Brother SP-1 vs Sawgrass SG500 Ink Cost 2026: Cost per mL & Refill Comparison
Brother SP-1 and Sawgrass SG500 owners are buying two very different OEM ink systems.
At the prices checked on September 29, 2026, Brother lists its four-cartridge SP-1 sublimation ink bundle at $107.96. Each cartridge contains 47 mL, giving the set 188 mL of ink. Sawgrass lists its four-cartridge SubliJet UHD set for the SG500 and SG1000 at $339.95, with 31 mL per cartridge and 124 mL total.
That works out to approximately $0.57 per mL for Brother and $2.74 per mL for Sawgrass. On an OEM-to-OEM basis, Sawgrass ink is about 4.8 times the Brother cost per mL at these listed prices.
That does not mean every Sawgrass print costs 4.8 times as much. Actual ink use changes with artwork size, coverage, print settings, maintenance, cleaning cycles, and print frequency. This comparison focuses on the part we can measure cleanly: replacement ink price, cartridge capacity, cost per mL, and estimated spending based on your own ink consumption.
Brother SP-1 vs Sawgrass Ink Cost at a Glance
| Cost factor | Brother SP-1 | Sawgrass SG500 / SG1000 |
|---|---|---|
| OEM ink | Brother Genuine Sublimation Ink | SubliJet UHD |
| Colors | CMYK | CMYK |
| Ink per cartridge | 47 mL | 31 mL |
| Total ink in 4-color set | 188 mL | 124 mL |
| Current set price | $107.96 | $339.95 |
| Approx. cost per mL | $0.57 | $2.74 |
| Price checked | September 29, 2026 | September 29, 2026 |
Brother confirms that the SP01BNDL contains four full-size 47 mL cartridges. Sawgrass currently lists the standard SubliJet UHD SG500/SG1000 replacement set as four 31 mL cartridges. The raw ink-price difference is substantial, but it should still be considered alongside software, support, maintenance, workflow, and the value you place on each printer ecosystem.
Brother SP-1 vs Sawgrass Ink Cost Calculator
Change the prices if your supplier price is different, then enter your estimated monthly ink use. The calculator compares ink economics only and does not assume a universal cost per shirt, mug, or tumbler.
This calculator compares ink price and volume. It does not estimate printer yield or guarantee a specific ink cost per finished product.
Free printable: Use the Brother vs Sawgrass ink cost checklist to record current OEM prices, compare cost per mL, estimate monthly and annual ink expense, and review the operating-cost factors that can affect your real numbers.
If you do not know how much ink your artwork consumes, use the Sublimation Ink Coverage Calculator first. The goal is to apply current ink economics to your production volume instead of relying on a generic cost-per-print claim.
Brother SP-1 Ink Cost Breakdown
Brother’s SP-1 uses separate cyan, magenta, yellow, and black sublimation cartridges. Each full-size cartridge contains 47 mL, so a four-color replacement set contains 188 mL total.
Brother currently lists the complete SP01BNDL at $107.96. The cost-per-mL calculation is simple:
$107.96 ÷ 188 mL = approximately $0.57 per mL
Looking at cost per mL instead of cartridge price gives you a cleaner way to compare two systems with different cartridge capacities.
Does the Brother SP-1 Come With Full-Size Ink?
Yes. Brother states that the SP-1 includes a full-size set of four 47 mL genuine sublimation cartridges. Brother has also offered bundles that include an additional full-size ink set.
This matters because the ink supplied with a new printer affects the real startup cost. Full replacement-size cartridges provide more usable ink before the first replacement purchase than reduced-capacity starter cartridges.
Sawgrass SG500 and SG1000 Ink Cost Breakdown
The SG500 and SG1000 use Sawgrass SubliJet UHD ink for standard polyester and coated-hard-goods sublimation. Sawgrass currently lists standard replacement cartridges at 31 mL each.
A four-color set therefore contains 124 mL. The current four-cartridge set is listed at $339.95.
$339.95 ÷ 124 mL = approximately $2.74 per mL
Individual standard SubliJet UHD cartridges are currently listed from about $84.95, while the four-color set is listed at $339.95.
Current Sawgrass Bundles Include a Full Ink Set
Sawgrass currently describes SG500 and SG1000 Sublijet printer bundles as including a full 31 mL ink set along with transfer media, MySawgrass software, Sawgrass Print Utility, setup/training support, and warranty coverage.
