Best Sublimation Ovens For Sublimating Mugs
A sublimation oven is an alternative way to sublimate mugs without a heat press.
Not only can you sublimate mugs with a convection oven, but a range of other hard goods: ceramic shot glasses, aluminium water bottles, and other hard goods.
For those just wanting to know the most highly recommended kitchen convection oven for sublimation, check out the Breville Digital Smart Oven Pro… more details below!
Best Sublimation Oven
While you can buy specially designed and built ovens for sublimation, this isn’t necessary, especially if you are just starting out or making mugs at home. You can use regular bench top convection ovens for sublimation – as long as you dedicate it for that purpose!
Using a convection oven for mug sublimation is popular because it’s easy, the results are great, and it means you don’t need to by an expensive mug heat press. You are also able to transfer multiple or many mugs at once.
Before we take a look at what features you need to look for in a sublimation oven, there is other equipment and gear that you will need.
The big item is a sublimation printer. Unless you outsource the printing, you can’t get started without a good printer! And the other main item you will need are sublimation oven wraps. These hold the transfers in place, on the mug, in the oven.
There are many different sizes of sublimation oven wraps, depending on the size mug, glass, or bottle you are sublimating. The most popular size mug for sublimation are the standard straight walled 11oz mugs. You can keep costs down by simply starting with this one size wrap and adding more as or when necessary.
Along with heat gloves, butcher paper, and heat resistant tape, you will also need a temperature gauge. You can’t rely on a kitchen convection oven’s own temperature reading, and need an independent one from inside the oven.
What To Look For In A Sublimation Oven
You shouldn’t use the family oven for sublimation, or any oven that you will also use for food. Once used for mugs, the oven will be contaminated with sublimation inks which turn into a gas when heat is applied.
Here are 5 important features to look for in an oven for sublimation.
1. Reaches a temperature of over 400°F: Sublimation occurs at this temperature, so ideally it needs to go beyond this. Most convection ovens on the market reach 500°F, so this shouldn’t be a problem.
2. Has a convection fan: You need a convection fan. The fan helps circulate the hot air around the oven rather than it being solely directed from below and above.
3. Tall enough to fit mugs: Somewhat obvious, but you want an oven that is high enough to fit the size of mug you are sublimating. If you want to sublimate bottles in an oven, it will need to be even taller.
4. Digital readings: A digital convection oven is usually better than one without a display. You get more information from the digital display than from the dials.
5. Sturdy and solid racks: The oven needs to have a stable rack or racks to set the mugs upon. Cheap convection ovens can have very flimsy racks.
Generally speaking, the more you spend, the better the quality of your sublimation oven will be. A higher quality machine will heat up quickly and maintain a more constant heat. It will be sturdier and should last you a longer time.
Breville Smart Oven Pro
The Breville Smart Oven Pro is a good oven for sublimating mugs.
It reaches the appropriate temperatures with a max of 500°F, and has a quality fan for circulating the heat all around the mug. This oven has a non-stick coating making it easy to clean and maintain. The rack is strong, and you should be able to do 3 mugs at a time.
To see how to sublimate mugs with this oven, watch the following clip from Conde.
Oster Convection Oven
The Oster Convection Oven is another quality kitchen counter-top oven that can be used for sublimation.
This oven has doors which open horizontally rather than vertically, which may be preferred by some people. It also reaches the right temperature for sublimation, and has an extra large interior that will fit more or larger items to be sublimated.
You can also consider this much cheaper Oster Oven which is slightly smaller.
Cuisinart Convection Oven
Cuisinart convection ovens can be used for putting sublimation transfers onto mugs.
This model is a smaller option for doing one or two mugs at a time, and is also a lot cheaper, and often on sale. It is a digital convection oven and has a solid rack. It also will reach temperatures suitable for sublimation.
Cuisinart are known for their quality, long lasting, and durable products. Their countertop ovens have been used for years by many for sublimating mugs, bottles, and other ceramic sublimation blanks.
BLACK + DECKER Convection Oven
The BLACK + DECKER brand is well known for toaster ovens and the price point here is a lot cheaper.
The main drawback of this option is the size. If you’re not planning to do many mugs at a time this could be a very cost-effective way to go.
Hix Sublimation Oven
Last but not least, we’ve got the Hix Sublimation Oven.
This machine, from the makers of Hix heat press, costs around $4000, and is for busy shops requiring high output and quality transfers. It is designed and manufactured for sublimating mugs and other hard goods, and is the best option for business.
The oven has 3 nickel plated racks and further slots to accommodate further racks for smaller applications. It has different temperature settings of 200ºF – 450ºF, a digital time and temperature display, and a 1/6 HP internal fan.
Convection Oven For Sublimation
Those are our top 5 convection ovens for sublimation.
If in doubt, find someone in your area who has used them before and ask if you can do a mug with them. Go through the process before you buy an oven especially for sublimation. Also, please feel free to leave us any comments or questions down below – thanks!
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Has anyone ever used a nuwave convection oven for sublimating tumblers? One of the round dome ones to be more specific. I already have one of those for baking dolls in, I’m just getting all my supplies to start making tumblers and I have everything except the oven. Does it leave any lines on your tumbler if you lay them done in an oven on the rack with no baking pan?
