By Cassandra Balentine
Heat presses are required for direct to garment (DTG) printing. Traditional heat presses feature a platen size of roughly 9×12 inches, but vendors are now designing and selling 15×15-inch models—or wider—to accommodate rising interest in creating oversized graphics and meeting higher volumes of production.
“Across our customer base, heat platen sizes larger than 9×12 inches are purchased at a ratio of approximately seven to one,” shares Shauna Soom, GRP director, global sales and service, Hotronix, Stahls’. “This trend reflects the increased versatility and production efficiency that larger platens provide, particularly as decoration demands continue to evolve.”
Zuzana Cloete, sales, Practix Mfg. U.S.A., sees more shops moving beyond traditional platen sizes as they take on bigger jobs and higher volumes.
Marc Vila, director of marketing, ColDesi, notes a trend towards heat presses measuring 16×20 inches. “Fashion items are leading a lot towards oversize prints. Larger shops are pushing into 16×20 inches.”
While smaller platens still serve specific purposes, Ben Robinson, chief manufacturing officer, Stahls’, points out that the most in demand heat presses remain in the 16×20-inch range. This is especially true in DTG workflows where larger platens provide the flexibility to handle full-size graphics and a variety of garment types without repositioning.
According to Aaron Knight, VP, Geo Knight & Co., Inc., although just about every press now purchased is typically 14×16 and 16×20 inches—16×20 being the most popular standard t-shirt press size—there is a robust market demand for large format press equipment, including its 20×25- and 24×32-inch heat platen sizes. “Beyond that, 3×5- and 4×8-foot heat platen sizes are regularly called for in many large format printing applications.”
Above: ColDesi offers a range of heat press machines, equipment, and accessories to meet all customization needs and yield quality items like t-shirts.
Driving Demand
Bigger graphics as well as higher volumes increase the demand for larger platen heat presses.
During DTG production larger platens make it easier to properly position garments and ensure accurate placement of pretreatment and printed graphics. “They reduce the need for repositioning, improve efficiency, and support today’s trend toward oversized and full-front designs,” notes Robinson.
Soom argues that larger platens offer the flexibility to handle a range of applications. They easily accommodate oversized graphics, larger garments, and bulkier items such as hoodies, tote bags, towels, and blankets. “At the same time, they allow operators to press multiple smaller items—like koozies, coasters, or tags—simultaneously.”
A larger working surface also improves visibility and layout accuracy, enabling operators to position transfers more efficiently and work faster, which directly impacts productivity, adds Soom.
Cloete says that while larger styles won’t fit on a standard platen, beyond that there is a need for better efficiency. “A bigger press means fewer passes per garment, which saves time and labor on every job.”
Twin loading automatic pressing features found on standard size platens also help with efficiency. “Yes, multiple smaller items can be nested on a larger press, but there are inefficiencies to doing that when it comes to loading and unloading, versus using standard-sized platens with twin loading automatic pressing features,” admits Knight.
The Role of DTF
The heightened popularity of direct to film (DTF) printing or sublimation also adds increased interest for larger platen sizes.
With DTF, shops can gang up transfers and press multiple pieces in one cycle on a large platen. Sublimation for wide format pieces like jerseys and oversized tees benefit the same way, offers Cloete.
“As decoration methods evolve, so do the requirements for the equipment supporting them. Larger presses provide the flexibility and consistency needed to handle a broader range of transfer types, making them especially valuable for decorators adopting newer print technologies,” says Soom.
DTF allows for the fastest full-color printing, so Vila says there is less of a need to save time by printing smaller digital prints. “Customers and shops can now deliver large prints with a fast speed and a low cost,” shares Vila.
Segment Adoption
Certain segments are more prone to benefit from larger platen size heat presses.
This includes production print shops and contract decorators running high volumes. Apparel brands that scaled past the startup stage are close behind, states Cloete.
Soom finds adoption spans across multiple segments, including print shops, apparel brands, and advanced hobbyists, though the reasons vary. “Professional decorators and brands are driven by the need for higher production efficiency, larger print areas, and consistent results at scale.”
Robinson believes all segments are adopting larger platen presses. “In DTG environments, the need for consistent, repeatable results and the ability to handle multiple garment sizes make larger platens the most practical and scalable solutions.”
