Sublimation printing is an excellent, cost-effective way of producing long-lasting, vibrant prints on a variety of different substrates. Investing in the best sublimation printer for your crafting needs is crucial before turning your designs into reality.
Whether you’re looking to create custom t-shirts, mugs, or any other personalized item, a sublimation printer is a must-have piece of equipment to have in your crafting storeroom. We will browse true sublimation printers and even convertible models that are suited for small to large-format prints. These printers are ideal for those who want to start sublimation from home or small business owners looking to step up production.
 | Best Overall Epson Surecolor F-170 |
| Check Lowest Price |
 | Best Budget Epson ET - 2800 |
| Check Lowest Price |
 | Best 13x19 Epson ET - 15000 |
| Check Lowest Price |
Best sublimation printer
Each of these sublimation printers makes it to the list for a reason matter your budget or sublimation needs, one of the printers below should fit the bill. Rest assured the recommended printers are all from reputable manufacturers in this field.
1. Epson SureColor F170 Dye-Sub
- DESCRIPTION You will receive: 1 Original F170 sublimation printer. 25 Sheets of original sublimation Paper for polyester garments 2 sheets Forever Subli-Flex 202 for 100% cotton dark garments (sublimation to Black cotton) 3 Sheets Subli Light Cotton for 100% cotton light color garments (sublimation to white cotton) 1 sublimation mouse pad 1 Thermal Tape 1 full set of sublimation Inks. User guide and AC power cable SCF170
- Original Sublimation Printer
- We request signature at the delivery
- It prints 8.5×11 or 8.5×14 sheets
- Easy to use and cost-effective (ink tank)
- Dye-Sub printer – already ready to go for sublimation, just add ink
- Produces excellent, vibrant prints
- Warranty covers ink-related issues- unlike converted Epson printers
- Not suitable for wide-format printing
- Flimsy plastic build – solid enough though for regular use
Unlike Epson EcoTank’s, the SureColor F170 is a dedicated sublimation printer that is specifically engineered for the task. This printer comes with support and a warranty from Epson repair services which is not going to void when using sublimation ink (like EcoTanks).
Reviewing the Epson SureColor F170 was a pleasure, this small format printer performed excellently, with extremely vibrant results. While the cost might be on the higher side, especially for beginners, this will deliver where needed.
The printer features a resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi, which is more than good enough for the price. As for the timeframe, printing sublimation blanks measuring 8.5 x 11 inches takes a little under 180 seconds. The smallest and the least complex prints can even take close to 60 seconds to work.
2. Epson ET-2800/2820: Best budget printer
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
- Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 color (3)
- Stress-Free Printing — Up to 2 years of ink in the box (4) – and with every replacement ink set – for fewer out of ink frustrations
- High-Capacity Ink Tanks ― Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
- Zero Cartridge Waste ― By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
- Exceptional print quality at this low price range.
- The EcoTank technology helps keep ink costs low
- Manages to print smaller prints in under 120 seconds
- Still, a regular inkjet printer that requires conversion
- The printer warranty will no longer be available after converting it into sublimation.
For anyone on a budget, you are probably going to look into converting an Epson EcoTank printer to sublimation. The EcoTank series is extremely cost-effective and yields fantastic results. With the ET-2800/ET-2803 or ET-2820 printer, you can save a lot of money while still producing vibrant projects.
Because this isn’t a purpose-built dedicated printer, you will need to do the setup correctly and print a few alignment pages after installing the ink. Also, one will need to work with the print settings.
The Epson EcoTank ET 2803/2800 is widely available and manages to print a standard 8.5 x 11-inch sheet in under 120 seconds. As for the print quality, it can support prints up to 5760 x 1440 dpi.
3. Epson ET-15000: Best Wide-Format
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (4)
- Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 7,500 pages black/6,000 color (3)
- Stress-Free Printing ― Up to 2 years of ink in the box (2) – and with every replacement ink set – for fewer out of ink frustrations
- High-Capacity Ink Tanks ― Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
- Zero Cartridge Waste ― By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
- Excellent wide-format print capabilities
- Brings in specialized printing modes
- Top-notch print quality
- The Epson EcoTank ET technology makes sublimation inks more affordable
- On the slower side
- A regular inkjet printer that needs converting
- Do not support auto maintenance
Our in-depth review of the Epson ET-15000 found it to be one of the best wide-format 13”X 19” options. The added benefit of being a cheap-to-run EcoTank only strengthened this claim.
This Epson EcoTank printer boasts two specialized printing modes — duplex printing and a document feeder mode for that design flexibility. As it is a wide-format sublimation printer, it can help you get the best prints on the best t-shirts for sublimation, solid surfaces, and other substrates like smaller banners.
This printer costs around $700 and with ink, it can go up to $750 (I recommend going with Hippoo inks). For capabilities extending up to 13 x 19 inches and 4800 x 1200 dpi in terms of resolution, this isn’t an exorbitant price to pay. Setting it up is moderately difficult as you need to play around with the settings.
4. Epson ET-8550: Best6-ink sublimation printer
- Cartridge-free printing for lab-quality photos, graphics and creative projects — get vibrant colors and sharp text with Epson’s high-accuracy printhead and Claria ET Premium 6-color inks; print a 4 x 6″ photo in as fast as 15 seconds (4).Product protection you can count on — 2-year limited warranty with registration (10). | Genuine Epson Ink for Genuine Epson Quality― Epson strongly recommends the use of genuine ink to ensure optimal print quality and performance. Use of non-genuine ink could cause damage not covered under the printer’s ltd. warranty.
