.

Furthermore, it supports automatic duplex printing and comes with a 4.3” color touchscreen, which is quite nifty.

Despite being a versatile printing option for heat transfers, this printer has limitations that you need to keep in mind. First off, its printing speed is quite low. In addition, this printer is relatively bulky and heavy, which can be a little inconvenient.

5. Epson Heat Printer EcoTank ET-2720 – Best In Efficiency

Here we have yet another printer from Epson that deserves mention. The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is another of the many inkjet printers manufactured by Epson that is known for its performance and efficiency.

This printer also comes with scanning and copying capabilities that make it a pretty great option.

The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is a pretty compact and efficient printer, especially for heat transfer. It comes with high-capacity ink cartridges straight out of the box, which can last up to 2 years. 

Furthermore, you can save almost 90% of your costs on replacement ink bottles, which can print 7,500 color pages, equivalent to 30 ink cartridges. And it’s wireless and ethernet connectivity, as well as the voice-activated printing feature, makes it convenient for remote printing on the go. 

This printer utilizes Micro Piezo technology that produces high-quality prints, which makes it great for printing on heat transfer vinyl. Additionally, it is relatively efficient, as it minimizes ink and cartridge wastage, thereby making it pretty sustainable.

It also comes with built-in scanning and copying functionalities, which are very convenient.

There are certain drawbacks that came to our attention while using this printer. While it supports wifi connectivity, the wifi reception, and range are not that great on this printer. Furthermore, it does not support automatic duplex printing, and you have to manually flip the pages if you want to print on both sides.

6. HP Transfer Printer OfficeJet Pro 8035

For the next printer, we have the OfficeJet Pro 8035 manufactured by HP. This is another all-purpose inkjet printer that is pretty good for heat transfers. The OfficeJet Pro 8035 comes with a host of digital and smart features that make any printing task convenient and fast.

One of the unique aspects of the HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 is its 8 months of free, redeemable ink. It comes with a code that you can use to redeem your free ink once you run out, which will be delivered to you in 8 months.

This printer also comes with different digital features, such as cloud compatibility, built-in security measures, and the HP Smart App that reduces the time for printing tasks. All of these features, coupled with its wireless connectivity, make this a really convenient option.

What’s more, it is relatively fast and can print 20 pages per minute, which makes it an excellent choice for heat transfer prints. It also supports automatic duplexing and supports copying and scanning, which justifies the all-in-one tag that it comes with.

And of course, since it is made out of 15% recycled plastic, it is a sustainable printing choice.

The initial setup of this printer can be a little complicated for beginners, which can be a significant downside of this printer. Furthermore, we found that the software that comes with it can be a little buggy and inconsistent from time to time.

7. Epson Printer Workforce WF-2860

And yet again, we have a high-quality product from Epson. The Epson Workforce WF-2860 is another color inkjet printer from the Workforce line that is good for heat transfers. The compact model has a wide range of features which makes it a very versatile and efficient option.

The Epson Workforce WF-2860 is a pretty good printer for any kind of printing activity. It has a really compact design, which makes it very easy to carry around. This aspect is further enhanced by its fully wireless interface, which adds to its portable convenience.

Do not be fooled by its size, though, for this printer is an absolute powerhouse. It comes with Epson’s PrecisionCore technology, due to which it can produce really high-quality prints similar to laser printers. This makes it great for any heat transfer project. 

Additionally, this printer supports copy, scan, and fax functionalities, along with automatic duplex printing. We found out that it requires no warm-up for printing the first page, which increases printing speeds. Furthermore, the large tray capacity is a bonus, considering the size of this printer.

We loved this printer, as it really lives up to its features. However, we couldn’t help but notice that the ink efficiency on this printer is relatively low. It uses up ink pretty quickly, due to which you might need to get refills quite often.

8. Canon Printer Pixma iP8720

Canon is another reputed brand in the printing and imaging space. So, the next option on our list is the Canon Pixma iP8720, which is a color printer based on inkjet printing technology. This is a wireless printer that also supports USB connectivity and is fully cloud-compatible.

