Best Sublimation Printer for Heat Transfer 2023 – Ultimate Guide

The best way to get a great price on customized merchandise is to use the best sublimation printer for heat transfer. These printers are the only ones that can produce high-quality prints with full color and detail, and they’re perfect for printing shirts, mugs, and other items. 

Additionally, these sublimation printers create long-lasting prints that won’t crack or peel off of clothing or other materials after they have been washed many times.

The most difficult part of choosing one is narrowing down your options. I have prepared a comparison chart of the best sublimation printers for heat transfer for your ease. If you’re looking for something inexpensive but still want quality prints then we recommend checking out our article about the Epson eco tank and Sawgrass SureColor F570 Heat Transfer Printers. 

Best Sublimation Printers For Heat Transfer – Comparision Table

1. Epson EcoTank ET-2720 – Best Economical Sublimation Printer

One of the best printers to use for sublimation and heat transfer is an EcoTank printer that helps in saving up to 90% on ink. In addition to providing excellent print quality, the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 also includes a 2-year warranty on the ink.

Printers from Epson are the ideal option for printing sublimation items, like t-shirts, mugs, and many other materials. You will start your business off in the right direction with the Epson ET 2720 printer.

Final Verdict

Epson’s EcoTank ET-2720 is a fantastic option for anyone shopping for a new printer, whether for a family photo printer, a dedicated photo printer, or a dye-sublimation machine for a business.

There are not many drawbacks to the ET-2720, but those may be restrictive to your needs. Printing large designs or transfers is impossible since the maximum supported size is 8.5″ by 14″. It should not be too much of an issue if you primarily use smaller designs and transfer sizes.

2. Epson SureColor F570 – Best Heat Transfer Printer For T-shirts

Another Epson printer with top-quality print is the Epson F570, equipped with all of Epson’s latest technology. Print images regularly for your kids’ homework using them at home. Its small size and large working capacity make it the best for office use.

Additionally, it offers a large printing size for printing on mugs, banners, t-shirts, and much more.

Final Verdict

Printing works on both rigid and flexible materials is no problem for the printer. Generally, you can expect a high-performance printer to deliver long-lasting reliability.

Purchasing this printer will be a wise decision if you regularly receive bulky orders. Although it is cost-prohibitive at the start, its work justifies its price tag.

Epson EcoTank ET-15000 – Best Cost Effective Sublimation Printer

If you’re tired of replacing the ink in your printer and you’d rather have a product that produces the same quality and costs less than replacing the ink, then Epson EcoTank might be for you.

EcoTank ink bottles are a reliable, eco-friendly alternative to ink. They use up to 90 percent less ink and come with very reasonable replacement ink bottles.

Final Verdict

Excellent build quality is evident in the Epson ET-15000. The plastic body allows for easy viewing of ink levels and can be changed if necessary. Furthermore, it is capable of borderless printing up to 11 x 17 inches through its voice-activated printing.

The Epson 15000 printer, in fact, is very economical and allows the user to save a lot of money. Additionally, it has a large capacity for replacing ink cartridges. This printing machine is suitable for people who are starting out in the sublimation business.

SAWGRASS VIRTUOSO SG400 – Best Heat Transfer Printer For Beginners

This SAWGRASS laser printer comes with a one-year warranty and great customer support, so it might be worth checking out. There is also a Sawgrass partner and provider with this Sawgrass sublimation printer.

It is the perfect brand to choose if you want to buy a Dye-sublimation printer for your t-shirt business. In addition, the fact that the company provides a complete set of ink cartridges makes it easy for the user to adjust to the new printer and its printing quality. This printer will be your best beginner’s sublimation printer.

Final Verdict

Dye-sublimation printers are known for their ease of use and mastery. Additionally, they are ideal for acquiring new skills. A few limitations are associated with the SG400, such as its size and cost.

On the same page, the printer can also print a medium-size or small size of apparel. The maximum paper size of 8 1/2″ x 14 1/2″ prevents printing to the edges of the paper with this device. You can design a layout of 7.5″ x 13″.

Epson Stylus C88+ – The Sublimation Photo Printer

We now move on to the Epson Stylus C88+ model. It is an excellent choice for households or light offices due to its compact design and compatibility with Windows and Mac OS. Furthermore, it can print on various types of paper.

Printing sublimation on mugs, t-shirts, and other sublimation products is possible with this printer. This type of printer is known for its sharpness.

