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Only a polymer coating takes the ink, and the blank has to fit the press

The best sublimation blanks for 2026

Sublimation blanks are the mugs, tumblers, coasters, keyrings, puzzles and shirts made to receive sublimation ink, and they work only because of what is on their surface. The polymer coating is the essential specification: sublimation ink bonds with polyester and polymer coatings, not with bare ceramic, metal, cotton or wood, so a blank sold for sublimation must say it is coated — and fabrics must state their polyester proportion, since the colour weakens as it falls. Item size and the printable area decide the design dimensions. Press fit matters: a mug has to match the mug press's element size and shape, a tumbler may need a tumbler press or oven, and a flat blank must fit the platen. Recommended time and temperature are published per blank and differ between a coaster and a tumbler. The finish — gloss, matte, white or coloured base — affects colour, and sublimation cannot print white on a dark blank. Care advice — dishwasher, microwave, washing — is the maker's guidance and varies by item. We compare coating, size and printable area, press fit, recommended settings, finish and care advice.

The parts and materials worth a place on the bench

  1. Rounded-corner magnet blanks with white faces and black backs, some printed with photos on a fridge

    Calenxy Sublimation fridge magnet blanks 7.5 × 5.5 cm, 50 pieces

    Fifty sublimation magnet blanks from Calenxy, about 7.5 × 5.5 cm, in resin with a sublimation coating and a flexible magnetic back, printed in an oven or heat press and easy to cut into other shapes.

    Coating
    Stable sublimation coating on synthetic resin, first bullet
    Size and printable area
    About 7.5 × 5.5 cm, third bullet; 50 pieces in the title
    Press fit
    Oven or heat press, second bullet
    Recommended settings
    Absent from the listing
    Finish
    Absent from the listing — flexible magnetic back, first bullet
    Care advice
    Absent from the listing
    Amazon reference
    B0GSKBM1DW (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0756993099674
    • Fifty blanks
    • Cuttable to custom shapes, as the fourth bullet says
    • No temperature or time

    Best for: A heat press owner making batches of small photo magnets as gifts.

    ≈ 14 €
    Check price on Amazon
  2. Four white straight tumblers with clear lids and steel straws, and four straw brushes

    Roundsky 20 oz straight skinny stainless steel sublimation tumblers, 4 pack, lids and straws

    Four 20 oz stainless steel skinny tumblers from Roundsky with a sublimation coating, fully straight rather than tapered for full-wrap printing in a tumbler press or sublimation oven, double-walled and vacuum-insulated, with splash-proof lids, stainless straws and brushes.

    Coating
    High-quality sublimation coating, third bullet
    Size and printable area
    20 oz, fully straight and not tapered, title and fourth bullet
    Press fit
    Tumbler press or sublimation oven, fourth bullet
    Recommended settings
    Absent from the listing
    Finish
    Stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation; hot 3 hours, cold 9 hours stated, second bullet
    Care advice
    Absent from the listing — straw brushes included, easy to clean, first and second bullets
    Amazon reference
    B0C7TB51DQ (same reference on 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4894923729720
    • Fully straight walls for a full wrap
    • Lids, stainless straws and straw brushes included
    • No press temperature or time

    Best for: A tumbler press or sublimation oven owner making full-wrap drinkware.

    ≈ £32 / 25 €
    Check price on Amazon
  3. Blanks laid out: zip bags, mouse pads, pillow covers, a garden flag on a stand, coasters, keychains in three shapes and teardrop earrings

    AMDAILY Assorted sublimation blanks set: pillow covers, mouse pads, bags, flags, coasters, keychains, earrings

    A mixed set of sublimation blanks from AMDAILY — four pillow covers, four mouse pads, four make-up bags, four garden flags, twelve coasters, thirty-six keychains and sixteen earrings with their fittings — pressed at about 180–190 °C for 50–70 seconds under medium pressure.

    Coating
    Thermal transfer layer on neoprene, aluminium, wood, paper and polyester, second bullet
    Size and printable area
    Absent from the listing as sizes — 4 pillow covers, 4 mouse pads, 4 make-up bags, 4 garden flags, 12 coasters, 36 keychains with 36 fittings and 16 earrings with 16 hooks, first bullet; 114 pieces in the title
    Press fit
    Heat press, fourth and fifth bullets
    Recommended settings
    About 180–190 °C, 50–70 seconds, medium pressure, given as a reference, fourth bullet
    Finish
    Peach-skin polyester pillow covers, natural rubber mouse pads, protective film on both sides of earrings and keychains, third bullet
    Care advice
    Make-up bags and garden flags can be washed repeatedly, third bullet
    Amazon reference
    B0B388VXVK (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0738627368400
    • A press setting given: 180–190 °C, 50–70 s, medium pressure
    • Seven kinds of blank in one set
    • 114 in the title; the contents add up to 80 blanks, or 132 with fittings

    Best for: A new heat press owner trying sublimation on several kinds of blank before buying any one in bulk.

