List Of Wide Format Epson Ecotank Printers That Can Be Converted To Sublimation

Spread the word!

This is a 2022 list of the Wide Format Epson Ecotank Printers that can be converted for sublimation. Wide format printers are capable of printing 13 x 19″ so they’re what you need for larger sublimation projects.

Finding an Epson printer to convert to sublimation that can print wide format, or 13×19 inches, is tough to find. Some say it’s harder than finding a unicorn and while that may be true, you should not give up.

Wide format Epsons that can be converted for sublimation can be found with a little patience. They become available once in a while, are sometimes available at the local retail store even though their online website says out of stock, and the best news, there’s more than one Epson printer model you can use.

Almost all wide format Epson inkjet printers that can be converted to sublimation are currently out of stock as of Summer 2021. If it is available, it’s likely to be priced twice or three times the manufacturer’s suggested retail price because resellers are attempting to make a little money on this high-demand items because of low supplies. 

Why Wide Format Epson Is Popular for Sublimation

A lot of sublimators are in search of these highly coveted wide format printers because of the size of their printing capabilities. They can print sublimation transfers in various sizes from 8.5×11 to 13×19 inches. The smaller sublimation transfers are used for mugs, keychains, mouse pads, and Christmas ornaments to name a few.   

But the larger, wide format sublimation printers can print on 13” x 19” sublimation papers which can sublimate on various large sublimation blanks such as garden flags, door mats, blankets, sublimation shirts in larger sizes such as L, XL and up, and more. 

Because of that larger printing capability, sublimators are able to offer a wider range of sublimated products to their friends, family, and most importantly, their customers. They are not limited by their printer in terms of what they can offer.

Why Are Printers Out Of Stock?

You are not alone with trying to find that wide format Epson to convert for sublimation. It is literally out of stock at just about every retail and online marketplace. Its availability comes and goes but you have to be quick to snag it when it is. There are many reasons for why this elusive printer is out of stock. The 2020 pandemic is the main issue which caused a domino effect to the supply chain. 

Increased Demand

When the pandemic of 2020 hit, a lot of workplaces and schools opted for working from home and online classes. This caused an increased demand because many people needed additional  equipment for their home office in order to perform the work needed from them by their employers. This increased demand caused a surge in buying any and all printers available to them from all the online and retail stores.

Semiconductor Chip Shortage

In order to keep the workers safe from catching and spreading the virus, a lot of factories reduced or closed their production hours. Because of this decreased factory production hours,  less things were manufactured. The semiconductor chips, one of the most important parts of the printers, are affected by this manufacturing shortage.

Two other reasons for this chip shortage include US Sanctions against the top Chinese chip maker, SMIC, and a large fire at a chip plant in March of 2020. These shortages in production of an important part of the printer caused a supply chain disruption in printer manufacturing.

Things To Consider When Buying A Wide Format Sublimation Printer

Cost

The cost of the wide format Epson printers are significantly more than their smaller counterparts. The smaller Epson Printers that can be converted to sublimation (max print of 8.5 x 14 inches) start at $200 while the wide formats start at $600. If you are going to be mainly printing larger sublimation transfers, then it makes sense to get a wide format printer. But if you only make smaller items that only need sublimation transfers around the size of 11×14 inches or smaller, then a wide format printer is not a smart buy for you. There are ways to piece together sublimation transfers if you ever need a larger transfer but that process is tedious and requires lots of practice to master. 

Make sure to factor in the cost of the sublimation papers and sublimation ink for your wide format Epson printer when making a decision. Larger papers cost more, as you guessed already, so make sure what you’re planning on printing really needs the larger sizes. Of course if your main reason is to make garden flags, larger shirts, door mats and the like, then you really need this type of Epson Sublimation Printer.

Space

When buying a wide format Epson printer, you have to consider the size of the printer itself because it could be too large for the space you have to work with. If you don’t have a lot of room, then you have to decide if you could reorganize your work area to accommodate the printer. 

Don’t forget that some printers also have a rear feed area where you have to insert the larger papers in order to print. So make sure you account for that when planning on how much space you need to dedicate for your sublimation printer. 

Heat Press Size

When your sublimation transfers are larger, chances are that you will also need a larger heat press to accommodate the size. A garden flag is usually around 12×18 inches and your sublimation transfer will be about 12.5×18.5 inches to add some bleed area. When pressing a garden flag this size, a 16×20 inch heat press is the appropriate size in order to press it in one single press. So before buying a wide format Epson sublimation printer to make larger sublimated items, you have to consider the size of the heat press too. 

