Best Sublimation Printers
The Sawgrass SG500 is the best dedicated sublimation printer — factory-configured with Sawgrass SubliJet ink and included design software at $500-600. For budget sublimation, the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 converted with sublimation ink is the most common approach at $200 for the printer plus ink.
See Today’s Price →At a Glance
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Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer
“Sawgrass SG500 is the right printer for anyone making sublimated products regularly or for sale — the reliability and consistent color output justify the higher upfront cost over converted alternative”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Factory-configured for sublimation — no conversion required
- Sawgrass SubliJet ink is optimized for vibrant, accurate color output
- Includes Sawgrass Creative Studio design software
- 8.5-inch print width handles mugs, shirts, and most common substrates
- Consistent professional results without the variability of converted printers
Watch out for
- $600+ is the highest upfront cost of any sublimation option
- Sawgrass ink cartridges cost more than converted EcoTank ink per print
- 8.5-inch width cannot print 11-inch or wider formats without the SG1000
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Supertank Printer
“The EcoTank ET-2800 saves hundreds on ink over its lifetime — if you print frequently, the upfront premium pays back within months.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Cartridge-free refillable ink tanks
- Ink included covers 4,500 pages
- Wireless all-in-one
- Low cost-per-page long-term
Watch out for
- Higher upfront cost vs cartridge printers
- Slower print speed
Sublimation Printers Buying Guide
Photo by Engin Akyurt / PexelsSublimation printing works only on polyester fabric (or blended fabrics with 65%+ polyester) and polymer-coated hard goods — ceramic mugs with polymer coating, aluminum panels, phone cases, and polyester-coated tumblers. It does not work on 100% cotton, uncoated wood, or plain aluminum. This is the most common beginner mistake: buying a sublimation printer before verifying that your target substrates are sublimation-compatible.
Dedicated vs. Converted Sublimation Printers
Dedicated sublimation printers (Sawgrass) come from the factory loaded with sublimation ink and calibrated for sublimation output. They are more expensive upfront but work reliably from day one. Converted sublimation printers (Epson EcoTank) use standard inkjet printers filled with third-party sublimation ink instead of the original ink. The conversion costs $150-200 less upfront but requires flushing the original ink, may produce less consistent color, and voids the printer warranty. For production or business use, a dedicated machine is the better investment. For testing the technique on a budget, the Epson conversion is the standard approach.
Heat Press Is Required
A sublimation printer alone cannot complete the process — you also need a heat press to transfer the ink. A 15x15 inch swing-away or clamshell heat press ($150-300) handles shirts and flat substrates. A mug press ($50-100) is required for mugs and tumblers. A hat press handles curved hat panels. Budget the heat press cost alongside the printer when calculating total setup cost — the printer without a heat press is incomplete.
Paper and Transfer Process
Print the design mirrored (flipped horizontally) on sublimation paper using sublimation ink. Tape the paper to the substrate, press at the correct temperature and time (400°F/30 seconds for most polyester fabric, 375°F/60 seconds for mugs), then remove the paper and allow to cool. The ink has permanently bonded with the polymer coating. The result is wash-resistant and does not crack, peel, or fade the way heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) does.
Sublimation vs Heat Transfer Vinyl — Key Differences
Sublimation printing infuses dye directly into polyester fibers or polymer-coated surfaces — the image becomes part of the substrate, not a layer on top. It won't crack, peel, or fade with washing. Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) lays a vinyl layer on top of fabric — visible texture, potentially peels over time. Sublimation requires white or light polyester-coated items (at least 65% polyester). HTV works on any fabric color and material. Sublimation is the higher-quality permanent process; HTV is more material-flexible.
ICC Profiles and Color Accuracy
Sublimation colors shift significantly during the heat pressing process. What looks correct on screen or paper will print differently on fabric. ICC profiles (color conversion profiles for specific printer-ink-substrate combinations) calibrate your software to produce the correct colors after pressing. Download profiles from your printer and ink manufacturer — using generic profiles causes color inaccuracy. Sawgrass printers include ProfileConnect software that simplifies this. Epson EcoTank conversions require manual ICC profile management.
Frequently Asked Questions
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