Spending holidays, celebrating birthday parties, and expressing love to your family, friends, and colleague, by giving sublimated mugs or cups with beautiful and memorable captured moments is always been a pleasant surprise. if you own a business about sublimating items like mugs, cups ceramics, or any other blanks a sublimation printer is an ideal option if you want to create an eye-catching pattern on these blanks. So which printer is best for mug printing? I found some sublimation printers relatively very close to creating sharp designs on mugs and cups. Let’s check out the best sublimation printer for mugs that can customize almost anything.
You might have noticed that designing and creating personalized stuff has become pretty popular. People are not only turning their passion into the best earning opportunity but are already running a good business through this versatile talent.
Printing and design in ceramic mugs and other similar products increase their beauty and make them personalized, which looks quite attractive. Also, one can use these as a source of affection for their loved ones by customizing the products with “world’s best mom,” “world’s best father,” and so on.
So, before jumping to discuss our selected best products for mugs it is also necessary to look into some factors when choosing the best sublimation printer for your business need.
What to consider when choosing the Best Sublimation Printer for mugs
There is no more need to worry about mug printing. Adding eye-catching graphics, inscriptions, and symbols to goods is popular among people nowadays. These printed mugs have likely been seen in workplaces, households, schools, and organizations. They simply appear to be somewhat remarkable! Selecting a high-performance printer will allow you to print as many mugs as you like while the printer remains operational. There are only a few factors that will help determine choosing the sublimation printer for mugs.
Print Size:
To make the most of your sublimation printers, you must pay attention to print sizes. You may know the printing size variety supported by a model prior to actually acquiring it. The printing size of every sublimation printer is unique. You must assess if the printer’s size range is suitable. Considering the dimensions of the mugs you’ll be printing on could help you determine this number.
Printing Quality
If you want to print t-shirts or a mug, the printing quality is an essential thing to consider when choosing a printer. Some prints degrade their coloration and sharpness when copied to a mug due to the harsh texture. It would help if you guaranteed that the best printer you choose has outstanding printability. The clarity of the printed images can also be used to judge a model’s print settings. The visual level will increase when the resolution is enhanced.
Printing Speed
Even though this factor may not influence several individuals, we cannot underestimate its significance, mainly for company owners. The printing pace is not an issue if you’re using the printer for amusement. If you already own a business that manufactures mugs for a livelihood, though, a machine with a fast printing speed will also be the optimal option for you.
Versatility
When I choose any sublimation printer I look for its versatility and how capable a printer is used for doing sublimation printing on different surfaces/ objects. Mostly dye sublimation printers can be used for t-shirts, mugs, cups, cell phone cases, and ceramic-based objects and even proved to be the best for larger banner designs.
Accuracy
Sublimation printing always depends on accuracy. If you are a small business owner or occasionally doing sublimation printing or have a business on a large scale must want to produce accurate quality items. The best quality printers like Epson, sawgrass, and Brother brands lead to vivid, sharp, and life-like color prints which reduce printing quality problems and mistakes.
Resolution
Of course, printers with high resolution always attract users. when we see a fine image printed on any kind of surface/item we must be thinking about the resolution of the printer. Sublimation printers are prolific to produce high-resolution images with excellent quality on mugs, cups, ceramics, t-shirts, and on different fabrics.
Sawgrass sg-500 has the highest resolution 4880 x 1200 dpi which is sufficient to produce crispy and lively color images on different blanks. Epson Expression Home XP-4100 is an inkjet printer that uses micro piezo heat technology and gives us a maximum resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi. A good-resolution featured sublimation printer always gives natural pictures with brilliant color accuracy. if a printer’s quality fulfills your printing needs just make a purchase.
Capacity of sheets
Every sublimation printer device has a different paper capacity. Specific versions can hold a maximum of 500 sheets at a time, while others might simply accommodate 100 pages. This characteristic is based on the printer’s anticipated usage; if you intend to print mugs for the whole day, a machine with greater sheet storage will be preferable.
