Even the cheapest rosin press can produce quality dabs.
Looking to buy the best cheap rosin press machine? We were in the same situation – we wanted to get a model good enough to do the job right, but we didn’t want to spend a ton.
In this post we’ll show you what you need to know to pick the cheapest rosin press, including common features, sizes, brands, and types (manual rosin press vs. automated rosin press, etc.).
These cheap rosin press reviews cover a wide range of prices, from a few hundred dollars up to slightly more expensive options that can process larger amounts with greater consistency and yield.
How to determine the best cheap rosin press for your needs
The Dabpress 4 ton rosin press can be tilted so the rosin can drip below the plates.They also make a 6 ton with 50% more power.
There are a few things to consider to help you determine the best cheap rosin press for your needs.
Are you looking for a small rosin press to smash a few buds or some kief to make dabs? Or do you need a larger press to frequently process larger runs of buds, kief, or bubble hash from your recent grow?
Do you want a small portable rosin press that you can easily carry around to a party? Or a big, sturdy unit where you can apply a lot of leverage?
Are you able to strong-arm a manual pressure jack?
Are you looking for lots of pressure to maximize yield, or are you ok with spending less to leave some rosin unpressed?
Plate alignment can vary on cheaper models. Sometimes the cheapest rosin presses have plates that don’t align well or heat evenly. This means you’ll yield less.
Construction quality and durability declines at cheaper price points as well. Models below $300 are made with inexpensive parts. Expect that the temperature settings may not be totally accurate, and play around with it a bit until you dial it in.
What types of rosin presses are out there?
Like most cheap heat press machines, the Rosineer Grip Twist press requires some area strength to crank it.
A manual hand-cranked rosin press generates force using a hand crank. Best for infrequent users who want a cheap rosin press to process small amounts.
A hydraulic rosin press uses hydraulic pressure to do the squishing.
A manual hydraulic rosin press is hand-pumped, using a bottle jack (similar to jacking up your car to change a flat tire). They’re a workout on your arm, but they’re the best cheap rosin press type to consider if you want the most power for your money.
Variable-hydraulic rosin presses use an external pump to press using a button. These automatic rosin presses are more expensive but well worth it if you plan to use it often, have a lot to process, or don’t have the strength to crank a manual hydraulic model.
A pneumatic rosin press uses air pressure to force the plates together. Pneumatic presses require a separate air compressor which can be noisy, but they really crank and are a lot easier on your arms than manual models.
An electric rosin press can do all the work at the press of a button. These models are more expensive than the cheapest rosin presses, but they eliminate the guesswork of making high quality rosin. Electric rosin presses are the best rosin press for people who plan to use it often and want consistent, quality results with a minimal learning curve.
Even the best rosin press under $300 is going to require a lot of hand-cranking pressure to yield decent returns. There are several methods of achieving the pressure needed in cheap rosin presses, including moving a handle or turning a large crank.
Buying a rosin press this inexpensive will get you a unit meant to process only small amounts of rosin for personal dabbing. The heat plates will be much smaller than with more expensive models. Many times the plates won’t perfectly align. And the reduced pressing power won’t allow you to best maximize returns compared to a more powerful electric rosin press.
If you’re looking to squish a few nugs to dab then an inexpensive rosin press can do the trick. But you should expect a reduction in yield percentage if you’re buying one of the cheapest rosin press models. You can still make some high-quality rosin with them — assuming you start with high-quality materials — but they’re best suited for small amounts of material for occasional users.
More serious dabbers or cannabis growers looking to press a large amount of bubble hash, dry ice hash, or dry sift extraction with each run will definitely want to think twice before buying an entry level model this cheap. Unless you want to build up Popeye forearms from repeated cranking for limited returns.
Dabpress 4 Ton Heat Press with Dual 3×5 inch Heated Plates
Winner: Best cheap rosin press around $300
If you’re willing to spend a little over $300 you can ramp up pressure with a Dabpress 4 ton rosin press. This was the first rosin press we tried, and we’ve used it well. The bottle jack handle delivers a lot of force if you really put your weight into it, but it is a workout.
The Dabpress 4 ton rosin press is solidly built. We smoked rosin made from this press while we wrote this article. So it’s literally highly recommended 🙂
Features include:
Presses 14 g kief or 10 grams of flower
Solidly built with 6061 aluminum, chrome steel, and a 4 ton bottle jack
Both bottle jack and PID temperature controller can be replaced
Size: 8.7 x 8.3 x 18.1 inches, and weighs 28 pounds
Distance of 1.3″ between upper and bottom heated plates
This press has dual heated plates that consume 500 watts. The temperature settings aren’t perfect but the actual plate temperature is close to what you set. There isn’t a pressure gauge for the bottle jack, but none of the cheaper rosin presses in the $300 price range have this. You just need to use it a few times to get the feel of how much pressure to use.
