T-shirt printing is the most common type of sublimation printing, and finding the best sublimation printer for shirts is as easy as finding the best printer in general. Many like myself started with a converted Epson printer for sublimation, which works great, others favored dedicated Dye-Sub printers from the get-go for their convenience. Which you choose will likely come down to budget and convenience but every recommendation in this round-up offers excellent end results.
 | Best Overall Epson Surecolor F-170 |
| Check Lowest Price |
 | Best Wide Format Epson ET - 15000 |
| Check Lowest Price On Amazon |
 | Cheapest Epson ET - 2800 |
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Do you need a special sublimation printer for shirts?
Although you need a certain type of printer for sublimation, there is no special printer for sublimating on t-shirts.
You can use any purpose-built sublimation printer or an inkjet printer converted into a sublimation printer. The dye sublimation printers need special ink for sublimation and sublimation transfer paper. A heat press is required to transfer the design from the transfer paper onto the polyester fabric.
The t-shirt material with at least 60% polyester count or higher can be sublimated. The higher the polyester count, the better the results of sublimation. You will get the most vibrant full-color prints on 100% polyester shirts.
One important point to remember while choosing a T-shirt to sublimate is, that the fabric of the garment needs to be light in color. Try to avoid using dark-colored T-shirts. There are a few hacks to sublimate on black or dark-colored cotton shirts.
Best sublimation printer for shirts: Epson SureColor F170
- 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
During my review of the Epson SureColor F170, I found this printer produced vibrant prints straight out of the box which transferred perfectly onto t-shirts as well as many other substrates. The printer has been fine-tuned for sublimation, so there is no conversion or tweaking required – making it ideal for beginners and seasoned crafters alike.
This printer features a great resolution for sublimation and you won’t void its warranty just by adding ink – like the EcoTank models. While you can use any sublimation ink with the F170, the included Epson DS set works well, especially on cotton/ polyester shirts.
Best 13×19 sublimation printer for shirts: Epson ET-15000
- 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
The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 reviewed well during my testing and is considered one of the best EcoTank printers Epson offers. The results from this machine are rich in color, and no details are lost when the images are transferred.
Though this isn’t designed first and foremost as a sublimation printer, a converted ET-15000 manages to compete with purpose-built units with ease. Like its contemporary sibling printer the ET-2800, the print quality is excellent. With wireless connectivity and wide print sizing, this unit is as versatile as it is efficient -not to mention its wide-format abilities.
It’s worth mentioning that despite the EcoTank range of printers being able to be converted for sublimation, Epson will void your warranty if you do so.
Though the price point may not be to everyone’s liking, it’s still some of the best value from a sublimation print that I’ve ever seen.
Best Budget Sublimation Printer for Shirts: Epson EcoTank ET-2800
- 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
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 stands out for its affordability, and sleek design, providing you with a space-saving solution ideal for optimizing your workspace. This all-in-one super tank printer offers a host of features that cater to your needs. With innovative Cartridge-Free Printing, you can bid farewell to expensive ink cartridges. Instead, high-capacity ink tanks, including easy-to-fill EcoFit ink bottles, ensure you’re always well-supplied.
A note of caution, once a printer is converted for sublimation, it can’t be used as a regular printer.
The ET-2800 guarantees impressive print quality, thanks to its Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology and pigment black ink, which delivers sharp text, vivid color photos, and graphics. The printer also boasts modern connectivity options, including wireless features and even hands-free voice-activated printing.
Setting up this printer is hassle-free, and you can enjoy up to two years of ink right out of the box, reducing the frustrations of running out of ink. This Epson printer offers reliability and quality that you can count on.
Best Sublimation Printer for Shirts: Price Comparison
These are my general recommendations for sublimation printers, but depending on your requirements you may need a commercial-grade model. I’ve highlighted a few here with some average prices and print sizes, so you can see which suits your business needs:
| Printer Name | Type | Size of Print | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson EcoTank ET-2800 | Converted | 8.5” x 11” | $199.99 + Ink |
| Epson WorkForce WF-2860 | Converted | 8.5” x 11” | $84.99 + Ink |
| Sawgrass SG500 | Purpose-Built | 8.5” x 11” | $599.99 |
| Sawgrass SG1000 | Purpose-Built | 11” x 17” | $1499.99 |
| Epson EcoTank ET-15000 | Converted | 13” x 19” | $699.99 + Ink |
| Epson EcoTank ET-8550 | Converted | 13” x 19” | $799.99 + Ink |
| Mimaki TS100 | Purpose-Built | Wider than 24” | $9995.00 |
To print on small and medium-sized shirts, an 8.5″ x 11’’ print works perfectly. This is just large enough to be detailed on the shirt but not overpowering on the t-shirt as a whole.
What do you need for sublimation printing on t-shirts?
Printing custom designs onto t-shirts may seem like an involved process, but in reality, it couldn’t be easier. Unlike more involved methods of crafting custom clothing such as DTF printing, sublimation printing onto shirts is straightforward – if you have the right equipment.
Along with a sublimation printer such as the ones mentioned below, you’ll also need sublimation paper along with sublimation ink. These allow you to actually use your printer correctly, as the ink and paper are specially designed to enable the design to transfer.
You’ll also need a heat press machine, which is used to actually impress the design onto the target t-shirt. Some entry-level sublimation artists use an iron rather than a full-fledged heat press, but I think the results are too inconsistent to recommend it as a method. Others use a convection oven, which is more alike in design to a kiln and isn’t generally suitable for t-shirts.
You should still press your t-shirts before using the heat transfer, in order to remove any moisture or creases that could ruin your design.
You’ll need some form of design software: this allows you to easily design your sublimation and send it to the printer with ease. I generally use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for my designs, but anything from Canva to ProCreate is useful as a tool to create high-resolution images.
Finally, you’ll need the t-shirt itself. Sublimation works best on t-shirts made of 100% polyester, but that doesn’t stop you from experimenting with other materials. Using a shirt blended with cotton can create a stylish washed-out look. Regardless, I always recommend having a few spare blank t-shirts for redundancy.
Always run a test print before doing any intensive sublimation printing: it’s an easy way to check for issues or errors and ensure you get bright and vibrant results.
FAQ
Generally, 8.5″ x 11″ is ideal for sublimation printing for t-shirts, as it is between the maximum print size of most printers whilst also not being too large.
Sublimation printing works best on shirts made of polyester or polyester blend fabrics. You can supplement them with blended fabrics of cotton or vinyl, but polyester is best for the chemical bonding of sublimation.
Final Word
Though finding a sublimation printer for t-shirts or hoodies is fairly easy, finding the best one is a bit more subjective. This article highlights my two cents on the matter but is by no means definitive. Every artist has different needs and budgets, so try to use what I said here to your advantage.
For more on the best sublimation techniques and tips – including how to sublimate on dark shirts – stay tuned here at Cranky Press Man!