Types of Ink and Refilling
Sublimation Printing ink comes in a variety of forms, including sublimation ink containers and cartridges. sublimation Ink cartridges have a fixed amount of ink and, therefore, must be refilled after just a few sessions. On the other side, sublimation Ink containers contain a large amount of ink and should not have to be refilled as frequently. Furthermore, ink bottles are typically positioned adjacent to the front, enabling refilling a simple process. Together with the positioning and kind of ink, the grade of sublimation ink on a mug should indeed be examined before acquisition.
Maintenance
Maintenance of a sublimation printer is another factor along with purchasing cost. when a printer gets out of order it is definitely repaired by specialists and some amount of money is invested to repair it. connectivity issues, ink cartridges, or other technical issues may occur. So, always keep in consideration these facts when you buy a sublimation printer
Top 5 The Best Sublimation Printer for Mugs
Considering the importance of sublimation printings on personalized items. Here, I have reviewed the top 5 best sublimation printer for mugs that I’ve tested for mugs printing. Go through these mug sublimation printer reviews and pick one of the best sublimation printers for your business.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | RATING | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Epson EcoTank ET-4760 Wireless |
9.8
|
Check on Amazon |
 |
Workforce WF-7710 Wireless Inkjet Printer |
9.8
|
Check on Amazon |
 |
Epson Expression ET-2650 Super Tank Printer |
9.8
|
Check on Amazon |
 |
Canon Pixma TR7520 Wireless Printer |
9.7
|
Check on Amazo |
 |
Epson Expression Photo HD Printer |
9.6
|
Check on Amazon |
1: Epson EcoTank ET-4760 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Printer (best Wireless printer)
Specifications:
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Special Feature: Default_no_selection_value
- Brand: Epson
- Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, Ethernet
- Model Name: ET-4760
- Compatible Devices: Smartphones, PC, Laptops
Are you looking for a dynamic range of the best sublimation printers for commercial purposes? If yes, then Epson printers with Epson cartridges are the best because I have personally used one, and it has always surprised me with its precise print resolution.
Firstly, the Epson printers and the genuine Epson inks work perfectly together to produce excellent results. Using Epson sublimation inks and sublimation paper with an Epson sublimation printer provides you with the benefit of not having to worry about damaging your printer at any cost, unlike ordinary inks that could cause damage.
Whether you need to print your to-do list or your monthly working schedule, the Epson EcoTank ET-4760 printer is great for all purposes, whether household or commercial that’s why This is the best printer for sublimation mugs. As the name suggests, the eco tank is surely a super tank printer with a good handy size. Furthermore, the machine has a paper tray which assists the automatic document feeder, thereby reducing paper waste.
This sublimation mug printer does not require a lot of ink and only consumes a reasonable amount of ink that showcases the best printing results. The best thing about this printer is that you get 2 years of ink with the capability of printing 7500 black and 6000 color pages which is quite a good number for printing extravagant results.
Lastly, You will feel a cartridge-free experience through this versatile printer. The replacement bottles lessen your visits to the store.
- Saves time with 250 sheet tray
- Easy to set up and with simple navigation
- Increased productivity with 2 side printing
- Ensures borderless printing
- Wireless printer with ultimate printing connectivity
- Encounter issues while printing red color
- The build quality is not up to the mark
- A bit noisy printer
Bottom line
In brief, the Epson EcoTank ET-4760 is one of the excellent quality printers which perfectly does sublimation transfers. It saves a lot of ink and does not require refilling too often. Also, it is a super tank printer that promises a cartridge-free experience. You can get sublimation print for many pages, whether black or colored, with desirable results.
2: Workforce WF-7710 Wireless Inkjet Printer, Wide Format (best inkjet printer)
Specifications:
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Special Feature: Auto-Duplex
- Brand: Epson
- Connectivity Technology: Hi-Speed USB 2.0, Wi-Fi (802.11n only), Wi-Fi direct, Ethernet
- Model Name: WF-7710
Are you a DIY person and love creating new and unique designs for yourself and your loved ones? this best Workforce WF-7710 Wireless Inkjet wide format printer is a good quality printer for everyone who wants to start a new business or keep the running business economical by not outsourcing the printing work.
