Tools & Gear for Crafters

The printers, heat presses, cutting machines, and supplies crafters actually use every day — real prices, honest reasons, no fluff.

Some links lead to Amazon. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Sublimation Printers

The heart of any sublimation setup. These four cover every budget and use case.

Best Budget

Epson EcoTank ET-2800

$200 – 250

Convert it with sublimation ink and it handles tumblers, shirts, and mugs up to 8.5 inches wide.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Best Plug & Play

Sawgrass SG500

$550 – 600

No conversion needed. Built-in color management means prints match exactly what you see on screen.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Best Wide Format

Epson EcoTank ET-15000

$450 – 500

Prints up to 13 inches wide for big tumblers, garden flags, and oversized designs.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Pro Upgrade

Sawgrass SG1000

$1,000 – 1,200

Full 13-inch dedicated sublimation with Sawgrass color accuracy. For serious sellers who need volume and consistency.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Printer Max Width Setup Best For Price
Epson ET-2800 8.5 in Convert with sub ink Beginners on a budget $200-250
Sawgrass SG500 8.5 in Ready out of the box Consistent color output $550-600
Epson ET-15000 13 in Convert with sub ink Large designs & flags $450-500
Sawgrass SG1000 13 in Ready out of the box High-volume pro sellers $1,000-1,200

Heat Presses

Even pressure and precise temperature that a home iron cannot match.

Best for Beginners

Cricut EasyPress 2 (9×9)

$120 – 160

Lightweight, safe, and simple. Great for shirts, tote bags, and onesies. The easiest entry point for HTV and flat sublimation.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Best Value Flat Press

PowerPress 15×15 Clamshell

$160 – 200

Full-size clamshell that presses a whole shirt in one go. Even heat across the platen and a big jump in productivity over a handheld press.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Best for Tumblers

HTVRONT Auto Tumbler Press

$150 – 220

Wraps heat around the whole tumbler at once for an even, seam-free sublimation result.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Best Swing-Away

Fancierstudio 15×15 Swing

$130 – 180

Swing-away arm clears the platen fully so you can position items without burning your hands. Great for thick items.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Press Shape Best Surface Best For Price
Cricut EasyPress 2 Handheld Flat (shirts, bags) Beginners $120-160
PowerPress 15×15 Clamshell Flat, large area Shirt volume $160-200
HTVRONT Tumbler Press Wrap Tumblers & mugs Drinkware $150-220
Fancierstudio Swing Swing-Away Flat, thick items Precision pressing $130-180

Cricut Cutting Machines

Turns SVG files into real decals, iron-on, and even wood pieces.

Most Powerful

Cricut Maker 3

$350 – 400

Cuts 300+ materials including MDF, basswood, and leather. If you want zero limits and the ability to grow into thick materials, this is the one.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Best All-Rounder

Cricut Explore 3

$220 – 280

Handles vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, and Smart Materials at fast speeds. Does everything most crafters need for less money.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Best Compact

Cricut Joy Xtra

$150 – 200

Small footprint, big enough for shirt-sized designs and stickers. Perfect for tight spaces.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Best Alternative

Silhouette Cameo 4

$250 – 300

No subscription required for design software. Cuts up to 3mm thick materials and handles wide rolls up to 12 inches.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Machine Cuts Wood Materials Best For Price
Cricut Maker 3 Yes 300+ Wood & no limits $350-400
Cricut Explore 3 No 100+ Vinyl & iron-on $220-280
Cricut Joy Xtra No Vinyl, paper Small spaces $150-200
Silhouette Cameo 4 No 100+ No subscription needed $250-300

Blanks & Supplies

The consumables that make or break your final product.

Top-Rated Paper

A-SUB Sublimation Paper

$15 – 25

Sharp transfers, high ink release, and fast drying. A reliable default that keeps colors vivid and prints smudge-free.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Best Value Ink

Hiipoo Sublimation Ink

$25 – 35

A favorite for converting EcoTank printers. Bright, accurate colors at a friendly price with a strong community track record.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Bestselling Blank

Skinny Tumbler Blanks (20oz)

$20 – 40

Polyester-coated, straight-walled, sublimation-ready. One of the easiest, most profitable items to sell.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Best HTV Vinyl

Siser EasyWeed HTV

$10 – 20

The go-to heat transfer vinyl for Cricut and Silhouette users. Cuts clean, weeds fast, and sticks firmly after pressing.

View on Amazon ↗
▶ Watch Reviews

Supply Use Why It Stands Out Price
A-SUB Paper Print transfers High ink release, fast dry $15-25
Hiipoo Ink Refill EcoTank Bright colors, great value $25-35
Skinny Tumblers 20oz Drinkware blanks Best-selling, easy to press $20-40
Siser EasyWeed HTV Iron-on vinyl Cuts clean, weeds fast $10-20

Got the gear? Now grab the designs.

Hundreds of ready-to-press SVG and PNG designs made for exactly this equipment.

Browse All Designs →