Sublimation Cost Calculator
Labour is the majority of the cost.
Cost per good unit
$5.40
70% margin at $18.00
Labour is 23.8% of the cost, which is why sublimation margins depend on throughput rather than on materials. A press that handles four items at once changes the economics far more than cheaper ink does.
How the Sublimation Cost Calculator works
Labour is usually the majority of sublimation cost, which means margins depend on throughput rather than on materials. A press that handles four items at once changes the economics far more than cheaper ink does.
Also known as: dye sublimation cost per print · sublimation printing price · sublimated product cost
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price, check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does sublimation cost per item?
The blank, transfer paper, ink and the labour to press it. Labour typically exceeds all the materials combined at small scale.
What reject rate should I expect?
A few percent once the process is settled, higher while learning. Rejects consume the blank as well as the time, so they are costed by dividing rather than adding.
How do I improve sublimation margins?
Throughput: larger presses, multiple items per press, and reducing handling between steps. Material savings are marginal by comparison.
What can be sublimated?
Polyester fabrics and polymer-coated hard goods. Natural fibres do not take sublimation ink, which is why cotton shirts need a different process entirely.