If you're in the market for a sublimation printer—whether for crafting or your small business—one of the most important factors to consider isn't just the initial price of the printer. It's the ongoing cost of sublimation ink.
It's a hidden cost that usually doesn't get noticed..until it's too late when you've already invested money into the printer and time learning it.
But I'm getting real - breaking down the real numbers behind sublimation ink costs, comparing the new Brother SP1 sublimation printer with the Sawgrass SG500 and SG1000.
The Numbers Don't Lie: Ink Cost Per Milliliter
It's not a secret that Sawgrass ink prices are high at more than $300 for a full set of standard ink. Since the ink cartridge size varies between printers, we need to look at the cost per mL of ink. When compared to Brother sublimation ink (and Epson sublimation ink as well) the per mL price is really no comparison.
| Printer | Individual Cartridge | Cost per ml | Full CMYK Set | Cost per ml (Set) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother SP1 | $29.99 for 47ml | $0.64 | $106 for 188ml | $0.56 |
| Sawgrass | $79.99 for 30ml | $2.67 | $308 for 120ml | $2.57 |
The difference is quiet honestly shocking: Brother SP1 ink is approximately 75-78% less expensive per milliliter compared to Sawgrass ink.
Initial Sublimation Investment: Bundle Prices with Ink
When comparing the upfront costs to get started with sublimation it's important to make sure you know what's included with the printer.
The lowest price Sawgrass SG500 printer I could find is $599.95. At that entry-level price, the SG500 bundle includes a set of 20ml starter inks.
That's a small enough amount of ink that I've actually heard from many Sawgrass users who are concerned with the immediate "low ink" warning when setting up their printer. The warning is because the starter inks are mostly used up just filling the lines.
While you can still print with this warning on, it does mean that a full set of Sawgrass ink - at a price of $307 - is going to be needed pretty soon after the initial set up.
The Brother SP1 printer, on the other hand, comes with its regular full-size 47ml ink cartridges in its bundle price of $429.99. Not only is the Brother printer bundle nearly $169 cheaper upfront, but Brother users don't report this same type of warning or issue (nor did I experience this when setting up my Brother SP-1). When it is time to replace the Brother inks, a full set is $108.
What Sublimation Ink Prices Mean For Your Bottom Line
So here's the thing - if you're running a small business making custom t-shirts, mugs, mouse pads, keychains or other sublimation products, ink costs directly impact your profitability.
For every 1,000ml of sublimation ink you use you'll be spending:
- With Brother SP1: $560-$640 in ink
- With Sawgrass: $2,570-$2,670 in ink
That's a difference of approximately $2,000 for the same amount of ink. For a small business or crafter who's printing sublimation regularly this represents thousands of dollars in savings per year.
Or think about it this way: When it's time to buy a new set of Sawgrass ink for $308, you could spend just $120 more and get an entire new Brother SP1 printer WITH a full set of ink included.
Let that sink in for a moment. The entire Brother printer with ink costs less than if you bought two replacement sets of Sawgrass ink.
Is It Time To Make The Switch?
If you're already using a Sawgrass printer, but hate the cost of ink, the Brother sublimation printer does offer significantly cheaper ink. However....you will have to learn a new printer. Honestly though .. the learning curve is minimal.
And there's more good news: you don't have to learn a new software. With the Brother SP-1 sublimation printer, you simply install the driver and you can then print from any program including Silhouette Studio or free Affinity. Unlike Sawgrass you don't need to print through a special software like the Sawgrass Print Manager.
For new users just starting with sublimation, investing in a Brother sublimation printer (or the Epson F170 or 24" Epson F570) will save you significant money from day one, without sacrificing print quality or features.
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