Printables Templates for Sublimation Printing

If you’ve ever wasted a blank because your design printed too big or off-center, templates are about to be your new best friend. These ready-to-use layouts make sizing and placement almost foolproof.

Sublimation printables and templates are pre-made digital designs or layouts that help streamline the sublimation printing process. They ensure correct sizing, alignment, and design placement on items like mugs, shirts, and tumblers. Templates save time, reduce errors, and provide consistency, especially for common products.

What Are Sublimation Printables & Templates?

• Printables: Ready-to-print digital files (often in PNG, JPG, or PDF) with sublimation-friendly designs.
• Templates: Pre-sized digital layouts (usually PSD, AI, or SVG files) that guide design placement for specific products (e.g., 11 oz mugs, 20 oz tumblers, T-shirts).

Feature	Printables	Templates
Format	PNG, JPG, PDF	PSD, AI, SVG
Purpose	Ready to print designs	Layouts for accurate placement
Editing Needed	Minimal	Often editable layers
Best For	Quick projects	Custom sizing & alignment

Both help reduce trial-and-error by ensuring designs fit the intended substrate.

Why Use Templates in Sublimation?

If you’ve ever had a design print too big, off-center, or get chopped at the edges, templates are your secret weapon. They keep everything consistent so you don’t have to “eyeball” every project.

Think of doing 20 mugs for an event… one well-made template keeps each logo perfectly aligned without constant re-measuring.

Here’s why:

• Accurate Sizing
  Templates make sure your design fits the blank exactly, so nothing gets stretched or cut off.
  How it helps: Prevents sizing mistakes that waste ink, paper, and blanks.
• Consistent Placement
  Every print lines up the same way across multiple items.
  How it helps: Ideal for bulk orders like uniforms, event merch, or branded drinkware.
• Time Saver
  You set it up once, then reuse it for future projects.
  How it helps: No more resizing or manually aligning each job from scratch.
• Less Waste
  Fewer test prints and do-overs mean less material in the trash.
  How it helps: Saves money on blanks and makes your workflow more efficient.
• Professional Results
  Designs look sharp and uniform, which boosts your brand’s presentation.
  How it helps: Clean, repeatable placement gives a polished, production-ready finish.

Check our guide on unique sublimation project ideas here.

Common File Types for Sublimation Templates

File Type	Best For	Notes
PNG	Transparent backgrounds; ready-to-print designs	High resolution recommended (300 DPI).
JPG	Simple images	Not transparent; less flexible.
PDF	Printable sheets; multi-page projects	Good for planners, stickers.
PSD (Photoshop)	Layered editing	Requires Photoshop or compatible software.
AI (Illustrator)	Vector editing	Scales without losing quality.
SVG	Cricut/Silhouette cutting + sublimation	Editable in many design tools.

Popular Products That Use Templates

Mugs (11 oz, 15 oz standard sizes)

Mug Sublimation Size Chart (11 oz & 15 oz)

Mug Size	Print Area (inches)	Print Area (pixels @ 300 DPI)	Notes
11 oz Standard Mug	8.5″ W × 3.5″ H	2550 px × 1050 px	Full wrap design; safe zone slightly smaller to avoid cutoff
15 oz Standard Mug	9″ W × 4″ H	2700 px × 1200 px	Full wrap design; check brand specs for small variations

Tumblers (20 oz straight, 30 oz skinny)

Need some inspiration? Check out these 10 sublimation designs that sell fast and see what’s trending.

Tumbler Sublimation Size Chart (20 oz & 30 oz)

Tumbler Size	Print Area (inches)	Print Area (pixels @ 300 DPI)	Notes
20 oz Straight Tumbler	9.3″ W × 8.2″ H	2790 px × 2460 px	Full wrap; straight sides make design easier to align
30 oz Skinny Tumbler	10″ W × 9.5″ H	3000 px × 2850 px	“Skinny” style helps reduce taper distortion, but sizes can vary by brand

T-Shirts (various adult/youth sizes; front, back, pocket placements)