It promises you high-end performance with vivid large-format printing. You get your desired borderless prints within seconds with quality beyond expectation. I have found this sublimation heat transfer printer to be economical and the best sublimation printer for mugs because it uses 80% less energy than color laser printers. Besides, it is also equipped with a paper handling tray and a rear feed for paper.
It has a 125-sheet output tray which eases your work. The printer has a 35-page auto document feeder, making printing convenient. It is a highly reliable printer that is easy to use with a 4.3″ color screen. This Workforce WF-7710 Wireless Inkjet Printer allows printing from tablets, smartphones, and iPad due to its wireless printing and networking and advanced technology. The two-side automatic feed can scan 11″ x 17″ paper quite easily.
- Ensures wide-format, borderless prints
- High-speed printer with 99% efficient results
- It uses 80% less power consumption
- Easy navigation with the touchscreen
- The multi-functioning printer that prints, scans, etc
- Often print clogged print heads
- High-quality printing demands a good amount of ink
- Requires replacement with the sublimation ink
Bottom line
In sum, the Epson Workforce WF-7710 Wireless Inkjet Printer produces borderless printing with high-quality results just like Epson inkjet printers do. Moreover, it always produces efficient results regardless of the design. The best thing about this printer is it has wireless features and can allow printing from tablets, Ipads, and even smartphones which enhances its print speed. it is a highly suitable printer for mugs.
3: Epson Expression ET-2650 All-in-one Wireless Color Super Tank Printer (best for sublimation printing)
Specifications:
- Printing Technology Inkjet
- Special Feature Wireless
- Brand Epson
- Connectivity Technology Hi-Speed USB 2.0, Wi-Fi (802.11n only), Wi-Fi Direct
- Model Name ET-2650
- Compatible Devices Smartphones, PC, Laptops
- Sheet Size 8.5 inches x 11.7
- Color Clear
If you are looking for an effortless working printer for printing mugs, you have stopped at the right spot because the Epson Expression ET-2650 printer serves your high-end printing needs with favorable results. The cartridge-free printing allows you to use the provided ink for two years which is more than enough for many prints to give beautiful designs to mugs.
this Epson Expression ET-2650 printer comes with a sufficient amount of ink that lets you print 4000 pages in black and 6500 pages in colored prints. The amount of ink present in the printer equals 20 ink cartridge sets. Also, the low-cost replacement bottles save up to 80% of your printer’s ink.
No matter where in the house you are, you can easily print high-quality pictures or images on mugs through the versatile, wireless Epson printer. Even better, you get value and convenience at the same time if you decide to choose this superb printer. In my experiments with this printer, I have printed multiple times and always got breathtaking results.
This printer is easy to set up and simple to use. The 1.44″ color LCD lets you use the printer conveniently without any trouble. However, I have always had a one-touch copying experience through the printer, making me happy every time I use this meaningful printer.
- Ensure excellent printing quality
- Compact and light in weight
- Low maintenance printer
- Wireless connectivity ensures convenience
- Ensures a one-touch copying experience
- Missing ADF feature
- Lacks automatic two-sided printing
- Do not promise borderless printing
Bottom line
This all-in-one Epson printer comes with multiple features, but still, it misses some of the important ones. However, its price does not do justice to the features it offers. Otherwise, it’s a versatile heat press printer that supports wireless connectivity and allows printing without getting into the hassle of connecting it through the wire.
4: Canon Pixma TR7520 Wireless Home Office Printer – (best for arts and crafts)
Specifications:
- Printing Technology Inkjet
- Special Feature With a built-in Wi-Fi and available connectivity options print anywhere from the house.
- Brand Canon
- Connectivity Technology USB
- Model Name Canon
- Sheet Size 14.4
Are you in search of an all-in-one printer with an ink replacement option? then why not try Canon Pixma a wireless printer with features that may fulfill your printing needs? Moreover, this printer offers a fax and ADF feature, which helps you work from anywhere.
It comes with a 20-sheet ADF which is possibly a good number. You can explore the world of wireless printing through the Canon Pixma all-in-one printer. The advantage of choosing this printer is it has always helped me print my favorite copies from any device like an iPad, tablet, and even my smartphone. What else does anyone want?