Final Verdict

Epson’s Stylus is an inkjet printer with multiple ink cartridges. Changing only one cartridge will solve both problems, and the print quality will be much better.

Further, you will have fewer ink cartridge changes when using color printers that use multiple cartridges than you did with a printer that used only one cartridge.

Epson SureColor F170 – Best for Heat Transfer

If you want to start a sublimation printing business or create personalized T-shirts, face masks, or other promotional items, this is the right choice for you.

Since it is lightweight and small, you can keep it wherever you want. The image quality of the printed material is exceptional, so you will see a boost in your business within a short period.

Final Verdict

F170 Printer by Epson provides a dye-sublimation printing solution for you. With its superb quality and excellent results, you will be thrilled with it.

Finally, Epson’s F170 dye-sublimation printer would be the best option for small businesses and home-based companies seeking to create customized promotional items.

Epson WorkForce WF-7710 – Best Sublimation Printer for Heat Transfer

The Epson sublimation printer is ranked first in our top 10 list of the best beginner printer for sublimation. If you want an effortless working and less power consumption, then the Epson WorkForce WF-7710 is what you need.

If you intend to start or upgrade your business, this Dye-sublimation printing machine is the best choice for people looking for cost-effective ways to operate. It is possible to print large scans in minutes in this printer since it handles a variety of media.

Final Verdict

Starting from the WF-7710, several features are available, including a sheet tray that holds 250 sheets, a rear feed for specialty papers, and an automatic two-sided document feeder. Therefore, it is a brilliant addition to a workplace since it can quickly and efficiently handle large volumes of information.

A work environment-specific printer like the Epson workforce is the perfect fit. This machine allows you to produce 13 x 19-inch prints without borders. A cotton t-shirt pattern is transferred onto an intermediary fabric, which is then sewn into cotton t-shirts.

SAWGRASS VJ 628 – Professional Sublimation printer

Among the most popular printing machines on the market is the Sawgrass Virtuoso VJ 628 large sublimation printer. This device combines speed and performance in a very effective way, making it the best printer for heat transfer.

This printer is highly recommended for businesses and will produce outstanding high-quality work on many different surfaces, such as T-shirts, mugs, CDs, tiles, and ceramics.

Final Verdict

 The Vj 682 Virtuoso comes with everything you need to be able to start your own printing company. With the kit, you’ll receive a printer, design software, ink, print software, marketing, and technical support, which is an all-inclusive sublimation printing package that will revolutionize your business.

 With Sawgrass’ advanced sublimation printing technologies, you can start or expand a business. This system is capable of handling several types of printing projects.

Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer

Compact and space-saving, this laser printer delivers all-purpose black-and-white printing of crisp, professional quality at up to 2400×600 dpi in a small office. Printing multiple-page business reports, spreadsheets, invoices, and more is a breeze thanks to its fast printing speed of 27ppm and automatic duplex printing capabilities.

Also, it cannot print via wireless, so you will have to connect the computer directly to it to print. If you have a large setting, you may want the network to be available via a wireless network, but this can be troublesome.

Final Verdict

Ink can be expensive and can be used up quickly in long printing sessions. In particular, if you print large amounts of information continuously, it can be easy to run out of ink in the middle of printing sessions that force you to print many detailed documents simultaneously.

In Addition, mono-laser printers by Brother feature capacity and size options, as well. This printer can print legal and letter-sized documents and holds 250 sheets of paper.

Brother MFCL2750DWXL – Best for T-shirts

Brother’s reputation as a leading printer manufacturer can be attributed to the high-quality, high-performance products. This manufacturer makes a machine that allows you to print sublimation ink on garments and other items.

In addition to the MFC-L2750DW XL’s numerous features, the device is compatible with cloud-based apps such as OneNote, which provide color scanning and faxing.

Final Verdict

Throughout its printouts, the MFC-L2750DW produced dark and crisp letterforms. Furthermore, despite printing a little dark, the graphics also looked good.

Moreover, It took a bit longer than expected for the first page to print, but subsequent pages printed much quicker. The scanner features duplex scanning, which reduces scanning time for long documents significantly. There is no color printing capability.

Check out the guide to Best Sublimation Printer Have a look at the Buyer’s Guide before making a purchase! To explore more in regard to the best printers for t-shirts, see the Guide to the Most Reliable Sublimation Printers for T-Shirts.

What is Sublimation printing with heat transfer?

These days, sublimation printers are in high demand due to their excellent quality. It is best to use a sublimation printer when doing sublimation printing. On fabrics, such as shirts or hats, this is the most efficient and cost-effective method of printing. 

