This is the most current list of the Epson EcoTank Printers you can convert for sublimation.
There are printers that are made for sublimation but they are more expensive than a regular inkjet printer that can be converted. The epson printers are the only inkjet printers that can be converted and their EcoTank line is the easiest for this purpose.
Before purchasing one of these Ecotank printers for sublimation, there are several basics of sublimation you should be familiar with:
- What is sublimation?
- What you need to get started on sublimating.
- Comparison and review of sublimation papers.
Best Epson Ecotanks For Sublimation
Great Value Small Format: ET-2800
- Great Value 8.5 x 14” printer
- MSRP $280 but can often be found on sale for less than this (price subject to change).
- ET-2803 is the same as ET-2800. They are only available from Walmart and Target.
- Released in 2021
- REVIEW: Converted ET-2800 ET-2803 Printer
Alternative Small Format: ET-2400
- Lowest priced 8.5 x 14” printer
- MSRP $250 but can be found on sale for less than this (price subject to change without notice)
- New for 2022
- REVIEW: Converted ET-2400 Printer
Best Value Wide Format: ET-15000
- Wide Format printer, 13 x 19″
- Availability is a hit and miss but it does come in stock often.
- You may find a reconditioned one direct from Epson.
Alternative Wide Format Printer: ET-8550
- Wide Format printer, 13 x 19″
- Requires 6 ink colors rather than the traditional 4 CMYK because this is a photo printer.
- Availability is a hit and miss but it does come in stock often.
PRO TIP — There are 3rd party sellers on Amazon that are selling these printers for more than the MSRP. This is because it’s in high demand and people are willing to pay for the higher price. If you can wait, then periodically check to see if Amazon is the seller…who usually sells them for the MSRP.
Jennifer at SublimakersAcademy
Warranty And Tech Support
These Epson Ecotank printers are not manufactured for sublimation. When you convert these by adding sublimation ink instead of the genuine Epson ink that came with the printer, the warranty is voided and tech support is not provided.
If you run into a problem with your newly converted sublimation printer, you can’t call Epson for help. You will have to figure it out on your own through the help of the sublimation community.
We also have a post on the most common sublimation problems along with how to fix them. You cannot return this printer for a warranty replacement either. So when or if something goes wrong that cannot be fixed, then you will be out of money entirely.
To avoid this problem, you can purchase a printer that is made for sublimation. They are not as expensive as they once were. The Epson SureColor F170 is the lowest cost true sublimation printer with an MSRP of around $400 (price subject to change) and has a max print size of 8.5 x 14″. Our detailed Epson F170 Printer Review shows you how easy it is to set up, use, and the sublimated colors of our blanks..
List of Ecotank printers That Can Be Converted For Sublimation
- ET-2400
- ET-2800
- ET-2803
- ET-2850
- ET-3830
- ET-3850
- ET-4800
- ET-4850
- ET-5150
- ET-5170
- ET-5180
- ET-5800
- ET-5850
- ET-5880
- ET-8500
- ET-8550
- ET-15000
- ET-16600
- ET-16650
Stay tuned for a detailed write up on the differences between the printers above.
Epson EcoTank printers are not the only printers that can be converted to sublimation, here’s a list of the WorkForce Printers too. If your goal is to sublimate larger items such as the 30 ounce tumblers, shirts that are larger than XL in size, doormats and more, then you’ll need to convert a Wide Format Epson Printer. These printers print up to 13″x19″ in size.
Once you have your printer picked out, don’t forget to also get the basic starter supplies that you’ll need to start sublimating your very first project. This list will go over what you need and why you need them.
And in order to transfer your printed sublimation design to our blanks, you will need the second most important piece of equipment — the heat press. Find the right one using our Sublimation Heat Press Buyer’s Guide. And if your main goal is to make tumblers, then the Mug and Tumbler Press Buyers Guide will walk you through on what you need and additional accessories to get you started.
Need a sublimation design software? Now that you have chosen your printer, it’s time to choose your sublimation design software to use to create your sublimation designs!
FAQs About Epson For Sublimation
Updates & Social Media:
We often post on our social media channels when there are updates, tips and tricks, behind the scenes, and even great deals on sublimation blanks and equipment. You can also ask us your sublimation related questions too.
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*DISCLAIMERS: Any prices mentioned above are the price at the time of the original publication. These can vary, can fluctuate, and can change at any time. Please check the retailer for current prices.
We make every effort to make sure the above information is correct and up to date by doing our due diligence when performing our research. However, typos can occur and unintended mistakes happen. We are not responsible for any incorrect data published here.
Hello, can i convert the
Epson ET-M21220
for sublimation?