The Canon Pixma iP8720 does a great job in handling printing tasks, especially when the quality of prints is concerned. Canon has left no stone unturned for this printer, which makes it really great for heat transfers.

Its high-resolution support of up to 9600 x 2400 dpi, coupled with the 6 colored inks, produces incredibly detailed and vibrant prints, perfect for heat transfer t-shirts. Furthermore, the printer supports borderless printing for sizes up to 13” x 19”, making it convenient to print on heat transfer paper.

We should also add that the wireless and USB connectivity makes this printer quite flexible. You can opt for either the convenience of a wireless interface or the high speeds of USB connections. Last but not least, this unit is relatively silent when printing.

Canon did not compromise on the quality department for this printer. However, it falls behind in some other aspects. The Wi-Fi connectivity can be somewhat jittery, with disconnections occurring quite often. Also, we observed that the initial setup and software installation is slightly complicated.

9. Brother Heat Printer Business HL-L8360CDW

It’s now time we introduced you to the Brother Business HL-L8360CDW color printer. Being a laser printer, it is pretty fast and boasts high printing quality, which makes it a worthy option for heat transfers. It also provides different wireless connectivity options, like many of our previous choices.

The Brother Business HL-L8360CDW is a pretty good wireless laser printer that is quite fast and can print 33 pages per minute. We also found the print quality to be quite good, making it suitable for heat transfer printing.

Although this printer supports wireless printing over wifi, you can connect via the ethernet to print directly from the cloud. You can also print from your USB flash devices and smartphones once they are connected to the printer.

The toner cartridges that come with it have high yields and can print 6,500 pages before they need replacement. Furthermore, the replacement cartridges have a pretty low cost, which provides good value for money.
In addition, this printer supports automatic duplex printing, has advanced built-in security features, and comes with a 2.7-inch color touchscreen for easy navigation.

While this printer is pretty good and reliable, there are some areas where it could be improved further. It does not support any scanning or copying functionality and can, therefore, be only used for printing. Also, considering that it is a wireless laser printer, you may find the price to be a little steep.

10. HP Neverstop Heat Laser MFP

For our next product, we have the HP Neverstop Laser 1202w Multifunction printer. This is a monochrome laser printer from HP that comes with a range of smart and convenient features, due to which it has been included on our list.

We decided to try out this printer to test its claim of having the lowest cost per page of printing. And we have to say,; this printer really is cost-effective! The toner that comes with it can print up to 5,000 pages, which provides excellent value for your printing tasks.

In addition, this is a high-quality printer, despite being monochrome. You will find that your prints are quite detailed and high resolution, making the printer a good choice for heat transfer printing.

Furthermore, this is an all-in-one printer that supports scanning and copying functions as well. And the wireless connectivity allows you to print from any smart device at your convenience.

This is a monochrome printer, so if you want to print colored heat transfer vinyl, it may not be the right option for you. Furthermore, with a print speed of 21 pages per minute, the model is relatively slow for a laser printer.

11. Epson Printer Workforce WF-7720

Before we conclude our list, we had to bring you another superb printer from the Workforce line of Epson printers. The Epson Workforce WF-7720 is a color printer that uses inkjet technology and its PrecisionCore technology to give it an edge over other inkjet and laser printers.

The Epson Workforce WF-7720 is an exceptional printer that can easily handle high-volume printing tasks without compromising on quality. Thanks to the PrecisionCore technology that this printer uses, you can get incredibly detailed borderless prints.

Furthermore, the printer has a significantly large tray capacity that holds 500 sheets, along with a rear tray that holds specialty paper. It also boasts a 125-sheet output tray, which can easily handle high-volume print loads, making it ideal for bulk heat transfer printing.

This printer also sports a 4.3” color touchscreen panel that makes it easy to control and navigate. You also get other features, such as support for wide-format printing, a range of connectivity options, automatic duplexing, and scan, copy, and fax functionalities for added convenience.