You need to crank the hell out of the manual bottle jack to increase yields, but the included 4 ton jack does a good job with rosin extractions. You’ll build up Popeye forearms if you keep using it.
For 50% more force consider the Dabpress 6 ton rosin press, it’s a good value (under $400) and can press up to 14 grams of material at a time.
Rosineer Grip Twist Heat Press
Cheapest rosin press with accessory starter kit
The Rosineer Grip Twist Heat Press offers 5000+ lbs of force (2.5 tons). Just twist the crank clockwise to tighten. It has 3″ x 5″ dual insulated aluminum heat plates with a detachable control box. It uses 825 watts, and the temperature can be set to up to 356 °F.
The machine can be installed with two different configurations. The spreading legs with suction feet can be used to make this press “grip” the table tightly. This is the best setup option if you want to keep the unit portable. At 23 pounds it’s not too heavy to move around.
For a sturdier, more permanent installation the Rosineer Grip Twist rosin press can be assembled without the legs and affixed to a work desk or bench with screws for extra stability. This is a better choice if you want to maximize pressure, since the rotary handle is going to encourage the whole unit to spin when you really crank it down. This is also helpful if you want to mount it on an angle so the rosin can drip out.
This unit comes with an accessory starter kit that includes one silicone collection mat, two stainless steel tools, ten 10″ x 7″ parchment paper sheets, a lidded 3 ml storage jar, and four press magnets. It’s designed to be used right out of the box without additional equipment, which is nice for buyers on a budget.
The Amazon reviews for this rosin press give it a 4.4 out of 5 stars, out of over 125 reviews. This is one of the highest rated rosin press reviews on the site. The Rosineer Grip Twist is definitely one of the best cheap rosin press options out there, and worthy of consideration if you’re looking for a press around $300.
Dulytek DM800 Manual Heat Press Machine
Cheapest rosin press under $200
The Dulytek DM800 press is the highest rated cheap rosin press available for $200.
The Dulytek DM800 Manual Heat Press Machine is an entry-level manual rosin press with 2.5″ x 3″ dual heat plates with two-channel controls. At around $200 this unit is probably the cheapest rosin press you’d want to consider.
The unit has an adjustable maximum pressure, with a pressing force up to 1350 pounds (just over half a ton). It weighs about 10 pounds, so it’s portable if you want to travel with it.
Dulytek’s product description says it has “Enhanced Mechanical Parts Withstand High Pressure Than Older Versions”. Translation: the old model used to break a lot. The handle is designed to gain leverage by putting a lot of pressure on the bolts, this will remain a likely point of failure after repeated usage.
The Dulytek DM800 rosin press gets a 4.3 rating out of 5 on Amazon. As you would expect when buying a rosin press under $200, it doesn’t have a lot of power or yield a lot. But if you’re looking to get a cheap rosin press that is very portable this option is worth considering. But be warned — as one reviewer noted, it’s “not really worth buying unless you press very tiny amounts.”
It’s definitely not going to stand the test of time, but if you’re looking for the best cheap rosin press under $200 then you’ll find this unit a bit better than a $30 hair straightener.
Olenyer Heat Press Machine
This manual Rosin Heat Press Machine from Olenyer has “duel” Heated Plates according to the poorly translated product description on Amazon. The plates are 2.4″ x 4.7″ and it uses 900 watts.
The listing avoids any mention of how many tons of pressure it provides. The rotary crank does have some obvious leverage issues in a model this size, so don’t expect too much in terms of cranking pressure. Whereas bottle-jack presses allow you to push down with your full body weight to tighten, rotary crank manual rosin press models don’t allow for the same leverage.
There’s a timer you can set using the LCD display to alert you when the press is complete, and a buzzer will go off.
At the time of this writing there were only 9 reviews of this heat press on Amazon for a 3.8 out of 5 average.
Keep in mind that like literally all other rosin press reviews (at almost any price range) have a few “didn’t work out of the box” or “stopped working too soon” or “heat plates didn’t line up” or “plates didn’t fully compress” comments. So the overall ratings for this Olenyer heat press on Amazon should be taken with a grain of salt.
$300 Walmart rosin press
If you’re looking for a cheap rosin press, Walmart may have the answer. The $299 Walmart rosin press needs to be ordered online from Walmart’s website, they can’t be purchased in their store locations. They’re ashamed of selling weed products, but not enough not to profit of cannabis culture. Ironic since Walmart employs millions of cannabis users and sells to tens of millions of customers who smoke weed.
The $300 Walmart rosin press is the moral equivalent of their 12-pack of socks for $11.99. They’re cheap because they’re low quality. They aren’t perfectly made to begin with. They wear out quickly. In the end you’ll buy something better to replace them.
