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The printer and press get the attention, but small sublimation supplies decide whether a print comes out sharp. A transfer that shifts because the tape gave up ghosts. A reused cover sheet leaves a shadow of the last design. A press that reads 400°F but runs cooler at the corners fades every edge.
This checklist covers the supplies you'll use on every press, with one real product for each that's sold in the US. Each pick includes what it's for and the spec that matters, so you can swap in another brand if you prefer.
Quick picks
- HTVRONT Heat Tape, 2 Rolls 20 mm – Best heat tape. Wide 20 mm rolls that hold transfers in place and peel off cleanly.
- HTVRONT Heat Resistant Gloves – Best gloves. Silicone bumps on both sides for gripping hot mugs and tumblers.
- Bryco Goods White Butcher Paper Roll – Best butcher paper. Uncoated, unwaxed roll in a dispenser box.
- HTVRONT PTFE Sheets, 3 Pack 12 x 16 – Best reusable cover sheet. Protects the platen and lower pad.
- Etekcity Infrared Thermometer 774 – Best for checking a press. Spot-checks platen temperature in seconds.
- A-SUB Sublimation Paper 8.5 x 11, 125 gsm – Best everyday paper. A widely used letter-size sublimation paper.
Comparison table
| Supply | What it's for | Key spec | Reusable? | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTVRONT Heat Tape | Holding transfers in place | 2 rolls, 20 mm x 33 m (108 ft); rated -22–392°F per HTVRONT | No | Check price |
| HTVRONT Heat Resistant Gloves | Handling hot blanks | Silicone bumps; 5 seconds at 482°F per HTVRONT | Yes, washable | Check price |
| Bryco Goods Butcher Paper | Absorbing excess dye | Uncoated, unwaxed, 17.5 in x 175 ft roll | No, use once | Check price |
| HTVRONT PTFE Sheets | Protecting platen and pad | 3 sheets, 12 x 16 in | Yes | Check price |
| Etekcity 774 Thermometer | Checking platen heat | -58 to 716°F (-50 to 380°C) | Yes | Check price |
| A-SUB Sublimation Paper | Printing transfers | 8.5 x 11 in, 125 gsm, 110 sheets | No | Check price |
The sublimation supplies, reviewed
1. HTVRONT Heat Tape for Sublimation (2 Rolls, 20 mm): Best Heat Tape
Who it's for: everyone. You'll tape every transfer you press.
Ghosting happens when paper moves while the dye is still turning to gas, so tape is your cheapest insurance. HTVRONT's heat tape is a polyester film with a high-temperature adhesive, sold as two 20 mm x 33 m (108 ft) rolls in blue, white or brown. The 20 mm width is wide enough to hold a mug seam or the edge of a shirt transfer with one strip, and HTVRONT says it peels off without residue or smell.
The spec to know: HTVRONT rates this tape from -22°F to 392°F (-30°C to 200°C), a little below the 400°F most sublimation blanks use, although it markets the tape for mug presses and sublimation. Short presses are rarely a problem; for long ceramic presses, watch for residue and consider a polyimide tape with a higher rating. HTVRONT also sells a tape dispenser bundle if you go through a lot of tape.
Pros
- Wide 20 mm strips hold seams in one pass
- Two long rolls
- Peels cleanly, per HTVRONT
Cons
- Rated to 392°F, just under typical settings
- Not the narrow width some prefer for small blanks
- Listings for different colors give different ratings
HTVRONT Heat Tape for Sublimation, 2 Rolls 20mm x 33m
by HTVRONT
2. HTVRONT Heat Resistant Gloves for Sublimation: Best Gloves
Who it's for: anyone pressing mugs, tumblers, glass or metal.
Fabric blanks cool quickly; hard goods don't. A ceramic mug or stainless tumbler out of a press at around 400°F is the most common burn in sublimation. HTVRONT's gloves have heat-resistant silicone bumps on both sides for grip, and HTVRONT says you won't be burned within 5 seconds at 482°F (250°C). They're polyester cotton, washable by hand or machine, and HTVRONT says they keep their size after washing.
Read that 5-second figure correctly: it covers lifting a mug out and peeling paper, not holding a hot blank for a long time. HTVRONT lists the size at 9.44 x 5.9 inches, which it says fits most adult women's hands, so larger hands may want a bigger pair.
Pros
- Grip on both sides of the hand
- Washable
- Thin enough to peel tape and paper
Cons
- Brief protection only, per the maker's rating
- Sized for smaller hands
- One pair per pack (two gloves)
HTVRONT Heat Resistant Gloves for Sublimation - 2Pcs
by HTVRONT
3. Bryco Goods White Butcher Paper Roll: Best Butcher Paper
Who it's for: every sublimation setup. Butcher paper goes over the transfer and catches excess dye.
