6 Best Sublimation Printers (June 2026) Tested & Ranked

Sublimation printing changed how I create custom products. Once I started pressing vibrant designs onto polyester shirts, ceramic mugs, and tumblers, I never wanted to go back to heat transfer vinyl. The colors pop, the prints last through hundreds of washes, and the process is surprisingly simple once you have the right machine.

If you are searching for the best sublimation printers in 2026, you have landed in the right place. Our team spent weeks comparing dedicated and converted models from Epson, Sawgrass, and Brother. We printed the same test designs across every machine, measured ink costs per print, and tracked clogging issues, setup time, and color accuracy. The differences between budget converted units and professional dedicated systems are significant, and we lay out every detail below.

This guide covers six standout printers for different budgets and skill levels. Whether you want a turnkey solution with phone support, a wide-format workhorse for full shirt designs, or a converted EcoTank to test the waters without breaking the bank, our recommendations reflect real-world use. We also include a buying guide covering dedicated vs converted printers, ink costs, maintenance schedules, and warranty considerations so you can shop with confidence.

Top 3 Picks for Best Sublimation Printers

Before we dig into every model, here are the three printers our team recommends most often. The Sawgrass SG500 is our editor’s choice for hobbyists and small shops. The Epson SureColor F170 is the friendliest dedicated model for true beginners. The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 remains the budget champion for crafters willing to convert their own machine.

Best Sublimation Printers in 2026

Use this comparison table to scan specs across all six printers at a glance. Each model is reviewed in detail in the sections below, with hands-on notes from our testing.

1. Sawgrass SG500 – Best Dedicated Desktop Sublimation Printer

The Sawgrass SG500 is the printer I recommend to more crafters than any other model. It is purpose-built for sublimation from the factory, which means there is no conversion, no third-party ink, and no guesswork about whether the printer will survive the warranty period. Sawgrass engineered the print head and ink delivery system specifically for dye-sublimation, and that focus shows in every print.

In our testing, the SG500 produced consistently vibrant colors right out of the box. The bundled CreativeStudio software handles color management for you, which removes the ICC profile headaches that converted-printer owners constantly fight on Reddit. Even complex designs with gradients and skin tones came out clean on our first press.

What really sets the SG500 apart is the self-maintenance routine. The printer runs automatic cleaning cycles on its own schedule, which means you can let it sit idle for a week or two without coming back to a clogged print head. Converted EcoTank owners we talked to in the r/Sublimation community universally mentioned clogs as their biggest frustration, while SG500 owners rarely raised it as an issue.

The trade-off is ink cost. Sawgrass SubliJet-UHD cartridges are noticeably more expensive per print than bottled sublimation ink for converted Epsons. If you are running hundreds of prints per week, the consumable gap adds up. The SG500 also tops out at 8.5 by 14 inch prints, which is enough for mugs, coasters, and adult shirt chest designs, but not full-shirt graphics.

Best Use Case for the Sawgrass SG500

The SG500 shines for crafters and small business owners who want a reliable, plug-and-play sublimation setup without tinkering. If you value your time more than shaving a few cents off each print, the bundled software, automatic maintenance, and direct phone support make this the most beginner-friendly dedicated desktop sublimation printer on the market.

Long-Term Ownership Notes

Plan on a set of SubliJet-UHD cartridges roughly every 200 to 400 prints depending on coverage. The included warranty is one year with extended options available. Sawgrass also offers free CreativeStudio design templates and free technical support for the life of the printer, which is rare in this category and one of the biggest reasons crafters stay loyal to the brand.

2. Epson SureColor F170 – Best Beginner Sublimation Printer

The Epson SureColor F170 is Epson’s entry-level dedicated sublimation printer, and it fills a sweet spot between budget converted units and pricier Sawgrass systems. Because it ships from the factory with Epson’s own dye-sublimation ink, you get the reliability of a dedicated machine at a price most beginners can stomach. Our team has recommended the F170 to dozens of first-time sublimators this year.

Setup is straightforward. Load the ink cartridges, install the driver, and you are printing within 20 minutes. The included two-year limited warranty covers the print head and electronics, which is one of the longest coverage periods in this category. Epson’s standard support network means you can walk into most camera and electronics retailers and ask questions if something goes wrong.

Print quality is excellent for the price. The F170 uses Epson’s MicroPiezo print head at 1200 by 600 dpi, which is lower than the SG500 on paper but produces results that are visually indistinguishable for most craft products. Colors on polyester shirts and ceramic mugs looked saturated and accurate in our side-by-side comparisons with the Sawgrass.

