Heat Press Accessories Worth Buying

On this page (7 sections)

1. Which heat press accessories are worth buying?
2. Which heat press mat fits a home workspace?
3. When do heat press pillows help with garments?
4. Should you buy a PTFE cover sheet for a heat press?
5. Can an infrared thermometer help check press temperature?
6. How should you choose and set up heat press accessories?
7. Which heat press accessories should you buy first?

Useful heat press accessories include a mat, a pressing pillow, a cover sheet, and an infrared thermometer. Each has a distinct job: protecting a work surface, supporting an uneven garment area, covering a transfer when appropriate, or checking surface temperature.

You probably don't need all four for every project. Start with the space you work in and the materials you press, then buy the accessory that addresses a recurring problem.

Which heat press accessories are worth buying?

The right heat press accessories depend on what your setup needs to solve. A mat covers a work surface, a pillow raises the design area around garment details, a PTFE sheet covers a project when the transfer directions allow it, and a thermometer checks surface temperature without contact.

These tools aren't substitutes for one another. A mat supports the work beneath a project, while a pillow lifts a specific section.

A cover sheet sits over the transfer, and the thermometer checks a surface rather than changing a press setting.

Before shopping, measure the work area and look at the shape of the items you decorate. A small craft station may need a portable mat, while garments with thick seams call for a different tool.

For an overview of machine types and sizes, see our heat press guide. If you need help understanding even pressure, read how much pressure a heat press needs.

Which heat press mat fits a home workspace?

Choose a pressing mat when your project needs a heat-resistant surface beneath it. It can protect a workbench during heat-transfer crafts and can also be used for crafts such as sewing, quilting, embroidery, and ironing.

The HTVRONT mat measures 15 x 15 in and has a double-sided, 7-layer composite design. HTVRONT gives it a maximum temperature rating of 428°F (220°C), and says it absorbs excess moisture and reflects heat back toward the project.

This size suits a dedicated spot for shirts or sweatshirts if the work area is large enough. Measure the surface first, and make sure the mat can lie flat with room to position the project.

The mat can also suit a crafter who wants one lightweight surface for several kinds of handwork. Skip it if you already have an appropriate heat-resistant work surface and don't need another layer under your project.

Set the mat up according to its instructions and keep it flat while working. Its maximum temperature rating describes the mat's limit; it isn't a recommended setting for a transfer.

Use the temperature, time, and pressure specified for your transfer material.

When do heat press pillows help with garments?

Use a pressing pillow when raised garment features could affect the transfer area. It can support the section beneath a design while seams, zippers, buttons, drawstrings, or straps sit outside that area.

The VCHOMY bundle includes four pillows measuring 5 x 5 in, 10 x 10 in, 5 x 15 in, and 12 x 15 in. Each has a Teflon covering and a fire-resistant foam interior.

This set suits someone who decorates different garment sizes or bag styles and wants more than one pillow shape. Choose a pillow that supports the transfer zone without putting the design over a raised edge.

A smaller pillow can be easier to position under a limited area, while a larger one covers more of the garment. Don't assume that the largest size is best: check how the project sits on the press and follow the pillow and garment directions.

A pillow is easy to skip for a flat shirt front with no raised details near the design. For more examples of when one helps, read what a heat press pillow is and when to use one.

Should you buy a PTFE cover sheet for a heat press?

Buy a PTFE sheet if your transfer process calls for a cover or you need a reusable sheet for suitable projects. It can create a protective layer over the work, but the transfer instructions should decide whether to use it and where to place it.

YRYM's 3-pack contains three reusable, washable sheets that can be trimmed to fit different projects. The sheets are described as heat resistant up to 600°F, but that rating alone doesn't determine whether a sheet is right for a particular transfer.

This pack suits crafters who work on projects of different sizes and want sheets they can cut to fit. It may be unnecessary if your transfer instructions don't call for a cover and you don't have other suitable craft uses for the sheets.

