Top 10 Sublimation Printers in 2027 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best overall sublimation printer in 2027 is the Sawgrass SG500 ($569) — a turnkey 8.5x14" desktop machine with Sawgrass SubliJet UHD ink, bundled CreativeStudio software, and ICC color profiles included out of the box, making it the most foolproof entry into mug, tumbler, and apparel decoration.

The best value pick is the Epson EcoTank ET-2400 converted to sublimation ($249 + ~$80 in sublimation ink) — roughly half the cost of any dedicated unit, with the trade-off that you void the Epson warranty the moment you flush the original ink. This list ranks 10 real sublimation printers that hobbyists, Etsy sellers, and commercial decorators are actually buying in 2027, from $249 desktop converts up to $14,999 industrial 64" wide-format rigs.

How We Ranked the Top 10 Sublimation Printers in 2027

Ranking weighted color accuracy with bundled ICC profiles (30%), maximum paper size vs. Project type (20%), cost per print including ink and paper (20%), software ecosystem and beginner-friendliness (15%), and warranty + long-term support (15%). We pulled spec data from Sawgrass.com, Epson Pro Imaging, Roland DGA, and Mutoh America, then cross-checked real-world output against Heat Press Nation reviews, Coastal Business Supplies test prints, Conde Systems product comparisons, and the r/sublimation subreddit's running 2026-2027 buyer threads.

Dedicated sublimation printers always score higher on color than converted EcoTanks — but EcoTank conversions remain the budget gateway that gets most makers into the craft.

1. Sawgrass SG500 8.5x14" Desktop 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Price: $569 | Best for: Etsy mug, tumbler, and small-apparel sellers who want zero setup friction

The Sawgrass SG500 is the default recommendation for new sublimation makers because everything works on day one. Max paper size is 8.5x14" (legal) — large enough for 20oz tumbler wraps, 11oz and 15oz mugs, mousepads, and adult youth-XL shirt fronts. Ink is Sawgrass SubliJet UHD, with ICC profiles bundled and CreativeStudio cloud software included free.

Color gamut is wider than any converted EcoTank can match, and the 2-year warranty plus Sawgrass tech support removes the trial-and-error pain.

• Pros: Plug-and-play ICC + software bundle, best color accuracy in its class, ships with starter ink + 100 sheets paper
• Pros: 2-year warranty plus phone/chat support from Sawgrass
• Pros: Mac and Windows drivers maintained
• Con: Replacement ink cartridges run $90 each — high cost per print vs. EcoTank bulk

Verdict: The single best turnkey sublimation printer for hobbyists and Etsy shops in 2027.

2. Sawgrass SG1000 11x17" Desktop

Price: $1,499 | Best for: Decorators printing full adult-XL shirt fronts and 13x19 tumbler artwork

The SG1000 is the bigger sibling of the SG500, scaling max paper to 11x17" (tabloid) with a bypass tray that accepts 13x19" — the magic size for full adult shirt fronts, wide tumbler wraps, and two-up mug layouts to halve ink-per-print costs. Same SubliJet UHD ink, same CreativeStudio bundle, same ICC profiles preloaded.

Weight is 66 lbs and footprint is desktop-friendly at 24x21x12". The 2-year warranty carries over.

• Pros: 13x19" bypass tray unlocks adult shirt fronts and large tumbler art
• Pros: Same plug-and-play Sawgrass workflow as SG500
• Pros: 300-sheet main tray for production runs
• Con: $1,499 is a steep jump from the SG500 for anyone not selling shirts daily

Verdict: The right step-up from SG500 when your art outgrows legal-size paper.

3. Sawgrass Virtuoso VJ628 24" Wide Format

Price: $3,499 | Best for: Commercial shops doing banners, flags, and full-front polyester garments

The Virtuoso VJ628 is Sawgrass's 24"-wide piezo printer, built on the Mutoh chassis with SubliJet ink tuned for it. Max width is 24", max DPI is 1440x1440, and the 8-color ink configuration (CMYK + Lc + Lm + Or + Vi) produces the widest color gamut of any sub printer under $5k.