If you’re looking for quality construction in a rosin press Walmart isn’t the answer. If you want to find the cheapest rosin press under $300, Walmart falls short there too.
I know three people who have used a Walmart rosin press, and their reviews were all of the “better than a hair straightener, but not well constructed” variety. As with all of the cheap rosin press machines out there, don’t expect miracles. There’s a reason they’re so affordable.
Find the best cheap rosin press for around $500
If you’re looking for the best rosin press under 500 dollars you’re going to have to forego the automated functionality seen on pricier models. But that doesn’t mean the rosin you produce is lower quality, it depends on the knowledge and technique of the user.
The NugSmasher Mini Rosin Press Heat Press has a digital temperature control with 2.5 inch by 2.5 inch rosin press plates that have a 70 watt heater in each. It operates using a 2-ton press.
It is constructed of aircraft grade aluminum and American steel and weighs 28 pounds. Stainless steel hardware rubber machine feet, circuit protection, fast retract plate release and removable manual pump arm. The Mini has a removable power cord and handle designed to make it easier for storage and travel.
The biggest complaint in the reviews is that the pump is only 2 tons and sometimes doesn’t fully press the plates together, causing you to yield less rosin than you should. But this is still a pretty sturdy low temp portable rosin press for the money.
Dulytek DHP7 Hydraulic Heat Press Machine
The Dulytek DHP7 Hydraulic Heat Press has a 7-ton pressing force from the Ram hydraulic bottle jack. It has dual 6″ x 2.5″ insulated heating plates, and a precise two-channel temperature control panel and a timer.
The leak-free hydraulic jack is removable for easy replacement. The unit is built to handle up to a 12-tons of force, and the jack handle is reinforced to add strength and durability.
It has a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Amazon, better than the other similarly-priced rosin press reviews. Of the few negative reviews, most related to the unit not working correctly out of the box or being damaged during shipping.
If you’re looking for the best rosin press under $500 the Dulytek 7-ton heat press is a great option. It’s sturdy and offers a lot of pressure for the money. Just make sure to check plate alignment when you first use it to make sure you’re in good shape.
Getting a unit with a replaceable bottle jack option is definitely something to look for when you buy your heat press, that will ensure you don’t get stuck with a giant paperweight if the jack stops working correctly. You’ll be able to turn this from a 7 ton to a 12 ton rosin press easily if needed.
5 Ton Heat Press Machine by Kikvape
Kikvape’s 5 Ton Heat Press Machine is a heavy duty stainless steel hydraulic rosin press with dual 3×5 inch heated plates with separate heating controls.
The 5 ton rosin press from Kikvape has two leverage bars so you can really crank the jack.
The company says it comes with a “Name Brand 5 Tons Jack” so “don’t worry about the leak of oil.” The included Big Red jack is replaceable, an option you don’t often see on a cheap rosin press. Judging by the terrible translation of the description text on Amazon Kikvape doesn’t pay a lot of attention to how they market this device to a U.S. audience.
It has two temperature controllers with dual 250 watts customized replaceable heating cartridges and temperature controllers, two external K-type temperature sensors, and dual plates temp detected which ensures temperature accuracy.
This portable rosin press comes with 2 installable leverage bars. You can install them on the top as a support when tilting, or you can install it at the bottom to increase the force of the leverage. It weighs 35.5 pounds and is solidly built.
This unit doesn’t have a pressure gauge, which can make it harder for users who are new to pressing rosin to know exactly how much pressure they’re applying.
The Kikvape rosin press review on Amazon gives it a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
Dulytek DHP5 Hydraulic 5 Ton Heat Press
The Dulytek DHP5 is a cheap rosin press machine with a 5 ton bottle jack.
The Dulytek DHP5 Hydraulic Heat Press has a 5 ton pressing force, dual heat 3″ x 4″ plates, with a precise two-channel control panel. It’s a cheaper rosin press option then Dulytek’s 7 ton rosin press (about $100 less) but with similar construction.
It features a removable hydraulic bottle jack for easy replacement, which is ideal if you are looking for a unit that you can use for a long time.
This machine is a good value if you’re looking for a cheap rosin press with sturdy construction and pressing power.
The Dulytek 5-ton heat press reviews on Amazon are 4.4 out of 5 stars. Reviewers really liked the sturdiness and ease of use. The 3″ x 4″ heat plates on this model are best for users looking for a low temp rosin press to process small or medium runs.
At this price point you’ll be able to get an automated rosin press machine that allows you process rosin error-free at the touch of a button. Keep in mind that usually an automated plug-n-play rosin press will have a lot less pressure than a hydraulic you crank manually at the same price point. But the ease of use of an automatic heat press reduces the margin of error for new users.
