Scotch Laminator Recall (TL1302Z): How to Check Your Model and Get a Refund

3M has recalled about 53,634 Scotch thermal laminators with model number TL1302Z because they can overheat, and the company is offering a full refund by check. The recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on October 15, 2026, under recall number 27-024. If you bought a 13-inch Scotch laminator on Amazon in the past two years, this guide shows how to tell whether yours is affected, how the refund process works step by step, and how this recall differs from the much larger TL1302 recall of 2022.

The recall at a glance

According to the CPSC notice:

• Product: Scotch thermal laminator, model number TL1302Z.
• Hazard: the laminator can overheat, posing a fire hazard.
• Incidents: 63 reports of laminators smoking, melting and overheating, including five reports of the laminator catching fire and one report of minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.
• Units: about 53,634.
• Sold: online at Amazon.com from June 2024 through September 2026 for between $44 and $56.
• Importer: 3M Company of St. Paul, Minnesota. Made in China.
• Remedy: a full refund, sent as a check.

The CPSC lists it as a "Fast Track" recall, which means the company worked with the agency to start the recall quickly. You do not need to wait for a letter from 3M or Amazon before acting.

How to tell if your laminator is recalled

The TL1302Z looks almost identical to other Scotch 13-inch laminators, so the model number is what counts. Here is how the CPSC and 3M describe it:

• Light gray/white body with gray accents.
• The word "Scotch" printed in gray on the front.
• A laminating slot about 13 inches wide.
• A carrying handle on the right side when you look at the machine from the front.
• A sticker on the bottom showing the model number TL1302Z. The number is also printed on the box.

Unplug the laminator and let it cool before you turn it over to read the sticker. Then match the number to this list:

If you no longer have the box, check your Amazon order history. A Scotch thermal laminator ordered between June 2024 and September 2026 for $44 to $56 is a strong hint, but the sticker is the deciding factor.

How to get your refund, step by step

3M runs the refund through an online form on its TL1302Z recall page. The steps, as 3M lists them:

1. Unplug the laminator. Do this before anything else.
2. Confirm the model. The sticker on the bottom must read TL1302Z. If it reads TL1302 or TL1302X, see the table above.
3. Cut the power cord. Once the unit is unplugged and confirmed, carefully cut the cord. This makes sure the recalled machine cannot be used again.
4. Submit the online recall registration form on scotchbrand.com (search for "TL1302Z laminator recall", or click "Recall Information" at the top of the Scotch site).
5. Watch your email for an 8-digit case number. The email also asks you to upload photos and, if you have it, your proof of purchase.
6. Write the case number on the bottom of the laminator with a permanent marker. 3M prefers black ink and asks that the number be easy to read in a photo.
7. Take two photos:
   • one of the bottom of the laminator showing the model sticker, the case number and the cut cord together;
   • one close-up of the model sticker and the case number.
8. Upload the photos and your proof of purchase if available.

Keep the laminator and the cut cord until 3M confirms it has everything it needs. After the refund check is mailed, the CPSC says to dispose of the laminator according to your local and state electronics recycling rules. Do not put it out with household trash if your area requires e-waste recycling.

No receipt? 3M says that if you no longer have proof of purchase but do have an included laminator, you should still follow the steps, and it will process the refund if you are eligible.

Prefer the phone? If you cannot take photos or would rather not use the form, call 3M Customer Service at 800-772-4337, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.

How this differs from the 2022 Scotch TL1302 recall

This is the second recall of a Scotch 13-inch thermal laminator in four years, which is why so many owners are confused about which form to use.

If you filed a claim for a TL1302 in 2022 or 2023 and later bought a replacement Scotch laminator, check the newer machine's sticker too. It may be a TL1302Z.

Safe habits for any home laminator

A thermal laminator works by heating rollers that melt the adhesive in a laminating pouch, so it runs hot by design. Whatever brand you use, these habits reduce risk:

• Stay with it while it is on. Turn it off and unplug it as soon as you finish a batch.
• Give it space. Keep paper stacks, pouches, curtains and other combustibles away from the vents and the exit slot.
• Use a wall outlet in good condition rather than a crowded power strip.
• Stop at the first warning sign. A burning smell, smoke, melting plastic or a pouch that comes out scorched means you should switch the unit off, unplug it once it is safe to touch and stop using it.
• Look up the model before you buy or accept a used one. Thrift stores and online marketplaces still carry older Scotch laminators. Search the model number on cpsc.gov first. Federal law prohibits selling products under a recall.
• Keep a working smoke alarm in the room where you craft or do schoolwork, or in the hallway next to it.

Report a problem

If your laminator smoked, melted or caught fire, report it to 3M and to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, or call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772. If 3M does not respond to your refund request, the CPSC recall page has a "Recall Complaint" form for remedy problems.

Common questions

Is my Scotch laminator from Walmart or Staples part of the 2026 recall? The 2026 TL1302Z recall lists only Amazon.com as the seller. But laminators sold at Walmart, Staples and Costco were part of the 2022 TL1302 recall, so check the sticker either way.

Do I get a new laminator or my money back? A full refund, mailed as a check after 3M confirms the cord has been cut.

I already threw the laminator away. 3M's process relies on photos of the model sticker, the case number and the cut cord. Call 3M at 800-772-4337 to ask what it can do.

Is the TL1302X safe? 3M's recall pages say the TL1302X is not subject to any recalls.

More recall guides

Other recent recalls for products used around the home include the DREO DR-HSH015 space heater recall and a heater safety checklist, the Gobi Heat rechargeable hand warmer recall and the Costway convertible high chair recall. For more, browse our office category.

Editorial disclosure

This recall guide contains no affiliate links, and SurfGirl never earns commission on recalled products. It is based on the CPSC notices and 3M's recall pages as of November 1, 2026. We did not test the laminator.

References

1. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 3M Company Recalls Scotch™ Thermal Laminators Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Fire Hazard (recall 27-024). Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2027/3M-Company-Recalls-ScotchTM-Thermal-Laminators-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Fire-Hazard
2. 3M. TL1302Z Laminator Recall. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://www.scotchbrand.com/3M/en_US/scotch-brand/tl1302Z-laminator-recall/
3. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 3M Recalls Scotch™ Thermal Laminators Due to Fire Hazard (recall 23-064). Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/3M-Recalls-Scotch-Thermal-Laminators-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
4. 3M. TL1302 Laminator Recall. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://www.scotchbrand.com/3M/en_US/scotch-brand/tl1302-laminator-recall/