Sublimation printing is a unique and very successful form of printing that has become very popular in recent years.
The technology utilizes heat to transfer the inks directly onto the fabric. The process allows the image to be transferred onto the fabric without any adhesive.
Sublimation printers are fantastic because they can be used for so many different types of jobs and they can be used in so many different ways.
Sublimation printing is a method of printing that uses dyes to transfer ink from one medium to the other without using a solvent.
These printers use heat usually to transfer the ink. There are many sublimation printers in the market, but the best printer for heat transfer is one that can print on different kinds of fabrics. So, let us discuss the best sublimation printer for heat transfer.
Image | Product | Feature | Price |
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Sublimation Printer
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Epson EcoTank ET-3760 Printer
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High resolution Flatbed scanner Innovative cartridge |
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Sublimation Printer
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Epson EcoTank Printer
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2 side printing Wireless Cartridge-free printing |
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Sublimation Printer
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WorkForce Wireless Printer
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2 side printing PrecisionCore technology Touch screen |
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Sublimation Printer
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Epson Artisan Printer
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Wireless CD printing Borderless printing |
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Sublimation Printer
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Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer
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30ppm print speed 250 sheet capacity tray Automatic Duplexing |
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Sublimation Printer
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Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer
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Wifi connectivity Energy Efficient Lifetime support |
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Sublimation Printer
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Epson Stylus C88+ Inkjet Printer
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Individual Color Cartridge Supported operating system 120 Volts AC |
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Sublimation Printer
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HP Laserjet Pro M452dw Wireless Color Printer
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Advanced printing 1-year warranty USB connectivity |
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List of Best Sublimation Printers
Epson EcoTank ET-3760 Printer
Best for its Fast Printing
The economical all-in-one Epson EcoTank ET-3760 includes a super tank ink system that is refillable. It works great to customize your T-shirts, mugs, signs, photos gifts, and clothes with heat sublimation.
Other than that, the control panel of the ET-3760 is easy to use with each of its buttons clearly labeled along the left side accompanied by symbols on the right to indicate what they do and there’s no guesswork involved so you can’t really go wrong.
The only setback to this otherwise impressive machine is the display which features a rather stiff screen and since it’s flush with back paneling there isn’t much of an angle in which you can view it so if you need to hit menus several times before getting your selection to be prepared for some finger fatigue.
It doubles your document production speeds and efficiency. The Auto Document Feeder helps you save on paper by providing fast, easy scanning plus copies in one pass, while a 250-sheet paper tray allows for printing of high volumes at rapid speeds.
Epson claims that the “Epson printer” gives users the power to print from anywhere in the world. The printer is compatible with all computer types, including Mac and Windows, so you don’t have to worry about having the latest operating system.
Related Post: How to Add a Printer to Mac?
Features
- High resolution
- Flatbed scanner
- Innovative cartridge
- No cartridge waste
- Good paper handling
Pros
Cartridge free printing
High-capacity ink tanks mean no more nagging worries about running out of usable ink. The Epson Eco-Tank system helps people save money because it allows users to only buy the amount of ink they need without having to invest in cartridges which can get expensive.
Zero ink waste
By using Epson’s EcoTank printers, businesses and organizations can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills since they don’t incorporate consumables like cartridges.
Auto document feeder
Automatic Document Feeder, 2-sided printing, and a lot of 500 multiple paper trays for high production.
Fast printing
Unique PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology and Claria ET pigment black ink produces superior black text and impressive color photos and graphics on virtually any paper type.
Cons
Expensive
This product is quite expensive for some users.
Tester says about this Product
“I replaced a color laser with this to get better print quality on photos. I have printed thousands of pages, and the ink levels have barely decreased. It really does live up to its name.
An automatic duplex is also great for reducing the amount of paper you have to use and take with you. Very decent print quality, although every so often (maybe every 100 pages or so) it can get misaligned and you have to reprint the page.” By R. Smith
Epson EcoTank Printer
Best for its High Resolution
Epson is known for its printing quality and affordability. The ET-2750 is an inexpensive option that tends to be more budget-friendly than other printers in its class.
You’ll love the fact that you don’t need to buy replacement cartridges constantly, since it can print thousands of documents before needing a refill – using the printer itself equates to being environmentally sound.
Yet, those who find this model easy to use have also found some aspects tricky, including getting closing cover latches on all areas securely shut.