Includes Sawgrass PowerDriver V RIP software and ICC profiles. Build is industrial — floor-standing at 115 lbs — and the 1-year on-site warranty covers commercial use.

• Pros: 8-color ink beats every 4-color competitor on skin tones and gradients
• Pros: 24" roll feed enables banners, flags, sublimation table runners
• Pros: Sawgrass RIP + ICC profiles tuned for VJ628 specifically
• Con: Floor space, install effort, and maintenance cycle (weekly head cleaning) are real

Verdict: Where Etsy ends and a real shop begins.

4. Epson SureColor F570 24" Wide Format Dedicated

Price: $2,995 | Best for: Shops that want Epson's UltraChrome DS ink ecosystem in a 24" footprint

The SureColor F570 is Epson's purpose-built dedicated sublimation printer at 24" wide. UltraChrome DS ink is the direct competitor to SubliJet UHD and is well-regarded for soft pastels and skin tones. Adobe PostScript 3 is included for designers running Illustrator/Photoshop natively.

Max print width is 24", max DPI is 2400x1200, and the bundled ICC profiles cover polyester, hard substrates, and apparel. Warranty is 1 year on-site CoverPlus.

• Pros: Genuine Epson sublimation ink with full Epson driver support
• Pros: Adobe PostScript 3 bundled — no extra RIP cost
• Pros: Bulk ink tanks lower cost-per-print vs. Sawgrass cartridges
• Con: Color gamut is 4-color only — narrower than the 8-color VJ628

Verdict: The Epson-loyal shop's answer to the VJ628.

5. Epson SureColor F170 8.5x14" Dedicated

Price: $499 | Best for: Buyers who want a dedicated sub printer without paying Sawgrass prices

The SureColor F170 is Epson's dedicated desktop sub printer — same legal paper size as the SG500 but at a lower MSRP. Max paper is 8.5x14", ink is UltraChrome DS in bulk tanks (not cartridges — meaningful long-term savings), max DPI is 1200x600. ICC profiles ship in the box and Epson Edge Print RIP software is bundled.

1-year warranty.

• Pros: Bulk ink tanks cut cost-per-print roughly 40% vs. Sawgrass SG500
• Pros: Genuine Epson dedicated sublimation — not a hacked EcoTank
• Pros: Smaller footprint than SG500
• Con: Color gamut narrower than SG500 in side-by-side tests on red and orange

Verdict: The dedicated-sub printer for buyers who care more about ink economics than color crown.

6. Epson EcoTank ET-2400 with Sublimation Conversion 💎 BEST VALUE

Price: $249 (printer) + ~$80 (sublimation ink set) | Best for: First-time hobbyists testing if sublimation is for them

The Epson EcoTank ET-2400 converted is the universal entry point into sublimation. Buy the $249 printer, flush the original Epson ink, fill the tanks with Hiipoo, A-SUB, or Printers Jack sublimation ink (~$80), and load an ICC profile downloaded free from the ink seller.

Max paper size is 8.5x14", DPI hits 5760x1440 on paper but real sub output is closer to 1200 dpi effective. Total entry cost: ~$330 — less than half of a Sawgrass SG500.

• Pros: Cheapest legitimate entry into real sublimation
• Pros: Bulk tank refills mean lowest cost-per-print in this entire list
• Pros: Huge community support on r/sublimation and YouTube
• Con: Voids the Epson warranty immediately — and color profiling is on you

Verdict: Best value bar none if you accept the warranty trade and the DIY color-profile learning curve.

7. Sawgrass SG400 (Legacy Benchmark)

Price: $499 (refurbished / closeout) | Best for: Buyers finding a deal on the SG500's predecessor

The SG400 is the legacy SG500 predecessor still circulating at $499 refurbished through Coastal Business Supplies and Conde. Max paper is 8.5x14", ink is the older SubliJet HD formula (still excellent), and the CreativeStudio bundle works identically. Warranty is generally 90 days refurb vs. The SG500's 2 years.

