Best For Small Projects: Cricut Easy Press Mini

A mini heat press is essentially an iron with specific heat settings for transfer projects like custom hats, shoes, stuffed animals and the like. 

Of course, some mini heat presses are smaller than others—and the Cricut Easy Press Mini is our pick for smaller projects  (example: uniform emblems on pockets). 

We like the Cricut brand . . . we tried out several of their products (from heat presses to die cutting machines) and think their overall quality and construction is excellent. 

The Cricut Easy Press Mini weighs just over 1 pound—and that light weight and flexibility is great for heat transfer projects in hard to reach places. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Smaller and more compact than other mini heat presses we researched.

• Lightweight.

• Easy to use.

• Great for items that don’t lay flat (shoes, for example).

• Affordable.

• 3 heat settings for different types of transfer.

What Needs Work

• A bit pricey.

Best Budget-Friendly Heat Press: DODODUM EasyPress Mini Heat Press Machine

We know—heat press machines can get rather pricey. What if you just want to try out this craft without a big investment?

For the best budget-friendly mini heat press, we recommend DODODUM’s EasyPress—good quality, nice features and a price that doesn’t break the bank.

What We Liked

• Heats quickly.

• Auto shut-off.

• Easy to use.

• Three temps (284, 320, 374 degrees).

• Includes spray bottle and canvas tote bag).

• Fine tip for details.

What Needs Work

• Maybe too small for some projects like t-shirts. In that case, you might consider a larger mini heat press like the next recommendation.

Best Mini Press For T-Shirts: Cricut EasyPress 2 

Warning: heat transfer craft projects can become addictive. Sure, you start with a mini heat press like the ones we recommend above . . . and then you cast your eyes on bigger projects, like custom t-shirts. 

If that’s you, we suggest the Cricut EasyPress 2.

What’s great about this mini heat press? It has a larger surface area for t-shirts, but still is portable and lightweight.

Cricut is a tried and true brand when it comes to crafting . . . we liked their die cutting machines when we did an article on that subject. Their small heat press also impressed us. Here’s why:

What We Liked

• Great for small batches of t-shirts. Also makes custom tote bags and pillows. 

• Quickly heats up in under 2 minutes.

• Portable!

• Simple to use.

• Works up to 400 degrees.

• Small footprint.

What Needs Work

• Teflon sheets are an additional cost. This is included with other machines we researched—but extra here. (FYI: Teflon sheets are used to keep t-shirt fabric from burning).

• A  bit pricey for somewhat limited use.

Best Even Heat Mini Press: VEVOR Mini Press 7 x 8 Inch

One common complaint we heard from heat transfer enthusiasts among our readers is uneven heating—some mini heat presses are simply better at this than others. 

Even heat is important to getting the heat transfer process just right—if there is uneven heat, you may ruin the garment or project by only transferring part of the design.

For the best even heat mini press, we liked VEVOR’s Mini Press. Yes, it is much like the fancy brand name . . . but is less expensive and has a double tube heat design. The result: more even heating.

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Great size—easy to use.

• Heats quickly.

• Affordable.

• Excellent for small areas (emblems on t-shirt pockets, for example).

• Three pressure adjustments. That’s unique in this category, as most mini heat presses require you to apply the pressure yourself.

What Needs Work

• Better for more advanced users. We see more than one report from users that this machine arrived without instructions. Now, it is easy enough to figure out, especially if you’ve got some experience under your belt . . . but beginners might be somewhat intimidated. 

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!