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Sublimation Cost Calculator

Work out the true cost of a sublimation item from print size, paper, ink and blank cost, and see retail price and profit at your markup.

Cost / Unit
$6.67
Retail
$10.33
Profit
$183.33
Area
192 sq in

What goes into sublimation cost

Sublimation cost is mostly the blank. Paper and ink are charged per square foot of printed area, and the calculator adds them to your substrate cost for a cost per item. For mugs and tumblers the printed area is small but the blank is expensive; for all-over apparel it's the other way round.

Don't forget the hidden costs: butcher paper, heat tape, protective sheets, misprints and the time each press cycle takes.

Pricing sublimation products

  • Know your press time per item. A 60-second shirt press and a several-minute mug press have very different labor costs.
  • Price bundles and quantity breaks for teams and events, where sublimation shines.
  • Only sublimate on polyester or poly-coated blanks; failed prints on the wrong substrate are pure loss.

Frequently asked questions

How much does sublimation cost per shirt?

Enter your paper and ink cost per square foot, print size and blank cost above. For most shirts the blank is the largest cost, with paper and ink adding well under a dollar for a standard front print.

What markup should I use for sublimation?

Many small shops use 50–150% markup depending on the product and customization. Make sure it covers labor and overhead, not just materials.

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Stop pricing jobs in spreadsheets

PrintUnite runs quotes, orders, artwork, gang sheets and inventory for screen printing, DTF, embroidery and sublimation shops in one place. These tools are free; the platform is what they came from.

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