Skip to Content

5 Sublimation Printers for Crafters


Let’s talk about sublimation printers for crafters. If you are in the market for a sublimation printer for yourself or home based business I have put together a list of the five I would recommend.

Remember that sublimation printing may seem pricey, but I would compare it to using heat transfer vinyl. You are paying a few bucks for a peice of heat transfer vinyl with every project, but with sublimation printing you are shelling out (what can feel like) a hefty amount for ink but it lasts you through lots of projects. When you break it down the prices are comparable.

If you are following along with our sublimation series, we have talked about sublimation for beginners and how to sublimate when you don’t have a printer.

5 Sublimation Printers

I have put together a list of 5 sublimation printers I would recommend for small businesses and crafters. They are in no particular order, so read my notes to determine which one will work for you.

I can say that my printer prints paper up to 8.5×14 inches and I immediatly wanted something that printed larger. Since I mostly make adult shirts I feel like a printer that could print designs 12×12 would be much more functional for my business. Each person will have different needs though.

1. Virtuoso SG500 Sublimation Printer with Ink – $599

This is the printer I have and it did come with the ink. I recieved it as a Christmas gift from my husband but if I would have purchased one myself I probably would have gone with the EcoTank because of the price comparison. The thing I love about this printer is that because it was specifically made for sublimation it has software that allows you to pick your sublimation surface and then automatically adjusts your print settings and colors accordingly.

Details about the Sawgrass SG500

  • WiFi Capability
  • 2 year warranty
  • Maximum media size – 8.5″ x 14″
  • Holds 250 sheets of paper
  • Includes Sawgrass Creative Studio Software

2. Epson EcoTank ET-4700 Inkjet Printer – $260

I know quite a few crafters and friends that have converted the Epson EcoTank printers into dye sublimation printers. You take a new printer and instead of filling with the printer ink purchase and fill the ink tanks with dye sublimation ink.

Details about the EcoTank ET-4700

  • Wireless
  • Holds 100 sheets of paper
  • 2 year limited warranty (I’ve heard this is void when you use sublimation dye in the tank)
  • Maximum media size – 8.5″ x 14″

Compare prices on Amazon, Target and Walmart

3. Epson Expression Premium EcoTank Wireless ET-7750 – $950

Details about the Epson Ecotank ET-7750

  • Prints high-quality documents and photos up to 11″ x 17″
  • Wireless
  • 12 month warranty (again this would not cover damages caused by using non-Epson inks)

4. VIRTUOSO SG1000 Sublimation Printer – $1549

This is the larger version of the SG500 from above. It does come with ink unlike the Epson printers.

Details about the SG1000 Sublimation Printer

  • Wireless
  • Holds 250 sheets of paper
  • Maximum media size 11″ x 17″
  • *For an additional cost you can purchase a bypass tray to print 13″ x 19″ media
  • 2 year warranty

5. Epson EcoTank 2720 – $239.99

Details about the EcoTank 2720

  • Wireless
  • Holds 100 sheets of paper
  • Maximum media size 8.5″ x 14″
  • Most affordable!

Mercedes

Sunday 22nd of May 2022

I just an Epson ecotank 2803 from Walmart. Is that ok for sublimation? Thanks...

Gay R Harris

Wednesday 22nd of September 2021

Thanks for the information on the printers that will sublimate. I have spent more time researching than crafting.

Cortney

Wednesday 22nd of September 2021

The EcoTank2720 shows to be on sale at Target for $199.99 right now 😊

Comments are closed.