Sawgrass Changed Its Pricing in 2026
Older Brother-versus-Sawgrass comparisons can contain outdated prices. Sawgrass announced new permanent everyday pricing effective May 13, 2026. The company described the change as permanent rather than a temporary promotion.
That is why this page displays a clear price-check date. If either manufacturer changes its pricing, the calculator inputs can be updated without changing the rest of the method.
Why Cost per mL Matters More Than Cartridge Price
Comparing cartridge prices alone can be misleading. A cheaper cartridge can still be more expensive if it contains much less ink.
The useful formula is:
Ink set price ÷ total ink volume = cost per mL
Using the current OEM figures:
- Brother: $107.96 ÷ 188 mL = about $0.57/mL
- Sawgrass: $339.95 ÷ 124 mL = about $2.74/mL
This normalizes cartridges with different capacities and gives you a common basis for comparing ongoing ink spending.
What Would 100 mL, 500 mL and 1,000 mL Cost?
The following table uses the current calculated OEM cost per mL. It does not claim that either printer will consume these amounts over a specific number of finished products.
| Ink consumed | Brother SP-1 | Sawgrass SubliJet UHD | Approx. difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 mL | $57.43 | $274.15 | $216.72 |
| 500 mL | $287.13 | $1,370.77 | $1,083.64 |
| 1,000 mL | $574.26 | $2,741.53 | $2,167.27 |
Someone who prints occasionally may care more about convenience, support, or software than annual ink expenditure. A shop consuming hundreds of milliliters each month will feel the difference much more strongly.
Why There Is No Honest Universal Cost per Print
A small chest logo and an 8.5 × 11-inch full-coverage image cannot reasonably be assigned the same ink cost. The same applies to a small coaster graphic versus a full mug wrap.
Actual consumption changes with image dimensions, coverage percentage, dark versus light artwork, print settings, maintenance cycles, failed prints, and how frequently the printer is used.
Brother specifically says SP-1 ink longevity varies with printing frequency and the size and complexity of the design.
The better formula is:
Measured or estimated mL per print × current cost per mL
For a deeper explanation of consumption, see how to calculate sublimation ink usage.
Starter Ink vs Replacement Ink
Starter ink can distort printer-cost comparisons. If one printer includes full replacement-size cartridges while another includes reduced-capacity starter cartridges, comparing only printer purchase price can give the wrong impression.
Current Brother documentation states that the SP-1 includes four full-size 47 mL cartridges. Sawgrass’s current SG500/SG1000 Sublijet bundle information states that it includes a full 31 mL ink set.
That lets this comparison use full-capacity ink on both sides instead of trying to normalize mismatched starter cartridges.
Does Printer Maintenance Change the Real Ink Cost?
Yes. Not every milliliter purchased becomes visible artwork. Ink can also be consumed during automatic cleaning, manual cleaning, priming, and other maintenance routines.
Brother states that the SP-1 automatically cleans its printhead when needed while the printer is powered and connected. Sawgrass printers also use maintenance routines to keep the print system operating correctly.
This means cost per mL is not the same as cost of ink deposited onto finished products. The real amount depends on use frequency, printer condition, and maintenance behavior, so this page does not invent a universal maintenance-waste percentage.
What Are You Paying for With Sawgrass Ink?
Price alone does not describe the entire Sawgrass proposition. Sawgrass sells the SG500 and SG1000 as an integrated sublimation ecosystem combining printer, SubliJet UHD ink, Sawgrass Print Utility, color-management tools, MySawgrass software, support, training, and warranty coverage.
For some buyers, that guided environment has meaningful value. The business question is whether the higher consumable cost fits the workflow, support expectations, and production volume.
For more detail on the printers themselves, see the Sawgrass Sublimation Printer Guide.
What Does Brother Offer Around the SP-1 Ink System?
Brother uses a purpose-built sublimation cartridge system rather than an EcoTank-style conversion. The SP-1 works with Brother’s genuine 47 mL cartridges and Brother’s Artspira design platform, while Brother also provides a standard computer printing workflow and product support.
The lower OEM cost per mL in this comparison therefore does not come from comparing Brother genuine ink with third-party bottle ink. It is a genuine Brother OEM versus genuine Sawgrass OEM comparison.
Brother vs Sawgrass Ink Cost for a Small Sublimation Business
A hobby user and a production shop should interpret the same price table differently.
If you consume only a small amount of ink each month, the absolute annual cost difference may be less important than convenience, support, or the software environment. If you consume 200 or 500 mL per month, the ink-price difference becomes a much larger operating expense.
