Sublimation Tumblers: How the Blank, Coating and Heat Work Together
A sublimation tumbler is a coated blank that takes a heat-transferred design. Here is what the coating does, which bodies work, the heat settings suppliers publish, and what to check when you buy blanks in bulk.
By Feng, Head of After-Sales Service & Online Marketing Lead
A sublimation tumbler is a stainless steel tumbler with a special polymer coating that takes a printed design by heat: the sublimation ink turns to gas in the press or oven and bonds into the coating, so the design sits in the surface rather than on top of it. Bare stainless steel and ordinary paint do not take sublimation, so the coating is what makes a blank a sublimation blank. Straight-bodied tumblers wrap most evenly, and the 20 oz straight tumbler is the most common blank. BG Drinkware, a drinkware manufacturer in Yongkang, China, can put a sublimation coating on any straight-bodied tumbler; the coating is applied by an outside partner, and BG checks the coated bodies when they come back and picks out defective units. Blanks start at 300 pieces, a blank sample is charged and credited against the bulk order, and bulk production takes 7–12 days after sample approval. Published oven settings sit around 385°F (196°C), but always test on your own blanks.
What is a sublimation tumbler?
The term covers two things buyers often mix up: the coated blank you print yourself, and the finished tumbler that has already been printed. A third option, a UV-printed tumbler, can look similar but uses a different process. Name the one you want on the order, because each needs a different specification.
| Order description | What it is | Agree before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| Sublimation blank | An undecorated tumbler with a sublimation coating, for you to print | Model, coating, quantity, packaging |
| Sublimated tumbler | A tumbler already printed by sublimation | Artwork, coverage, sample approval |
| UV-printed tumbler | A coated tumbler printed with UV-cured ink, not sublimation | Print area, artwork placement, sample approval |
BG Drinkware supplies sublimation blanks for customers who print in-house. For finished printed tumblers, BG's designs are mainly UV printed. See dye sublimation and UV printing for how each process works.
Why does a sublimation tumbler need a special coating?
Sublimation ink only bonds with a polymer surface. In the heat, the ink becomes a gas and enters the coating; on bare steel or ordinary paint it has nothing to bond with and washes away. A white tumbler is not a sublimation blank unless it carries a sublimation coating, so ask for the coating by name.
Heat transfer must go onto a sublimation coating. Bare stainless steel cannot be sublimated, and it cannot be UV printed either; it takes screen printing or laser marking. At BG Drinkware, the sublimation coating is applied by an outside coating partner. Coated bodies are checked when they come back, and defective units are picked out.
Which tumbler shapes work for sublimation?
Straight-sided tumblers work best, because a flat transfer sheet wraps around a straight wall without stretching or creasing. Tapered bodies leave gaps between the paper and the wall, which shows as blurred or faded areas. That is why straight "skinny" tumblers dominate sublimation ranges, with 20 oz the most common size.
BG Drinkware can apply a sublimation coating to any straight-bodied tumbler in its range, so the size and lid can follow your product line rather than a fixed blank list. The most common sublimation blank BG supplies is the 20 oz straight tumbler. If you plan a full wrap, agree the printable height and the seam position for the exact model before ordering.
The most common blank shape is a 20 oz straight tumbler; see the 20 oz blank straight sublimation tumbler.
What heat settings do sublimation tumblers need?
There is no single setting. Coating, wall thickness, press or oven, and transfer paper all change the result, so suppliers publish starting points rather than rules. Most published oven settings for stainless sublimation tumblers sit around 385°F (196°C), with times that vary widely by method. Test two or three blanks before a full run.
| Source | Method | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sawgrass skinny tumbler tutorial | Convection oven | 385°F (196°C) | 6 minutes |
| HeatPressNation 20 oz tumbler guide | Oven, tumbler double shrink-wrapped | 385°F (196°C) | 9.5–12 minutes |
| Sawgrass heat press chart (ceramic mug) | Mug press, medium pressure | 350–400°F (180–205°C) | 150–300 seconds |
Sawgrass describes its chart as a starting place and points to the substrate maker for exact settings. Record what works for each batch in a blank tumbler inspection checklist and test-print log. Coatings can vary slightly between batches, so a new batch may need small changes; see why blank tumbler coatings change between batches.