Hi Patrik, you mentioned ET-M21220 but do you mean ET-M2120? I believe that model is sold in Ireland. I am not familiar with what sublimation ink is available there. I am familiar with the US models and supplies as I deal with those for my business and also use them for writing these posts. But I will do further research and will email you once I get more info. 🙂
Can I conver expression 4105 for sublimation
Hi Alexis,
The XP-4105 needs cartridges with chips for the printer to recognize the ink. You would have to buy the CISS chipless ink tanks that has be to be used with a chipless firmware. Even if they’re chipless, there’s no guarantee that your XP-4105 will recognize it and work. If you want the ink tank supplier, email me (see contact us page) and I’ll share their name. I have not had any experience with that company so I can’t vouch for them which is the reason why I won’t publish it publicly.
What is the replacement tank # for epson 2803
What tank are you trying to change on the ET-2803? The ink tanks? They do not need to be replaced if you’re low on ink. You just have to pour more ink in the tanks.
Hello, I live in England. Is the EPSON EcoTank ET-2810 suitable for sublimation?
Yes, that looks like the ET-2400. It’s new here in the USA and was released on 10/2022. I am working on a write up and video tutorial on how to set it up for sublimation. It’s very similar to the ET-2803 and I do have a review of that at:
https://sublimakersacademy.com/et2800-et2803-sublimation-printer-review/
It seems to me so long as you can get empty reusable ink cartridges for your Espon printer, you can print with sublimation ink. I received an Artisan 730 and I can just buy the empty reusable ink cartridges. I think I sure will do that and load them with sublimation ink. No issues there right?
Yes, if you put sublimation ink into the printer, it may work. But some ink cartridges have a chip that the has to be read by the printer in order for it to work. If that chip is not recognized by the printer, it will not print. A lot of people run into that problem when using those cartridges.
Can Epson printer 2720 be convert to a sublimation
Hi Saprina,
The Epson ET-2720 was discontiued by Epson in 2021. This is on the list of of Discontinued Epson Printers for sublimation. You can use the ET-2800 series instead as it is the direct replacement. You can read about it on my Converted ET-2800/2803 Sublimation Printer Review.
But if you already have the ET-2720, then yes, you can use it. Just don’t purchase it as new because it may cost more than the new ET-2800.
There’s not much info about the ET 4800. How does it compare to the ET 2400? Long story short, I ordered the 2400 but it was substituted with the 4800 for the same price. Keep 4800 or return for 2400?
Keep the ET-4800. It just has extra functions such as copy, fax and scan. Just convert it the same way as we did the ET-2800 and ET-2400.
Thanks! I know many of the extra features aren’t really useful for sublimation, but I wasn’t sure. I appreciate your website. I learned a lot more about this craft by researching via your site.
You’re welcome and glad I can help. You can find beginner tutorials here too. Get started on making Christmas Ornaments with the free sublimation designs I have. Just let me know if you have any other questions.
By the way, you can also use the scan feature when you need to create a template for a sublimation blank. So that scan feature will come in handy someday. That’s in my long list of video tutorials to make.
Hi, can an Epson XP-3155 be converted to sublimation .. if so how do you rate this printer overall ? .. I would be using it for mug and clothing printing
Hi Kerry,
Converting an Epson XP printer can be a hassle. They need ink cartridges that that has a chip for the printer to read. If you buy a 3rd party ink cartridge that has sublimation ink in it to convert the printer, then the Epson printer will know that it is not a real Epson cartridge (because of the chip). The Epson printer may or may not work. Most people have reported that the only way to get that 3rd party cartridge with chip to work is to get a chip resetter…another expense. And even if it’s reset, it may work one day then just stop working the next day. So converting an XP series is a big gamble now a days. The easiest ones to convert would be an Ecotank series.
I am looking at a used Epson WF 7620 A3 printer that is from Europe, so it has a region lock on it. If I convert it to a sublimation printer, will that eliminate the region lock on it, or would it still not work here in North America?
That all depends on the type of cartridges you get for your WF printer. You’ll have to ask your supplier if their cartridge’s chip can be recognized by a region-locked printer.
Good morning, I just purchased an ET 3850 and was wondering if it can be used for sublimation prints.
Yes, that can be used for sublimation. Just add sublimation ink instead of the ink that it came with. Good luck and let me know if you need help with converting it.
Can an Epson L4260 be converted to sublimation printing? Thank you.
The Epson L4260 looks like a standard Ecotank that has the integrated ink tank where you just fill the tanks with the sublimation ink. So you should be able to convert it to a sublimation printer. But since I cannot get my hands on this version of the printer in the US, I cannot say that I am 100% certain.