Top 10 Best Sublimation Printer for Mugs Reviewed in 2024

Today, we will discuss Mug sublimation and the best sublimation printers for Mugs. Sublimation printing on mugs is a perfect hobby and a great business tactic. Designing art on mugs is well-suited for all types of people. Plus, getting a new mug for your friends or family every year takes a lot of time and money. How about having a personal sublimation printer that does it for you without taking much time or money? That’s exactly what we did; we went through top dye-sublimation printers for mugs. After reviewing and using them to test, we made a list of the best sublimation printers for mugs that give vibrant color sublimation prints.

Upon using them, we found that they were extremely easy to use and cheap. Therefore, we have shared this review with you to help in your selection of the best sublimation printer for mugs. Let’s cut right into it!

10 Best Sublimation Printers for Mugs in 2024

1. Epson Stylus C88+ Inkjet Printer Color:-Best Commercial Printer for Mugs

Specifications

Epson Stylus C88+ printer has amazingly high resolutions of 5760×1440 dpi at a speed of 14 ppm. Featuring a CISS system and DURAbite ultra pigment inks, it gives flawless prints continuously. Also, unlike traditional printers, there is no need to refill all inks if only one is empty. This features 4 individual ink cartridges that can be refilled separately. It has a 120-paper input tray with separate cartridges for paper handling.

This is a desktop model; therefore, it does not have wireless connectivity. But it does have a USB and Ethernet connection and multiple parallel ports for connectivity with MAC or PC. Also, you can connect it to the Macintosh system as well!

Plus, it has Epson’s easy-to-use printing software and takes simple steps for set-up. The control panel is not included, but there are buttons for navigation. Furthermore, you can get borderless prints of sizes ranging from 4″ x 6″, 5″ x 7″, 8″ x 10″, and 8.5″ x 11″. Epson C88+ supports almost all media types, and it gives long-lasting prints on all.

2. Epson Expression XP-15000:-Best High-Quality Sublimation Printer

Specifications

Epson Expression XP-15000 uses 6-color ultra HD inks to give life-like quality to your prints. Also, it is a wide-format printer that can print from 4×6 inches up to the size of 13×19 inches. Furthermore, 50-sheet rear trays and 200-sheet front trays are set in the printer for your convenience. To put sublimation paper, you can use the rear feed with sublimation inks to get high-quality designs. Automatic 2-sided printing is another great feature of XP-15000.

The speed is an average of 9 ISO ppm, but the resolutions are of high quality 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi. To give accurate prints, it uses a MicroPiezo 6-color Claria ink system. In addition to all that, XP-15000 can be connected to all types of mobiles, tablets, laptops, and desktops. Ethernet, wireless, and USB connection availability is suitable for all! Simply control the printer by using a 2.4 inches LCD touchscreen. In case of any issue within one year of use, you can contact the company for solutions as it has a 1-year warranty.

Also, you can do hands-free printing by activating Alexa voice-based Ai for printing. Another cool thing is that it can print straight on CDs and DVDs.

3. Epson WorkForce WF-7710:-Best Reliable Sublimation Printer

Specifications

The Epson WF-7710 printer makes it possible to print from various devices with multiple connectivity options. You can print from tablets, PC, laptops, Android, and iOS as you get wireless, Ethernet, NFC, and USB connectivity. Also, it has a lot more to offer other than versatile connectivity. With a speed of 10 to 18 ISO ppm, it can print a high resolution of 4800×2400 dpi.

In addition to resolution, the quality is enhanced due to a combination of DURAbite inks and Precision core technology. Also, up to 13×19 inches of media is supported by WF-7710, which makes this a wide-format printer. Along with that, it features a 250-sheet input tray, a 125-sheet output tray, and a rear feed for glossy and sublimation papers. It offers extra convenience by giving automatic two-sided printing and a 35-sheet automatic document feeder for scanning.

Print effortlessly by using a mobile or 4.3” touchscreen color control panel. Get more than 1300 pages per month with its energy-effective performance. Meaning that it takes 80% less energy consumption than other printers.