• Pros: Sawgrass quality at $499 when you find one
• Pros: Proven design with decade of community knowledge
• Pros: Same ICC bundle and software workflow as the SG500
• Con: Limited new stock — mostly refurb-only as of 2027

Verdict: Grab one if you find it cheap, but the SG500 is the safer new buy.

8. Epson SureColor F1070 Hybrid DTG/Sublimation 13x19"

Price: $4,499 | Best for: Decorators who want both DTG on dark cotton AND sublimation on poly in one machine

The F1070 is Epson's hybrid DTG + dye-sublimation desktop printer — switch between direct-to-garment on cotton and sublimation transfer printing on poly via ink swap. Max paper size is 13x19", UltraChrome DG ink for DTG and DS ink for sub. Built-in ICC profiles for both modes.

The 1-year warranty covers both ink configurations.

• Pros: Two decoration methods in one printer — cotton AND poly
• Pros: 13x19" max size handles full shirt fronts
• Pros: Epson Garment Creator 2 software bundled
• Con: $4,499 is overkill if you only need sublimation

Verdict: The right pick only if you genuinely need both DTG and sub.

9. Roland VersaSTUDIO BN-20A 20" Print/Cut

Price: $7,995 | Best for: Sign shops adding sublimation transfer printing alongside vinyl cutting

The Roland BN-20A is a 20"-wide print-AND-cut machine — it sublimates AND contour-cuts the transfer in one pass. TR2 dye-sublimation ink (CMYK + optional white), max DPI 1440x720, VersaWorks 6 RIP software bundled with ICC profiles for poly, hard substrates, and apparel transfers. 1-year warranty with on-site service.

• Pros: Built-in contour cutter — no separate vinyl cutter needed
• Pros: Roland VersaWorks 6 is the industry-standard RIP
• Pros: Roland reliability — these run a decade in production
• Con: $7,995 prices out anyone not already running sign shop volume

Verdict: The sign-shop add-on that pays for itself in a year of T-shirt transfers.

10. Mutoh ValueJet 1638WX 64" Industrial

Price: $14,999 | Best for: Industrial decorators printing fabric rolls, banners, and sportswear cut-and-sew

The Mutoh ValueJet 1638WX is a 64" dual-head industrial dye-sublimation printer — the workhorse behind much of the cut-and-sew sportswear, banner, and soft-signage industry. Uses Mutoh DS2 sub ink, 8-color configuration, max DPI 1440x1440, bulk 2L ink bags, and ships with Wasatch SoftRIP or Onyx Thrive as the RIP choice.

2-year warranty with on-site and Mutoh-trained tech network.

• Pros: 64" width handles cut-and-sew sportswear panels and roll-to-roll fabric
• Pros: Dual-head architecture doubles throughput vs. Single-head 64" rigs
• Pros: Industrial reliability — designed for 24/7 production
• Con: $14,999 plus install, plus heat calender press — a real capital commitment

Verdict: The endpoint. If you're considering this, you already know you need it.

Buyer Decision Tree

What to Look For When Buying a Sublimation Printer

The turnkey vs. DIY-conversion math is the first fork. A Sawgrass SG500 at $569 ships with ink, paper, ICC profiles, software, and 2-year warranty — total out-of-box cost is your price.

An EcoTank ET-2400 conversion at ~$329 all in saves you $240 upfront but you absorb the warranty void, color-profile setup, and ink-flush risk. For makers who plan to sell, the Sawgrass support warranty is worth the premium; for hobbyists testing the craft, the EcoTank conversion is the sane gateway.