- Extraordinary media support, including borderless photos up to 13″ x 19″ — accommodates cardstock, CD/DVDs and other specialty media up to 1.3 mm thick; auto 2-sided printing
- Amazing value — save a ridiculous amount on photos (1) and creative projects with affordable in-house photo printing; print 4″ x 6″ photos for about 4 cents each vs. 40 cents with traditional ink cartridges (1)
- Save up to 80% with low-cost replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (3) — that’s about Dollar-2000 on each set (3), enough ink to print up to 6,200 pages color (5)
- Print up to 2 years (2) — with each included and replacement ink bottle set
- The Claria Photo ink setup makes room for the best possible prints.
- The ink system is refillable and cost-effective
- The printer comes equipped with advanced printing settings
- Large and difficult to assemble
- Still not a dedicated dye sublimation printing solution
To be honest, I love Epson Ecotank printing solutions for the quality of prints. And even though the Epson Surecolor series saves us the need for conversion, the Epson EcoTank ET 8550 is one of the better inkjet printers with a six-color ink system, based on the Claria Photo technology
If you want to print high-quality photos on your t-shirts, this Epson EcoTank printer is the one to go with. Plus, it also boasts high-volume sublimation printing support.
As far as the features are concerned, this $800 odd sublimation printer might just be the one to offer the highest print quality on the list, supporting resolutions of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi. Each sublimation or transfer paper can be handled in under 90 seconds, making it pretty fast for its size.
As you read above, choosing a sublimation printer can greatly impact the quality and efficiency of your printing projects. After considering several top options, you can buy printers such as ET-2800, SG-500, or ET-15000. These models offer exceptional print quality, fast printing speeds, versatile media compatibility, user-friendly features, and reasonable costs.
Different types of sublimation printers explained
You can segregate sublimation printers according to their operational modes or even the nature of usage. By the time you may already know there are small format and wide format sublimation printers. Some are purpose-built, while some are convertible but at the same time affordable. Some are good for polyester fabrics, while some make sense only with harder substrates.
Dedicated Sublimation printers
These printers support sublimation out of the box. It is noteworthy that printers do not support other printing jobs and only work with sublimation inks, ensuring optimal print efficiency and quality.
However, this wholesome sublimation printing experience begins at $649 (for the printer only) if you buy something like the Sawgrass SG500. But this will be good enough for small designs only.
For larger designs, you must buy something like the Sawgrass SG1000, which prints 8.5˝ x 14˝, or the Sawgrass VJ 628 for 24″ designs.
Epson has some attractive options in the SureColor series, which is a true-sublimation printer. Don’t forget the recurring cost of ink and paper, and if you pick the official brand products, they put a sizeable dent in your pocket.
Apart from all these features, you get an assured warranty and technical support from the manufacturers. So, even if something goes wrong, you have someone to talk to and sort out the mess.
Convertible printers
It’s a type of inkjet printer that uses piezo print heads like Epson printers. HP and Canon inkjet printers will not work for sublimation because they use thermal print head technology. However, on replacing the regular ink cartridges with sublimation ink cartridges, you can use them for sublimation printing.
The main selling point of a converted printer for sublimation is the cost: you save a lot of money. A brand new Sawgrass printer retails upwards of $500-600, while you can buy a brand new inkjet printer and convert it into a sublimation one for half the cost. You can slash the cost further if you opt for a secondhand inkjet printer (something we don’t recommend).
After a successful conversion, you will need sublimation inks and paper, which don’t cost much (Hiippo and a few other brands). However, it would be best if you often clean the print heads in a converted printer to get the correct output. Something you don’t have to do in Sawgrass, as it has an auto-maintenance feature.
Epson inkjet printers come in two models: EcoTank (easy to refill) and standard cartridges. Epson uses a key system to refill ink but when you buy sublimation ink kits they often come with syringes or compatible bottles.
While the initial investment will be cheaper than a buying purpose-built sublimation printer, you won’t get the much-needed technical support or dedicated color management software. On top of that, you will void the warranty of your inkjet printer as soon as you put the sublimation ink in it.
FAQs
What is a good sublimation printer for beginners?
The Epson SC F170 is the best choice for beginners planning to learn and earn with sublimation. You don’t need to fiddle with settings much, as these are true sublimation plug-and-play printers.
Is it worth buying a sublimation printer?
Yes. Sublimation printers can help you customize your apparel and even start a small sublimation on-demand service. You can sublimate on mugs, t-shirts, and many other fabrics, and the results are very photorealistic.
What do I need to start sublimation?
You will need a sublimation printer (original or converted), sublimation ink and paper, a heat press or convection oven to transfer the sublimation, fabric, some heat-resistant tape and scissors, and a computer to feed and tweak designs before printing.
What is the easiest printer to convert to sublimation?
The Epson EcoTank series ET-2800, ET-2803, and ET-15000 is the easiest printer to convert to sublimation. Since it has an external ink tank instead of regular cartridges, replacing and refilling the sublimation ink is easier. You will need to get the color output right, but it is way better than converting an inkjet printer with cartridges. Refilling a cartridge is a painstaking process with a low chance of success.
Can all Epson EcoTank printers be used for sublimation?
Yes, you can convert any EcoTank series printer by emptying the regular ink and then refilling the sublimation ink. However, remember to only use a brand new EcoTank printer for sublimation and avoid any discontinued model released more than two years back.
What is the cheapest printer that can be converted to sublimation?
You can get an Epson EcoTank ET 2800 for as low as $170-200 on-sale events. You only need to buy Hiipoo ink worth $30 and an A4 sublimation paper. It is the cheapest printer and ink combination to start sublimation on a budget.
Final word
Whether you are looking to expand your painting business or just want to get creative, the best sublimation printer is the way to go. We detailed several high-quality dedicated sublimation printers and convertible models to meet every budget and need you could have. We found the Epson SureColor F170 Dye-Sub printer to be one of the best overall but for those on tighter budgets, an EcoTank ET-2800 would be ideal.