List of Wide Format Epson Printers That Can Be Converted For Sublimation

As you know, there are sublimation printers that are already made for sublimation and there are regular inkjet printers that can be converted to sublimation. The inkjet printers that are able to be converted into sublimation printers are the Epson Printers because of the type of printheads they have. If you’ve decided that converting one is the right sublimation printer for you and would like a wide-format one that can print a 13×19-inch sublimation transfer, then you have a few printers to choose from: 

• Epson EcoTank 15000
• Epson EcoTank 8550
• Epson EcoTank 16600
• Epson EcoTank 16650

So now let’s see what the differences are between those printers so you can make an informed decision on which printer you should get. 

1. Epson EcoTank 15000 (ET-15000)

• Print, Copy, Scan, Fax
• 4 Ink Colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
• Print Speed: Black 17ppm and Color 9ppm
• Paper Trays: 2 (1 front and 1 rear)
• Dimensions: 19.6″ x 29.6″ x 14.3″ (W x H x D)
• Weight: 26.5 lb
• MSRP:  $600 –> prices seem to be around $700 now as of May 2022

2. Epson EcoTank 8550 (ET-8550)

• Print, Copy, Scan
• 6 Ink Colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Photo Black, Gray)
• Print Speed: Black 16ppm and Color 12ppm
• Paper Trays: 3 (2 front and 1 rear)
• Dimensions: 20.6 x 29.8 x 14.5″ (W x H x D)
• Weight: 24.5 lb
• MSRP:  $700

3. Epson EcoTank 16600 (ET-16600)

• Print, Copy, Scan, Fax
• 4 Ink Colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
• Print Speed: Black 25ppm and Color 12ppm
• Paper Trays: 3 (2 front and 1 rear)
• Dimensions: 20.3″ x 38.4″ x 20.5″ (W x H x D)
• Weight: 53 lbs
• MSRP:  $1,000

4. Epson EcoTank 16650 (ET-16650)

• Print, Copy, Scan, Fax
• 4 Ink Colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
• Print Speed: Black 25ppm and Color 25ppm
• Paper Trays: 3 (2 front and 1 rear)
• Dimensions: 20.3″ x 38.4″ x 20.5″ (W x H x D)
• Weight: 46 lbs
• MSRP:  $1,130

What’s the difference between the ET-16600 and ET-16650?

The EcoTank 16600 (ET-16600) and EcoTank 16650 (ET-16650) are essentially the same printer except for a few minor differences. The ET-16650 costs more than the ET-16600 because it is capable of printing faster in color, has a faster color copy speed, has a few more direct printing options (Epson Connect, Epson Email Print, and Epson iPrint Mobile), and weighs about 7 lbs less. 

Those minor differences are not important for sublimation printing so if you can find the lower cost ET-16600, it would be a better printer in terms of cost as compared to the ET-16650. 

How To Find A Wide Format Epson For Sublimation

Since these printers are out of stock from most retailers due to supply shortages and increased demand, a lot of sublimators have been waiting for months for one of these printers. If you are not willing to wait for them to come back to stock at their regular price (MSRP) then you can certainly find them at a significantly higher cost (double and triple the cost) from resellers. 

But if you are not willing to pay a penny more than the regular cost of these elusive wide format Epson printers, there are a few things you can do to try to score one of these. 

1. Sign up for a notification from your online retailer to let you know when it is back in stock.
2. Check Dell.com and Epson.com’s refurbished section to see if a refurbished version is available. These printers are basically brand new since they’ve been inspected and returned to a fully-functioning printer.
3. Go to your local office supply store and see if they physically have one in stock even if their online inventory says not available. There have been many cases where their inventory is incorrect and many have been lucky to find one sitting in their shelves. 
4. Stalk your favorite online retailers to see if they have restocked. Check often because they do come in and out of stock.
5. Follow our Facebook Page because we announce when they’re in stock. When we do, you have to be fast and get online to order yours right away.

And now that you have decided that this Wide Format Epson is the right sublimation printer for you, don’t forget that there are other accessories and supplies you need in order to get started on your sublimation journey. This printer is just one piece of the puzzle but we’ve created a simple list of what every beginner needs to get started on sublimation. 

Another important piece of equipment you need is the heat press. A regular home iron will not work well for sublimation. Use our helpful Sublimation Heat Press Buyer’s Guide to find the right one for you that fits your budget.

---