- Top Pick: 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
- Best Value: Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer – Black | Cartridge-free print, scan, copy; up to 10 ppm, borderless photo printing; ideal for home and everyday use
- Premium Choice: Epson SureColor F170 Dye-Sublimation Printer – Compact 8.5" x 11" Format – Includes Genuine Epson Ink, User Guide & Power Cable
The Epson SureColor F170 is the sublimation printer most reviewers name for home crafters and first-time small businesses, the Sawgrass SG500 and SG1000 suit people who want a color-managed system with a maker warranty for repeat orders, and a converted Epson EcoTank is the cheapest route for those who accept losing the printer warranty. All of them print a mirrored transfer on special paper, which a heat press then bonds into polyester or coated items.
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How sublimation printing works
Dye-sublimation printers lay sublimation dye on transfer paper. When the paper is pressed with heat, the dye turns to gas and bonds with polyester fibers or a polymer coating. The result is a print that is part of the surface rather than a layer on top, which is why it suits mugs, tumblers, mouse pads, phone cases and polyester shirts. It does not work on dark or 100 percent cotton fabrics, because cotton has no polymer to bond with. Reviewers generally recommend 100 percent polyester or poly-coated blanks for the most vibrant results, and a low-poly blend will look faded.
A printer alone is not a working setup. You also need sublimation paper, blanks, a heat press or mug press, and heat-resistant tape. When comparing models, count those items as part of the price, and expect the printer to be the smaller of the ongoing costs.
Sublimation printers at a glance
| Model | Best for | Key stated specs | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson SureColor F170 | Beginners and home businesses | Epson lists 4-color T49M ink bottles of 140 mL each, a 150-sheet auto feed, media 3.5 to 8.5 inches wide, included print software for Mac and Windows | Letter-size class; not for bulk production |
| Sawgrass SG500 | Small businesses, repeat orders | Dealers list up to 8.5 x 14 inches, SubliJet UHD ink, Wi-Fi, USB and Ethernet, and a 3-year / 100,000-print warranty | Higher cost; ink costs more per mL than Epson bottles |
| Sawgrass SG1000 | Larger transfers | Dealers list up to 11 x 17 inches, and wider with the bypass tray (about 13 x 19) | Larger, costlier |
| Brother SP-1 | Crafters in the Brother ecosystem | Retail listings cite four 47 mL cartridges, wireless/Ethernet/USB and the Artspira app, with a 2-year limited warranty; Brother paper is Letter size | App required; proprietary cartridges; heat press sold separately |
| Converted Epson EcoTank ET-2800 | Lowest purchase cost | Standard inkjet filled with sublimation ink | Conversion voids the warranty according to reviewers; weekly printing advised to avoid clogs |
| Converted EcoTank ET-15000 | Wide transfers | Prints up to 13 inches wide according to roundups | Same warranty and clog caveats |
Best Epson printers for sublimation
Epson appears twice in this category: as a purpose-built sublimation printer and as the base for converted EcoTank inkjets. The SureColor F170 is the purpose-built model. Epson’s own page lists a maximum print width of 8.5 inches, a 150-sheet feed tray, media widths from 3.5 to 8.5 inches and four T49M sublimation ink bottles (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) of 140 mL each, plus print software designed for sublimation. Reviewers value that it keeps the Epson warranty, uses genuine Epson sublimation ink, and arrives with a full set of ink.
The alternative is to take a standard EcoTank, such as the ET-2800 or the larger ET-15000, and fill it with sublimation ink. This is the cheapest way in, and reviewers report good results, but several sources state that conversion voids the warranty and ends Epson support, and that regular printing is needed to avoid clogged heads. The printer should be new and never have had regular ink in it. That risk is why the F170 is generally recommended for people who want a safe start.
Best dye sublimation printers for heat transfer and shirts
For shirts, size and ink system matter. The F170 and SG500 handle letter-to-legal transfers, which covers many chest designs and kids’ sizes. For larger prints, the SG1000, a converted ET-15000 or a wide-format sublimation printer is needed. Reviewers note that shirts must be white or light polyester, and that the cost of the blank is usually larger than the cost of ink and paper per print.
The Sawgrass SG500 is the model reviewers describe as reliable for repeat commercial use. Sawgrass lists SubliJet UHD ink in cartridges, automatic maintenance cycles and color-managed software. Dealers cite a 3-year or 100,000-print warranty. Reviewers also note the trade-off: ink costs more per mL than the Epson bottles, in return for a system built for consistent color without much tuning. The SG1000 shares the core engine but supports larger media.