Specs that actually matter in 2027:

• ICC color profile included — without one, your reds print orange and your blues print purple. Sawgrass and dedicated Epson units include profiles; EcoTank conversions require you to download them from your ink supplier (Hiipoo, A-SUB, Printers Jack).
• Max paper size vs. Project — 8.5x14" handles mugs and tumblers; 13x19" unlocks full adult shirt fronts; 24"+ is wide-format banners and roll fabric.
• Ink type — bulk tanks vs. Cartridges — bulk tanks (EcoTank, Epson F-series, Mutoh) cut cost-per-print 40-60% vs. Cartridges (Sawgrass SG500/SG1000).
• Software bundle — Sawgrass CreativeStudio, Epson Edge Print, Roland VersaWorks 6, Wasatch SoftRIP — a bundled RIP saves $500-2,000 vs. Buying separately.
• Warranty — 2 years Sawgrass, 1 year Epson, 1 year Roland on-site, 2 years Mutoh on-site. Zero warranty on any EcoTank conversion.

Common gotchas: Generic third-party sublimation ink in a Sawgrass voids the warranty just as fast as flushing an EcoTank. Heat press quality matters as much as printer quality — a $200 Cricut Autopress will not match a $500 swing-away on tumbler wraps. And paper choice (A-SUB, Hiipoo, TexPrint, Beaver Paper) changes the color result more than most beginners realize.

FAQ

Can I sublimate on cotton? No — sublimation only bonds to polyester or poly-coated substrates (mugs, tumblers, mousepads, polyester apparel, sublimation blanks). Cotton requires DTG or HTV.

Is converting an EcoTank legal? Yes, but it voids your Epson warranty immediately and Epson tech support will refuse service. The conversion itself is legal — there's no IP issue with using third-party ink.

What's the cheapest legitimate sublimation setup in 2027? EcoTank ET-2400 ($249) + Hiipoo sublimation ink set (~$80) + 100 sheets A-SUB paper (~$20) + a $200 Cricut Easy Press 2 or 9x12 heat press = under $600 total working setup.

Sawgrass SG500 or Epson F170 for a hobbyist? SG500 wins for plug-and-play color and 2-year warranty; F170 wins for bulk-ink economics if you'll print 50+ prints a week.

Do I need a separate heat press? Yes — the printer creates the transfer; the heat press (or mug press or tumbler heat press) bonds the ink into the substrate at 385-400°F for 45-60 seconds.

What about generic Chinese sublimation printers on Amazon? Mostly rebadged converted Epsons — same as a DIY EcoTank conversion but you pay a premium for someone else doing the flush. Skip them and convert yourself, or buy a real dedicated unit.

Bottom Line

The Sawgrass SG500 is the best overall sublimation printer in 2027 — turnkey color, bundled ICC profiles, 2-year warranty, and the Etsy-scale paper size most makers actually need. The Epson EcoTank ET-2400 converted is the runaway best value — total entry cost under $350 if you accept the warranty trade.

If you sell, buy the Sawgrass. If you're testing the craft, convert an EcoTank. Use the Buyer Decision Tree above to map your project type to the right pick, then size up only when your art outgrows legal paper.

Sources

• Sawgrass Ink — SG500 / SG1000 / Virtuoso VJ628 product pages and spec sheets (sawgrassink.com)
• Epson Pro Imaging — SureColor F170, F570, F1070 specs and ink-cost calculators (epson.com/pro-imaging)
• Roland DGA — VersaSTUDIO BN-20A product page and VersaWorks 6 documentation (rolanddga.com)
• Mutoh America — ValueJet 1638WX product page and DS2 ink data (mutoh.com)
• Coastal Business Supplies — 2027 sublimation printer comparison and refurb SG400 listings
• Conde Systems — Sawgrass vs. Epson dedicated head-to-head test prints and ICC profile downloads
• Heat Press Nation — EcoTank conversion guide, ink supplier comparisons (Hiipoo, A-SUB, Printers Jack)
• Reddit r/sublimation — 2026-2027 buyer threads, SG500 vs. F170 community consensus, conversion success/failure rates
• YouTube — Big Red's Garage, So Fontsy, and Sublimation Spot product walkthroughs
• Wirecutter — dye-sublimation printer guide cross-reference for hobbyist picks