4. HP Envy Pro 6475:-Best Family-use Sublimation Printer

Specifications

HP envy pro 6475 is simple to use and has easy controls with a decent design. This all-in-one printer can copy, scan, print and fax. Also, it has automatic 2-sided printing, and for scanning, it has a 35-page ADF. Moreover, it has a printing speed of 7 to 10 ppm with a resolution of 4800×1200 dpi. The monthly yield of this productive printer is 1000 pages per month, and it stacks paper nicely in its 100-sheet input tray. A 25-sheet output tray is also included in the design. Aside from paper handling, it supports media sizes of standard letter size ranging up to 8.5×11 inches paper and up to 5×7 inches photo.

Talking about connectivity, this has self-healing dual-band wifi for fast processing and working. This can be connected with USB and wireless only. Furthermore, you can register to HP instant ink for getting ink worth 2 years at a reasonable price right at your doorstep. It has a cartridge system and uses only 1 ink cartridge, which is quite disappointing but gives vivid color accuracy.

Also, registration to HP smart app is included for printing easily. With the app, Airprint or Mopria, you can print from anywhere in the world by using file transfer. Unlike other sublimation printers, its control panel has no display screen and features only UI buttons for usage. Lastly, this has a 1-year hardware warranty that helps you use it freely.

5. Sawgrass SG-500:-Best durable sublimation printer

Specifications

Sawgrass SG-500 has a 2-year long warranty built solely for sublimation printers. It supports media sizes of 8.5×14 inches with a resolution of 4800×1200 dpi. Furthermore, you can connect it to PC, Android, iOS, and laptops with connectivity options like wireless, USB, and Ethernet.

With a speed of 48 seconds per paper, this sublimation printer for mugs is great for heavy-duty work. Also, ultra-fine photo quality takes almost 7 minutes, but the vibrant quality is worth the wait. Also, you get Sublijet UHD sublimation ink sets that are perfect for permanent ink on mugs. Moreover, the ink is well-suited for soft and hard materials, and I really found it equally great for both materials. Sawgrass Print Manager and CreativeStudio Online Designer are also included with the printer to enhance your artistic printing capabilities.

People who already have SG-400 can upgrade to SG-500 without wasting their accessories. As this has backward compatibility, it can easily work well with all sawgrass accessories.

Talking about the design, it’s compact but wide and has an easy-to-use control panel. It’s simple to use with simple configurations.

6. Brother MFC-J497DW:-Best Budget-Friendly Sublimation Printer

Specifications

With a speed of 12 ppm for black and 6 ppm for color prints, Brother MFC-J497DW gives all functions of a printer, scanner, and copy as well. Being all-in-one and having an affordable price is a rare combination that this printer offers. A 100-sheet adjustable input tray is also included for paper handling. For scanning, it has a 20-sheet ADF as well. Also, I liked that you can save the paper as the printer has automatic printing on both sides. In addition to saving ink, the cartridges last longer than any other cartridges, and you get an ink supply for a long time.

The control panel is one of a kind, with lots of button options to control the printer. Along with that, you can easily navigate by looking at the 1.8″ color display that is right beside the control panel. Furthermore, it has wireless connectivity and a USB connection slot. There is no Ethernet connectivity in this printer. Aside from that, you can use Mopria, Airprint, Google cloud print, and Brother’s software called iPrint and scan for printing effortlessly.

In addition to all that, the maximum monthly yield is 1000 pages, but we recommend 500 pages for efficient long-term performance. A 1-year hardware guarantee is also included to ensure confidence in the printer’s longevity.

7. Canon PIXMA TR7520:-Best Lightweight Sublimation Printer

Specifications

Featuring a 5-color ink cartridge system, Canon PIXMA TR7520 gives unmatchable prints and photo quality. In addition, this is an all-in-one printer that can print, copy, fax and scan too. You need to buy sublimation ink separately to print on mugs, and with 5-color ink, the quality of designs is superior and eye-pleasing. Moreover, it’s a heavy-duty printer that owns both; a front paper cassette and a rear tray. Along with a 20-sheet, ADF for scanning is also included.