The Epson-2750 is slow in printing profiles. The first-page load is quick, but subsequent pages take a while to be able to be printed.
This is especially so when you have color schemes. You might not notice the amount of ink left so well as advertised because it does not show up on the shade of its ink.
Luckily, the screen console can be tilted for clear visibility at a variety of angles which is helpful especially when you need it to be viewed from afar.
It’s possible to use third-party ink with your super tank. This printer performs auto 2 side printing. Nevertheless, it does print really, really high-quality pictures that are more than enough for most people and even professionals to use. The resolution on 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi.
Related Post: 8 Best Epson Eco Tank Printer for Sublimation
Features
- 2 side printing
- Wireless
- Cartridge-free printing
- Optimal print quality
- 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi resolution
Pros
Good quality print
It gives impressive quality prints of your documents.
Affordable
This printer is affordable because of its low cost.
High resolution
Save more than 50 percent of your hard-copy document supply. Maximum Print Resolution: 5760 x 1440 optimized dots per inch.
Rick ink supply
Includes exactly 2 years of an ink supply in the box. Contains enough ink to print 5,200 pages both in color and in the black when printing in maximum quality.
Cons
Small display
The screen of this printer is so small.
Tester says about this Product
“I’m glad I waited for this third-generation Ecotank printer. Setup was ridiculously fast and easy, the features are great, and the print quality is more than adequate for my needs.
My wife and I especially like the automatic duplex printing and the ability to print from virtually anywhere in the world using Epson Connect.
Yes, it’s a tad noisy and it doesn’t have a document feeder, but if those things were dealbreakers I would have purchased a more expensive model.
This printer is replacing a $92 wireless printer that sucked up $80 worth of ink every 5-6 weeks. Yes, it’s more expensive upfront, but if you consider that this will use $60 worth of ink every two years, it’s well worth the cost”
By MacGuyver
WorkForce Wireless Printer
Best for its Affordability
Epson’s WF-7700 printer gives your growing small or creative business a boost with its cutting-edge technology and fast production speeds.
This powerful new Epson sublimation printer for heat transfer has a print head that moves across the platen back and forth, side to side, and up and down to deliver pinpoint accuracy when printing on a variety of media for your marketing materials flyers.
You’ll be impressed with the quality and quantity of prints you can make from this Epson WF-7700 wide format printer.
The best way to create is with Epson’s WF-7710; it has built-in assistance with a few 3rd party mobile solutions including Google Cloud Print and Apple AirPrint.
This printer also includes a few applications from the Epson Connect bundle, such as Email Print, Epson Cloud Print, and Epson iPrint.
The WF-7710 also includes USB 2.0 for connecting to a single PC and near-field communication, also known as NFC, along with a few other connectivity options. Connecting it with your smartphone is easy, too.
In addition to using the standard USB cord to connect it, you can use the Epson iPrint app (available on Amazon) which will allow you to print photos directly from your smartphone using WiFi while you’re on the go.
Related Post: How to Connect Printer to WIFI?
Features
- 2 side printing
- PrecisionCore technology
- Touch screen
- Wireless printing
- 250-sheet paper tray
Pros
Scanning ability
The scanning performance of this printer is amazing and impressive.
Wireless
Wireless printing and networking from tablets, smartphones, and computers (Android, Windows Phone, iPad, iPhone).
Affordable
This printer is quite affordable for all users.
Double side printing
Automatic prints at 8.7 pages per minute (black) and 6.0 pages per minute (color).
Cons
High cost per page
It uses high-quality ink that’s why it is expensive.
Tester says about this Product
“This is a really good sublimation printer! I love it! No problems whatsoever!” By Cecile Sosa
Epson Artisan Printer
Best for its Affordability
The Artisan printer, by Epson, is the type of printer considered to be high definition. It can print 13 x 19-inch prints and images that are upwards of 900 pixels in size, making it the perfect printer for people who need the best printer for heat transfer printing, because a lot of other printers cannot print graphics that are as large or this detailed.
Moreover, it operates wirelessly using wi-fi; therefore, you’ll have more freedom to set up and use the Artisan printer wherever you desire. The Artisan allows you to print almost any image from any given source, no matter the device.
The great thing about this printer is that it uses individual ink cartridges, letting you change out the ones you need more frequently instead of relying on one cartridge with a universal color supply.
