Best Sublimation Printers for Custom Projects

The best sublimation printers for most custom projects are the Epson SureColor F170 for beginners and small work, the Sawgrass SG500 for convenient home production, and the Epson SureColor F570 Pro when larger prints and higher volume matter more.

Sublimation printers transfer dye into specially coated polyester materials rather than printing onto ordinary cotton or untreated surfaces. Your choice should therefore depend on four linked questions: how large your designs need to be, how often you will print, whether you want a simple wireless workflow, and which blanks you plan to decorate.

Epson SureColor F170 Dye-Sublimation Printer – Compact 8.5" x 11" Format – Includes Genuine Epson Ink, User Guide & Power Cable – Original OEM Product with Full Manufacturer Support

Included for 'Best Sublimation Printers for Custom Projects' because the listing specifies Compact 8.5" x 11" Format and Includes Genuine Epson Ink, details this guide uses to compare options.

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Brother SP-1 Sublimation Printer Starter Bundle with Full Ink Set, 160 Sublimation Transfer Sheets, 50 Blanks, Tape and More

Included for 'Best Sublimation Printers for Custom Projects' because the listing specifies 160 Sublimation Transfer Sheets and 50 Blanks, details this guide uses to compare options.

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Epson SureColor F170 Dye-Sublimation Printer. Includes Full Set of Ink, User Guide, AC Power Cable, Sublimation Starter Kit, Thermal Tape, 8.5" x 11" & 8.5" x 14" Paper SCF170

Included for 'Best Sublimation Printers for Custom Projects' because the listing specifies User Guide and AC Power Cable, details this guide uses to compare options.

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Quick comparison of the best sublimation printers

Prices are broad market ranges and vary with bundles, promotions, and included ink. The cost of a printer is only part of ownership: sublimation paper, transfer ink, heat-resistant tape, a heat press, and compatible blanks can easily exceed the printer cost during a first project setup.

Best overall for beginners: Epson SureColor F170

The Epson SureColor F170 is the strongest starting point when you want a purpose-built sublimation printer without converting an ordinary inkjet. It uses refillable ink tanks, includes desktop-friendly connectivity, and prints designs up to legal-size paper. That size is sufficient for many 11-ounce mugs, tumblers, coasters, mouse pads, ornaments, tote panels, and smaller shirt graphics.

Its main limitation is print width. An 8.5-inch-wide printer cannot produce a full adult shirt design in one piece if the artwork needs to be wider than the paper. You can use smaller placements, split artwork across sheets, or move to a larger-format model, but piecing a transfer introduces alignment and pressing challenges.

Why it suits new users

• It is designed for sublimation rather than relying on a third-party conversion.
• Refillable tanks can reduce packaging waste and make ink levels easy to monitor.
• It is compact enough for a dedicated craft table.
• Its four-color process is adequate for most logos, illustrations, and personalized gifts.

Choose the F170 if your priority is predictable entry-level operation and your blanks are mostly small or medium-sized. It is less attractive for a shop producing dozens of large shirt transfers every week.

Best for a convenient wireless workflow: Sawgrass SG500

The Sawgrass SG500 is a strong choice for crafters who value guided software, wireless printing, and a polished ecosystem. Its compact body fits easily into a home workspace, while the optional paper path supports designs up to 8.5 x 14 inches. Sawgrass also provides sublimation-focused design and color-management tools, which can shorten the learning curve.

The trade-off is ongoing ink expense. Cartridge-based systems are convenient, but replacement cartridges generally cost more per printed page than high-capacity tank systems. That premium may be reasonable if you print intermittently and prefer sealed cartridges over storing bottles of ink.

The SG500 works well for mugs, small signs, apparel pockets, bags, puzzles, and other blanks within its paper width. For large front-and-back shirt production, consider the SG1000, which supports paper up to approximately 11 x 17 inches and can use an optional larger tray. It costs more and requires more workspace, but the additional width reduces the need to resize or tile artwork.

Best compact alternative: Brother SP-1

The Brother SP-1 targets home sublimation users who want a dedicated machine with a relatively simple setup. It is suitable for small businesses, personalized gifts, and occasional apparel work. Its maximum practical design area is in the same general class as other desktop models, so it should be evaluated by paper width rather than by the printer’s exterior dimensions alone.

Before buying, confirm the included ink quantity and software requirements. A low purchase price can look less attractive if the bundle contains limited starter ink or if you need additional paper trays, heat presses, or color-management tools. The SP-1 makes sense when local support, a guided interface, or a compact footprint matters more than the lowest possible consumable cost.