The broader business calculation should also include printer cost, paper, blanks, labor, reprints, maintenance, packaging, software, and payment fees.
Use the Sublimation Profit Margin Calculator to check whether a higher consumable cost materially changes the margin on the products you sell.
If you want to compare supplier prices or review the numbers later, download the printable Brother vs Sawgrass ink cost checklist and keep your current price-per-mL calculation with your business records.
Can You Use Cheaper Third-Party Ink?
This article compares OEM ink because that is the most defensible like-for-like comparison.
Sawgrass states that its printers are designed for Sawgrass inks and warns that installing non-Sawgrass ink can affect warranty coverage. Sawgrass also warns against mixing inks because color output and system behavior can change.
For Brother, follow the current SP-1 support and warranty documentation before substituting non-genuine consumables.
Do not compare Brother genuine ink with an unverified third-party Sawgrass-compatible cartridge and treat that as a clean Brother-versus-Sawgrass result.
For broader ink-selection questions, see the Best Sublimation Ink guide.
Brother SP-1 vs Sawgrass Ink Cost Formulas
Cost per mL
Ink set cost ÷ total set volume
Estimated monthly ink expense
Monthly mL consumed × cost per mL
Estimated annual ink expense
Monthly ink expense × 12
Estimated ink cost per print
mL consumed per print × cost per mL
The last formula only becomes useful when you have a reasonable estimate of how much ink your actual artwork consumes.
Which Costs Should You Compare Before Choosing a Printer?
- Printer purchase price
- Replacement ink
- Ink included with the printer
- Sublimation paper
- Maintenance requirements
- Software
- Accessories
- Warranty and support
- Maximum print size
- Expected production volume
This page is intentionally focused on ink economics. A broader printer comparison should evaluate all of these factors together rather than choosing a printer only because one replacement cartridge costs less.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Brother SP-1 sublimation ink cost?
Brother currently lists the four-color SP01BNDL at $107.96. The set contains four 47 mL cartridges, or 188 mL total.
How much ink is in a Brother SP-1 cartridge?
Each full-size Brother SP-1 sublimation cartridge contains 47 mL.
How much does Sawgrass SG500 ink cost?
Sawgrass currently lists its four-cartridge 31 mL SubliJet UHD set at $339.95.
How much ink is in a Sawgrass SG500 cartridge?
The standard SG500/SG1000 SubliJet UHD cartridge contains 31 mL.
Is Brother SP-1 ink cheaper per mL than Sawgrass ink?
At the prices checked on September 29, 2026, Brother works out to approximately $0.57 per mL while Sawgrass works out to approximately $2.74 per mL. This compares replacement ink price and capacity only. It does not account for differences in software, support, maintenance, or workflow.
How long does Brother SP-1 ink last?
There is no universal number. Brother says longevity depends on how frequently you print and the size and complexity of your artwork.
How long does Sawgrass ink last?
It depends on actual ink consumption, artwork coverage, maintenance, and print frequency. Use your own measured consumption whenever possible rather than relying on a generic prints-per-cartridge claim.
How much does sublimation ink cost per print?
Multiply your estimated ink use per print in mL by the current cost per mL. A universal cost-per-print figure is not reliable because artwork coverage and dimensions vary widely.
Does Brother SP-1 come with full-size ink?
Yes. Brother states that the SP-1 ships with four full-size 47 mL cartridges.
Do SG500 and SG1000 use the same standard SubliJet UHD cartridges?
Sawgrass lists the standard 31 mL SubliJet UHD cartridges for both the SG500 and SG1000. Higher-capacity options can differ by printer and workflow, so check current Sawgrass compatibility before ordering.
Did Sawgrass lower its ink prices in 2026?
Yes. Sawgrass announced new permanent everyday pricing effective May 13, 2026.
Can I use third-party ink in a Sawgrass printer?
Sawgrass says its printers are designed for Sawgrass inks and warns that installing non-Sawgrass ink can affect warranty coverage. Check current manufacturer guidance before changing ink systems.
Compare the Cost Using Your Own Production Volume
The cleanest Brother-versus-Sawgrass ink comparison is not a vague cost-per-shirt claim.
Start with the numbers we can verify: 188 mL per Brother CMYK set and 124 mL per standard Sawgrass CMYK set. Then use the current set price to calculate cost per mL and enter your own monthly consumption into the calculator.
That shows what the difference means to your business without pretending every design uses the same amount of ink.
