Which means if you're pricing everything the same way, you're almost certainly undercharging on some products and potentially overpricing on others.

Here's the full sublimation pricing formula:

Total cost = ink cost + paper cost + substrate cost + labor + overhead + markup

Ink cost is the one that surprises people most. Sublimation ink cost per print depends on your printer model, ink coverage percentage, and whether you're using roll or sheet paper. A full-coverage design on a Sawgrass printer costs more in ink than the same design at 40% coverage. This is the number most sublimation crafters never actually calculate — they just assume ink is cheap and move on. It's not nothing, especially on large prints or high-coverage designs.

Paper cost is easy to overlook because a sheet of sublimation paper seems inexpensive — until you're running hundreds of prints a month. Factor in your cost per sheet or per linear foot on roll paper, plus any waste from misprints or test prints.

Substrate cost is your blank — the tumbler, shirt, mug, or whatever you're sublimating onto. This one's obvious but worth including fully. Don't forget shipping costs for your blanks, especially if you're ordering in smaller quantities.

Labor is the same trap it is with vinyl. Sublimation takes time — loading blanks, pressing, peeling, quality checking, packaging. If you're not paying yourself for that time, your pricing will always feel off. A reasonable starting point is $15–25/hr for a small home-based sublimation business.

Overhead covers your press, printer, ink system, and any software subscriptions. Spread across your volume, this is usually smaller than people fear — but it should still be in the formula.

Markup is your profit margin on top of everything. Standard for handmade goods is 2–2.5x total cost. For sublimation products sold on Etsy, you also need to factor in platform fees and shipping costs before you land on a final retail price.

The fastest way to run all of this for your specific setup is the free sublimation cost calculator - it supports Sawgrass, Epson F170, and Epson F570, handles roll vs. sheet paper, and calculates your recommended job price and total profit based on your actual numbers. It works for tumblers, shirts, mugs, and any other substrate you're pricing.

If you need more control — multiple printer profiles, custom substrate libraries, bulk discount optimization — the advanced sublimation calculator is included with a Silhouette U membership.

One thing worth remembering: sublimation pricing isn't one-size-fits-all. A 20oz tumbler and a 30oz tumbler have different substrate costs, different press times, and different ink coverage. Price each product individually rather than using a blanket rate across your whole catalog — your margins will thank you.