The best sublimation printer for a small business is the one that keeps printing after the second month. Sublimation looks like easy money: print on special paper, press onto a mug or polyester shirt, ship. Then a clogged print head or a wasted bottle of ink turns your side business into a paperweight.
Epson SureColor F170
Epson's page describes the F170 as a dye-sublimation printer for mugs, mousepads and awards, with four CMYK ink colors in 140 mL bottles, a 150-sheet auto-feed tray, a maximum width of 8.5 inches, 10.2 lbs weight and a one-year unit-exchange warranty. It is the lowest-risk way to learn the process because the printer and ink are designed to work together. The trade-off is that Epson's own page showed it out of stock when we looked, so you may buy from an Amazon reseller.
Check price on Amazon →This guide compares sublimation printers sold on Amazon, using Epson's product page, Amazon listings and retailer data. It is a researched buying guide, not a product test. We cover ink systems, print size, warranty risk, blanks, break-even math and the rules for selling what you make.
Our pick: Epson SureColor F170. It is built for dye sublimation, uses Epson's own 140 mL ink bottles and has a letter-width feed. If you want a dedicated sublimation brand: Sawgrass SG500 (8.5 x 14 in standard, extendable to about 51 in). If you need 11 x 17 in prints: Sawgrass SG1000. Converting a regular EcoTank is cheaper up front, but it can void support and clog heads.
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Key detail | Price class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick Epson SureColor F170 | Beginners who want a printer designed for sublimation | 4 colors (CMYK), 140 mL Epson bottles, 8.5 in max width, 150-sheet tray, 10.2 lbs, 1-year warranty | $$ · Mid-range | Check price |
| Sawgrass SG500 | Sellers who want a dedicated sublimation ink system | SubliJet UHD ink, 8.5 x 14 in standard, bypass tray to about 8.5 x 51 in | $$$ · Premium | Check price |
| Sawgrass SG1000 | Sellers who need 11 x 17 in transfers for larger blanks | SubliJet UHD ink, 11 x 17 in standard, bypass tray to about 51 in long, Wi-Fi | $$$ · Premium | Check price |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2800 with third-party sublimation ink | Experimenters who accept the risk | Letter-size inkjet converted to sublimation ink; not designed or supported for it | $$ · Mid-range | Check price |
| Epson SureColor F570 (24 in) | Shops printing large rolls for production (not on our Amazon-verified list) | 24 in roll printer, 4-channel PrecisionCore printhead, about 38 kg per one retailer | $$$$ · High-end | Check price |
Our picks, one by one
Epson SureColor F170Our Pick
Epson lists a maximum paper width of 8.5 inches with sheet loading up to 47.2 inches, a 150-sheet auto-feed tray and a resolution up to 1200 x 600 dpi. Ink comes in four 140 mL bottles (cyan, magenta, yellow and black), and the unit weighs 10.2 lbs with USB, Ethernet and Wi-Fi. A letter-width printer covers mugs, mouse pads, coasters and small tees. Against the Sawgrass SG500 it is the simpler purchase with Epson support, but it has no dedicated sublimation brand ecosystem of designs and onboarding.
Check price on Amazon →Sawgrass SG500Best Dedicated Ecosystem
Amazon listings describe the SG500 as a desktop dye-sublimation printer that prints up to 8.5 x 14 inches, with a bypass tray that extends that to 8.5 x 51 inches. It uses SubliJet UHD ink in starter 20 mL or full 31 mL cartridges. Sawgrass advertises a 3-year or 100K-print warranty on its site, but the page does not confirm it for this model, so read the listing. Versus the Epson F170 it costs more but adds a dedicated sublimation ink line and a wider range of bundles.
Check price on Amazon →Sawgrass SG1000Best for Larger Transfers
Amazon listings give the SG1000 an 11 x 17 inch standard tray and a bypass tray that expands to about 51 inches in length. It is described as Wi-Fi enabled and as using SubliJet UHD ink, with starter ink said to cover over 200 full-coverage prints. Sawgrass says it is backwards-compatible with SG800 accessories. It only beats the SG500 if your products need the larger transfers, because the lower-price machine already covers mugs, tumblers and small tees.