Furthermore, this technique does not require a costly plate-making machine that can be time-consuming and expensive when ordering large quantities of custom products. You’ll save time and money while getting better quality products with the best printer for heat transfer!

We will help you determine the right sublimation printer for your heat transfer project, enabling you to make an informed choice. It is generally human nature to gravitate towards the cheapest products with the best quality, but this isn’t always the case. 

When it comes to heat transfer printing, you need to find the best printer because the quality of the finished product depends on how well you can design, print, and translate your designs.

The sublimation process transfers colored dyes from one material to another using heat, such as paper, fabric, plastic, or ceramics. In addition to printing on t-shirts and mugs, this process is sometimes called thermal or heat printing. They are perfect gifts for friends and family.

A few salient features are important to consider when picking a model for your home or business. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Best Sublimation printer for Heat Transfer – Buyer’s Guide

Now that you have seen our recommended list of Best Heat Transfer Printer For Sublimation, we thought it would be useful to list some of the criteria we considered when choosing products for this list. Many of the brands are available, though Epson and Sawgrass are recommended.

A sight-unseen purchase of a printer is never a wise move, especially if you require one that prints on heat transfer paper or has engraving features. Additionally, there are several things to consider before buying the best sublimation printer for heat transfer.

Before purchasing a sublimation printer, one should consider many factors. The quality, speed, and performance of each printer differ. Choosing the right printer depends on what your business or craft shop needs. For your convenience, we have created a shopping guide that will make life a little easier for you. If you don’t consider them, you might regret the purchase of the heat transfer printer in a few months.

How do you choose the Best Sublimation Printer for Heat Transfer?  

Now that you have seen our recommended list of Best Heat Transfer Printer For Sublimation, we thought it would be useful to list some of the criteria we considered when choosing products for this list. Many of the brands are available, though Epson and Sawgrass are recommended.

A sight-unseen purchase of a printer is never a wise move, especially if you require one that prints on heat transfer paper or has engraving features. Before purchasing a sublimation printer for heat transfer, there are some factors to consider.

Before purchasing a sublimation printer, you should consider many factors. The quality, speed, and performance of each printer differ. Choosing the right printer depends on what your business or craft shop needs. For your convenience, we have created a shopping guide that will make life a little easier for you. If you don’t consider them, you might regret the purchase of the heat transfer printer in a few months.

How do you choose the Best Heat Transfer Printer For Sublimation?  

Many people are looking for the best printer for sublimation for their business needs. But, what they don’t realize is that there are so many different types of printers on the market. They come in multiple sizes and feature sets. In the end, how can you tell which one is best for your situation? We’ll help break it down to make it easier! So let’s take a look at some of them now.

When choosing the right printer for your business, a fast, high-quality sublimation printer with relatively low maintenance is also key.

Lastly, check if the printers you are considering are able to print a variety of objects since T-shirts are not the only items you can print with sublimation printers when you print different items as well.

Check the material it can print

If you are considering purchasing, make sure the material it produces and the material you wish to print are compatible. By assessing the print material, you can determine whether your business will suffer a negative or positive outcome.

Check how the printer prints

The method of printing should be checked before printing. Direct printing and heat transfer printing are two different printing methods. Consider your preferred method before purchasing.

Know about the cartridge

In addition to the cartridge’s working capacity, you also need to consider the cost and the number of pages it can print. Check to see if each cartridge can be used independently.

Factors to consider when choosing the best printer for heat transfer

A sublimation printer is a type of inkjet printer that uses heat to transfer dye onto the surface. Sublimation printers are often used for printing on irregular or curved surfaces such as hockey sticks, guitars, and skateboards. 

Additionally, they can also be used for printing on fabrics like t-shirts and hoodies. Before purchasing a sublimation printer, however, there are many factors you’ll want to consider: cost, size/capacity (sheet size), speed (pages per minute), print quality (resolution), and durability. With these considerations in mind, it will make your decision easier when choosing which best suits your needs!

Quality/Resolution

An image’s resolution and dot density are measured using DPI. In addition, it gives us a better sense of the picture’s clarity and sharpness. The degree of sharpness directly correlates with the degree of resolution. Furthermore, sharpness increases with higher quality.

The minimum DPI for Sublimation should be 300.  The majority of printers come with a 300 dpi resolution. High resolution increases image clarity, but at a cost. A gallery-quality print requires a maximum resolution of 1200 dpi. Next, you need to decide the type of paper and the clarity of the print.