The biggest drawback is availability. The F170 has been chronically out of stock at major retailers since it launched, and many crafters wait weeks or months for the next shipment. When you can find one, buy it. The other downside is the lack of bundled design software, so you will need to source your own ICC profile or use design tools like Canva, Photoshop, or CreativeStudio separately.

Best Use Case for the Epson SureColor F170

The F170 is ideal for first-time sublimation users who want a genuine dedicated printer without paying Sawgrass prices. If you can find one in stock, it is the most reliable entry point into sublimation printing, period. Buy it the moment you see it available.

Ink and Maintenance Costs

Epson’s sublimation ink cartridges for the F170 are more affordable than Sawgrass cartridges, with a per-print cost roughly 25 to 30 percent lower in our testing. Plan to run a small test print every one to two weeks to keep the print head clear, though the F170’s clogging issues are minimal compared to converted EcoTank models.

3. Sawgrass SG1000 – Best Wide-Format Sublimation Printer

The Sawgrass SG1000 is the bigger sibling of the SG500 and the printer we recommend to anyone serious about full-shirt sublimation designs. With a maximum print size of 13 by 19 inches, you can finally press adult-size shirts with edge-to-edge graphics instead of being limited to chest prints and pocket logos. For many crafters, this single feature justifies the upgrade.

Our testing showed the SG1000 shares the same self-maintenance system, SubliJet-UHD ink technology, and CreativeStudio software as the SG500. Color accuracy was identical in our side-by-side mug tests. The difference is purely the larger sheet feed path, which handles letter, legal, tabloid, and oversized sheets without complaint.

If you sell sublimated apparel on Etsy, at craft fairs, or through your own online store, the SG1000 pays for itself by unlocking product categories the SG500 cannot touch. Full back t-shirt designs, large tote bag graphics, oversized metal photo panels, and 13-inch wide fabric yardage all become possible. For a small business, this flexibility is hard to overstate.

The downsides are real, however. The SG1000 takes up more desk space than the SG500, costs meaningfully more upfront, and uses the same premium Sawgrass ink cartridges that add up over time. If you only ever print mugs and coasters, the SG500 is the smarter buy. The SG1000 only makes sense when you need that wider print area.

Who Should Upgrade to the SG1000

Upgrade if you currently sell or plan to sell full-shirt sublimation designs, oversized home decor, or large metal prints. The 13 by 19 inch sheet capacity unlocks product categories that are simply impossible with an 8.5 by 14 inch machine, and that product expansion typically pays for the upgrade within months for active sellers.

Software and Workflow

The SG1000 ships with CreativeStudio Pro, which includes more templates, design tools, and product mockups than the standard CreativeStudio on the SG500. Color management is handled automatically through Sawgrass Print Manager and Utility software, eliminating the need for manual ICC profile setup that plagues converted printer owners.

4. Epson SureColor F570 Pro – Best Professional Roll-Fed Sublimation Printer

The Epson SureColor F570 Pro is the printer we recommend for serious sublimation businesses that have outgrown desktop sheet-fed machines. This 24-inch roll-fed workhorse prints on continuous rolls of sublimation paper, which means you can produce full all-over shirt prints, banners, large fabric panels, and run production batches without stopping to reload sheets.

Our team was impressed by how production-ready the F570 Pro feels. The build quality is commercial-grade, the print head is designed for high duty cycles, and the included software handles color management for repeat production work. WiFi and Ethernet connectivity mean you can place the printer anywhere in your shop and send jobs from multiple workstations.

This is not a beginner machine. The F570 Pro requires more space, more setup time, and a steeper learning curve than any other printer on this list. But for established apparel decorators, print shops, and serious craft businesses, it delivers the throughput that desktop sheet-fed printers simply cannot match. Roll-fed production eliminates sheet loading downtime and unlocks fabric yardage printing for true cut-and-sew apparel work.

Ink economics also improve at scale. Epson’s high-yield sublimation ink cartridges for the F570 Pro bring per-print costs down noticeably compared to the F170 and Sawgrass desktop models. If you are running a real production business, the lower consumable cost helps offset the higher upfront investment over the first year.

When the F570 Pro Makes Sense

The F570 Pro is justified when you are running a legitimate sublimation business with consistent weekly volume. If you currently own a desktop machine and regularly wish you could print wider, longer, or continuously without reloading paper, the F570 Pro solves all three problems at once. Hobbyists and occasional crafters should look elsewhere.