Hey Lisa, I haven’t personally tried the Nuwave Convection oven you’re talking about for sublimation but from what I can see it seems like it should work. As far as your second question about leaving any lines on the tumbler if you lay them down you shouldn’t have any trouble as long as you have properly prepped your design and I always recommend using a silicone sleeve. Good luck!
Can you do rock slates in the conventional ovens and if you can how long do you leave them in for and the temp ? Thanks
Hi Kellie – we don’t recommend doing any sublimation in conventional ovens if you plan to also use the oven for food. You want whatever oven you’re using to be dedicated strictly to sublimation for health and safety. For rock slates 7 minutes at 356 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect.
Do you think using a master chef convection toaster oven would work for tumblers. I was using another convection oven but I believe because there is no fan inside of it the heat was not evenly distributing and it was not. Although this one that I’m looking at that is MasterChef is not digital it has really detailed knobs on the front of it to see exactly what temperature you. I would also be using an oven thermometer to make sure it’s the right temperature.
Hey Justin – that sounds like it should work just fine. The fan is really key to making sure the heat distribution happens evenly so your design will sublimate properly. If I were you I’d use the thermometer to get a good idea of how it cooks (either warmer or cooler than the knob setting) before actually using it for sublimation so you can adjust accordingly. Good luck!
Hi I am just getting started with sublimating 20 oz skinny’s using a full wrap and convention oven. I have seen videos where people use the bake setting and not the convention to sub their tumblers. I’ve tried both at 400 for 6 min, 5 1/2 min, even 5 mins. and it absolutely scorched my tumbler. The thermometer is reading 400 390ish throughout. I was wondering if you had any thoughts how to get it right?
Hi there Elias – sorry to hear you’re having trouble with your tumblers getting scorched! It does sound like your temperature and time shouldn’t be causing the problem. Is the actual tumbler the thing getting burnt or the paper? If you’re using a silicone wrap I wouldn’t think you’d end up with any burning. If it is the paper you could always put it in water to get the paper to come off. The other big issue that might be giving you trouble is the tumbler itself. If it’s not designed specifically for sublimation it won’t work. Lots of tumblers found on places like Amazon are great for adding adhesive vinyl to but won’t work for sublimation. Heat Transfer Warehouse has a handful of options for sublimation blanks and great customer service! Hope that helps, would love to hear if you’re able to get it sorted out!
Do the watts on the oven make a difference?
Hey Chris – I wouldn’t worry too much about the watts when using a convection oven for sublimation as long as it can reach a max temp of 500 degrees F. Good luck!
Where can you buy the silicone wrap you put around a mug before putting it in the oven? Besides Amazon? Thanks
Hey Lorie – I’d suggest ordering from Heat Press Nation. Here’s the straight wall sublimation oven mug wrap for normal mugs and the taller sublimation wrap for tumblers. HPN has great customer service and tutorials! Let us know if you need anything else!
Can you lay a tumbler down in the oven? Or does it need to be standing?
Hi Britt! You can lay your mug or tumbler down in the oven for sublimation if you need to. Hope it works well for you and that you’re happy with the resutls, please let us know if you have any other questions!
Will all of the recommended ovens above hold tumblers as well?
Hey Jessica – they should, but some might hold more than one. To be sure I’d check the measurements of the tumblers you’re planning to sublimate before purchasing an oven.
Hi, I consider the difference between a 3D vacuum and oven for sublimation, I actually have a heat press machine, but when I need multiple sublimation for mugs and need a spare one if have a problem. I don’t know what the difference between the two of them? They both have control temperature and should have a similar function for sublimation purposes, right? Thanks for your help and advice 🙂
Hi Tommy! The main difference is the price point. You’re going to spend a lot more on a 3D vacuum sublimation machine than one of the ovens listed here. If you’ve got the need and the return on investment go with the vacuum, but for most folks, a cheaper oven is a nice way to sublimate mugs in a cost-effective way. Please let us know if you have more questions!
I brought the luby one from your recommendation and it was not a convection oven.
Hi Ann, I’m so sorry. That’s our mistake, you’re absolutely right and we’ve deleted that recommendation and replaced it with the comparable Black + Decker oven. I hope you’re able to return it to Amazon!
Can you use a convection toaster oven that was previously used for food for sublimation? I’m thinking of getting a new larger Breville for my household use and using my current Breville XL800 for sublimation. Are there any reasons I shouldn’t do this? Thanks in advance!
Hi Kim – I don’t see why that would be a problem. The key would be just knowing that once you use it for sublimation it’s absolutely not to be used for food. The only trouble I could imagine is disposing of it properly when you’re done with it as opposed to donating it to make sure nobody uses it for food unknowingly. Hope you like the new Breville!
If an oven states that it is a convection oven- but doesn’t have a specific setting for it, can it still be used ? The settings are defrost. Bake. Roast. Slow cook
Toast or broil. But its a “wellbilt convection oven”
Hi Mandy, while I don’t know that exact oven I assume that it is always cooking using convection. The more important thing is having the ability to set a specific temperature – for example 425 degrees F for mugs. If you can set a custom temperature you should be good to go!