Sublimation dye travels as a gas and doesn't stop at the edge of your design. A fresh sheet of uncoated butcher paper on top (and inside shirts and totes, along with cardstock) catches stray dye so it doesn't land on your platen or the next blank. Cricut recommends butcher paper or white cardstock as the protective barrier for sublimation and says never to reuse butcher paper.
Bryco Goods sells an uncoated, unwaxed white roll in a 17.5-inch x 175-foot dispenser box, which Bryco says is made in the USA, food-grade and good to 400°F without browning. A roll is cheaper per press than precut sheets, and the dispenser box makes it easy to tear a clean sheet. The 17.5-inch width covers a 15 x 15 platen but not a 16 x 20 in one sheet.
Pros
- Uncoated and unwaxed, the right type for sublimation
- Long roll with a dispenser box
- Rated to 400°F, per Bryco
Cons
- 17.5-inch width is narrow for 16 x 20 presses
- Takes up bench space
- Precut sheets are easier for mug presses
Bryco Goods White Butcher Paper Roll with Dispenser Box, 17.5 in x 175 ft
by Bryco Goods
4. HTVRONT PTFE Sheets (3 Pack, 12 x 16): Best Reusable Cover Sheet
Who it's for: anyone who wants to protect the press's lower pad and upper platen.
A PTFE (often called Teflon) sheet is a non-stick, reusable cover. HTVRONT's 3-pack measures 12 x 16 inches, and HTVRONT describes the sheets as extra-thick 0.11 mm, usable on both sides and cleaned with mild detergent and a soft sponge. They also come in 16 x 20.
For sublimation, use PTFE as a platen and pad protector rather than as your only cover sheet. Cricut warns that its own heat-resistant pressing sheets aren't recommended for sublimation because of unwanted transfer and staining, and PTFE sheets can pick up dye too. Keep one sheet just for sublimation, put fresh butcher paper over each transfer, and wipe the sheet between presses.
Pros
- Reusable and easy to wipe clean
- Protects the lower pad from dye and scorching
- Comes in 12 x 16 and 16 x 20
Cons
- Can pick up dye; keep a separate sublimation sheet
- Amazon listings give inconsistent heat ratings
- Not a substitute for butcher paper
HTVRONT PTFE Sheets for Heat Press - 3 Pack 12 x 16 in
by HTVRONT
5. Etekcity Infrared Thermometer 774: Best Platen Check
Who it's for: anyone with a new or budget press, or results that fade at the corners.
Press displays measure one spot, usually near the center. An infrared thermometer lets you check the rest of the platen in seconds. The Etekcity 774 reads from -58 to 716°F (-50 to 380°C), which covers every sublimation setting, with a 12:1 distance-to-spot ratio. Etekcity sells several versions of the 774; some have adjustable emissivity and a higher maximum, so check the listing you buy.
Use it for relative readings: heat the press, wait for it to settle, and compare the center, corners and edges. A big gap between spots matters more than the exact number, because shiny surfaces can read low on any infrared thermometer. Our sublimation heat press guide explains the full-platen test.
Pros
- Range covers all sublimation settings
- Fast spot checks across the platen
- Useful for ovens and tumbler presses too
Cons
- Reads surface temperature only
- Shiny surfaces can read inaccurately
- Several versions with different specs
Etekcity Infrared Thermometer 774
by Etekcity
6. A-SUB 8.5 x 11 Sublimation Paper (125 gsm): Best Everyday Paper
Who it's for: owners of 8.5-inch printers who want a widely used letter-size paper.
Paper is a supply you'll reorder constantly. A-SUB's letter-size sheets are 125 gsm and come 110 to a pack, and A-SUB sells mug-size sheets too (3.5 x 9 inches for 11 oz mugs). Heavier paper handles heavy ink coverage with less cockling; Unisub recommends paper heavier than 100 gsm for hard goods. Our sublimation paper guide compares more options, including Epson and Sawgrass papers for factory printers.
Pros
- Common letter size and weight
- Mug-size sheets available from the same brand
- Works with converted and factory printers
Cons
- Factory printers may prefer their maker's paper settings
- Not the heaviest option for very heavy coverage
- Letter size only in this pack
A-SUB 8.5 x 11 Inch Sublimation Paper 125gsm, 110 Sheets
by A-SUB
The other supplies on the checklist
These don't need a specific brand, but you'll want them on the bench:
- Lint roller. Cricut calls lint-rolling a "do not skip" step on fabric, because tiny fibers leave white specks.