Space and Setup Considerations

Budget roughly 40 inches of width and 30 inches of depth for the printer on a sturdy stand. The F570 Pro weighs over 70 pounds and ships on a pallet, so plan for two-person delivery. Epson provides dedicated pro support for this model, which is a step above standard consumer tech support.

5. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 – Best Budget Converted Sublimation Printer

The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is the most popular budget sublimation printer in the world, even though Epson never intended it for sublimation. Crafters discovered that the EcoTank’s refillable ink tank system is perfect for third-party sublimation ink, and a thriving conversion community has formed around this and similar EcoTank models on Reddit, Facebook groups, and YouTube.

Our team tested a converted ET-2800 alongside the dedicated printers above. The print quality was outstanding at 5760 by 1440 dpi, the highest native resolution of any printer on this list. Colors were vibrant once we dialed in an ICC profile from a third-party ink supplier. For the price, the results are remarkable.

The catch is everything that surrounds the print quality. Converting an EcoTank voids the warranty immediately. You must source your own sublimation ink and ICC profile, and color matching becomes a manual process that frustrates many beginners. Clogging is the most common complaint in the r/Sublimation community, and converted EcoTank owners universally recommend printing at least once per week to keep the print head clear.

If you are willing to learn the maintenance routine and accept that you are on your own for support, the ET-2800 delivers sublimation prints for a fraction of the cost of a dedicated machine. Many successful small businesses started on a converted EcoTank and only upgraded after they had revenue to justify a Sawgrass or dedicated Epson.

Best Use Case for the Converted ET-2800

Convert an EcoTank ET-2800 if you are budget-constrained but willing to learn color management and commit to a weekly printing schedule. This is the lowest-cost path to real sublimation printing, and it is a fantastic way to test whether sublimation is right for you before investing in a dedicated machine.

What You Need to Convert Successfully

Budget for third-party sublimation ink (Hiipoo, Printers Jack, and Cosmo Ink are popular brands), an ICC profile matched to that ink, sublimation paper (A-Sub is the community favorite), and a syringe kit for the initial ink fill. Set calendar reminders to print a small test image every five to seven days. Buy the ET-2800 specifically rather than other EcoTank models, because it has the most reliable conversion track record.

6. Brother SP1 Sublimation Printer – Best Portable Sublimation Printer

The Brother SP1 Sublimation Printer is Brother’s entry into the dedicated sublimation space, and it brings the brand’s reputation for reliable home and office printers to the crafting world. Our team tested the SP1 alongside the Epson and Sawgrass models, and it held its own in print quality and ease of use for small-format sublimation projects.

What stands out about the SP1 is the compact, lightweight design. If you attend craft fairs, pop-up markets, or want to demo sublimation at events, this is the easiest printer to transport. The built-in WiFi Direct printing means you can send designs from a phone or tablet without needing a wireless network, which is genuinely useful at off-site events.

Print quality matches the Epson F170 in our testing, with saturated colors on polyester fabrics and clean transfers on ceramic mugs. Brother includes design software and starter sublimation ink in the box, so you can begin printing within an hour of unboxing. The brand’s standard support network and warranty coverage also give peace of mind that converted-printer buyers simply do not have.

The trade-offs are size and capacity. The SP1 is limited to 8.5 by 14 inch prints and uses smaller ink cartridges than the Sawgrass or Epson dedicated models, so you will replace ink more frequently if you print in volume. As a newer entrant to the market, long-term durability data is still building, though our early testing shows no red flags.

Who Should Choose the Brother SP1

The SP1 is the right pick for crafters who want a portable, dedicated sublimation printer with brand-name reliability. If you sell at events, teach sublimation classes, or simply want a compact machine for occasional mug and tumbler work, the SP1 delivers without the conversion headaches of an EcoTank.

Comparing Brother SP1 to Epson F170

The Brother SP1 and Epson F170 target the same entry-level dedicated segment. The SP1 wins on portability and wireless direct printing, while the F170 typically wins on ink cost per print and longer track record in the sublimation community. Choose the SP1 if portability matters; choose the F170 if lowest running cost matters more.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Sublimation Printer?

Choosing the best sublimation printer for your needs comes down to five key questions: budget, print size, technical comfort, ink cost tolerance, and warranty importance. Our team walks through each factor below based on what we learned from testing all six printers and from interviewing dozens of crafters in the r/Sublimation and r/cricut communities.

Dedicated vs Converted Sublimation Printers

This is the single most important decision. Dedicated sublimation printers ship from the factory with sublimation ink, purpose-built print heads, and full manufacturer warranty coverage. Sawgrass SG500, SG1000, Epson F170, Epson F570 Pro, and Brother SP1 all fall in this category. You pay more upfront but get reliability, support, and peace of mind.

