If you own a t-shirt printing business, having original designs can be quite important. This is especially true if your target market includes businesses, which would possibly require designs that are unique – and original designs not previously owned by other companies.
This is why having custom heat transfers could be a great deal of help in raking in a bigger clientele.
It pays to know the companies you can depend on for custom heat transfer services if you are an owner of a t-shirt printing business. Almost all companies offering custom heat transfer design should allow you to send your self-created artworks while some businesses offer pre-made designs you can choose from on their websites.
In the US, there are countless reliable companies you can count on for your custom heat transfer needs. Here are some of them:
TransferExpress
An Ohio based custom heat transfers company, TransferExpress has been in the business since 1990. Aside from providing custom heat transfers, this business also provides blank apparel. This company’s type of prints range from screenprint, glitter, rhinestone, and even glow in the dark graphics.
You can use TransferExpress’s Easy Prints layouts and clip art on their site in order a custom design, or you can send your artwork to them. TransferExpress offers a one-time free revision if your submitted artwork needs adjustment.
Their custom heat designs require low heat at just 280 degrees.
TransferExpress offers sheets in the size of 12” x 19”. Price starts at $9.19 – for 1 Color, 50 to 99 sheets.
Orders are delivered via FedEx or UPS, delivery times vary, but according to TransferExpress, they are the fastest in the industry. If you need your order delivered real soon, rush service is available for an extra $30.00 charge each color each order.
F&M Expressions
Established in 1981, F&M Expressions is a custom transfer company based in Virginia. The prints can come in various forms such as screen print, nylon, rhinestone, flock, and foil. Prints for tagless labels can also be created.
You can either upload your very own artwork on their website, customize graphics they have, or even choose from their selection of original stock photos. F&M Expressions have more than 3000 designs.
The company offers free first time revisions.
Heat transfers usually require a 7-second application at 325 degrees.
Sheets are available in 9″ x 12.75″ and 12″ x 12″. The cost for 8 pieces of 1 color is $4.85 for each transfer.
Turnaround time is two days and orders are shipped via UPS.
Note: The $.15 program for one color designs is by far the best deal out there. There is a $22 set up fee but for 100 transfers you can reduce your per transfer cost to $.37 each.
VersaTrans
VersaTrans started doing business in 2000. This company located in Michigan has come a long way and is now even creating custom prints for countries outside of the US.
They have custom transfers that would stick to almost every type of fabric – cotton, polyester, mini-mesh, tote bags, and even towels. These transfers would work on both dark and light garments as well.
VersaTrans offers designs that are reflective and glow in the dark.
You can either send them your original artwork or choose from a stock photo from their collection. Any revision of artwork sent would be subject to a $10-per-revision charge.
Sheets are sized 13″ x 19″. Designs should be transferred in just 4 to 6 seconds.
Prices start at $35.77 for 2 to 4 pages of 1 color.
Orders are shipped via FedEx or UPS; same day rush services are offered with an additional $100.00.
Wildside
This custom transfer company from California started in the industry in 1979.
Wildside offers graphic prints in foil, rhinestone, glitter, and opaque styles.
More than 5000 pre-made designs are available on their website, and you can upload your artwork, too. One free revision is offered to customers.
Designs are mostly needing 285 or 330 degrees Fahrenheit and pressing for 15 seconds.
Wildside sheets are being sold at 14.5” × 24”, 24″ x 29″ or 29″ x 40″.
Costs for the 14.5” × 24” sheets begin at $16.78 for five pieces of 1 color.
FedEx ships the orders from Wildside. Turnaround time ranges from one to four days.
Gulfside Heat Transfers
According to the official website of this Florida-based custom heat transfer company, it has been in the business for over 70 years.
This company offers a unique print called ElastiSoft. ElastiSoft prints may be applied to fabrics of any color and are compatible with polyester, poly mesh, poly/cotton 100% cotton as well as non-woven fabrics.
Prints are heat pressed in 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 seconds.
