If you're serious about starting your t-shirt or heat press business or brand, one of the MOST ESSENTIAL items will be your heat press. You don't want to get one too small because then you will have to press bigger designs multiple times (trust me, my first one was 12 x 10, and jobs took 4 times as long sometimes). But you also don't want to get one too big where the seams of the garment will always be pressed. This can sometimes cause uneven pressure. So what heat press is best? Which one is the best bang for your buck?  What heatpress can press the most shirts the most efficiently? 

Today we're going to be covering the top 3 clamshell presses for your shirt business. We're only going to cover clamshell presses this time. Swing-away presses will be for another time. 

To start, you don't want to go smaller than 15 x 15 inches. Anything less than that is not very efficient or practical even. Like I said earlier, when I first started I had a press that was 12 x 10 inches. simple 5 shirt jobs took me FOREVER. Simply because most designs (especially back designs) are way bigger than 12 inches. Usually, they were at least 14 x 16 inches. I love oversized designs btw. But for work shirts, you have to take into consideration the logo and information the customer wants printed, such as phone, social media, email, etc. And all that really starts to take up space quite fast. 

So because of that, I highly suggest you start with a 15 x 15-inch press at the minimum. If you can spring for one with a slide-out drawer, even better! I love my slide-out drawer. It really helps with the placement of the garments, as well as not getting burned!

1. Fancierstudio Slide Out Heat Press 

If you're in the market to start your business on a budget, then Fancierstudio is the way to go. These presses have an outstanding reputation for being workhorses on a budget. While some features may be missing on these compared to the other presses on this list, the Fancierstudio 15 x 15" slide-out drawer heat press has everything you need to start. It even boasts a slide-out drawer! The construction on these might feel a bit different or a bit less sturdy than one of the more high-end heat presses, but rest assured, this press is a great quality workhorse that will last you years. Click Here To Get Yours 

2. Heat Press Nation Black Series

In our second spot, we have the Heat Press Nation Black Series Heat Press. This was actually my first choice when I was looking to upgrade my tiny heat press. This press is a basic press but backed by none other than Heat Press Nation. A leading vendor in the heatpress game. This press I consider second best simply because of its strong build. This does not have a slide-out drawer but does have a platen coming in at 15 x 15 inches, which is enough for most jobs. 

3. Heat Press Nation Signature Series

Last but certainly not least, we have the big boy. The Heat Press Nation Signature Series is 16 x 20, with a pull-out drawer and auto-open. This press is the one I stand behind (or rather in front of) day and night. This press has been with me for over 4 years and is still going strong. What makes it so special? First off its HEAVY. This might sound like a downside, but in actuality, it's a great feature. It's durable, doesn't move, and has a fantastic sturdy build.  The slide-out drawer helps me get burned less often, and the auto-open is great for 2 reasons. 

1. If I go do something while I have a shirt pressing, it will open automatically, so it doesn't burn! (duh) 

2. I set a long press time (200 secs), so when the time comes to open the press, all I do is press the auto-open button, and the press opens super smoothly without any loud noises. It's great for when everyone in the house is sleeping! 

Overall this is the press I recommend. It might be a bit pricier than the rest, but it's definitely worth the money. 

Click here to get yours