Ready to Press DTF Transfers: What They Are & Where to Buy

Ready to press DTF transfers are designs already printed on film, coated with adhesive powder and cured, so you only need a heat press. You skip the printer, the powder and the curing. Place the transfer on the garment, press it at the supplier's temperature and time, then peel the film. This guide explains how they differ from a gang sheet, how to press them and what to check before you buy.

What are ready-to-press DTF transfers?

Ready-to-press DTF transfers are pre-printed designs on PET film that the supplier has printed in color and white ink, coated with hot-melt adhesive powder and cured. They arrive finished and flat, and a heat press bonds them to cotton, polyester or blends. The term usually refers to a single design or a sheet of stock designs sold by size, as opposed to a custom gang sheet you design yourself. Our direct-to-film transfer overview covers the process behind them.

Ready to press vs gang sheet vs film

See DTF transfer films vs ready-made transfers for the film side and our gang sheet guide for ordering several designs at once.

How to press a ready-to-press DTF transfer

1. Preheat the press to the supplier's temperature, usually 300 to 325 degrees F for cotton.
2. Pre-press the garment for 3 to 5 seconds to remove moisture and wrinkles.
3. Position the transfer, adhesive side down, using the supplier's guide.
4. Press for 10 to 15 seconds with medium-firm pressure.
5. Peel the film. Most transfers are cold peel, so wait until the film cools.
6. Cover with parchment paper and press again for 5 to 10 seconds to set the print.

Polyester takes a lower temperature of 270 to 285 degrees F for 10 to 12 seconds. Always follow the supplier's instructions first and use our temperature and time chart as a backup.

What to check before you buy

• Hot or cold peel. The peel method must match your workflow, since cold peel waits for the film to cool.
• Wash rating. Look for a stated wash test, such as 50 or more washes, and care instructions.
• Print size. Check the width and height against your blank and the placement guide.
• Minimums and turnaround. Compare per-transfer cost, rush options and shipping. Our buy DTF transfers guide lists sources and prices, and the supplier directory lists vendors.
• Powder and storage. Ready-made transfers keep for months in a cool, dry place, but check the supplier's shelf life.

Cost of ready-to-press transfers

Transfers are usually priced by size or by area. Roughly $0.05 to $0.10 per square inch is typical for custom orders, so a 10 by 10 inch print is about $5 to $10 before shipping. Stock designs are often cheaper, and a gang sheet is cheaper per design than single transfers.

Frequently asked questions

What are ready-to-press DTF transfers?

They are pre-printed DTF designs on film with adhesive powder already applied and cured. You press them onto a garment with a heat press and peel the film.

Do I need a printer to use ready-to-press transfers?

No. You only need a heat press and a way to position the transfer. The supplier prints, powders and cures the transfer for you.

What temperature do you press ready-to-press DTF transfers at?

Most press at 300 to 325 degrees F for 10 to 15 seconds on cotton, with medium-firm pressure. Polyester needs 270 to 285 degrees F. Follow your supplier's card first.

Are ready-to-press transfers the same as a gang sheet?

A gang sheet is a custom sheet with several designs, which is also finished and ready to press. A ready-to-press transfer usually means one design or a stock sheet.

Can I use a home iron with ready-to-press transfers?

A heat press is best, but small designs can be applied with a household iron. See our guide on how to apply DTF transfers with an iron.

Not sure which type to buy? Compare them in transfers for shirts.