We research products independently. When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
The short verdict: buy the Epson SureColor F170 if you make mugs, tumblers, coasters, ornaments and small shirt prints, which covers most crafters and new sellers. Buy the Epson SureColor F570 only if your orders need prints wider than 8.5 inches every week: adult shirt fronts, pillow covers, all-over panels and banners. They share the same ink, but they're different classes of machine.
The Epson F170 vs F570 question is less "which is better" and more "which size of business." The F170 is a 10.2 lb desktop printer. The F570 is an 84 lb, 24-inch roll printer with a built-in cutter that needs its own table and a large heat press.
Epson F170 vs F570: side by side
| Spec | Epson SureColor F170 | Epson SureColor F570 |
|---|---|---|
| Max media width | 8.5 in | 24.4 in |
| Max length | 47.2 in sheet | Roll media |
| Paper | Sheets (min width 3.5 in), up to 150 sheets | Rolls up to 24.4 in (2-in core, up to 4.3-in diameter); auto sheet feeder up to 11.7 in wide; single sheets up to 24.4 in |
| Cutter | No | Built-in rotary cutter |
| Printhead | PrecisionCore MicroTFP, 784 nozzles | PrecisionCore MicroTFP, 800 nozzles x 4 channels |
| Max resolution | 1200 x 600 dpi | 2400 x 1200 dpi |
| Ink | T49M, CMYK, 140 mL bottles | T49M, CMYK, 140 mL bottles |
| Display | 2.4-in color LCD | 4.3-in color touchscreen |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet | SuperSpeed USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Size | 14.8 x 19.8 x 7.4 in printing | 38.2 x 20.7 x 9.6 in without stand |
| Weight | 10.2 lb | 84 lb without stand |
| Warranty | 1-year unit exchange | 1 year, usually next-business-day on-site repair |
| Price tier | Mid-range | Premium |
All figures are from Epson's product pages and specification sheets.
Epson SureColor F170 Dye-Sublimation Printer
by Epson
Epson SureColor F570 24-Inch Dye-Sublimation Printer
by Epson
The differences, one by one
1. Print width decides what you can sell
| Product | Typical print | F170 | F570 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 and 15 oz mugs | About 3.5 x 9 to 4 x 9.5 in | Yes | Yes |
| 20 oz skinny tumbler | About 8.2 x 9.3 in wrap | Yes | Yes |
| Coasters, ornaments, keychains | Under 4 in | Yes, many per sheet | Yes, gang-printed on rolls |
| Youth shirt front, chest logo | Up to about 9 in wide | Up to 8.5 in | Yes |
| Adult shirt front | About 11 in wide | No | Yes |
| 16 x 16 pillow cover | Edge to edge | No | Yes |
| All-over shirt panels, banners | 20 in and up | No | Yes, up to 24.4 in wide |
If your best sellers are drinkware and small hard goods, the F570's width sits unused most days. If customers keep asking for adult shirts and pillows, the F170 forces you to buy ready-made transfers for those orders. Our guide to sublimation design size for shirts shows the typical sizes by placement.
2. Rolls and the built-in cutter
The F570 prints from rolls up to 24.4 inches wide and has a high-speed internal rotary cutter that trims automatically or manually. That changes your workflow: you can gang a row of mug wraps or tumbler prints across the roll and let the printer cut them. The auto sheet feeder takes sheets up to 11.7 inches wide, and single sheets up to full width load from the top.
The F170 is a sheet printer. It feeds letter, legal and longer sheets up to 47.2 inches, with a 150-sheet capacity for Epson's DS Multi-Use paper. For a home studio, that's simpler.
3. Resolution and speed of work
The F570 lists 2400 x 1200 dpi against the F170's 1200 x 600 dpi, and it has more nozzles (800 per channel across four channels, versus 784 total on the F170). On a mug, you won't see much difference; sublimation dye spreads slightly as it gasses. On a large shirt panel or fine photo, the F570 has the edge, and its larger head covers wide prints faster. Epson doesn't publish directly comparable print-time figures for both, so we don't quote speeds.
4. Same ink, same shelf life
Both printers use Epson T49M dye-sublimation ink in 140 mL CMYK bottles, so you can stock one ink line if you ever run both. Epson lists T49M as good for 2 years from production or 6 months after opening. The F570 uses ink much faster on large prints, so its bottles turn over well within that window; on a slow F170, watch the date. Store bottles capped and upright, away from heat and sunlight.
5. Software
Both ship with Epson's dye-sublimation drivers for Mac and Windows. The F570 Pro edition (SCF570PE) adds Epson Edge Print Pro, a RIP with an Adobe PDF Print Engine for job layout, nesting, pattern repeats and advanced color control, and Epson lists two full sets of ink plus three rolls of DS Transfer Multi-Use paper in its box. The standard F570 (SCF570SE) uses the driver workflow. More detail is in our Epson F570 review.