Best for large and frequent projects: Epson SureColor F570 Pro

The Epson SureColor F570 Pro is the better fit for a production-oriented workspace. Its approximately 24-inch print width allows much larger shirt graphics, banners, panels, signs, and multiple smaller designs arranged on one sheet. It also supports roll media, which is useful when a business needs longer runs rather than isolated craft projects.

This is not simply a larger desktop printer. It needs a sturdy, level surface, room for ventilation and paper handling, and a workflow capable of keeping up with a wider heat press. A 24-inch printer paired with a small 9 x 9-inch press creates a bottleneck: the printer can produce large transfers that the press cannot finish in one placement.

For occasional mug and shirt personalization, the F570 Pro is excessive. For regular orders, large graphics, or reduced manual tiling, its higher purchase price can be justified through time saved per job.

Decision matrix by project and workspace

Ink cost, print size, and a realistic project calculation

Ink cost depends on coverage, not merely the number of pages. A mostly white design uses little sublimation ink because the white areas are supplied by the blank. A dark, saturated background can use several times more ink than a small name or logo.

For example, suppose a desktop printer and ink combination averages $0.80–$1.80 in ink and paper for a medium 8.5 x 11-inch design. Add $2–$5 for a polyester shirt, $0.10–$0.40 for tape and protective paper, and perhaps $0.50–$1.50 for electricity, waste, and packaging. The material cost is roughly $3.40–$8.70 before labor, equipment depreciation, shipping, and failed transfers.

If a $500 printer and related accessories total $800, and your contribution after materials is $10 per finished item, you need approximately 80 successful orders to recover that equipment investment. This calculation is more useful than comparing printer prices alone because a cheaper machine may have higher ink costs or force you to spend more time aligning multiple sheets.

Compatibility with sublimation blanks

The printer is only half of the transfer system. Sublimation works best with blanks that have a polymer coating or a high polyester content. White or light-colored polyester shirts are the easiest starting point because standard sublimation ink is transparent and does not print opaque white.

• Apparel: Choose high-polyester shirts for brighter color. Cotton shirts may accept a temporary transfer only with a different process; they are not equivalent to polyester sublimation blanks.
• Mugs and drinkware: Use purpose-made sublimation mugs or tumblers with an even polymer coating. Ordinary ceramic or stainless steel surfaces will not reliably hold the dye.
• Hard goods: Coated metal panels, slate, aluminum, puzzles, keychains, ornaments, and mouse pads must specifically be labeled for sublimation.
• Color: The blank’s base color changes the final result. A design that looks bright on white may appear muted on pastel or colored polyester.
• Shape: Curved mugs, seams, zippers, and raised surfaces can create pressure gaps and uneven transfers even when the blank is technically compatible.

Setup and maintenance details that prevent failures

1. Install the correct ink only. Do not mix regular dye or pigment ink with sublimation ink. Read the manufacturer’s filling or cartridge instructions before powering up.
2. Use sublimation paper with the printable side facing correctly. A reversed sheet can produce weak, blotchy, or poorly transferred artwork.
3. Mirror the design before printing. Text and asymmetrical graphics will appear backward on the blank if mirroring is skipped.
4. Print a nozzle check when output changes. Missing lines or color shifts usually indicate a nozzle or ink-flow issue, not a heat-press problem.
5. Store paper and ink carefully. Keep paper flat and dry, and protect ink from excessive heat. Moist paper can cause softness, smearing, and uneven color.
6. Use the printer regularly. Long idle periods can increase the chance of clogged nozzles. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning cycle instead of repeatedly printing large wasteful test pages.

What usually wears first is not the printer shell but the consumables and supporting equipment: paper-feed rollers accumulate dust, cutting tools become dull, heat-press pads compress, and transfer paper absorbs humidity. Keep a spare pressing sheet, inspect the press temperature with an appropriate check when results drift, and record your successful time, pressure, and temperature settings for each blank.

Final buying recommendation

For most people entering custom sublimation in 2026, start with the Epson F170 if low operating cost and a purpose-built tank printer are priorities. Choose the Sawgrass SG500 when software guidance and wireless convenience are worth paying more for cartridges. Pick the Brother SP-1 when its compact, guided home workflow fits your budget and support needs. Move to the Sawgrass SG1000 or Epson F570 Pro only when print width and order volume—not aspirational features—justify the added expense.