Sublimation T-Shirt Size & Placement Guide

Placement	Adult Size (inches)	Adult (pixels @ 300 DPI)	Youth Size (inches)	Youth (pixels @ 300 DPI)	Notes
Full Front	12″ W × 16″ H	3600 × 4800 px	8″ W × 10″ H	2400 × 3000 px	Covers chest area; adjust for shirt size
Full Back	12″ W × 16″ H	3600 × 4800 px	8″ W × 10″ H	2400 × 3000 px	Standard back print
Center Chest (Logo/Small Design)	8″ W × 8″ H	2400 × 2400 px	6″ W × 6″ H	1800 × 1800 px	Common for simple designs or slogans
Left Chest / Pocket Area	4″ W × 4″ H	1200 × 1200 px	3″ W × 3″ H	900 × 900 px	Typical logo/pocket placement
Sleeve	3″ W × 3″ H	900 × 900 px	2.5″ W × 2.5″ H	750 × 750

✅ Tips for Sublimation T-Shirt Designs

• Always create files at 300 DPI.
• Use transparent PNG backgrounds if printing only a logo or partial design.
• For all-over designs, you’ll need shirt-size-specific templates (varies by brand and style).
• Leave at least 0.25″ bleed to avoid cutoff.
• Test placement with a printable paper mockup before pressing.

If you love designing your own transfers, check out our guide to sublimation printing with Affinity Designer to see how to prep artwork like a pro.

Sublimation Phone Case Design Guide

Typical Sizes (Flat Artwork)

(Always check the exact template from your blank supplier, dimensions vary slightly by brand and model)

Phone Model	Design Area (inches)	Pixels @ 300 DPI	Notes
iPhone 14 / 15	~3″ W × 6.5″ H	900 × 1950 px	Rounded corners, camera cutout varies
iPhone 14 Pro Max / 15 Pro Max	~3.25″ W × 6.75″ H	975 × 2025 px	Large camera cutout area
Samsung Galaxy S23	~3″ W × 6.25″ H	900 × 1875 px	Slim edges, cutout top center
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra	~3.25″ W × 6.75″ H	975 × 2025 px	Larger width and tall body

Mousepads & Coasters

Sublimation Size Guide: Mousepads & Coasters

Product	Common Size (inches)	Pixels @ 300 DPI	Notes
Standard Mousepad (Rectangle)	9.25″ W × 7.75″ H	2775 × 2325 px	Rounded corners; add 0.25″ bleed
Large Mousepad (Extended)	31.5″ W × 11.8″ H	9450 × 3540 px	Popular for gaming setups
Square Coaster	4″ × 4″	1200 × 1200 px	Usually hardboard or ceramic
Round Coaster	3.5″ diameter	~1050 × 1050 px	Circular template needed
Hexagon Coaster	4″ × 4″	1200 × 1200 px	Print square, cut to shape

Pillows & Tote Bags

Sublimation Size Guide: Pillows & Tote Bags

Product	Common Size (inches)	Pixels @ 300 DPI	Notes
Throw Pillow (Square)	16″ × 16″	4800 × 4800 px	Small size; popular for decorative pillows
Throw Pillow (Square)	18″ × 18″	5400 × 5400 px	Standard living room size
Throw Pillow (Square)	20″ × 20″	6000 × 6000 px	Large; check pillow insert size
Tote Bag (Small)	13″ × 13″	3900 × 3900 px	Often used for kids or light shopping
Tote Bag (Medium)	15″ × 15″	4500 × 4500 px	Common everyday tote size
Tote Bag (Large)	18″ × 18″	5400 × 5400 px	Oversized; great for beach or groceries

Check out 5 Reasons Why You Can Sublimate on Canvas Tote Bags

How to Use Sublimation Templates

1. Download a template that matches your blank product size.
2. Open the file in your design software (Photoshop, Canva, Illustrator, or Silhouette Studio).
3. Place your artwork inside the safe print area, making sure nothing important sits outside the bleed zone.
4. Print the design on sublimation paper using sublimation ink.
5. Press it onto your blank using the recommended time, temperature, and pressure settings for that product.
6. Peel & Check your transfer after pressing to make sure the alignment and colors came out clean.

Tips for Working With Sublimation Templates

• Always double-check dimensions in pixels or inches before printing.
• Use high-resolution designs (300 DPI) for best print quality.
• Print a test sheet on plain paper before sublimation.
• Keep a library of templates for commonly used blanks.
• Label template files with product size and brand for quick access.

New to Cricut? Here’s a simple Cricut Design Space walkthrough to help you get started fast.

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