Check price on Amazon →Epson EcoTank ET-2800 with sublimation inkCheapest, Highest Risk
Amazon lists many third-party sublimation ink sets for the ET-2800 and ET-2803, in sizes from about 100 mL bottles to larger sets. A converted ET-2800 can print sublimation transfers, but you are the engineer. If a print head clogs, you could be out the printer. Compared with the F170, it saves money on day one and gives up Epson's support, so only choose it if you can afford to lose it.
Check price on Amazon →Break-Even Table: How Many Sales Until the Printer Is Paid For
The example machine cost is $700 for the printer, a starter ink set and paper. Heat press and blanks are separate. Sale prices and material costs are example numbers, including the blank, paper, ink and tape. They are not prices of any printer here.
| Example item | Example sale price | Example material cost | Margin per item | Break-even units | Machine time at break-even |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 oz sublimation mug | $16 | $3.8 | $12.2 | 58 | 7.7 hours (8 min each) |
| Tumbler wrap | $26 | $8.5 | $17.5 | 40 | 6.7 hours (10 min each) |
| Polyester tee | $26 | $6.5 | $19.5 | 36 | 3.6 hours (6 min each) |
| Mouse pad | $14 | $3.2 | $10.8 | 65 | 5.4 hours (5 min each) |
Formula: break-even units = machine cost / (sale price - material cost per item), rounded up. Example inputs only: machine cost $700 (swap in your own total including accessories), sale prices and material costs are illustrative, not product prices, and ignore marketplace fees, shipping and your own labor. Your results depend on your market, pricing and time; many small shops earn little at first. Run your own numbers in the Machine Payback Calculator.
Tumblers have the largest margin in the example and the most steps. Mugs are simple and consistent, which makes them the common first product. Use your actual blank cost, because blank prices move often.
Real Running Costs and Hidden Costs
- Ink: Epson sells 140 mL bottles. Sawgrass sells cartridges in 20 mL starter and 31 mL sizes. The cost per print depends on coverage, so print a few full-color pages and track the level.
- Paper, tape and cover sheets: sublimation paper, heat tape and Teflon sheets are ongoing costs.
- A heat press: sublimation needs one. See our heat press guide, and add mug or tumbler presses if you sell drinkware.
- Blanks: sublimation works on polyester and polymer-coated items, not untreated cotton. The blank is your biggest recurring cost.
- Maintenance: sublimation print heads can clog if the printer sits idle. Plan to print regularly and follow the maker's cleaning cycle guidance.
- Waste ink tank: check how the printer handles it and what replacement costs.
- Software: Sawgrass includes design software with its system, and Epson uses standard drivers. Many sellers also use a paid design app. Check current terms.
Here is how paper use works for small blanks:
| Letter-size sheet (8.5 x 11 in) | Area | How many fit (example) |
|---|---|---|
| Full sheet | 93.5 sq in | 1 sheet |
| Mug wrap (about 8.5 x 3.5 in) | 29.8 sq in | 3 per sheet |
| Mouse pad (about 9 x 7.5 in) | 67.5 sq in | 1 per sheet |
Formula: sheets needed = items / items per sheet, rounded up; area = width x height. Dimensions are example round numbers, not product specs. Check your blank's template.
Safety and Rules
Sublimation involves a heat press at high temperatures, so the burn rules in our heat press guide apply. Press in a ventilated area, never touch a hot platen or mug press, and keep kids and pets out of the work area. Wear heat-safe gloves when handling mugs and tumblers.
Selling sublimated goods can require a business license, a seller permit and sales tax, and zoning can apply at home. Brand, character and team designs are trademarked, so you cannot sell them. This is not tax or legal advice.
One practical point: keep ink bottles upright and labeled, away from food and from children, and wipe spills at once. Dedicate any mug or pan you use for testing to sublimation only, and never use pressed drinkware for food service until the blank's maker confirms it is food safe.
What Sublimation Can and Cannot Sell
Sublimation turns dye into gas and bonds it to polyester fibers or a polymer coating. That is why it works on polyester shirts and coated mugs, and why it does not work on untreated cotton, wood or metal without a coating. Three limits shape what you can sell.