However, having so many ink cartridges can be appalling and stressful because it’s hard to keep track of them all.
Features
- Wireless
- CD printing
- Borderless printing
- 6 color printing
- 13-inch x 19-inch photos
Pros
Good quality print
This printer gives impressive quality prints.
Wireless
Share from your smartphone, iPhone, and other mobile devices, no computer is necessary!
Affordable
This printer comes at a low price that’s why it is affordable.
Require less cleaning
The minimum maintenance is required for this printer.
Cons
No touch display
It doesn’t have a touch display.
Tester says about this Product
“Needed a replacement for my Epson 1400 that died. Found out that there is a newer model for 1400. We have a small home-based screen printing business and we use this printer for printing our film positives. The Epson inks are reasonable and produce a dense black for the film positives. The photo quality prints are also very bright and accurate.
This printer is also recommended for screen printing and is supported by rip software. For people that do a lot of printing, there are bulk systems that support this printer as well as a full black ink system. For our home-based business, this is a great printer for our needs.” By BrianAndCyn
Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer
Best for its Advanced Technology
Toner replacement cartridges can cost a lot of money especially if you are printing a lot of things continually but the Brother Mono Laser has set a standard for being economical and time-efficient by containing up to 2600 pages in one cartridge.
This can save users time and money namely because one does not have to change the cartridge again for at least another 2600 pages, if not more.
Scanning, copying, and faxing powers are not sacrificed either as the Brother mono laser printer is able to handle all of those functions, too.
With its 2400×600 resolution and 250 sheet paper capacity, this machine is perfect for printing important and straightforward documents that need attaining quality results every time.
As it’s a monochrome laser desktop printer, this makes it very straightforward with its features, allowing it to concentrate on the basics of printing which keeps the costs down for Brother consumers who are on a tight budget.
Features
- 30ppm print speed
- 250 sheet capacity tray
- Automatic Duplexing
- Electrophotographic Laser
Pros
Affordable
This printer is quite affordable for all users.
Advanced Printing System
Printers with advanced technology are able to print just as fast as they can scan. This means that when there is a need to either duplicate or produce something in large quantities, they can do so without sacrificing the quality of the original by getting it ready immediately.
High sheet capacity tray
250 sheet capacity tray is able to accommodate both A4 and US letter-sized documents, though it is also capable of holding envelopes thanks to the manual feed slot included too.
Cons
Low-Quality printing
The print quality of this printer is average. It doesn’t give high-quality results.
Tester says about this Product
“But perfect for me! It was frustrating to continually pay a lot of money for replacement cartridges for my HP color printer, mostly because I didn’t use it enough – especially for color copies. The ink would dry up, then even black and white copies couldn’t be made.
The Brother has proven to be exactly what I need for my infrequent print needs. The black and white copies are sharply clear and multiple copies can be made very quickly. It’s compact, and the price was right. If I ever need a color copy, I’ll find a different way to achieve that. Since 99% of my copy needs are for black and white, I’m not worried.” By Linda Bergman
Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer
Best for its Easy Setup
Sawgrass Virtuoso SG500 is one of the highest-rated, best sublimation printers for high-temperature heat transfer in the marketplace.
It’s an upgraded version of Sawgrass 400, which was a big success for printing a variety of different products.
This dye sublimation machine works great for printing t-shirts, coasters, and other high-margin items, as well as phone covers, mugs, bags, and a lot more.
Creative Studio Online Designer goes hand-in-hand with Sawgrass printers and allows you to create your own designs quickly.
There are two useful features that you will like as a sublimation product designer: One is the ability to effectively print on media up to 8.5” x 14” (22 x 36 cm), while the other is a quick-dry function that reduces drying time by 30% without compromising the quality of print images.
Sawgrass SG500 is compatible with a number of different ink sets and combinations. For example, we suggest you use either the SubliJet UHD 4-Color Ink Set or the Chroma Blast HD and EasySubli Ink options that work on both soft and hard substrates; whether they’re made of polyester or vinyl.
Features
- Wifi connectivity
- Energy Efficient
- Lifetime support
- Long warranty
Pros
Affordable
This printer is quite affordable for all users.
Easy setup
The setup of this printer is easy and one step.
4 inks colors
The ink for this printer is available in four colors.
Cons
Inks are expensive
The ink used in this printer is expensive.
