We reviewed, researched, and tested a bevy of the most lauded iron-on transfer papers and assessed them for ease of use, color vividness, resistance to cracking or fading. The Avery Printable DIY T-Shirt Transfers are a surefire choice for most skill levels and inkjet printers; plus, you’ll get access to the brand’s online design templates for free with purchase. Here are the best iron-on transfer papers for designs that last. A note to keep in mind: The instructions suggest 30 seconds for pressing; however, our tester found that a little bit more time delivers the best results. Ultimately, the value and quality of this product make it an excellent pick if you have an inkjet printer and a lot of projects you want to make. Avery also has its own design software that comes free with your purchase, so you can feel free to use any of its templates for your designs. Price at time of publish: $22 Sheet Count: 12 total | Compatible materials: Cotton, canvas, light fabrics | Compatible printers: All inkjet printers It’s worth noting that this pick is not technically “paper.” Rather, it’s vinyl that can be used with your printer, in the same way you’d use iron-on transfer paper. This heat transfer vinyl functions similarly to your traditional iron-on paper. However, it has a bit of a thicker feel to it and is designed specifically for use in die-cutters like the Silhouette and Cricut. Price at time of publish: $10 Sheet Count: 5 total | Compatible materials: Cotton, polyester, cotton blend, dark colored fabrics | Compatible printers: All inkjet printers This paper has a clear background, which is fantastic in terms of making the perimeter of an image look clean and less noticeable. (For the cleanest-looking results, try a die-cutting machine, which can cut images with optimal precision). Moreover, the image transfer is flexible and resistant to cracking or peeling. This paper pack comes with wonderfully detailed instructions—we advise you to follow them carefully for best results. Price at time of publish: $10 Sheet Count: 10 total | Compatible materials: Cotton, silk, linen; white and light materials | Compatible printers: All inkjet printers Approximately 35 seconds using medium pressure from an iron or heat press is all you need for a full image transfer; many users report that this stuff stretches the moment the image adheres—so feel free to pop on your new T-shirt as soon as it’s cooled down. (That said, as a general rule of thumb, it’s always a good idea to give your new heat transfer creations some time to “set” and then wash them on a low setting, inside-out). Price at time of publish: $61 Sheet Count: 100 total | Compatible materials: Cotton, synthetic cotton, cotton blend, Light materials | Compatible printers: All inkjet printers The images hold up well in the wash, too, which is a huge plus for heat transfer images. As a bonus, this paper set also comes with protective sheets to use between the shirt and your iron. This is one of those necessary steps that can halt your project if you realize you don’t have your protective sheets, so we appreciated the convenience of the included sheets in this paper pack. Price at time of publish: $11 Sheet Count: 5 total | Compatible materials: Cotton, cotton blends, synthetic cotton, dark and light fabrics | Compatible printers: All inkjet printers The laser printer is good for a range of materials, too, including cotton, polyester, and denser, coarser materials and items like tote bags. Each sheet is standard letter size (8.5 x 11 inches) and glides smoothly through any laser printer with minimal risk of jamming. The paper itself is flexible and easy to cut, making it a breeze for beginners to work with. Price at time of publish: $28 Sheet Count: 25 total | Compatible materials: Cotton, polyester, canvas, light and dark fabric | Compatible printers: All laser printers It’s also worth noting that this brand, NuFun, is one of the pioneers in transfer paper. The clear, vibrant, crack-proof results are a testament to the brand’s longtime experience in the space. Price at time of publish: $39 Sheet Count: 50 total (25 dark, 25 light) | Compatible materials: Cotton, canvas, polyester; Dark fabrics and light fabrics | Compatible printers: All inkjet printers
Dark vs. Light Fabric
You’ll notice that iron-on transfer paper comes in one of two forms: light fabric and dark fabric (that said, there are a few iron-on transfer papers that work with both). If you’re planning to transfer a design onto a white T-shirt, you’ll want to look for a paper pack designed for white or light fabrics; same goes for dark fabrics (look for paper designed for dark fabrics). Iron-on transfer paper made for dark fabrics will have a white background, which allows the image to show up on a dark fabric. For a clean, crisp look, it’s important to cut as closely to the edge of the image as possible to not have an unintentional white border or perimeter showing around your image. Iron-on transfer paper made for white or light fabrics is often transparent in nature in terms of the paper background itself. This allows the white of the fabric to show through and essentially “fill in” the gaps where white would be in the image. Since white or light fabric paper is often transparent, the image printed on the paper will not show up well on dark fabrics.
Detailed Instructions
While iron-on transfer paper crafts are a fun and relatively easy hobby to learn, there is a bit of a learning curve in some instances. The temperature of your heat source (either an iron or a heat press) matters; furthermore, the ideal temperature can vary depending on the brand of iron-on transfer paper you’ve purchased—so be sure to take a good, hard look at the instructions prior to starting your project. It’s also prudent to print a test sheet on regular printing paper prior to using a sheet of iron-on transfer paper (which can be significantly more expensive than printer paper).
Why Trust The Spruce Crafts?
Sophie Wirt is an NYC-based writer and editor, and has been penning product reviews, interviews, and investigative pieces since 2015. Since the images are technically on top of your garment when transferred, they are not fully integrated with the fabric. Therefore, images transferred via heat transfer paper are never fully permanent and eventually tend to peel or crack. (Sidenote: Sublimation, a process whereby special inks are literally infused into the substrate, is a permanent and totally crack-resistant, peel-resistant method of image transfer. However, it’s more involved and costly). It’s also important to consider your substrate; in other words, are you transferring an image onto a cotton T-shirt? A canvas surface? The material will make a difference in terms of how long you need to apply heat and at what temperature. Lastly, if you’re transferring onto a T-shirt or other wearable garment, make sure the first wash is on a low setting and that the garment is turned inside out. We tested and researched a variety of the best iron-on transfer papers and considered the durability and quality of each on this list. We also considered value and ease-of-use, as well as printer type. Regardless of your skill level, budget, and even printer type, you’ll find a great iron-on transfer paper to suit your crafting needs on our curated list.