Budget/Price

Whenever there is a significant investment, a budget is associated with it. For most sublimation printers, you can find a reasonable price. It is not necessary to buy an extremely costly model.

The best way to maximize your budget is to budget responsibly and consider your needs. This will enable you to narrow down the price range without being influenced by other factors. When a purchase is overpriced, regardless of the quality of the product, the purchaser usually regrets the purchase.

Usage

The sublimation printer market includes professional and home-based models, as well as those meant for hobbyists, crafters, and others. Although many of the features are the same, some are designed for professionals, while others are designed for consumers and hobbyists. Before you buy, think about the reason for your purchase.

In businesses, the devices are commonly used to print images on mugs, plaques, and clothing. Their prints are of high quality and they are highly accurate. In addition to photo booths, printing centers, and professional events, you can also find them in these places.

Connectivity

When choosing a printer, ensure that it offers a variety of connectivity options. The printer should provide a wireless connection as well as a wired one. It should be able to connect via USB or Wi-Fi Direct.

Quality of printouts

Before investing in a sublimation printer, consider the quality of the prints it produces. It is essential that you obtain a printout with properly matched layouts. Furthermore, dull or bleeding prints should not be used. Ensure the content is more direct and professional.

Print Media Size

This is irrelevant when applied to small items (cover letters, key chains) and sublimation aims to give them a personalized look. Before printing on substantial items (like shirts, fabrics, etc.), you should also evaluate the maximum print size.

There is a maximum sheet size that a sublimation printer supports; frequently, this is expressed in inches or centimeters. Sizes will, however, differ among printers.

Print Speed

To maximize productivity, Sublimation printer printers need to be able to print quickly. Many orders can be printed at once within a short amount of time using high-speed machines. High-quality printers are therefore worth investing in.

The resolution also affects printer speed. How quickly your print job goes depends on the quality of your image. If you buy a printer, ensure that it prints at a fast speed and has a high resolution. When you purchase a printer for your own use, performance should not be the foremost consideration.

Print Volume

The speed and volume of your printing are also important factors in your business’ success. Make sure the printing technique you use can withstand heavy use if you are selling designer t-shirts. 

Printers come in a variety of capacities. The printing capacity of many of these printer models varies from tens of thousands to less than a thousand. The types of prints and the duration for which you want them to print will depend on how you plan to use them.

Warranty and Support

Choose the company that stands out among those offering printer repair services. Some companies offer warranties to their customers. You will save a significant amount of money by claiming a repair service if you will face any issue with your printer. That’s why we suggest you go for brands.  

FAQS – Best Sublimation Printer For Heat Transfer

Typically, before purchasing the best sublimation printing system, the following questions are asked. The focus has been on practices rather than technical issues.

Which printer is best for sublimation printing? 

You can choose from many dye-sublimation printers, but it is best to choose a genuine and authentic printer. Therefore, ensure that you pick a brand whose quality you can trust, such as Epson or Sawgrass.

1. Can any printer is capable of sublimation print?

To execute quality prints with sublimation, you need a sublimation printer. The transfer of your design onto your t-shirt or other items will also require you to use sublimation inks and papers. It means that standard printers are not suitable for sublimation printing.

1. Can sublimation be done on cotton?

Sublimation is currently possible on cotton fabrics; however, polyester works best. Because cotton fabrics do not absorb the ink, it sits on top and causes a terrible effect. Furthermore, sublimation ink embeds itself into a polyester fabric, so it becomes permanently embedded.

1. How long can a sublimation ink last?

Most people ask this question. A liquid sublimation ink has a fixed shelf life because it is a liquid. In the printer, these kinds of materials cannot be left for long periods as they could cause clogs, color shifting, and banding. Using expired ink is not recommended, although it is still usable. Moreover, after you install your sublimation ink into your printer, try to use it within six months.

Conclusion

Nowadays, the market is flooded with options for sublimation printers, so it can be challenging to know which one would work best in your specific business. We hope this review and guide will help you find the perfect sublimation printer that meets all of your needs.

The best sublimation printers for heat transfer are the Epson eco tank and Sawgrass SureColor F570. However, they both are affordable, reliable printers to use with your heat transfer vinyl. We recommend you go with one of these two, as they offer excellent quality prints on a variety of materials at an affordable price point. Additionally, Both printers have excellent print quality and offer high-speed printing which can be particularly beneficial when using larger designs on garments.