- Light blanks only. The dye is transparent, so it shows on white or light polyester and disappears on dark fabric. If your customers want black shirts, you need HTV or DTF instead.
- Coated blanks cost more. Mugs, tumblers, coasters and panels need a polymer coating made for sublimation. Buy blanks labeled for it and check the supplier's press instructions.
- Size is set by your printer. A letter-width machine like the F170 limits you to transfers of 8.5 inches across. The SG1000's 11 x 17 inch tray opens up larger work.
Sellers who do well usually pick one or two blank types and learn them well. A mug seller learns one press, one template and one packaging method. A seller trying mugs, tees, tumblers, ornaments and puzzles at once spends a month on setup. Choose the product, then choose the printer that fits it. Our heat press guide lists the press sizes to match.
Who Should NOT Buy a Sublimation Printer
Skip it if you will not print every week, if you only want cotton shirts (sublimation does not work on cotton), or if you are not ready to buy a heat press and blanks. Also skip it if you have not tested demand for custom mugs and tees. Ordering ten finished custom mugs from a supplier costs far less than a printer you may not use. If you prefer wood and leather over polyester, our laser engraver guide may fit better, and the embroidery machine guide covers stitched apparel.
Which Printer for Which Seller
- You want the safest first printer: Epson SureColor F170, buying from a reputable seller.
- You want brand support and bundles: Sawgrass SG500.
- You print 11 x 17 in transfers: Sawgrass SG1000.
- You can afford to lose it and want to experiment: EcoTank conversion.
If you press under 20 items a month, the printer cost is hard to recover. Compare it with ordering transfers from a supplier, which skips the printer entirely. The table shows how many items you need before owning the printer beats buying transfers.
| Example price of a bought transfer | Example cost to print your own (paper, ink, tape) | Saving per item | Items to recover a $700 example outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.50 | $0.60 | $0.90 | 778 |
| $2.00 | $0.60 | $1.40 | 501 |
| $3.00 | $0.60 | $2.40 | 292 |
Formula: items = printer outlay / (bought transfer price - your own transfer cost). All figures are example inputs. Ask a supplier for a real quote and track your own paper and ink use.
The result is sobering. At the low end it takes nearly 800 items to recover the outlay on transfer savings alone. Own the printer only if you expect volume, need quick custom turnaround, or sell personalized one-offs that suppliers cannot ship fast enough. Otherwise start with bought transfers and a heat press, and add a printer when your order count proves the case.
How We Chose
This is research, not a product test. We started with dye-sublimation printers sold on Amazon.com, then checked Epson's product page for the F170, Sawgrass's site, and Amazon listing details. We left out the Epson SureColor F570 24-inch printer because we found no Amazon listing, and we mention it for context only. Where listings disagreed, as with F170 print size, Epson's own page was the reference. Prices are approximate and shift often. We did not use owner ratings, because ink and clog complaints mix user errors with product faults.
Our #1 pick: Epson SureColor F170
If you only read one line of this guide: this is the one we would buy.
Check price on Amazon →Frequently asked questions
What is the best sublimation printer for a small business?
For a cautious start, the Epson SureColor F170 is built for sublimation and uses Epson's own ink. For a dedicated sublimation brand, the Sawgrass SG500 is the common alternative. For larger transfers, the SG1000.
Can I use a regular Epson EcoTank for sublimation?
People do, with third-party sublimation ink, but Epson designs its printers for its own ink. You risk clogs and warranty problems. Only do it with a printer you can afford to lose.
Does sublimation work on cotton shirts?
No. Sublimation works on polyester and polymer-coated items. Use polyester blanks or a different method like HTV or DTF.
Do I need a heat press for sublimation?
Yes. The printer only makes the transfer; a heat press transfers the dye onto the blank. Mugs and tumblers need dedicated presses or attachments.
Do I need a license to sell sublimated products?
Often yes: a business license or seller permit and sales tax collection, and you cannot sell trademarked designs. Check the SBA page and your state. This is not legal advice. Results depend on your market, pricing and time.
Price classes are a rough guide; check the current price on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.