Tester says about this Product
“I love my SG 500. It was easy to set up and use straight from unpacking! The print quality is as expected and the support from Sawgrass is outstanding.” By Tricia Ross
Epson Stylus C88+ Inkjet Printer
Best for its Compatibility
There are many good options for a sublimation printer for heat transfer, but one of the best we’ve come across is the Epson Stylus C88+.
Unlike other printers which can only be used to print sublimation inks or heat transfer inks, this model is best if someone needs to use both throughout the course of their work.
This makes it ideal for those who utilize multiple methods of heat transferring (of course this will depend on what you need on a case-by-case basis).
For large orders with precision accuracy, this printer is a good option. If you need lots of colors and different designs, this is a good choice.
Prints will be soft or rounded at their corners when using the HP printer in comparison to others for example.
The photo quality on the screen is about an 8 out of 10 due to graininess/fuzziness if compared to Canon which rates higher at 9.5 out of 10.
This printer offers up to medium printing from standard issues. There are no images on these prints unless they specifically offer them as Canon does.
Features
- 5760 x 1440 dpi resolution
- Individual Color Cartridge
- Supported operating system
- 120 Volts AC
Pros
Compatibility
Compatible with both Windows and Macintosh systems via USB and parallel ports, this versatile scanner is the perfect companion for easy document storage or sharing.
High resolution
Text printed at up to 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi on A3+ display.
Replaceable ink
This printer company makes it tedious for you to replace one color at a time instead of an entire cartridge.
Borderless printing
The BorderFree Wi-Fi photo printer makes it easy to print your 3 x 3, 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, and 8.5 x 11-inch photos at home or on the go.
Cons
No quiet operation
Grinding noise will be produced when you turn on the printer.
Tester says about this Product
“Great printer seen the bad review but got it anyways the only thing is I wish I could print bigger pictures but let me tell you the pictures are super sharp and look really clean great printer for the price right now I am using a CISS system and printing on to transfer paper to make shirts and they look really good” By nick
HP Laserjet Pro M452dw Wireless Color Printer
Best for its Affordability
The HP LaserJet Pro is the printer for you if your office needs a printer. Among its many strengths are its paper capacity, print quality, print speed, and connectivity.
This printer has a capacity of 300 sheets. Does that mean you won’t have to refill the HP LaserJet pro? No, but unless things are moving so fast that you can’t keep count of how many sheets you’re printing, you will rarely need to fill it up again.
The LaserJet Pro is not just faster, but it can also hold a lot more pages within its facility than other printers in its category, making the LaserJet Pro very strong in output in comparison to others on the market.
The fact that it has a very fast printing speed at 28 pages per minute will ensure all of your documents get printed last minute before an important meeting, so it’s important to make sure you’re doing things right in order to keep up with the volume levels.
With 10 people connected via a wi-fi connection, it makes sure you don’t miss out on any printing jobs and provides you with a reasonable amount of time while keeping track of your expenses as well.
Features
- Advanced printing
- High color toner cartridge
- 750 to 4000 volumes of pages
- 1-year warranty
- USB connectivity
Pros
Easy management
Efficient printing. Easily manage print jobs directly. Select from a number of different papers and sources, whether from the touchscreen or with an intuitive and tactile input panel, the latter allowing for easy menu navigation and control options.
USB connectivity
Easily print documents directly from your USB drive. Easily manage devices and settings via Web settings.
Affordable
This printer is quite affordable and has a low cost.
Cons
Takes time to start
It took some time to start when you turn on the printer.
Tester says about this Product
“This printer works great. The wireless setup was a breeze as the reviews said. It is fast and prints good-looking images. I will not rate the photo quality of it in that we are not using it for that purpose. we print handouts for classes that we teach and it has saved many dollars in inkjet costs and time with its speed.
The starter cartridges as everyone has stated, barely have enough toner to run a couple of hundred sheets. Do go for the extra capacity cartridges, ie, the “X” version as they will last a lot longer due to the larger capacity. I am running compatible cartridges and they work great. Compared to an ink jet this is a Ferrari.” By Bob Paskvich
Buyers Guide of Best Sublimation Printer for Heat Transfer

Print Size
The objective of using print media is to choose what size and format one would like their finished product to be.
As an example, I might opt for a size that works well with compact photo frames and pick the size A4 because it will suit those photos well.
