Disclosure: This post about bulk sublimation blanks contains affiliate links, and I’m a MakerFlo affiliate. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
If you sell sublimation tumblers or laser-engraved pieces, buying bulk sublimation blanks is one of the easiest ways to bring your cost per item down. MakerFlo is one of the bigger blank suppliers craft sellers use, so I dug into how their bulk program works, what the discounts actually look like, and who it makes sense for.
What Are Sublimation Blanks?
Sublimation blanks are items made or coated specifically for sublimation printing. Sublimation ink bonds with polyester, so blanks like tumblers, mugs, and coasters have a special polyester coating, and fabric blanks need a high polyester content. A good blank has an even coating and a white or light surface so your colors print bright.
If you’re newer to this, my guide to the best blanks for sublimation covers the basics of what to look for.
What MakerFlo Sells
Their lineup is bigger than just tumblers. On the drinkware side there’s the 20oz skinny tumbler, 30oz and 40oz sizes, water bottles, mugs, wine tumblers, can coolers, and sippy cups. Then there’s flat and gift items like coasters, wind spinners, kitchen towels, pouches, and luggage tags, plus gel pens and mechanical pencils. For laser work, they also carry sublimatable plywood and laser blanks like cutting boards, wood boxes, leatherette, and whiskey decanters. Their best sellers are the 20oz skinny tumbler, the MakerTwist handle-compatible tumblers, and their TruFlat laser wood.
How MakerFlo Bulk Pricing Works
There are a few tiers depending on how much you’re buying. Discounts apply in the cart, so you don’t need a code. Here’s how it breaks down at the time I’m writing this:
- Sample packs: 5% off, for testing something new before you commit.
- Build-A-Bundle: mix and match 25 or more blanks or packs for 10% off, so you’re not stuck buying 25 of the same thing.
- By the case: 20% off single pricing.
- Bulk (25+ cases): 28% off single pricing, mixing any tumblers and blanks.
Orders over $99 ship free in the continental US, and there’s a tax exemption application for registered resellers. Pricing and tiers can change, so check their bulk discounts page for the current details before you order.
Is Buying Sublimation Blanks in Bulk Worth It?
Here’s a simple way to think about it. Say a blank costs $10 on its own. At 10% off, that’s $9 each. At 20% off by the case, it’s $8. At 28% off, it’s $7.20. On a single item that doesn’t sound like much, but if you’re making 100 tumblers for a season of markets, the difference between $10 and $8 is $200 back in your pocket. (Those are example numbers to show the math, not actual MakerFlo prices.)
That savings only counts if you actually sell what you buy, though. A full case of something that doesn’t move is money sitting on a shelf. That’s why it’s worth figuring out what your customers buy before you stock up. My post on how to price handmade products can help you work out your real cost per item, including your blanks.
What to Check Before You Order a Full Case
Order a sample pack or a small bundle first and run a test sublimation before committing to a full case. Coating and finish can vary slightly between production batches, even from a reliable supplier, so it’s worth confirming your time and temperature settings work on the exact blank you’re about to buy in volume instead of assuming it’ll match a listing photo.
When a bulk order arrives, unbox and spot-check a handful of pieces from each case instead of assuming they’re all fine. Everything ships in holographic gift-ready packaging, which looks great for resale but can also make shipping damage easy to miss if you don’t actually open things up.
Who Should Buy Sublimation Blanks in Bulk
If you’re consistently selling tumblers or laser blanks at markets or online and going through more than a case every month or two, the case discount, and especially the 25+ case discount at that volume, adds up fast. 20 to 28% off matters on something you’d be buying regularly anyway.
But if you’re newer to selling, or still figuring out which blank or finish actually sells, a sample pack or the 25+ mix-and-match bundle is the safer starting point instead of committing to a full case of one item. You still get a discount either way, without betting on inventory that might not move.
Tips for Storing Bulk Blanks
- Keep them in the original packaging until you’re ready to use them, so coatings stay clean and scratch-free.
- Store them somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight.
- Label your cases with the item and date so you use older stock first.
- Handle coated surfaces as little as possible. Oils from your hands can show up in your prints.
If you’re working on tumblers, my sublimation tumbler tutorial walks through the full process. For mugs, see my comparison of the best mug press for sublimation, and for apparel, my guide to sublimation shirt blanks.
Bulk Sublimation Blanks FAQ
Do I need a code for MakerFlo bulk discounts?
No. According to MakerFlo, bulk discounts apply automatically in the cart.
What’s the minimum for a bulk discount?
The Build-A-Bundle discount starts at 25 blanks or packs, and you can mix and match items to reach it.
Should I test blanks before buying in bulk?
Yes. Order a sample pack or small bundle and test your time and temperature settings before you buy a full case.
Have you ordered sublimation blanks in bulk before? Drop a comment and let me know what you’d tell someone considering their first bulk order.
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