Gulfside Heat Transfers lets you send your artwork to them, and offers the services of their very own t-shirt designers. Prices for revision are available via direct email to the company.
Gulfside Heat Transfers sheets are available in 12” x 18” and 19” x 25”.
For 5 to 11 sheets of 1 color, it would cost $7.24.
Turnaround time is three to five working days, but rush orders are accepted at an additional charge of 50% of the cost of the total order. International orders are accepted.
Orders are shipped via UPS.
Ace Transfer Company
This custom transfer company in Ohio has been making custom transfers in over 20 years.
Metallic and rhinestone prints are just some of the prints available from Ace Transfer Company. Easy weeding films are also being offered by this business.
An online design making tool may be accessed from their website. You can submit artwork, too. If revisions would be necessary, there will be a charge of $30 for every 30 minutes of work.
Prints need 8 to 30 seconds of pressing for the design to be transferred.
Ace Transfer Company sheets come in the sizes of 9″ x 12″, 12″ x 12″, 12″ x 14″, and 14″ x 19″.
Prices of the sheets start at $8.80 for six pieces of 1 color.
A $20 minimum order is required. Turnaround time ranges from two days to three weeks, depending on the design; a direct email with the specifications is needed for exact turnaround times, although rush services are offered.
UPS delivery services are being used to ship orders.
Thermaprint
Established in 1985 in California, Thermaprint specializes in providing custom transfers of photos, logos, designs and graphics on jerseys, t-shirts, jackets, and canvas bags.
This company offers designs that may be transferred on to cotton, non-woven polypropylene, polyesters, nylons, and anti-wicking performance fabrics.
Designs should stick after pressing for four seconds.
Custom artwork may be sent to Thermaprint, details on revision rates are available through direct email to the business. They also offer designs made by their very own team of designers.
Thermaprint sheets are available in 11” × 17”.
Costs start at $11.75 for eight sheets of 1 color.
The estimated turnaround time is 72 hours. Shipping details can be determined via direct email to Thermaprint.
Howard Custom Transfers, Inc.
This Illinois based company started in 2002. Howard Custom Transfers, Inc. offers designs that are multipurpose, ultra stretch, glow in the dark, faded, and glittered.
This custom transfer business has prints that will work great on cotton, polyester, cotton/poly blends, mesh, canvas, Lycra, spandex, and knit rayon.
Designs may be sent directly to Howard Custom Transfers, Inc., and if there would be any revision needed to be done, additional charges will be incurred. Any revision that would take more than an hour to be done will cost $15.00 for every 30 minutes of revising.
Prints should be transferred after pressing for 10 to 12 seconds in 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sheets from Howard Custom Transfers, Inc. are offered in 10.5″ x 12″, 12.5″ x 14.5″, 12.5″ x 17.5″.
Prices for six pieces of 1 color start at $12.30.
Same day turnaround is what the company aims for. Rush service is offered for orders placed after 12 pm CST. Rush service would incur 10% cost on orders more than $150 and a $15 for orders less than $150.
Shipping is handled by UPS.
Art Brands
Art Brands is a custom transfer company located in Ohio. Being in the business for more than 20 years, they offer custom transfers in glow in the dark, glitter, ultrasoft, light garments, dark garments, and 3d designs.
The prints from Art Brands need a temperature of 245 degrees Fahrenheit to 375 degrees Fahrenheit pressed for three to five seconds to be transferred.
Artwork may be designed online, stock photos are available as well. A setup fee of $10 is needed if you submit your own artwork. Revisions would cost $50 per hour.
Sheets are available in 9.5″ X 10.5″ and 10.5″ X 14.5”.
10 sheets of 1 color would cost $7.60.
International shipping and Cash On Delivery payments are accepted.
For new customers from other countries, orders must be over $200. For returning customers, orders must be over $50. For new customers within the US, the orders must be over $100, returning customers should have an order of more than $50.
FedEx and UPS support shipping services. Turnaround times for custom transfer production would only be determined after the design was submitted to Art Brands.