The Epson Workforce-7720 is a terrific printer that can easily handle high-volume heat transfers in addition to regular printing.
However, we observed that it uses up considerable amounts of ink, which makes it relatively inefficient. In addition, considering its wide range of features, it can be a relatively expensive option.

12. Canon Printer Pixma TS

An all-in-one color printer, the Canon Pixma TS is based on inkjet printing technology that can produce high-quality prints for your heat transfer projects. Furthermore, it boasts a range of features that make it a really good printer option.

Canon is no stranger in the domain of high-quality imaging and printing, and their Pixma TS all-in-one printer is a testimony to this fact. It can produce prints that are incredibly crisp and detailed, which makes it well-equipped for heat transfers.

Furthermore, the Pixma TS supports a range of connectivity options, such as USB, wifi, and even Bluetooth. So, you can easily connect any device with the printer, which makes it pretty convenient for everyday printing.

What’s more, considering that this is an all-in-one printer, the Pixma TS is pretty good for scanning and copying functions. The automatic duplex printing and voice-activated controls make it faster and more convenient so that you can easily use it for your printing needs.

There are certain areas in which this printer could have performed better. First off, the 1.4” OLED display is really small and has no additional functions other than displaying printer status messages. Also, with a 100-sheet tray capacity, you cannot use this printer for high-volume tasks.

Best Printers for Heat Transfer Comparison Table

Buying Guide For The Best Heat Transfer Printer

When it comes to finding the best printers for heat transfers, there are a few factors to consider.

Whether you’re looking for an inkjet printer for heat transfer, a sublimation printer, a color laser printer, or a wide format printer for sublimation, it’s important to understand what type of printer is capable of printing the best quality prints and will handle the specific type of inkjet heat transfer paper you wish to use.

Additionally, you want to get the best print speed and paper compatibility options for heat transfer printing. In this article, we will discuss these factors in detail so that you can find the best options regarding heat transfer printing. 

Types Of Printer

• Inkjet Printers 
  Inkjet printers are one of the most popular printers used for heat transfers. They are capable of printing high-quality prints with ease and they come in a variety of sizes, making them ideal for small businesses and home users alike.
  The main advantage of using an inkjet printer is that it can handle colored heat transfer paper as well as lighter materials such as fabric and film.
  Additionally, some models come with extra features such as auto-feeders and duplexing capabilities which make it easier to transfer the design onto multiple surfaces. 
• Laser Printers
  Laser printers are another option when it comes to printing for heat transfers. They are generally faster than inkjet printers and can provide higher-quality prints at a faster rate than inkjet models.
  They can also handle thicker materials such as cardstock or canvas with ease and offer more features than inkjet models, making them a great choice if you want to get high-quality prints quickly and easily. 

Types Of Ink 

• Plastisol Ink
  Plastisol ink is one of the most commonly used inks when it comes to heat transfers.
  It is highly durable and produces vivid colors that won’t fade over time. Plastisol ink is also more resistant to cracking or fading when exposed to higher temperatures than other types of inks and is generally easier to apply than other types of inks. 
• Water-based Ink
  Water-based ink is also an option when it comes to heat transfers but it is not as durable or long-lasting as plastisol ink.
  It is also not as resistant to cracking or fading due to higher temperatures but it is still a viable option if you want a less expensive alternative that still produces good results. 
• Discharge Ink
  Discharge ink is used primarily when you want your design to have a softer feel on the material or have a vintage look. This type of ink works well on cotton fabrics but can be difficult to apply correctly so it’s important that you practice before trying it out on your project. 
• Solvent Ink
  Solvent-based inks are used primarily for large format printing projects such as banners or signs because they produce vivid colors that won’t fade over time even when exposed to direct sunlight or harsh weather conditions.
  They are more expensive than other types of inks but they produce excellent results when used properly. 

Print Quality 

When choosing the best printer for heat transfers, print quality should be one of your main considerations as this will determine how your design looks when transferred onto surfaces like fabric, film, or cardstock.