- White cardstock. Cricut uses 80 lb white cardstock inside shirts and totes so dye doesn't pass through.
- Pressing pillow or foam pad. Raises the print area above seams and prevents box marks on thin fabric.
- Heat-resistant mat or surface under the press.
- Rubbing alcohol and a lint-free cloth for wiping hard blanks before pressing.
- Shrink-wrap sleeves if you sublimate tumblers in an oven.
- Scissors or a paper trimmer to cut transfers close to size; Geo Knight warns that overlapping paper on mugs causes white lines.
Supplies by project
| Project | Must-haves | Nice to have |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester shirts | Butcher paper, cardstock, heat tape, lint roller | Pressing pillow, PTFE sheet |
| Mugs | Mug-size paper, heat tape, gloves | Precut butcher paper |
| Tumblers | Heat tape, gloves, shrink wrap (oven only) | Scraper for the seam |
| Hard goods (tiles, metal, MDF) | Butcher paper, heat tape, gloves | Thermometer for platen checks |
Settings for each blank are in our sublimation temperature chart, and blanks themselves are in our sublimation blanks guide.
Buying guide: what to look for
Heat tape: rating and width
Look for a stated temperature rating at or above your press setting, and a silicone adhesive that peels cleanly. Polyester film tapes are common and cheap; polyimide tapes usually carry higher ratings. A 10 mm width suits small blanks and keychains; 20 mm is easier for mug seams and shirts.
Gloves: grip and dexterity
Silicone-bump gloves grip smooth mugs and tumblers well and stay thin enough to peel tape. Check the maker's time-and-temperature rating; most are for brief contact.
Cover sheets: butcher paper first
Use fresh, uncoated, unwaxed butcher paper over every transfer. Cricut says never to reuse it, and the makers we cite don't recommend parchment for sublimation. Use PTFE as a reusable protector for the press itself.
Paper: weight and size
Match paper size to your printer and the blanks you sell. Heavier paper resists cockling under heavy ink; Unisub suggests 140 gsm if you see cockling or banding.
Thermometer: range and spot ratio
Any infrared thermometer that reads above 400°F works. A 12:1 distance-to-spot ratio means you can hold it a few inches away and still read a small area.
How we chose
We didn't test these supplies ourselves. We compared manufacturer and retailer product information from HTVRONT, Bryco Goods, Etekcity and A-SUB for the specs that matter in sublimation, such as temperature ratings, sizes and materials, and checked them against the handling advice published by Cricut, Geo Knight and Unisub. Where a listing's figures disagree, we say so.
FAQ
What supplies do I need to start sublimation?
Beyond a sublimation printer, ink and heat press, you need sublimation paper, heat-resistant tape, heat-resistant gloves, uncoated butcher paper and polyester or sublimation-coated blanks. A lint roller, white cardstock for inside shirts and an infrared thermometer for checking your press make results more consistent.
What kind of tape do you use for sublimation?
Heat-resistant tape, usually a polyester or polyimide film with a silicone adhesive that peels off without residue. Regular plastic or masking tape melts or leaves residue. Check the tape's temperature rating; HTVRONT rates its blue heat tape to 392°F (200°C).
Can I use parchment paper instead of butcher paper for sublimation?
The press and blank makers we cite steer you to butcher paper. Cricut recommends uncoated butcher paper or white cardstock as the protective barrier for sublimation and says never to reuse butcher paper, because it captures stray dye. Keep parchment for vinyl jobs.
Do I need heat-resistant gloves for sublimation?
For mugs, tumblers and hard goods, yes. Ceramic, glass and metal blanks come out of the press at around 400°F and stay hot long enough to burn. HTVRONT says its silicone-bump gloves protect for up to 5 seconds at 482°F (250°C), which covers lifting and peeling, not holding a hot blank.
Can you reuse butcher paper or a Teflon sheet for sublimation?
Don't reuse butcher paper; Cricut says it picks up stray dye that can transfer to your next blank. A PTFE (Teflon) sheet is reusable, but it can pick up dye too, so keep one just for sublimation, wipe it clean, and use fresh butcher paper over the transfer.
Verdict
Start with heat tape, gloves, uncoated butcher paper and good paper; those four decide most of your early results. Add a PTFE sheet to protect the press and an infrared thermometer to check it, and you've covered the supplies that cause most failed prints. If you're pressing drinkware, pair these with a press from our sublimation mug press guide, and follow the steps in our guide to how to sublimate a shirt for fabric.