PTFE vs Parchment vs FEP: Which Nonstick to Pick
A direct comparison for makers, bakers, and sign-shop owners deciding between PTFE, FEP, and parchment paper. No jargon for jargon's sake.
The quick answer
| Use case | Pick |
|---|---|
| Heat press, HTV, sublimation | PTFE roll |
| Resin pours, jewelry, see-through work | FEP roll |
| Cookies, biscuits, rolls — at home | Foil-backed parchment |
| Diamond painting release | Silicone release paper |
| Disposable, one-off baking under 425F | Standard parchment |
PTFE: the workhorse
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is the same family as Teflon nonstick cookware. As a sheet or roll it is opaque white, rated to about 500 degrees Fahrenheit continuous, and reusable for hundreds of cycles. It is the right choice for any heat-press, HTV, or sublimation work.
Three signals you should be using PTFE instead of parchment:
- You press more than once a week.
- You have ever had a sublimation pull leave a ghost on the next item.
- You buy parchment in bulk and are tired of throwing it away.
One customer said: "Running an HTV sign shop. This holds up through hundreds of pulls. Cleaner finish than the off brand I was using before."
FEP: when you need to see through it
FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) shares most of PTFE's properties but is transparent. Lower temperature rating (about 400F continuous) but clarity opens uses PTFE cannot serve: laminating, resin pours where you need to monitor cure, photography backdrops, lightbox release surfaces.
For most heat-press makers PTFE is the better default. FEP is the specialist choice.
Parchment: when single-use wins
Standard parchment paper is silicone-coated cellulose. Single-use, rated to about 425F, soft and conformable. Two situations where parchment is the right call:
- Home baking under 425F. Cookies, biscuits, rolls, pies. The disposable simplicity is worth it.
- Foil-backed parchment specifically. The foil layer reflects heat back into the food, browning bottoms more evenly than any reusable surface can. Our foil-backed parchment is bakery-grade — the consumer version Martha Stewart used to make went off the market, and home bakers stopped being able to find it. Customer: "After Martha Stewart discontinued hers I gave up looking. So glad I found this online."
Frequently asked
What is the difference between PTFE and parchment paper?
PTFE is a reusable nonstick coating rated to about 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Parchment is a single-use coated paper rated to about 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Use PTFE when you want a reusable surface that takes higher heat. Use parchment when you want disposable simplicity or are baking under 425 degrees.
Is PTFE safe at heat-press temperatures?
Yes. PTFE is rated to about 500 degrees Fahrenheit continuous. Standard heat-press temperatures run 280 to 400 degrees, well within the safe range. The material does not off-gas meaningfully below 500 degrees.
How long does a PTFE sheet last?
Customers report 200 to 400 uses depending on care and press temperature. Wipe down between uses; avoid sliding heavy garments across the surface; never use sharp tools directly on it. With light care, a single sheet pays for itself across the first 20 to 30 pulls.
Can I use parchment for sublimation?
You can but the results are inferior. Sublimation transfer benefits from the harder, more thermally stable surface of PTFE or FEP. Parchment can absorb dye and leave ghosting on the next pull.
What is FEP and how is it different from PTFE?
FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) is the clear cousin of PTFE. It is rated slightly lower (about 400 degrees continuous) but is transparent. Use FEP when you need to see through the material — laminating, resin work, photography backdrops.
Is foil-backed parchment also nonstick?
Yes. Foil-backed parchment combines a silicone-coated paper face with a foil backing that reflects heat back into the bake. The foil makes the bottom of cookies and biscuits brown more evenly. It is single-use like regular parchment but produces measurably better baked results.
Can I cut PTFE to size?
Yes. PTFE sheets cut cleanly with scissors. Cut once, use hundreds of times.
Is PTFE food-safe?
Yes, within its temperature rating. PTFE is the same family as Teflon — the FDA-approved nonstick coating used on cookware. Direct food contact is fine at heat-press, oven, and lower temperatures.
When would you choose parchment over PTFE?
Three situations: (1) you want disposable simplicity for one-off baking, (2) the project temperature is under 425 degrees, (3) you need a soft conformable surface (PTFE is stiffer).
How does the bulk discount apply here?
Same 5/10/15 percent tiers as the rest of the store. Buying 5 PTFE rolls saves 5 percent. Buying 25 saves 15 percent. Heat-press shops typically hit the 25-unit tier within a single restock.
Browse all nonstick papers: /collections/nonstick-papers
Written by Joshua Hill · Kraft and Kitchen · Bellingham, WA · Last updated May 2026