Best Sublimation Printers for Small Businesses in 2026
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Quick answer: For most small shops, the best sublimation printer is a converted Epson EcoTank if you're on a tight budget, or a purpose-built machine like the Epson SureColor F170 or a Sawgrass SG500 bundle if you want something ready to run out of the box with no conversion or warranty questions.
What to Look For
Print width (letter/legal vs. 13-inch wide format), whether the printer is sold "sublimation-ready" or needs a third-party ink conversion, ongoing ink cost per page, and whether the manufacturer supports sublimation use are the main things to compare. If you're new to the format, read our sublimation printing explainer first so you know what you're shopping for.
Our Picks for 2026
Best Budget Option: Epson EcoTank ET-2800 (Converted)
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is the cheapest legitimate way into sublimation. You'll need to refill the tanks with third-party sublimation ink instead of Epson's own ink, which most shops buy in bundles alongside sublimation paper.
Best Ready-Made Small Format: Epson SureColor F170
The Epson SureColor F170 ships sublimation-ready from the factory, no ink swap, no voided warranty questions, and Epson-branded consumables throughout. It costs more upfront but removes the guesswork.
Best Bundle for New Shops: Sawgrass SG500
The Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer Bundle is built specifically for sublimation from the ground up and is one of the most popular choices among small print-on-demand shops for its plug-and-play software and ink system.
Don't Forget Supplies
Whichever printer you choose, you'll still need sublimation paper, blanks, and a heat press. DTG PRO's sublimation supplies section stocks ink, paper, and transfer consumables sized for small shop volumes.
Sublimation vs. Other Methods
If you're still deciding whether sublimation is the right fit compared to DTF or DTG, our DTF vs. Sublimation comparison walks through the tradeoffs, and Printful's sublimation vs. screen printing breakdown is a useful outside reference if you're also considering screen printing.
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