You will be surprised to see the five individual ink systems that lessen the hassle of repeatedly filling the ink; you only need to replace the ink that runs out. Isn’t that a great deal?
If you own a business, there is good news for you and you can easily print your business card through the Pixma wireless all-in-one printer. The excellent photo printing machine lets you print 4″ x 6″, 5″ x 7″ along with a 5″ x 5″ square wireless photo.
This mug printer tends to produce high print quality, but it has a sleek and compact design that can easily fit anywhere.
- A sleek and compact design makes it ideal for travel
- It has an LCD user interface
- Ensures immense paper support
- Besides printing and scanning, it also has other features
- Promises excellent copies
- There is no SD-card slot
- The Ethernet connectivity is missing
- It uses a lot of in
Bottom line
Briefly, the Canon Pixma is one of the best high-end sublimation printers is a great printer with multiple features to copy, print, and scan simultaneously. The superb printer has an LCD which makes it convenient to set your desired numbers. Besides, the printer delivers excellent results every time.
5: Epson Expression Photo HD Wireless Wide Format Printer (best for photographers)
Specifications:
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Special Feature: Auto-Duplex
- Brand: Epson
- Connectivity Technology: Wireless; Ethernet
- Model Name: XP-15000
- Sheet Size: 13 inch x 19
Are you looking for some professional yet high-end printing results? then go with the Epson expression photo HD that gives perfect sublimation transfer. It is a wireless wide-format printer that promises borderless printing results and prints up to 13″ x 19″.
Firstly, this dye sublimation printer with the latest printing technology is equipped with red and grey inks to print high-quality photos. Also, it promises high-end black and white prints. Its effects can easily be compared with other high-end printers’ results, yet its printing quality is good. The printer is good with plain paper handling, so I usually try my new prints through this superb printer.
Secondly, the Epson expression printer supports two-sided document printing and comes with a 200-sheet front tray. You will not run out of ink because of the dashboard replenishment, which tracks your ink usage.
Thirdly, If you want to print your copies faster than the usual speed, then it’s the best dye-sublimation printer for mugs so far because I used these dye-sublimation printers when running late and have plenty of documents to print.
Lastly, besides dye-sublimation technology, the wireless connectivity feature lets you connect with your printer anytime. However, the user-friendly LCD setup increases your excitement and enables you to explore the printer to the fullest.
- A superb photo printing job
- It tends to produce borderless results
- Utilize new Claria Photo HD inks
- Small and light in weight
- Ensures wireless connectivity
- It has high running costs
- Slow printing speed
- Dark areas show low-definition results
Bottom line
In last, the Epson expression photo HD printer is a great choice for all the photographers out there. Moreover, it is an economical printer that portrays versatile results that’s why this is the best sublimation printer for shirts and mugs. There is a bit of a pitfall in the photo printing quality compared to the other expensive and high-end printers. But the price of the printer does justice to what it produces.
What do I need for sublimation on mugs?
I tried my best to educate you through this image that what is special about sublimation mugs have a look.
How to design and print mugs?
here, I will explain the process of mug sublimation:-
- Our very first step is to create a design that we will print against the mug. we can easily create three images on an A4 size sublimation paper. But the measurement of a design might vary according to different mug sizes because sometimes we have to cover individual mugs. The size of a regular 10/11 oz mug is approximately 20 x 8 cm and 20 x 9.5 cm which will allow for covering the whole mug for sublimation printing. Usually, we can sublimate 3 mugs with a 20 x 8 cm design with an A4 sublimation paper sheet.
- Set the cropped design paper around the mug and adjust it by using a heat-resistant tap.
- Put the mug into preheated 200ºC mug press machine for almost 185 seconds. we must notice the mug sublimation time and temperature to avoid any sublimation mug printing problems.
- when the time is over stop pressing more and take out the mug from the mug press machine. Remove the paper quickly from the mug but it is better to wait until the mug is cool
- Now it’s done, Look at the beautiful design which we have sublimated on the mug.
FAQS
Can you use a sublimation printer for mugs?
A sublimation printer is necessary if you want to print mugs using sublimation. Mugs are by far the most typical product imprinted with sublimation technology. Although sublimating a mug is a simple process.