Check the transfer directions before placing a sheet over vinyl or sublimation work. Don't add a cover by habit because the required material and placement can vary.

Keep the sheet clean, wipe away residue as needed, and store it flat so it's ready for the next suitable project.

For more guidance on whether this accessory belongs in your setup, read whether you need a Teflon sheet for a heat press.

Can an infrared thermometer help check press temperature?

An infrared thermometer can give you a non-contact reading of a surface temperature. Use it as a reference when checking an area, not as a replacement for the press controls or transfer instructions.

The Etekcity 774 has a 12:1 distance-to-spot ratio and displays a reading in less than half a second. Its reading represents the average temperature across the targeted area, rather than one exact point.

This tool suits crafters who want to check surface temperature without touching the object. At the recommended distance of about 14 in, it measures an area, so a small target may be averaged with nearby surface temperatures.

Skip it if you only need the heat press's regular controls and have no reason to check a surface with a separate tool. If you do use one, hold it at the recommended distance and keep the target area in mind when interpreting the reading.

A temperature reading doesn't confirm that a transfer will adhere or that a garment can tolerate a setting. For material-specific timing and temperature guidance, see HTV heat press temperature and time by vinyl type.

How should you choose and set up heat press accessories?

Choose accessories by matching each one to a specific project need, then set them up according to their instructions and your transfer directions. Measure first, check the transfer process, and keep the work area stable.

Use this order to make a practical choice:

1. Check the work surface. If you need a heat-resistant layer beneath a craft project, measure the area and compare it with the mat size.
2. Look at the garment. If seams, buttons, or drawstrings sit near the design, consider a pillow that supports the target zone.
3. Read the transfer directions. Add a cover sheet only when the process calls for one or it otherwise suits the project.
4. Decide whether a temperature reading adds value. An infrared thermometer can check a surface without contact, but its reading covers an area.

Before pressing, lay out the project and accessory so each piece sits where it should. Keep the mat flat, position the pillow beneath the intended area, and place any cover sheet as the transfer directions specify.

Common mistakes include buying a mat without measuring the workspace, putting a design across a raised seam, assuming every transfer needs a PTFE sheet, and treating a surface reading as the press setting. A tool helps only when it fits the project and the instructions.

Which heat press accessories should you buy first?

Buy the accessory that solves the problem you encounter most often. Choose the HTVRONT mat for a protected craft surface, the VCHOMY pillow set for varied garment details, YRYM PTFE sheets when a cover suits your process, or the Etekcity thermometer when you want a non-contact surface reading.

You can start with one accessory and add others as your projects require them. Measure your workspace, check garment features, and follow the transfer directions before setting temperature, time, or pressure.

For shirt placement and the pressing sequence, follow our step-by-step guide to heat pressing a shirt. For broader equipment choices, return to the heat press guide.

Frequently asked questions

What accessories do you need for a heat press?

Start with a heat-safe work surface and the transfer material's instructions. A pressing mat can protect a workbench during craft projects, a pillow can help lift an area around seams or buttons, and a cover sheet can shield a transfer when the directions call for one.

An infrared thermometer offers a non-contact surface reading, but it doesn't replace the press settings or transfer instructions.

Can you use a heat press pillow on every shirt?

No. A pillow is most useful when seams, zippers, buttons, drawstrings, or straps keep the press from sitting evenly over the transfer area.

Position one as the pillow and garment instructions allow.

A flat shirt front without raised details may not need a pillow.

Is a Teflon sheet necessary for heat pressing?

Not for every transfer. Use a cover sheet when the transfer instructions call for one or when it suits the project.

A reusable PTFE sheet can serve as a protective cover, but it doesn't replace the correct temperature, pressure, or time settings.

Can an infrared thermometer check a heat press?

An infrared thermometer measures surface temperature without contact and can help you check a target area. Its reading reflects the average temperature within the sensor's target area, not one exact point.

Follow the transfer and press instructions when setting the machine; a surface reading is not a substitute for them.