Best Sublimation Printers 2026: Ranked by Use Case

The best sublimation printer depends on the width you need, whether you want a purpose-built or converted setup, and how much support you want after purchase. For 2026, the strongest options span compact dedicated printers such as the Epson SureColor F170 and Sawgrass SG500, larger desktop systems such as the SG1000, the 13-inch Epson ET-15000 conversion route, and the 24-inch Epson SureColor F570.

If you are still deciding what printer technology can actually be used for sublimation, start with our printer compatibility guide. This page focuses on choosing between current printer options once you understand the basic workflow.

Best Sublimation Printers 2026: Quick Comparison

Use print width and workflow first. A compact dedicated printer can be a better buy than a larger conversion if your products fit its media size and you value manufacturer-supported sublimation.

How these choices were made: This comparison weighs manufacturer-documented media sizes, supported sublimation use, ink systems, software, likely buying trade-offs, and upgrade paths for US buyers. It is an editorial specification comparison, not a report of printers personally tested or ranked by measured print quality. Confirm your exact printer bundle, supported paper, and software before purchasing.

Bottom line: Buy for your largest realistic transfer size and the level of workflow support you need. Do not pay for width you will not use, but do not choose an 8.5-inch printer if your product line already depends on larger shirt fronts or panels.

Manufacturer specification checks: See Brother SP-1 and its Artspira workflow, Epson F170 media and ink details, Sawgrass bypass-tray limits, and Epson ET-15000 media and ink guidance. Supported paper size is not the same as printable design area.

Dedicated vs Converted Sublimation Printers

Purpose-built printers and converted inkjets solve the same transfer-printing problem in different ways. The choice affects setup, ink sourcing, color management, troubleshooting, and support.

For a deeper explanation of printer compatibility, see what kind of printer is needed for sublimation. If your decision is specifically Epson EcoTank versus Sawgrass, our EcoTank vs Sawgrass comparison focuses on that tradeoff.

Bottom line: Purpose-built does not automatically mean better for every budget, and converted does not automatically mean cheaper after mistakes, wasted media, profile work, and support limitations are considered.

How Much Print Width Do You Actually Need?

Print width is the fastest way to eliminate the wrong printer. Base the decision on your largest regular transfer, not the smallest product you make today.

The size printed on the package is a paper dimension, not a promise of edge-to-edge printable artwork. Check the printable area, required margins, and orientation before ordering transfers or a wider printer.

Bottom line: Width is an upgrade decision. If an 8.5-inch printer already forces you to tile the designs that make money, move up rather than buying another compact printer.

Epson SureColor F170: Best Dedicated Compact Option

The F170 is the strongest fit when you want a compact Epson printer designed specifically for dye sublimation. Epson lists an 8.5-inch maximum paper width and supports sheets longer than legal size, so the real limitation is width rather than transfer length.

Choose the F170 when simplicity and manufacturer-supported sublimation matter more than 13-inch media. For a dedicated comparison against Sawgrass, see Epson F170 vs Sawgrass SG500. Our F170 settings and cost guide covers the printer in more detail.

Choose if: Your regular designs fit the 8.5-inch media width and you want Epson’s supported dye-sub bottle system. Avoid if: Larger shirt fronts or wide panels are core products, or you need to print 13-inch-wide transfers.

Bottom line: Pick the F170 if most profitable products fit an 8.5-inch print width and you want to avoid converting a standard inkjet.

Sawgrass SG500: Best for a Managed Desktop Workflow

The SG500 targets the same compact desktop class as the F170 but uses the Sawgrass ink and software ecosystem. Sawgrass lists media up to 8.5 x 14 inches from the standard tray in the US configuration. The optional bypass extends sheet length, not the 8.5-inch width. Sawgrass’s product and support pages differ on maximum bypass length, so confirm the supported size for your region and software if extra-long transfers matter.

Choose the SG500 when workflow support matters more than maximizing width. The Sawgrass SG500 specs and setup guide is useful if this is already your leading option.

Choose if: You prefer Sawgrass Print Utility and a dedicated desktop ink workflow. Avoid if: Your designs need wider than 8.5-inch paper, or you do not want ongoing dependence on the Sawgrass ink and software ecosystem.

Bottom line: The SG500 is a compact supported system, not the choice for buyers who already know they need wider transfers.

Sawgrass SG1000: Best Desktop Upgrade for Larger Designs

The SG1000 keeps the Sawgrass desktop workflow but supports larger media. Its main tray handles up to 11 x 17 inches, while the optional bypass tray expands the practical width to 13 inches and supports 13 x 19 sheets.

Choose if: You need 11 x 17-inch sheets or plan to buy the optional bypass for 13-inch paper. Avoid if: Your work fits 8.5-inch media and you would be paying for unused width. Bottom line: The SG1000 offers a larger supported desktop format, but the bypass tray is a separate purchase.