What should you check when buying sublimation tumblers in bulk?
Check the coating, the model, the quantity and how the blanks are packed. A good supplier answers each one in writing before you order. BG Drinkware sells sublimation blanks from 300 pieces, and a blank sample is charged, with the charge credited against the bulk order once you go ahead.
| Item | What to confirm | BG Drinkware |
|---|---|---|
| Coating | Sublimation coating, not plain white paint | Applied by an outside partner; checked on return, defects picked out |
| Model | Straight body, capacity, lid and straw | Any straight-bodied tumbler; 20 oz straight most common |
| Minimum order | Blank quantity | Blanks from 300 pieces |
| Sample | Cost and timing | Charged, credited against bulk; existing model in up to 7 days |
| Lead time | From sample approval | 7–12 days for bulk |
| Packaging | Single boxes, shrink sleeves or bulk cartons | Set per order |
Vacuum tumblers are temperature-tested unit by unit before shipping, with the number of test rounds set by the buyer. To compare suppliers and blank types, read where to buy blank tumblers, and for how bulk tumbler orders run, tumblers in bulk. See sublimation blanks in bulk for order facts.
How is artwork placed on a printed tumbler?
Placement is agreed on the exact cup, because the printable area and the seam differ between models. BG Drinkware accepts PDF and AI artwork and works through the final layout with each customer rather than sending a standard template. A layout approved for one shape may need adjusting for another.
In one UV printing project, a customer wanted to add their own logo to an existing patterned design. BG and the customer reviewed possible positions within the pattern on screen before the sample. A screen proof settles where the logo sits; only a printed sample shows how it looks on the cup.
For bottles instead of tumblers, see sublimation water bottles.
Sublimation tumbler FAQ
Short answers to the questions buyers and print shops ask most about sublimation tumblers: whether a plain steel tumbler works, which shape to choose, what settings to start from, how many blanks to order and how a printed design holds up. Each answer uses the facts set out in this guide.
Can you sublimate a regular stainless steel tumbler?
No. Sublimation ink needs a polymer coating to bond with, and bare stainless steel or ordinary paint has none, so the design will not hold. Use a tumbler with a sublimation coating. Bare steel can be screen printed or laser marked instead; it cannot be UV printed.
What temperature do you sublimate a tumbler at?
Published oven settings for stainless sublimation tumblers mostly sit around 385°F (196°C). Sawgrass lists 6 minutes for a skinny tumbler in a convection oven, while other guides give longer times for wrapped tumblers. Treat these as starting points, test two or three blanks, and record the settings that work for each batch.
Why are sublimation tumblers straight rather than tapered?
A flat transfer sheet wraps evenly around a straight wall. On a tapered body the paper cannot sit tight against the whole surface, so parts of the design can blur or fade. BG Drinkware can coat any straight-bodied tumbler for sublimation, and the 20 oz straight tumbler is its most common sublimation blank.
What is the minimum order for sublimation tumbler blanks?
BG Drinkware sells blanks from 300 pieces. A blank sample is charged, and the charge is credited against the bulk order. A sample of an existing model takes up to 7 days, and bulk production takes 7–12 days after the sample is approved. Packaging is set per order.
Do coated blanks look the same in every batch?
Not exactly. Coatings vary slightly from batch to batch, which is normal, and a repeat order cannot be guaranteed to come from the same batch. Keep one blank from each batch as a reference, and press a few test units from a new batch before running the full order.
Sources
Need sublimation blanks in bulk?
Send the capacity, quantity, model, colour, logo method, packaging, payment terms and trade terms for a quotation.