You should look for printers with high-resolution capabilities so that your design appears sharp and detailed after being printed onto your chosen surface material.

Also, consider whether the printer is capable of producing fine lines or intricate details since these will make all the difference in the overall appearance of your design after being transferred onto surfaces like fabrics or film sheets. 

Printing Speed 

Print speed is also an important factor when choosing the right printer for heat transfers since this will determine how long it takes you to finish each project.

If you need prints done quickly then you should opt for a printer with higher printing speeds such as an inkjet photo printer or color laser printer since these models tend to be able to print faster than regular desktop printers due to their larger print heads and higher resolution capabilities.

Additionally, some models come with features such as auto-feeders which make it easier and faster to print multiple sheets at once which can save you time in the long run if you need multiple copies of your design printed quickly and easily. 

Paper Compatibility  

When looking for a printer for heat transfers, paper compatibility should also be taken into consideration since different printers may not be able to handle all types of papers available on the market today such as colored heat transfer paper or specialty papers like canvas or cardstock sheets.

Make sure that before purchasing any model you check whether your chosen model can handle all types of paper so that you don’t have any problems down the line regarding compatibility issues between your chosen model and certain types of paper materials needed for your projects.  

Price  

Price is also an important factor when choosing the best printer for heat transfers since many models come with different features that affect their overall cost such as increased resolution capabilities, auto-feeders, etc.

Make sure that before purchasing any model you do research on different brands available so that you can find one within your budget range while still having all the necessary features needed for successful heat transfer printing projects such as high-resolution capabilities, fast printing speeds, etc.  

Connectivity  

Connectivity should also be taken into consideration when selecting the right printer for heat transfers since many models come with different connection options such as USB, Wi-Fi, etc.

You should make sure before purchasing any model that it has compatible connection options available so that transferring files from other devices like phones or computers becomes easy without any hassle due to incompatible connection options between devices such as USB2 vs. USB3 etc.  

Running Cost  

Running costs should also be taken into consideration when selecting a good printer for heat transfers since this will determine how much money will be spent on supplies like toner cartridges etc.

Make sure before purchasing any model that its running costs are within reason otherwise, this could cause major problems down the line if supplies become too expensive making it difficult for small businesses or home users alike who need prints done regularly but don’t have enough money available for buying supplies frequently due their high cost compared to other models available on the market today.

How does heat transfer printing work?

Heat transfer papers have specialized coatings. The image you print onto the heat transfer paper is pressed against a suitable garment, preferably a t-shirt. It is then heated until the paper’s print is transferred to the garment.

Can you use any printer for heat transfers?

You can use most modern inkjet and laser printers for heat transfers. However, you might need to check if your printer is compatible with the specialized heat transfer paper.

Do you need specialized inks for heat transfers?

No, you do not need any specialized inks for heat transfer. Since it is very similar to conventional printing, regular inks used in printers will suffice.

Can I directly print on a t-shirt using a regular printer?

No, you cannot directly print on a t-shirt using a regular printer. In order to print on a t-shirt, you would need to use a specialized t-shirt printing machine or have it printed out professionally.

Conclusion

Modern-day printers are pretty capable and can help you satisfy your inner artist. You can make giclee prints, 3D prints, and of course, print clothes and merchandise. 

In that regard, there is nothing better than designing your own apparel to flex your swag. You can do this with a heat transfer printer, but it can get confusing, especially if you are a beginner. 

That’s why we’ve written this detailed guide for you so that you can select the best heat transfer printer for creating colorful and vibrant apparel. Now, we’ll conclude our review-based guide, and we hope that we have been able to help you decide. 

But before we go, we would like you to know our best picks from the list. The Epson Ecotank is a great printer overall for heat transfers, which is why that is our top pick.

On the other hand, the HP OfficeJet Pro is a fast and high-quality printer. And the Brother HL-L2320D is extremely affordable and fast, albeit monochrome. 

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