What printers can be used for sublimation printing?
Epson, Ricoh, and Brother are the most convenient printers which can be used for sublimation printing because they use a micro Piezo printing head that leads to electric charges and vibrates and builds pressure to force ink from the nozzle on the paper quickly so this method makes sublimation easier in Epson and Brother printers that is why we can easily convert and use them for doing sublimation printing.
Well, I have written a comprehensive article on this topic you can jump into this section for more clear understanding.
What are the best Epson printers for sublimation?
There are several Epson printers that can be used for sublimation printing. if we analyze the Epson brand with any other printer brand Epson is always at top of all. we can easily convert most Epson printers for sublimation printing.
I have also written a detailed article on the best Epson sublimation printers go and find which best suits your business
here is a list of some highly rated best Epson sublimation printers.
Epson EcoTank ET-2720
Epson EcoTank ET-2800
Epson EcoTank ET-15000
Epson EcoTank ET-2850
Epson EcoTank ET-3850
Epson EcoTank ET-3760
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500
Epson Workforce Pro WF-3820
Epson EcoTank ET-4700
Epson Workforce Pro WF-4820
Epson Workforce Pro WF-7310
Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5170
Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5150
Epson EcoTank ET-2760
can you use any mug for sublimation?
Of course not! you can use only the mugs which have characteristics of the polymer coating. Remember you should avoid giving them polymer coating yourself at home. Mugs are the most popular sublimation blanks nowadays but if anybody thinks about doing sublimation printing on a regular mug is not possible.
How long does it to sublimate a mug?
The amount of time it takes to sublimate a mug is dependent on its type and composition. The time it would take to sublimate mugs tends to vary between 5 and 12 minutes. Sublimation carried out at temperatures tends to range from 375°F to 400°F.
what is the best sublimation paper for mugs?
when you are ready to sublimate a mug you must think about purchasing sublimation paper for mugs. To make it easier for you I will recommend the A-Sub sublimation paper and Printer’s Jack sublimation paper. Both papers are mirrored and give almost the same result with a little bit of difference on the same blank. If you have 8.5 x 11″ sheets of paper you can size it down for different things like mugs, tumblers, pins, and all other blanks.
you can cut the paper according to your mug size. For 11-ounce sublimation mugs, the size will be 3.5 x 9″ and for 15-ounce sublimation mugs it will be 4 x 9.5″ and for 12-ounce sublimation mugs, the size will be 4 x 9″ . if you don’t have mugs to sublimate all the time then I will recommend cutting it down by yourself to avoid any further sublimation mug printing problems.
How to do sublimation on mugs with Cricut?
For sublimation on mugs using a Cricut press, you will need mugs designed for use with the Cricut press. Consider taking the printed image and enclosing it in parchment paper before adhering it to the mug. Place the mug in the Cricut press, cover the top, and the design will indeed be imprinted on the mug.
you might also like to read
what is sublimation Cricut
Is sublimation permanent on mugs?
Sublimation is a technique for imprinting mugs. The sublimation process allows for a precise and permanent design to be applied to the exteriors of ceramic materials and other materials to obtain high-quality, marketable products
How do professionals print on mugs?
There are five methods that most professionals use to print images and company logos to make custom mugs.
Direct screen printing method on mugs
Transfer printing on coffee mugs
Digital image printing method
Dye sublimation printing
Pad printing on mugs
Is selling coffee mugs profitable?
Where there is creativity there will be more ways to build any business successfully and the same goes for mug sublimation if you are creative and willing to do it you can definitely build up a mug sublimation business. You can get a good profit by selling them out of this mug-selling business.
On the other side, always keep in mind, that we cannot print on mugs with just about any sublimation machine and also can not use any ordinary ceramic mugs. specifically, you should use poly-coated mugs so the ink would be set and transferred to the item. After knowing these facts if you are undecided to choose the best sublimation printer for mugs then you can go with our top 2 sublimation printers. Epson EcoTank ET-4760 Wireless Printer Workforce WF-7710 Wireless Inkjet Printer These are enough to meet your best printer needs.