The Brother SP-1 is the third mainstream option. Retail listings describe a wireless, app-driven design with four 47 mL cartridges, a 2-year limited warranty, and paper sold in Letter size. It requires the Artspira app and a heat press purchased separately. It suits crafters already using Brother cutters, while buyers who want bottle-fed ink usually prefer the Epson.
Running costs without prices
- Ink: bottle-fed Epson systems are described by reviewers as cheaper per mL than Sawgrass cartridges; reviewers estimate ink alone at a small fraction of the cost per letter-size print.
- Paper: transfer paper adds to every print and is often the larger consumable expense after the blanks.
- Blanks: polyester shirts and coated mugs are usually the biggest per-item cost.
- Maintenance: printing regularly keeps heads from clogging; sublimation ink dries in the nozzles if left idle.
- Third-party ink: compatible T49M-style ink is sold, but Epson recommends genuine ink and non-Epson ink may affect warranty coverage.
Setup and compatibility
Sublimation color relies on an ICC profile that matches the printer, ink and paper. Makers include software and profiles with their systems, while conversions depend on community-supplied profiles. Heat press settings vary with the blank: reviewers cite roughly 385 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for polyester shirts and similar temperatures for coated mugs, but always follow the settings on the blank’s instructions. A heat press has hot surfaces, so follow the maker’s safety guidance and keep it away from children and flammable material.
Choosing by product type
What you plan to make should drive the size decision more than the brand. Mugs, coasters, ornaments, keychains and phone cases all use small transfers, so a letter-size printer such as the F170 or SG500 covers them comfortably. Mouse pads, tote bags and tumbler wraps need a little more width, and a full-size shirt front or a large banner needs a wide-format machine. Reviewers also point out that a mug press or tumbler press is a separate purchase from a flat press, so a product list should be settled before equipment is.
It also helps to think about paper handling. Sheet-fed printers like the F170 use a tray and suit batches of identical sheets. Printers that accept a bypass tray, as dealers list for the Sawgrass models, can take longer or oversized sheets for wraps. If you expect to cut transfers by hand, trimming time grows with volume, which is one reason some shops add a cutting machine later.
Finally, think about support. A purpose-built printer from the ink maker means one company answers questions about the printer, ink and software. A conversion splits that across a printer maker that will not support sublimation ink and an ink seller. For a beginner who values a simple path, that single point of contact can be worth more than a small saving.
Pick X if you…
| Pick | If you… |
|---|---|
| Epson SureColor F170 | want a guided, warranty-covered start |
| Sawgrass SG500 | take repeat orders and want color-managed, low-maintenance printing |
| Sawgrass SG1000 | need prints larger than legal size |
| Brother SP-1 | already use Brother crafting tools and like app-based setup |
| Converted EcoTank | accept warranty risk for the lowest buy-in |
Alternatives
- Direct-to-film (DTF) or direct-to-garment printers: work on cotton and dark fabrics, where sublimation cannot.
- Print-on-demand services: outsource sublimated products without buying equipment.
- Infusible ink transfer sheets with a cutter: a different heat-transfer route for crafters who already own a cutting machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any printer be used for sublimation?
Not any. Reviewers use dedicated sublimation printers or new Epson EcoTank models with sublimation ink. The printer must never have held regular ink, and converting it voids the warranty according to several sources.
Does sublimation work on cotton?
No. Sublimation dye bonds with polyester or polymer coatings, so it works on white or light polyester and coated hard goods. Cotton and dark fabrics need other methods such as DTF or DTG.
Do I need a heat press?
Yes. A heat press or mug press applies the heat and pressure that convert the dye and bond it to the blank. Brother states its SP-1 needs a heat press sold separately, and the same applies to other sublimation printers.
Is the Sawgrass worth more than the Epson F170?
It depends on your volume. Reviewers cite the Sawgrass for reliability and color management on repeat orders, while the F170 is described as the more affordable choice with excellent quality. Ink cost per mL is lower on the Epson.
How often must I print to prevent clogs?
Reviewers advise printing regularly, with some suggesting at least weekly, and running the maker’s head cleaning routine when streaks appear. Follow the printer manual for maintenance.
What size should I buy?
Letter-size printers such as the F170 cover mugs, coasters and many shirt designs. If you need larger shirt designs or wraps, look at the Sawgrass SG1000 or a wide-format conversion.