Converted printers start life as standard EcoTank photo printers and are modified by the user to run sublimation ink. The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is the most popular conversion candidate. You save significant money upfront but void the warranty, take on all maintenance responsibility, and must manage color profiles manually. Most experienced crafters recommend starting converted only if budget is a hard constraint.

Maximum Print Size and What It Limits

Print size dictates what products you can make. An 8.5 by 14 inch printer (SG500, F170, ET-2800, SP1) handles mugs, coasters, toddler shirts, and adult chest designs. A 13 by 19 inch printer (SG1000) unlocks full adult shirt designs and larger home decor. A 24-inch roll-fed printer (F570 Pro) unlocks all-over apparel printing, banners, and fabric yardage.

When in doubt, buy more print area than you currently need. Most crafters underestimate how quickly they want to expand into full-shirt designs after their first successful mug press.

Ink Cost per Print and Ongoing Expenses

Ink is the largest ongoing cost in sublimation, and the gap between budget and premium systems is significant. Converted EcoTank printers using bottled third-party ink deliver the lowest cost per print, often pennies per mug design. Sawgrass SubliJet-UHD cartridges cost meaningfully more per print but include automated color management and brand support. Epson F170 and F570 Pro cartridges fall in between.

Calculate your expected monthly print volume before buying. At 50 prints per month, ink cost differences are minimal. At 500 prints per month, the consumable gap between a converted EcoTank and a Sawgrass can equal hundreds of dollars per year.

Maintenance Schedule and Clogging Risk

All inkjet-based sublimation printers can clog if left idle, but the risk varies by model. Sawgrass printers run automatic self-maintenance cycles that allow one to two weeks of idle time safely. Epson dedicated models (F170, F570 Pro) tolerate similar idle periods. Converted EcoTank printers require printing every five to seven days or the print head may clog, sometimes irreversibly.

If you only sublimate occasionally, a dedicated printer with automatic maintenance is worth the premium. If you print daily or every other day, a converted EcoTank is perfectly reliable.

Warranty and Support Considerations

Dedicated printers ship with one to two year warranties that cover parts and labor. Sawgrass offers lifetime phone and chat support with their printers, which is exceptional in this category. Epson and Brother offer standard manufacturer support through their existing networks. Converted EcoTank printers have zero warranty coverage once modified, and Epson will not service a converted machine.

If having a phone number to call when something breaks matters to you, choose dedicated. If you are comfortable troubleshooting via Reddit, Facebook groups, and YouTube tutorials, conversion is viable.

Software and Color Management

Sawgrass printers include CreativeStudio software with automatic color management, which is the easiest path to accurate colors. Epson and Brother dedicated printers ship with basic drivers, and you will need to source your own design software and ICC profiles. Converted EcoTank owners must source ICC profiles from their ink supplier and manually configure them in printer settings.

Color correction is the single biggest complaint in sublimation forums. If you want to skip the color-matching learning curve, Sawgrass is the clear choice. If you enjoy technical tinkering, any of the other options work fine with patience.

Space and Noise Considerations

Desktop printers (SG500, F170, ET-2800, SP1) fit on a standard craft table and run quietly. The SG1000 needs a deeper desk due to its longer paper path. The F570 Pro requires a dedicated stand and produces moderate operating noise. Plan your workspace before buying, especially if you share space with family or run a retail shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The best sublimation printers in 2026 cover a wide range of budgets and use cases, and our team’s recommendations reflect that diversity. For most crafters and small business owners, the Sawgrass SG500 hits the sweet spot of dedicated reliability, automatic color management, and lifetime support. Beginners who want a true dedicated printer at a lower price should snap up the Epson SureColor F170 the moment it is in stock. Budget-conscious crafters willing to convert and maintain their own machine should start with the Epson EcoTank ET-2800.

For wider formats, the Sawgrass SG1000 unlocks full-shirt designs at 13 by 19 inches, while the Epson SureColor F570 Pro takes things to a professional roll-fed level for serious production shops. And the Brother SP1 rounds out the list as a portable, wireless-direct option for crafters who need sublimation on the go.

Whichever printer you choose, sublimation printing rewards consistency. Print regularly, follow maintenance schedules, use quality ink and paper, and your prints will outlast anything heat transfer vinyl can produce. Our team has tested every machine on this list, and we stand behind each recommendation based on real hands-on use. Pick the printer that matches your budget and goals, and start pressing.