Sublimation tumblers: what you need besides the press, and what each one costs (2026)
The job: Make and sell custom full-wrap 20 oz skinny tumblers from home.
Short answer: a tumbler press alone isn't enough. You need four things: a sublimation printer with sublimation ink ($399+), sublimation paper, a tumbler press (or a convection oven with shrink wrap), and sublimation-coated blanks. Sublimation only bonds to polyester or polymer-coated surfaces. It won't work on plain stainless steel, cotton or uncoated mugs.
Realistic starting cost for a printer, press and first blanks is about $575-900 at the prices we checked.
The full shopping list
| Item | Why | Price we found |
|---|---|---|
| Sublimation printer | Prints the design with ink that turns to gas under heat | Epson SureColor F170 $399; Sawgrass SG500 $599.95-699.95 |
| Tumbler press | Wraps heat evenly around the tumbler | HTVRONT Auto Tumbler Press $139.99 |
| Sublimation blanks | Coated surface the ink bonds to | 20 oz skinny, about $8.75 each in a 4-pack (HTVRONT) |
| Paper, heat tape, gloves | Hold the print tight and protect your hands | Varies; budget $20-40 to start |
Sources: HeatPressNation (F170) · Coastal Business (SG500) · HTVRONT tumbler press · Atomm: sublimation needs coated blanks
At a glance
| Product | Best for | What it is | Fits | Price (checked) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTVRONT Auto Tumbler Heat Press | Tumblers in the 10-30 oz range | Auto tumbler press | 10-30 oz, 2.95-3.18 in diameter | $139.99 |
| Cricut Mug Press | 11-16 oz straight-wall mugs | One-touch mug press, 500 W | 11-16 oz mugs, 3.2-3.4 in diameter | $149.99 (list $199.99) |
| Epson SureColor F170 | Purpose-built sublimation at the lowest price | Sublimation printer | Letter/legal-size sublimation paper | $399 printer-only |
| Sawgrass SG500 | Those who want Sawgrass's software and ink system | Sublimation printer | Up to legal-size sheets | $599.95-$699.95 depending on bundle |
How we chose
- Fits 20 oz skinny tumblers per the maker's stated size range
- Price on the check date
- Printer: purpose-built for sublimation (no conversion needed)
The picks
HTVRONT Auto Tumbler Heat Press
Built specifically for tumblers, with a stated 10-30 oz range and 210-390°F. It fits the common 20 oz skinny size.
- Made for tumblers, not mugs
- Low price
- Diameter range is narrow (2.95-3.18 in), so check your blanks
- For 10-40 oz, HTVRONT's A200 costs $279.99
Skip it if: You mainly make 11-15 oz mugs; a mug press fits those better.
Sources: HTVRONT Auto Tumbler Press page · HTVRONT A200 page
Cricut Mug Press
Great for mugs, with one-touch operation. Cricut doesn't officially support 20 oz tumblers, though some crafters report workarounds. If tumblers are your product, buy a tumbler press.
- Very simple one-button operation
- Works with Cricut Infusible Ink and sublimation mugs
- Not officially specified for 20 oz tumblers
- Mug diameter range only
Skip it if: Tumblers are your main product.
Sources: Cricut Mug Press page · Cricut Mug Press FAQ
Epson SureColor F170
A purpose-built sublimation printer, so no converting a regular printer and voiding its warranty. It's the lowest-priced dedicated option we found.
- Designed for sublimation from the factory
- $399 printer-only
- Desktop size limits print width
- Ink is a recurring cost, so factor it into each tumbler
Skip it if: You'll print large banners or blankets; you'd need a wider printer.
Check price at HeatPressNation
Sources: HeatPressNation F170 listing · Atomm: Epson vs Sawgrass 2026
Sawgrass SG500
Sawgrass makes sublimation-only printers. The higher-priced bundle includes ink and software.
- Sublimation-dedicated brand
- Bundles include ink and software
- $200-300 more than the Epson F170
- Proprietary ink system
Skip it if: You're trying to keep startup costs low.
Check price at Coastal Business
Sources: Coastal Business sublimation printers · HeatPressNation printer bundles
What it really costs per item
The blank is most of the cost. Tumblers are heavy, so shipping matters too. Here we assume the buyer pays shipping and you pay for the box.
One 20 oz skinny sublimation tumbler on Etsy
| Assumption | Value |
|---|---|
| Blank / material per item ($) | 8.75 |
| Consumables per item ($) | 0.6 |
| Machine minutes per item | 6 |
| Machine power draw (W) | 500 |
| Machine price ($) | 538.99 |
| Items over machine life | 1500 |
| Labour minutes per item | 12 |
| Your pay ($/hour) | 15 |
| Packaging/shipping you absorb ($) | 1.0 |
| Fixed fee per order ($) | 0.25 |
| Percentage fees (% of price) | 9.5 |
| Target margin (% of price) | 25 |
| Materials + consumables | $9.35 |
|---|---|
| Electricity | $0.01 |
| Machine wear (price / lifetime items) | $0.36 |
| Your labour | $3.00 |
| Shipping absorbed + fixed fees | $1.25 |
| Total cost per item | $13.97 |
| Price needed for a 25% margin after 9.5% fees | $21.32 |
- Blank: HTVRONT 20 oz skinny 4-pack $34.99 → $8.75 each.
- Paper, ink and shrink/heat tape assumed 60¢. Press wattage assumed 500 W (not published on the page we checked).
- Machine wear: $139.99 press + $399 printer over 1,500 tumblers. Box/packaging $1.00, buyer pays postage.
- Fees modelled on Etsy US: 6.5% transaction + 3% payment processing (9.5% of price) + $0.25 per order (Etsy fees page, checked 2026-10-18). Offsite Ads (15%) not included.
Open this example in the calculator and change any number
FAQ
Can I sublimate a regular stainless steel tumbler?
No. Sublimation needs a polymer coating. Buy blanks sold as sublimation tumblers.
Can I use an oven instead of a press?
Yes, many crafters use a convection oven with shrink wrap. Use a dedicated oven, not the one you cook in.
Sources
HTVRONT 20 oz sublimation tumblers · Etsy fees & payments policy
Specs and prices from linked manufacturer and retailer pages, checked 2026-10-18. We have not used these products ourselves. Prices and availability change; the retailer's price at checkout applies.