$1000 is a lot to spend on a rosin press, so this is an investment for people looking to smash a lot of concentrate. These are great if you intend to frequently process leftovers from your grow, they’re perfect to quickly convert kief or bubble hash into a higher potency concentrate.
As far as quality, the biggest thing you can get when spending this much will be more precise construction, and the consistency offered by plug-n-play models. You’ll be able to fine tune your technique quickly based on variables in your starting material.
The Rosineer Auto Hybrid Heat Press Machine is completely plug-n-play, delivering 4 tons of force at the press of a button. 3″ x 5″ aluminum heat plates have independent thermocouples that can be heated to different temperatures, and they distribute heat evenly with temperature accuracy to 1°F.
The Rosineer Auto Hybrid rosin press is ready to use out of the box, so no extra equipment is required. The “Press” and “Release” buttons allow for gradual pressing to reduce blowouts for better results. It is shipped in discreet packaging and has a 2-Year Limited Warranty.
At 53 pounds it’s a sturdy unit that is perfect for people looking for an easy, automated solution to press rosin. No pumping or twisting required. It costs around $899 and has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 on Amazon.
At around $800, the NugSmasher OG Rosin Press Heat Pressis a 12 ton rosin press that can process up to 14 grams per extraction, something you can’t do on very cheap rosin presses.
Fully adjustable temperature settings with the accurate digital temperature control, 4 inch x 4 inch plates with a 160 watt heater. It provides 12 tons of pressure. The frame construction is solid 6061 aircraft grade aluminum and steel.
You can also buy the OG Rosin Press bundle for around $1400, which includes the OG NugSmasher rosin press, 15 packs of premium press bags, silicon mat, magnet, nugpacker, rosin pot, collection plate, decarboxylation capsule, pre press mold, and a everything tool. It has a rating of 3.8 out of 5 on Amazon.
There’s a bunch of how-to videos for NugSmasher Rosin Presses available on the company’s social channels. Made in the USA with a lifetime warranty, NugSmasher provides US-based customer service 7 days a week.
How to find the best cheap rosin press for the money
When I bought my first cheap rosin press the only factor I considered was price. I just wanted to squish a little dry ice hash to get some grade-A rosin. I didn’t want to spend a fortune. So I went with a small hand-cranked hydraulic rosin press with a bottle jack. Not the cheapest rosin press out there, but certainly not a premium unit either.
I did a few runs, but wasn’t pleased with the yield percentage. I put the press on the floor and used my full body weight to crank it down, but even with an 8-ton rosin press I was still leaving quite a bit of rosin within the bar of compressed kief. It wasn’t enough. The press seemed to go to full pressure but then decreased slightly. You had to crank the fuck out of it. -1 for me.
Finding an affordable rosin press is kind of like buying a powerboat. You don’t want to spend too much. But avoid getting a smaller unit that works just well enough to make you want to trade up for more size and power after a few uses.
The lesson I learned − the best cheap rosin press certainly isn’t the cheapest rosin press. Cheap jacks lead to inconsistent results. Hand cranked models are more affordable, but if you’re a frequent user and aren’t getting all the rosin out, you’d have been better off spending a few hundred dollars more for more power and a big increase in yield. Automatic rosin presses use a variable hydraulic press with an external pump that operates on the push of a button, giving you more precision and saving impact on your wrists.
There’s no point in buying a cheap rosin press that doesn’t have enough power. While you can get by using a manual rosin press with a 2-ton rating, you’ll find you get much more value (through increased yields) with a higher-pressure unit. Sometimes the cheaper rosin presses seem to exaggerate their pressure and yield amounts, which is great for them marketing the product but sucks for us end users who aren’t able to squish out as much rosin.
Inexpensive rosin press machines with bottle jacks sometimes don’t stay fully pressed together no matter how hard you crank. Units that have the option to replace the pump are helpful to ensure long-term functionality. Otherwise if the jack breaks or is just shitty to begin with, you’re screwed.
If you want to master the art of making rosin, you’ll need a unit that works with consistency. Look for models with built-in pressure gauges (or the ability to add your own gauge) if you’re looking for easily repeatable results.
The biggest factor in maximizing yield is the quality of your starting material and the technique of the presser. You can watch tons of videos online to learn the proper technique and temperatures, but make sure you start with a high quality product if you want to make top quality rosin.
Be sure to check the return policy
Every single cheap rosin press with more then 10 reviews on Amazon has negative reviews from users with quick failure in electronics, heat plate alignment issues, etc. Make sure to consider this when evaluating presses. Some require you to pay to ship a 60 pound package back to China to process the return. Not ideal. Even the best cheap rosin press may arrive broken from shipping or have other quality control issues.
Looking to buy the best cheap rosin press machine? Here's what you need to know to pick the best rosin press, including common features, sizes, brands, and types, and rosin press reviews.
