Pressing flowers is a simple way to preserve blooms from your garden, a special bouquet, or even flowers collected on a walk. But if you’ve started looking for the best flower press, you’ve probably discovered there’s more than one way to do it.

Traditional wooden flower presses have been used for generations. Heavy books offer an inexpensive DIY alternative. And microwave flower presses, such as the Microfleur Microwave Flower Press, can dramatically shorten the time it takes to get finished pressed flowers.

So, which flower press is best?

The answer depends on what you want to press, how many flowers you’re working with, and, perhaps most importantly, how long you’re willing to wait.

Here’s how the main types of flower presses compare and what to consider before choosing one.

What Makes a Good Flower Press?

Regardless of the method, a flower press has two basic jobs: flatten the flower and remove moisture.

Removing moisture efficiently is especially important. If a flower dries too slowly or unevenly, petals may brown, discolor, or develop mold. At the same time, the flower needs enough pressure to create the flattened shape that makes pressed botanicals so useful for crafts and artwork.

When comparing flower presses, consider these factors:

Pressing time: Do you want flowers ready today, or are you comfortable waiting several weeks?

Color retention: Some drying methods preserve bright colors better than others, although results also vary considerably between flower varieties.

Press size: Small presses are convenient for individual blooms and leaves, while larger presses accommodate bigger flowers, stems, and larger batches.

Capacity: If you regularly collect dozens of flowers, a traditional multi-layer press may be more practical than a small press designed for one batch at a time.

Ease of use: Some presses are essentially “set it and wait” tools. Others require more hands-on attention but produce results much faster.

Your projects: Someone pressing an occasional flower for a scrapbook has very different needs from an artist, gardener, wedding-flower preserver, or crafter who regularly needs pressed flowers.

With those factors in mind, here are some of the best options.

1. Microfleur Microwave Flower Press: Best for Fast Results

If speed is your priority, the Microfleur Microwave Flower Press is one of the most useful options to consider.

Unlike a traditional press that relies on pressure and time to slowly remove moisture, Microfleur is specifically designed for pressing and drying flowers in a microwave. Flowers are heated in a series of short bursts, allowing moisture to escape quickly.

The major advantage is obvious: you can press flowers in minutes rather than waiting weeks. Microfleur recommends starting with short microwave intervals and adjusting according to your microwave and the moisture content of the flower.

Rapid drying can also help preserve flower color. Microfleur says its system removes moisture quickly enough to help retain natural pigments before they deteriorate.

Why choose a Microfleur?

• Flowers can be pressed and dried in minutes.
• You can use finished flowers for a project the same day.
• Rapid drying can produce excellent color retention.
• The press is reusable.
• It is particularly useful for small batches and on-demand pressing.
• Two main sizes are available: the compact 5-inch Regular and larger 9-inch Max.

There is a learning curve. Different flowers contain different amounts of moisture, and microwave wattages vary, so finding the ideal timing can require experimentation. Microfleur specifically recommends practicing with less-important specimens before pressing flowers you really want to preserve.

Capacity is another consideration. You’re generally working with smaller batches than you could load into a large traditional press.

Best for: Crafters, artists, impatient flower pressers, same-day projects, and anyone who prioritizes speed and good color retention.

2. Traditional Wooden Flower Press: Best for Large Batches

The classic wooden flower press remains an excellent choice—and for some people, it will still be the best flower press.

Most traditional presses use two wooden boards or frames with layers of absorbent paper and cardboard between them. Flowers are arranged between the sheets, and bolts, straps, or another tightening mechanism apply pressure while the plants slowly dry.

The biggest advantage is capacity.

A large press can hold numerous layers, allowing you to press many flowers at once. Larger botanical or herbarium-style presses can also accommodate long stems, foliage, and specimens that simply won’t fit inside a compact microwave press.

The disadvantage is time.

Depending on the flowers and pressing conditions, traditional pressing can take days or weeks rather than minutes. The materials may also need checking or changing as they absorb moisture.

For people who press flowers professionally or in high volume, however, traditional presses remain extremely useful. 

Best for: Large batches, botanical specimens, larger flowers and foliage, patient crafters, and anyone who regularly presses a high volume of material.

3. Small Wooden Craft Press: Best for Beginners

You don't necessarily need a large botanical press.

Compact wooden flower presses are widely available and usually consist of two boards tightened together with four bolts and wing nuts. Many starter kits also include cardboard sheets and absorbent paper.

They offer many of the benefits of a traditional press in a smaller, more approachable format.

They're also portable enough to take on trips, which can make them particularly appealing for children, nature journaling, vacations, or collecting flowers from your own garden.