Best Heat Transfers
Providing custom heat transfer services in Florida for over 30 years, Best Heat Transfers offers prints for a tagless label, cotton, polyester. Graphics are printed in HD as well, and all designs may be used for both dark and light fabrics.
Transfers should adhere after pressing for 7 to 8 seconds in 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Images may be sent to Best Heat Transfers for review. Their customer service representatives would be able to help you with revision costs.
Sizes of the sheets are 11″ X 17″ and 18″ X 24″.
Rates for custom heat transfers start at $3.45 for 25 sheets of 1 color.
Turnaround time is two to three days; shipping is handled by UPS or USPS.
With so many choices out there, it could be challenging to decide what to choose. Here is a comparison of these companies with the services and prices they offer to help you arrive at a decision more easily:
| Company Name | Sheet size | Number of Colors | Price Range | Revision Fee | Turnaround time | International shipping |
| TransferExpress | 12” x 19” | Up to 4 colors | 1 color $9.19 (50-99 pcs) and $1.95 (4000 – 4999 pcs); 4 colors $19.30 (50-99 pcs), $2.89 (4000 – 4999 pcs) | Free first time revision | Same day | No |
| F&M Expressions | 9″ x 12.75″ and 12″ x 12″ | Up to 4 colors | 1 color $4.85 (8pcs) and $0.25 (512pcs); 4 colors $6.15 (8pcs) and $0.65 (512 pcs) | Free first time revision | Two days | No |
| VersaTrans | 13″ x 19″ | More than 6 colors | 1 color $35.77 (2-4 pcs) and $1.05 (1000+ pcs)
more than 6 colors – $24.36 (2-4pcs) and $0.80 (1000+ pcs) |
$10 per revision | Next day | Yes |
| Wildside | 14.5×24,
24″ x 29″ 29″ x 40″ |
Up to 9 colors | 1 color $16.78 (5pcs)& $2.96 (150pcs); 9 colors $131.82 (5pcs)&$18.27 (150pcs) | Free first time revision | 1 to 4 days | No |
| Gulfside Heat Transfers | 12″ x 18″, 19″ x 25″ | Up to 6 colors | 1 color $7.24 (5-11pcs) and $1.78 (253-504pcs); 6 colors $11.21 (5-11pcs), $4.17 (253-504pcs) | Contact via Email | 3 to 5 days | Yes |
| Ace Transfer Company | 9″ x 12″, 12″ x 12″, 12″ x 14″, 14″ x 19″ | More than 6 colors | 1 color $8.80 (6pcs) and $0.73 (1000pcs);
more than 6 colors $7.70 (6 pcs) and $0.51 (1000) |
$30 per 30 minutes of revision | 2 days to 3 weeks | No |
| Thermaprint | 11” × 17” | Up to 5 colors | 1 color $11.75 (8pcs) and $0.75 (500 pcs); 5 colors $58.47 (8pcs) and $4.12 (500pcs) | Contact via email | 72 hours | No |
| Howard Custom Transfers, Inc. | 10.5″ x 12″
12.5″ x 14.5″ 12.5″ x 17.5″ |
Up to 6 colors | 1 color $12.30 (6pcs) and $0.77 (576pcs); 6 colors $59.76 (6pcs) and $3.91 (576pcs) | Free for the first hour of revision, $15/30mins after the first hour. | Same day | No |
| Art Brands | 9.5″ x 10.5″ 10.5″ x14.5” | Up to 7 colors | 1 color $7.60 (10pcs) and $0.70 (1000pcs); 7 colors $51.29 (10pcs) and $4.07 (1000pcs) | $50 per hour revision fee | Contact via email | Yes |
| Best Heat Transfers | 11″ x 17″ 18″ x 24″ | Up to 6 colors | 1 color $3.45 (25pcs) and $1.25 (500pcs); 6 colors $16.00 (25pcs) and $6.00 (500pcs) | Contact via email | 2 to 3 days | No |