Knight says adoption is largely by commercial operations due to the cost increases of large format machinery in sizes of 20×25, 26×32, 32×42, 44×64, and 54×103 inches over typical desktop sizes like 14×16 and 16×20 inches.
Hobbyists tend to start in the normal desktop range of standard t-shirt presses first, and then build out into the larger presses as demand and business increases, adds Knight.
Vila says hobbyists often look to save money and space. “A shop might not see a big difference in spending ten to 20 percent more to get a larger press, but hobbyists are trying to spend the least they can. As hobbyists get more experience they recognize the larger investment is worth it.”
Cloete agrees, pointing out that hobbyists tend to remain with smaller formats because the investment makes more sense once the volume is there.
Oversized Applications
As previously mentioned, several applications benefit from a larger platen size heat press.
DTG applications with full-front prints, oversized graphics, and team apparel benefit from larger platens. “They also support better garment loading and alignment, which is critical for maintaining print accuracy across production runs,” agrees Robinson.
Soom feels that most applications benefit from a larger platen, particularly when it comes to improving speed and consistency. “Oversized garments, jackets, and full-front or full-back graphics are well suited for larger platens as they allow for better coverage, easier positioning, and uniform results across the entire design.”
Knight adds that “all-over” printing of sports jerseys and sublimation printing of metal signage and fine art in large format sizes also rely on larger platen sizes.
“Full-front oversized prints, all-over panels, DTF gang sheets, sublimation on jerseys and performance wear, and large specialty pieces like blankets and tote bags are all items a smaller press would require multiple passes or cropping to handle—so they benefit from a larger platen size,” summarizes Cloete.
Challenges to Consider
Heat consistency and pressure distribution are important factors for heat presses in DTG/DTF.
As platen size increases, maintaining consistent heat and pressure across the entire surface becomes more critical. “Uniformity—especially at the edges—is essential for achieving high-quality results. This requires precise engineering, high-quality heating elements, and durable construction. Without these, inconsistencies can lead to uneven applications, which is why build quality is a key differentiator in larger presses,” explains Soom.
Robinson also finds that maintaining consistent heat and pressure across the entire platen—especially edge to edge—is essential for DTG curing and finishing. “Inferior presses often struggle here, which can compromise print durability.”
Vila stresses that it comes down to quality. “If you are purchasing a quality press, there are no challenges from the end user. If you are purchasing a very low quality press, then expect challenges.”
Additionally, there may be some trade-offs to consider when working with a larger size platen versus a smaller one.
Soom points out that larger presses can be heavier, less portable, and may require slightly more time to reach operating temperature, along with increased energy usage. “However, these factors are minimal when compared to the benefits. The gains in versatility, production speed, and application consistency make larger platens the preferred choice for most professional environments.”
Larger equipment makes it a production floor machine—not a portable unit, so it needs dedicated space and proper electrical service. “For shops running large format jobs regularly, the throughput gains more than offset those factors,” agrees Cloete.
Energy is another consideration. Typically if the heat platen is designed with a standard wattage density per square inch, the power draw is proportional and the heat up time for a very large heat platen is still relatively the same as a desktop-size heat platen. “If the heater is well designed with maximum insulation around the cover area, there is minimal heat loss, so once up to heat, the duty cycle of actual power consumption is quite low,” adds Knight.
Vila admits that smaller presses will warm up fast, but this isn’t enough of a concern for larger heat presses unless infrequent print on demand work is occurring where the press is turned off consistently.
With properly engineered equipment, Robinson feels that a larger platen size does not significantly impact energy efficiency or performance. “While footprint may increase, high-end presses are designed to maintain fast recovery times and consistent operation regardless of size.”
The Right Choice
The broader growth of heat printing—DTF, sublimation, and DTG—has increased demand for more versatile heat presses. “In DTG specifically, the heat press plays a critical role before and after printing—curing and finishing—so having the right platen size and functionality directly impacts print quality and workflow efficiency,” offers Robinson.
When it comes to DTG and DTF printing, large sized items or areas and higher volumes are trending. Heat presses in bigger platen sizes help improve efficiency.
Jul2026, Digital Output