Print sizes are generally determined by a number of different factors; some include borderless back and front designs, t-shirt printing, logo printing, and many other formats.
Resolution
While in the process of t-shirt printing, it is important to obtain an excellent print with high-resolution output.
A printer’s dpi output may be a factor in the quality of finish you receive. To ensure the graphics are clear and precise across the broad array, it really is essential to have a high-resolution product to work with.
If only low-quality graphics were used that don’t match your print specs, then you will end up with prints that look unappealing when somewhat blurred or out of proportion.
Connectivity Options
Many ways of connecting to a printer have been developed over the years, with both modern and traditional connections available. This is largely due to the plethora of options made possible by Bluetooth and wireless technologies.
The wide range of connectivity offered means that you can find an option to mix seamlessly into your workspace no matter what types of papers and documents you print on regularly.
In certain circumstances it can be more useful to access a cabled rather than a wireless connection, which may be lacking in your printing devices; our tech support will help you choose one or the other based on your personal needs.
Related Post: How to Adjust Printer Settings for Avery Labels?
Cost
By doing a budget comparison of available best sublimation printers for t-shirts, you’ll reach the point where you can determine how much you should spend on said printers.
Price is a crucial factor in your profit margin in any budget or production line because it is one of the main factors that can increase or decrease your yield.
Related Post: 8 Best Sublimation Printer for T-Shirts
Output Print Volume
An important consideration when deciding on a shirt or mug printer is the quantity of your production and the quality of what you produce. While you should also pay attention to speed and sound quality, the volume should not be ignored.
Different printers are better suited to different applications, so while inexpensive garment printers may lack some of the functionality necessary for heavy-duty operations, they also usually have a lower operating expense and may be more adequate for smaller-scale operations.
If printing T-shirts or other garments is just one part of your overall business setup, a more expensive but better sublimation printer may be worth it because they typically offer more value by requiring less upkeep.
FAQs Related to the Best Sublimation Printer for Heat Transfer
Can sublimation ink be used for heat transfer?
Antron Harness, an experienced employee at a company that specializes in sublimation printing, advises the following: “When looking to transfer ink onto dark fabrics with the use of heat, it is best not to use any paper as your primary transfer medium using a q-tip or squeegee and simply relying on direct pressure from your tools.”
Can I use an inkjet printer for sublimation?
If you’re in the market for a new printer, there are certain models which may be more appropriate for your specific needs.
Starting out, one should keep an eye out for printers that have been specifically designed to handle print-on-demand jobs and these sorts of tasks.
Your printer will ultimately determine how effective your business is and what sort of products you’re able to deliver – so there’s no better option than finding a product that has been made to impress.
Some printers always print well with sublimation. Some Inkjet printers also have this ability, but most of them are low-budget models. The Epson Artisan 1430 Inkjet printer has this ability.
Can the EcoTank printer be used for sublimation?
Ecotank printers can only be used with transfer ink if they are brand-new. Thus, in order to use transfer ink with your Ecotank, you must first inject the printer with the correct form of ink (transfer or sublimation).
All Product Features Comparison
Products | Best | Display | Special Feature |
---|---|---|---|
Epson EcoTank ET-3760 Printer | Fast Printing | 2.4" | Refillable,Wireless |
Epson EcoTank Printer | High Resolution | 1.44" | Wireless |
WorkForce Wireless Printer | Affordability | 4.3" | Auto-Duplex |
Epson Artisan Printer | Affordability | None | Network-ready |
Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer | Advanced Technology | None | Auto-Duplex |
Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer | Easy Setup | None | Compact |
Epson Stylus C88+ Inkjet Printer | Compatibility | None | Color, Photo |
HP Laserjet Pro M452dw Wireless Color Printer | Affordability | 3" | Wireless,High Yield |
Conclusion
Sublimation printing is one of the processes used in the printing industry. It is a process in which dyes are transferred from one material to another and are bonded onto it.
It is also used in producing key chains, mugs, mousepads, and many other items. Sublimation printing uses heat.
The inks get heat, and so bond with the material that is being printed onto. Sublimation printers are the best printers to use when you’re planning to print items that use heat transfer. The reason why this is a great printer to use is because of the quality of the finished product.
We had compiled a list of the best sublimation printers and we come to know that WorkForce Wireless Printer is the best sublimation printer.
I hope that you will understand the best sublimation printer for heat transfer.