The Best Hat Press Machines: Cap & Hat Heat Press Reviews

What is the best hat press?

 

Hat heat press machines come in two types: dedicated stand-alone machines, or as part of a multifunction heat press. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each style, and find out which is best for you.

Hat Press Machines

 

hat heat press

 

All of the cap press machines that we’ve listed are suitable for sublimation, inkjet, or HTV transfers onto caps and hats. If your customers are asking for caps, or if you want to make them at home for friends and family, here are our recommendations.

 

The multifunction presses are reasonably priced and come with a variety of other heat press capabilities, while the stand-alone machines take up a lot less space and are easier to use.

 

Amazon Dedicated Hat Press Machines

  • Cheapest option
  • Solid steel structure
  • Full-range pressure-adjustment knob
View HappyBuy PressView Mophorn Press

Siser Digital Cap Press

  • Higher quality cap press machine
  • Additional platens for various sizes sold separately
  • Live digital time and temperature
View On Heat Press NationView On Heat Transfer Warehouse

HPN Black Series Cap Press

  • Full pressure adjustable low to high pressure clamp
  • Digital time and temperature gauge
  • Full range heating coils for quick heat up
View on Heat Press Nation

US Made Cap Press Machines

  • Stahls, Geo Knight, Hix, Insta hat press machines
  • The very best quality for production use
  • Programmable presets and other top features
View on Heat Press NationView On Heat Transfer Warehouse

Amazon Multifunction Heat Presses

  • Full 360-degree rotation and professional swing-away design
  • Large t shirt heat press platen
  • Comes with hat, mug, plate attachments
View F2C MultifunctionView Mophorn Multifunction

HPN Multifunction Heat Press

  • Digital temperature control
  • Reinforced structure to ensure high pressure
  • Rugged and durable
View On Heat Press Nation

Dedicated Cap Press Machines

 

best hat press machine


The better option is a stand-alone machine. These hat heat press machines are specifically designed to do heat transfers on hats and caps, and tend to be much stronger and more durable.

 

Also, you can sometimes make them work for putting labels or other small transfers onto other substrates.

 

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Ready to go
  • Affordable options
  • Easy to store, shift, or transport

Cons:

  • Cheap machines not as good

 

Stand-alone machines are the best way to decorate caps and hats, and all of the US heat press manufacturers have options.

 

For a large and busy operation, take a look at the Hotronix Cap Press – it’s one of the very best!

 

 

Multifunction Cap Press Machines

 

hat press machine

 

Multifunction heat press machines usually have 5, 6 or 8 attachments. These include a t-shirt press, a cap press, a plate press, and a mug press. A press with more attachments has extra styles or sizes of those attachments. Usually there is only one size of cap press attachment.

 

To use the cap press option,  you must remove the flat upper and lower platens from your heat press. You then screw in the cap press attachments, plug it into the power unit on the heat press machine, and you’re away.

 

Pros:

  • Multiple pressing options
  • Quality options (like HPN)
  • Cheaper than buying separate machines

Cons:

  • Have to change attachment platens
  • Usually more prone to fault
  • Some cheap multifunctions not designed so well

 

You will notice that most of the Amazon machines look very similar, or even identical. In fact, many of them are the same design, possibly built in the same factory, but imported and branded by different companies and individuals. If going for one of these machines choose the seller with the best reviews.

 

Consider a multifunction if:

  • You have limited space
  • Your budget is limited but you want to try our everything
  • You don’t want to press hats all the time, just every now and again

 

Best Cap Press Machine

 

In summary, I think the best idea is to go with a stand-alone machine if you are serious about pressing hats.

 

The best machines are the US made cap press machines: Stahls, Geo Knight, Hix, or Insta. They are all extremely good. We recommend Stahls and Insta in particular.

 

But, if you are drawn towards a multifunction, first consider the HPN options: Signature Series or Black Series. Those machines are much higher quality than any that you will find on Amazon, and they will last for a longer time. HPN also has great customer support, tech support, and heat press resources.

 

Let us know what you think in the comments section below!

 

 

(Please note: This post contains affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy here.)

Comments 2

  1. Avatar for Johnny Salas Johnny Salas May 15, 2018
    • Avatar for How To Heat Press How To Heat Press May 20, 2018

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