    ≈ $21 / 30 €
    Check price on Amazon
  4. Plain white ceramic mug with a round handle

    Tassendruck White ceramic sublimation mugs 300 ml, 12 pack

    Twelve white ceramic sublimation mugs from Tassendruck, 300 ml, 9.5 cm high and 8 cm in diameter, weighing 350 g, described as dishwasher-proof and microwave-safe and suitable only for sublimation printing.

    Coating
    Sublimation layer; for sublimation printing only, first and fourth bullets
    Size and printable area
    300 ml, height 9.5 cm, diameter 8 cm, second bullet; printable area not given
    Press fit
    Absent from the listing — thermal printing with sublimation ink, first bullet
    Recommended settings
    Absent from the listing — results depend on print parameters, third bullet
    Finish
    White ceramic, 350 g, first and second bullets
    Care advice
    Dishwasher-proof and microwave-safe, second bullet
    Amazon reference
    B096Y1HVBN (same reference on 1 Amazon marketplace)
    EAN
    4251739386699
    • Height, diameter, weight and volume given
    • Dishwasher-proof and microwave-safe, as the second bullet says
    • No press settings

    Best for: A mug press owner who can check an 8 cm diameter and 9.5 cm height against the press.

    ≈ 44 €
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  5. Two pyramids of twelve white mugs, and one mug beside its open white box

    Signzworld AAA-grade white ceramic sublimation mugs 325 ml, big handle, 24 pack

    Twenty-four white ceramic sublimation mugs from Signzworld, 325 ml, AAA grade with a double sublimation coating, straight sides, a big handle and a gloss finish, each in a white protective box, for heat presses and 3D vacuum ovens.

    Coating
    Double sublimation coating, first bullet
    Size and printable area
    325 ml (11 oz), straight sides, title and second, third and fourth bullets; printable area not given
    Press fit
    Heat presses and 3D vacuum ovens, second bullet
    Recommended settings
    Absent from the listing
    Finish
    White gloss ceramic, big handle, AAA grade, first, third and fourth bullets
    Care advice
    Dishwasher-proof and microwave-safe; images described as not fading after repeated washes, fifth bullet
    Amazon reference
    B098TDYXGG (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    5055673477845
    • Double sublimation coating
    • Each mug in its own white box
    • No press settings

    Best for: A small sublimation shop that ships mugs and wants each one boxed.

    ≈ £38 / 50 €
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  6. White mug printed with roses and butterflies beside a patterned Subli-Print box

    Subli-Print AAA Classic white sublimation mugs 330 ml, 24 pack, with press settings

    Twenty-four Classic sublimation mugs from Subli-Print, about 330 ml, 80 mm in diameter and 95 mm high, with a polyester-polymer high-gloss coating, each in a transport box, with processing guidance of 200 °C for 480 seconds at medium pressure, mirrored, after 24 hours at room temperature.

    Coating
    Subli-Print polyester-polymer high-gloss coating, second, third and fourth bullets
    Size and printable area
    About 330 ml, Ø about 80 mm, height about 95 mm, full-surface printable, first and third bullets
    Press fit
    Absent from the listing — sublimation by heat, second bullet
    Recommended settings
    200 °C, 480 seconds, medium pressure, mirrored design; store items 24 hours at room temperature first, fifth bullet
    Finish
    High-gloss, high whiteness, second and third bullets
    Care advice
    Dishwasher use and microwave use described, first bullet; food-contact compliance under § 31 LFGB stated, second bullet
    Amazon reference
    B0FZVSB944 (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4262480234337
    • Full press settings: 200 °C, 480 s, medium, mirrored
    • Diameter and height given
    • 480 seconds given with no press type named

    Best for: A mug press owner who wants the maker’s temperature and time to start from, and mugs boxed for resale.

    ≈ £77 / 56 €
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  7. White ceramic mug beside a plain white box

    PixMax AAA white ceramic sublimation mugs 325 ml (11 oz), 36 pack, gift boxes

    Thirty-six white ceramic sublimation mugs from PixMax, AAA grade, 325 ml (11 oz) with a polymer coating, a large handle and a gloss finish, each in a protective presentation box, dishwasher-proof and microwave-safe, for heat transfer presses.

    Coating
    Polymer coating, title
    Size and printable area
    325 ml (11 oz), title and second bullet; printable area not given
    Press fit
    Heat transfer presses, fifth bullet
    Recommended settings
    Absent from the listing
    Finish
    White gloss ceramic, AAA grade, large handle, first and second bullets
    Care advice
    Microwave-safe and dishwasher-proof, third bullet
    Amazon reference
    B01705OTCM (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    5055986100836
    • Thirty-six mugs, each in a presentation box
    • Polymer coating named
    • No press settings

    Best for: A sublimation business pressing mugs in volume that needs boxes for each.

    ≈ £65 / 62 €
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A price quoted in the text of a MakerVerdict page dates from the day that page was written; the live figure beside each product is fetched while you read and replaces it.