Next, you get an easy-to-use 3” color control panel that allows connectivity to Bluetooth, wifi, and Cloud as well. It supports media sizes of 4×6 inches, 5×7 inches, and 5×5 inches.

They can be connected wirelessly to MAC, iOS, and Android operating systems when it comes to networks. It also supports Windows 7 to Windows 10 on laptops. However, there is no ethernet connectivity in this printer. Aside from that, Canon print apps are included for designing, artwork, and printing management.

The printing speed of Canon Pixma is 10 and 15 ppm for color and black, respectively. And for both prints, it gives a high resolution of 4800×1200 dpi. Lastly, this is a lightweight and compact printer with a 1-year long warranty.

8. HP Smart Tank Plus 551:-Best Beginner-Friendly Sublimation Printer

Specifications

Are you a complete beginner when it comes to a sublimation printing on mugs? HP smart tank plus 551 comes with user-friendly functions and features. Also, the cost is reasonable with a tank instead of a cartridge ink system. With the printer, you receive a 2-year worth of ink bottles that can print up to 8000 color pages and 6000 black pages. With Hp ink bottles, you do not have to panic about the spillage of ink while refiling. The bottle and tank sensors design makes the refilling procedure easy, and I easily handled the procedure.

In addition to that, it comes with an average speed of 11 ppm. The media and paper size supported by this printer ranges from 3×5”, 4×6”, 5×7”, 8×10”, and No. 10 envelopes. Moreover, it has buttons that show the settings of the printer. Although the control panel is quite small, you can always use your mobile to do the printing. HP Smart app is also included for remote printing. Additionally, voice-activated printing is also a convenient feature given to you by this printer.

Paper handling has average parts like a 100-sheet input tray and 30-sheet ADF. In terms of dual-band connectivity, wifi connectivity is possible, along with USB connectivity. Lastly, HP smart tank plus 551 has a 1-year hardware warranty.

9. Lexmark MC3224dwe:-Best Printing-Speed Sublimation Printer

Specifications

Lexmark sublimation printer can print at a fast speed of 24 ppm, meaning it can print one paper in just 11 seconds. Also, it features 2-sided printing at 13 ppm speed and high resolutions of 600×600 dpi. This is a great security partner as well. Lexmark features full-spectrum security that protects your field, documents, and networks. Also, the monthly yield is high 600-1500 pages per month.

Furthermore, it is easily portable and can be placed on your desk due to its compact design. Talking about the design, the steel frame body makes it durable as well. Along with that, you can put this printer in energy mode to save energy when you are not printing. For media handling, 250 sheets of input tray and 100 sheets of output tray are also a part of the printer. A touchscreen small display control is also present for on-printer navigation.

Along with giving you vivid color prints, it can scan and copy as well. So you can use it for other than printing functions as well. In addition to that, connect it easily to all types of connections like Ethernet, wifi, and USB. By using Lexmark’s unison toner, this dye-sublimation printer gives high-quality colorful designs on mugs. Lastly, you can use the Lexmark printing app, Mopria, Airprint, and other apps for printing freely.

10. Epson EcoTank ET-2760:-Best User-Friendly Sublimation Printer

Specifications

Powered by Precisoncore heat-free technology, Ecotank ET-2760 is built to give virtually pleasing prints. It has a maximum printing resolution of 5760×1440 dpi at a speed of 10 ISO ppm and 5 ISO ppm for black and color prints, respectively. Aside from performing the printer functions, this all-in-one machine can scan and copy as well. To store printing and printed paper, it comes with a 120-sheet input tray and a 30-sheet rear tray. Also, automatic two-sided printing and ADF are useful features of ET-2760.

Furthermore, you can connect it wirelessly or with USB connections. By using Epson iPrint or other third-party apps, you can connect it with mobile too. In addition to that, the 1.4″ touchscreen control panel is quite small comparatively but is easy to use.

This best Epson sublimation printer saves a lot of your money and the environment as well. The tank system makes the process of refilling easier. Not to mention that ink bottles that come with a printer last for 2 years. You can easily print 7,500 pages in black and 6,000 pages in color. Additionally, the bottles cause less waste than cartridges, so it’s a good printer for eco-friendly people as well. Lastly, ET-2760 has a 2-year long warranty on the hardware.