6. Size, weight and room conditions
The F170 weighs 10.2 lb and folds to 13.7 x 13.7 x 7.4 inches for storage. The F570 is 38.2 x 20.7 x 9.6 inches and 84 lb without its optional stand, so it needs a sturdy table that won't flex, with space in front for paper to exit and behind for the roll. Epson recommends a room at 65–75°F with 45–60% humidity for the F570; that's a sensible target for any sublimation printer.
7. Warranty and service
Epson gives the F170 a 1-year unit exchange: if it fails, Epson ships a replacement. The F570 gets 1 year of usually next-business-day on-site repair, which makes sense for an 84 lb machine you can't easily ship.
8. The heat press you'll need
This is the hidden cost. An F170 print fits on any press from a 12 x 10 handheld up. To use the F570's width, you need a large press: a 16 x 20 for 13 x 19 and similar panels, and bigger still for full 24-inch prints. Our best 16x20 heat press guide covers the shop-standard size.
Availability note
As of October 2026, Epson's US store listed both the F570 (SCF570SE) and the F570 Pro (SCF570PE) as out of stock, while authorized resellers continued to carry them. Check stock before planning around a delivery date. The F170 is widely available.
What about the F370?
Epson has announced the SureColor F370, a 13 x 19-inch factory sublimation printer, for November 2026. On paper it fills the gap between these two: wide enough for adult shirt fronts without the F570's size and weight. If adult fronts are your main reason to look at the F570, wait for the F370's full specs and compare. Our wide format sublimation printer guide covers 13 x 19 and 24-inch options from other brands.
Buying mistakes to avoid
- Buying width you won't use. A 24-inch printer that mostly prints mug wraps costs more up front, takes a table of its own and still needs regular printing to keep the head healthy.
- Forgetting the press. The F570's big prints are only useful with a press that covers them. Budget for a 16 x 20 or larger press at the same time.
- Ignoring the room. Both printers prefer a stable room; Epson's 65–75°F and 45–60% humidity guidance for the F570 helps prevent paper curl and dried nozzles on either model.
- Stockpiling ink. Same ink, same 6-month opened window. Buy bottles as you need them, especially for a slow-moving F170.
- Assuming more dpi means better mugs. On small hard goods, the blank, paper and press matter more than the resolution figure.
Choose the Epson F170 if…
- Mugs, tumblers, coasters and ornaments are most of your orders.
- You print youth shirts, chest logos and sleeves rather than adult fronts.
- You work from a craft room and need a printer that stores small.
- You want the lowest entry cost into factory sublimation.
Read our full Epson F170 review, or compare it with Sawgrass in Epson F170 vs Sawgrass SG500.
Choose the Epson F570 if…
- Adult shirt fronts, pillow covers and all-over panels are weekly orders.
- You want to gang-print and auto-cut from rolls.
- You have the space for an 84 lb printer and a 16 x 20 or larger press.
- On-site warranty repair matters to your business.
How we compared
We didn't test these printers ourselves. We compared Epson's published specifications, box contents and warranty terms for the SureColor F170 and F570 (including the F570 Pro edition), and checked Epson's US store availability in October 2026. We also weighed recurring owner feedback from sublimation communities. We left out speed figures because Epson doesn't publish directly comparable ones for both models.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Epson F170 and F570?
Width. The F170 is a compact 8.5-inch printer for mugs, tumblers, coasters and small shirt prints. The F570 is a 24-inch printer that takes roll paper, has a built-in rotary cutter and prints adult shirt fronts, pillow covers and all-over panels. Both use the same Epson T49M sublimation ink in 140 mL bottles.
Is the Epson F570 worth it for a small business?
Only if most of your orders need prints wider than 8.5 inches. The F570 weighs 84 lb, measures 38.2 inches wide and needs a heat press of 16 x 20 or larger to use its width. If you mostly sell drinkware and small items, the F170 is the better value.
Do the Epson F170 and F570 use the same ink?
Yes. Both use Epson T49M dye-sublimation ink in 140 mL CMYK bottles. Epson lists a shelf life of 2 years from production or 6 months after opening.
Can the Epson F170 print adult shirts?
Not a full adult front on one sheet. It prints 8.5 inches wide, while adult fronts typically run about 11 inches wide. It handles youth shirts, chest logos and sleeves; for adult fronts, use a 13 x 19 or 24-inch printer or buy ready-made transfers.
Is there an Epson between the F170 and F570?
Yes. Epson has announced the SureColor F370, a 13 x 19-inch factory sublimation printer, for November 2026. It sits between the 8.5-inch F170 and the 24-inch F570 and is worth comparing if adult shirt fronts are your main product.
Verdict
The Epson F170 is the right Epson for most crafters and new sellers: compact, cheap to run and wide enough for drinkware and small goods. The F570 is a production tool for shops that sell adult shirts, pillows and all-over prints every week, and it only pays off with the space, press and order volume to match.