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Whether you dream big, or you’re just tired of piecing together your blanket designs, eventually, every heat press owner asks the question: what’s the biggest heat press out there…and can I get it?
If that sounds familiar, you are in the right place for learning about the largest heat press size known to man and whether or not it can be added to your workshop or home studio. Let’s dive in…
The largest heat press sizes are large enough to handle 4ft x 8ft sheets of prefabricated, material. Think: sheets of laminate, polymer, plastic, woods, vinyl banners and fabrics. If you need an even bigger heat press, just about any size heat press can be customized by the right manufacturer, such as those used for carpeting.
Now for everyone jumping for joy thinking you have the answer to all your baby blankets….it’s time to talk about whether or not a heat press of this magnitude, is even practical.
Is a Large Format Heat Press Worth It?
A heat press that big in size is fun to consider, but quickly becomes a reality check for most home hobbyists and small business owners.
A huge heat press, capable of accomodating 4×8 feet substrates is going to cost between $12,000 and $60,000 USD. For example, HPN offers the Geo Knight 931 TRITON (link to see pricing) and you can even upgrade to oversized platens that are a whopping 8ft and 12ft! Certainly a must have for a business looking to expand into carpet printing.
Given the price, it’s clear to see that the largest size heat press is a serious piece of machinery, typically reserved for businesses that have the capital and a huge client base in order to be able to support such a large purchase.
Still interested in the biggest possible heat press? Let’s move onto logistics and power needs.
How Much Power Does a Huge, Large Format Heat Press Use?
If the price didn’t turn you off, know this: you WILL need commercial or perhaps even industrial electric capabilities. That’s because these huge heat press machines require 3 phase or even 4 phase systems and that is absolutely non-existent in the 1 phase, residential home setting.
Just how much power will these large heat press machines require? While watts are likely to vary depending on the manufacturer, expect to be accomodating between 9000 and 12000 watts. And if your commercial power system can’t handle the load, you’ll be one very unhappy person…with a large heat press.
If you’re still interested in a large heat press, let’s move onto the logistics….shipping.
Freight Cost for Largest Size Heat Press
If you can find a USA manufacturer, you’ll definitely save on the shipping. However, the heat press machine itself will likely cost way more, so, therego any hopes of savings.
When it comes to shipping from let’s say…China to USA, you have to consider both the size and the weight of an item. And in the case of a large size heat press, both are very big numbers.
How much does the largest heat press weigh?
Heat presses capable of pressing 4×8′ items, could weigh between 0.5 – 1.5 tons (more if you get oversized platens). Because shipping costs change daily, this is just an estimate…but expect freight charges to be several thousand dollars plus duties.
Duty and Tariffs?
Yes, duties do apply for imports and you will be well over the threshold for enjoying a duty-free experience. In addition, Tariffs are constantly changing based on US/China relations.
Bottom line, wherever you buy your huge heat press, they will work with a qualified freight forwarder and you’ll get your shipping quote once they know you are serious. In most cases, the shipping quote will expire, so if it’s a good deal, don’t delay.
What is the Largest Size Heat Press for Home Use?
The largest heat press you’ll likely find in a home, residential setting is a 16×24 inch. This size is ideal for home use because the power required falls within residential guidelines.
That doesn’t mean your house is setup to handle it, so be sure to read this article here to see if you’ll have a problem with a 16×24 heat press in the home.
With a 16×24″ heat press, items like blankets will still need multiple presses, but at least you’ll be able to press one photo, in full, every time. Plus, it’s perfect for large, 4x t-shirts, garden flags, pillow cases, waffle towels, etc.,
If you’re ready for a large heat press that can fit into most residential settings, we highly recommend these selections at Heat Press Nation (link to 16×24 Presses). Heat Press Nation is where we get our presses (and many of our sublimation blanks). Their customer service is second to none and tech support is even better.
Conclusion
Hopefully you’ve learned that while you can get a huge heat press to press a 4×8 banner, these monster heat presses don’t fit into residential spaces.
Huge heat presses require commercial or even industrial electric setups that simply aren’t available in our homes. But if you have the industrial space, it’s definitely possible to get a heat press large enough to press rolls of carpet! Just be prepared to make a huge investment and know that importing will involve not only the cost of the item, but duty and possible tariffs.
As for residential purposes, the largest heat press kind of maxes out at 16×24 inches (link to 16×24 heat presses) due to the amount of power you’ll need. If you have the power, a 16×24 heat press will make your sublimating journey so much easier.
Happy Sublimating!