The tradeoff is capacity. Once you get serious about flower pressing, a small press can fill surprisingly quickly.

Best for: Beginners, children, occasional flower pressing, gifts, travel, and nature journaling.

4. Herbarium-Style Press: Best for Serious Botanical Pressing

An herbarium press is essentially the heavy-duty cousin of the craft flower press.

These presses are typically larger and designed to accommodate botanical specimens rather than just individual flower heads. Some use straps rather than corner bolts to apply pressure across a large stack.

Their size makes them particularly useful if you want to preserve entire stems, grasses, ferns, leaves, or plants for botanical collections.

The downside is that they're bulkier and usually unnecessary if you only want a handful of small flowers for cards or crafts.

Best for: Botanists, serious flower pressers, educators, large specimens, and high-volume pressing.

5. Heavy Books: Best Free Flower Press

Before buying anything, you can always try the traditional DIY method: a heavy book.

Place flowers between sheets of absorbent paper, put them inside a large book, add additional weight, and leave them to dry.

It's simple, practically free, and surprisingly effective for thin flowers and leaves.

However, books aren't designed specifically for removing moisture from plants. Flowers can take a long time to dry, and moisture can potentially damage book pages. Pressure may also be less even than with a dedicated press.

If you use this method, choose a book you don't mind potentially damaging and always place sufficient paper between the flowers and the pages.

Best for: Occasional pressing, experimenting with the craft, and anyone who wants to try flower pressing before buying equipment.

6. DIY Flower Press: Best Budget Dedicated Press

Another option is to make your own traditional press.

Two pieces of wood, bolts, wing nuts, cardboard, and absorbent paper can create a perfectly functional flower press. A homemade press can also be customized to whatever dimensions suit your projects.

The downside is convenience. Once you've purchased the materials and spent the time making it, an inexpensive ready-made press may not cost dramatically more.

Still, building one can be a fun project in its own right.

Best for: DIY enthusiasts and anyone who wants a custom-sized press.

Microwave Flower Press vs. Traditional Flower Press

For many buyers, the decision ultimately comes down to these two methods.

Neither method is universally better.

In fact, serious flower enthusiasts may find that owning both is the most useful solution: a traditional press for large batches and a microwave press when they need flowers quickly.

What Size Flower Press Should You Buy?

Size matters more than you might initially expect.

For small wildflowers, individual petals, herbs, and leaves, a compact press may be all you need. Microfleur's Regular microwave press, for example, has a 5 x 5-inch pressing area and is positioned as its compact beginner-friendly option.

If you're working with larger blooms or want to fit more material into each batch, the Microfleur Max increases the pressing area to 9 x 9 inches.

Traditional presses can be significantly larger. A large press makes sense if you want to preserve entire stems or regularly collect botanical specimens.

Think about what you will actually press, not simply where you'll store the press.

Which Flowers Are Best for Pressing?

Whatever press you choose, flower selection makes an enormous difference.

Naturally flatter, less moisture-heavy flowers are usually easier for beginners. Delicate flowers and leaves can dry relatively quickly, while thick, fleshy flowers contain considerably more moisture and can require extra care.

With a microwave press in particular, thick flowers should be dried gradually. Microfleur recommends using progressively shorter bursts as specimens approach dryness, rather than attempting to dry moisture-heavy flowers in one long microwave cycle.

For your first attempts, start with plentiful flowers that you won't mind losing while you learn your preferred technique.

Save the irreplaceable wedding bouquet until you've had some practice.

So, What Is the Best Flower Press?

There isn't one flower press that's best for every person.

Choose a Microfleur microwave flower press if: you want pressed flowers quickly, value good color retention, work in relatively small batches, or want flowers ready for crafting the same day.

Choose a traditional wooden press if: you press larger quantities, need room for bigger botanical specimens, or don't mind waiting for flowers to dry naturally.

Choose a compact craft press if: you're a beginner and want an inexpensive, straightforward introduction to traditional pressing.

Choose a large herbarium press if: you're working with lots of flowers, long stems, leaves, or botanical specimens.

Use books or a DIY press if: you're experimenting with flower pressing and aren't ready to invest in dedicated equipment.

For many hobbyists and crafters, Microfleur stands out as one of the best options when speed matters. Being able to go from fresh flowers to dry, usable pressed flowers in minutes changes the way you can approach projects; you don't have to plan your crafting several weeks in advance.

Traditional presses shouldn't be dismissed, though. They're inexpensive, simple, scalable, and particularly useful when you're working with a large harvest.

Ultimately, choosing the best flower press isn't about finding a single winner. It's about choosing the method that fits the flowers you press, the projects you make, and how quickly you want to start creating.