Epson ET-15000: Best 13-Inch Conversion Route

The ET-15000 is not a purpose-built sublimation printer. Epson sells it as a standard EcoTank office printer that can print up to 13 x 19 inches through the rear feed. Sublimation users who choose it are creating a third-party conversion workflow.

Do not compare ET-15000 office-ink economics with purpose-built dye-sub ink costs as if they were the same workflow. A conversion changes the ink, color-management responsibility, troubleshooting path, and support expectations. Epson does not sell this model as a dye-sub printer and warns that damage caused by non-genuine ink may not be covered by its limited warranty; this does not mean every unrelated warranty claim is automatically denied. Read our ET-15000 sublimation conversion guide before committing it to third-party ink.

Bottom line: The ET-15000 earns a place here because of its 13-inch format and conversion popularity, not because Epson designed it for sublimation.

Choose if: You need 13 x 19-inch sheet handling and accept sourcing and troubleshooting third-party ink and profiles. Avoid if: Manufacturer-supported sublimation service is essential to keeping customer orders running.

Epson SureColor F570: Best 24-Inch Production Upgrade

The F570 is the logical step up when desktop sheet size is slowing production or limiting product size. Epson designed it as a 24-inch dye-sublimation printer with roll and sheet handling plus a built-in cutter.

Bottom line: Move to the F570 when wider media or roll handling solves a real production bottleneck. Do not buy a 24-inch printer just to avoid an occasional tiled design.

Choose if: Frequent wide transfers or roll jobs justify the larger footprint and workflow. Avoid if: Nearly all paid orders fit desktop sheets and wide-format output is only an occasional request.

What a Sublimation Printer Really Costs to Run

Printer price is only one part of the buying decision. Running cost depends on the complete workflow, and exact cost-per-print figures are only meaningful when they use your own ink, paper, waste, maintenance, and order data.

Watch: Best Sublimation Printers in 2026 (Ink Costs Matter). This short video introduces the printer buying decision. Compare the ongoing ink and operating costs with the cost factors in the table below before choosing a machine.

Use the sublimation equipment ROI calculator to compare printer investment against your own sales and profit assumptions instead of relying on a generic cost claim.

Bottom line: The cheapest printer to buy is not automatically the cheapest printer to own. Use real production assumptions, especially if the purchase is for a business.

Which Sublimation Printer Should You Buy?

Match the printer to the constraint that matters most in your shop.

• Choose the Epson F170 if you want a compact, purpose-built Epson dye-sub workflow and 8.5-inch width is enough.
• Consider the Brother SP-1 if you prefer a compact cartridge-based sublimation printer with wireless Artspira design tools. Compare Brother SP-1 and entry-level alternatives in the beginner buying guide; check cartridge availability and letter-size media before buying.
• Choose the Sawgrass SG500 if you want a compact Sawgrass desktop ecosystem and do not need wider than 8.5-inch media.
• Choose the Sawgrass SG1000 if you want larger desktop media while staying in the Sawgrass system.
• Choose the Epson ET-15000 if 13-inch sheets matter and you knowingly accept a third-party conversion workflow.
• Choose the Epson F570 if 24-inch media and roll handling solve a genuine production or product-size problem.

If your main constraint is budget rather than width or workflow, use the separate sublimation printers for beginners under $500 comparison. That page is intentionally narrower than this buying guide.

Common Buying Mistakes

• Buying for today’s smallest product: Check the largest transfer you expect to sell regularly.
• Treating every Epson as a sublimation printer: Purpose-built SureColor dye-sub models and converted EcoTank models are different workflows.
• Comparing ink price without waste: Include failed prints, cleaning, paper, profiles, and operator time.
• Ignoring the upgrade path: A compact printer can become expensive if you replace it soon after adding larger products.
• Buying production width too early: Wider equipment makes sense when orders, product size, or labor savings justify it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best sublimation printer for beginners?

For buyers who want a purpose-built compact workflow, the Epson F170 and Sawgrass SG500 are the clearest starting points in this comparison. A converted EcoTank can fit a lower-cost strategy, but it adds third-party ink, profile, and support decisions.

Is the Epson ET-15000 a sublimation printer?

No. Epson sells the ET-15000 as a standard EcoTank all-in-one printer. Sublimation users who choose it replace the normal office-printing workflow with compatible third-party sublimation ink and color-management choices.

What size printer is best for sublimation shirts?

Start with the width of the shirt designs you expect to sell. An 8.5-inch printer works for smaller graphics, while 11 to 13-inch media gives more room for larger fronts. A 24-inch printer becomes useful when wider transfers or roll production justify the larger system.

Should I buy a Sawgrass SG500 or SG1000?

Choose the SG500 if 8.5-inch width fits your products. Choose the SG1000 if you need 11 x 17 media from the main tray or want the option to reach 13-inch width with the bypass tray.

When should I upgrade to a 24-inch sublimation printer?

Upgrade when desktop sheet size creates a recurring production problem: frequent tiling, product sizes you cannot serve efficiently, or enough volume that roll handling and wider media reduce labor. Occasional large jobs alone may not justify the move.