Best Sublimation Printer for Mugs Buying Guide 2024

If you don’t know how to choose the best sublimation printer for mugs, don’t worry and read this buying guide.

This will help you in knowing exactly what you need to look into a sublimation printer for mugs. Here are the features that affect the quality and performance of the printer:

1. Printing resolution

In sublimation prints, the quality and vividness of designs matter a lot. The prints should be eye-catching and eye-pleasing with vibrant colors. On hard surfaces like mugs, a resolution of 1200 dpi works best in giving high-quality prints. Also, 300 dpi and 600 dpi give suitable-looking sublimation prints. Look into the PrecisionCore technology of printers as they give accurate and sharp-looking designs.

2. Printing speed

Fast printing speed ensures high productivity, which gives higher profit in business. For sublimation printing on mugs, a primer with a speed of 9 to 25 ISO ppm is recommended. Plus, during sublimation printing, the printer’s speed gets slow, so do not get a printer that has less speed than 9 ISO ppm.

3. Connectivity

Ensure you get the sublimation printer with connectivity options for your device. Many prints come with only Wi-Fi or only Ethernet connectivity, so make sure you get the right one. Few come with all types of connectivity, but they also cost a lot more.

4. Budget

Another important thing to look into is the price of the printer. Expensive sublimation printers often have energy-effective features, making them low maintenance and low running costs. This means that you should see if the printer has a high or low running cost along with its initial price.

5. Paper handling and media size support

Having a paper capacity input tray and rear feed increases the value of the sublimation printer. Also, knowing what size of paper printer supports is important. Some printers are wide-format and can support large sizes of 13×19 inches, whereas others support standard 4×6 inches media size.

6. Ink system

Ink refilling is an essential step in sublimation printing. Getting a tank-based printer provides great convenience of refilling inks, also Cartridges serve well too. This does not affect the performance of the printer but is up to your preference and convenience.

Furthermore, the number of ink colors also determines the designs’ quality and precision. Getting a 4-color ink cartridges or tanks sublimation printer works best for mugs.

7. Weight and size

A printer that can fit on your desk while giving you enough working space is also crucial. Also, if you are setting up the printer in one place, it’s alright to get a large-size printer. However, for portability, a lightweight sublimation printer is recommended.

Final words

Finally, we hope you found this helpful and informative. Getting a sublimation printer for mugs is not a bad investment as you receive more than you give. Also, we recommend keeping the printer maintained as a perfectly clean printer gives the best results. We have given you multiple brands and multiple ink system printers. But if you are still confused about what is the best sublimation printer for mugs, see these top three picks. This will help narrow down your choice:

• Epson Stylus C88+ Inkjet Printer Color-Best business sublimation printer: The top place goes to C88+, although the CISS system is hard to manage; however, it still gave a great performance with quality and speed.
• Epson Expression XP-15000-Best high-quality sublimation printer: Our top pick is XP-15000; the quality looked amazing upon using this with sublimation ink. Plus, the ink is long-lasting and permanent.
• Epson WorkForce WF-7710-Best Reliable sublimation Printer: In third place, we have WF-7710. It is well-suited for a beginner and professional. This allows you to do artistic sublimation printing on mugs with energy-efficient performance!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which is the best printer for mug printing?

Upon our experience, we found the Epson Expression XP-15000 the best printer for mug printing.

2. What do I need to do for sublimation on mugs?

To do sublimation printing on mugs, here is what you need aside from a heat-resistant ceramic mug:

• Set up of sublimation printer for mugs (sublimation paper and sublimation ink as well)
• Mug heat press machine

3. Can you sublimate on regular mugs?

No, if the coffee mug is coated ceramic, you should be able to sublimate the print. But if the mug is not heat-resistant, it will melt, so be sure to see the temperature of the heat press machine.

4. Do you need a sublimation printer for mugs?

Yes, a sublimation printer is a necessity; however, you can use a regular printer with sublimation ink for sublimation printing on mugs as well.

Camryn