Mug printing turns a plain ceramic mug into a gift, a staff welcome or a client thank you that sits on a desk every day. Most printed mugs are white 11 oz ceramic with a special polymer coating, printed in full colour by sublimation, so photos and logos wrap right around. Printers can do one personalised mug for a birthday or hundreds for a corporate order, plus magic, enamel and two tone mugs. Tell us the mug, the quantity and the design, and we pass it to mug printers near you. It is free and there is no obligation.
Types of printed mugs
- White 11 oz ceramic: the standard coffee mug, full colour wrap print.
- 15 oz and latte mugs: bigger, for serious coffee drinkers.
- Magic mugs: black until a hot drink reveals the design.
- Two tone: a coloured inside and handle with a white print area.
- Enamel: camping style metal mugs for outdoor and braai gifts.
- Glass, steel and travel mugs: often engraved or pad printed; see promotional items.
How mug printing works
For ceramic mugs, the design is printed in mirror image on sublimation paper, wrapped around the mug and heated in a mug press so the ink bonds into the coating. This is the same sublimation process used on polyester shirts. The usual print area on an 11 oz mug is about 200 x 90 mm wrapped round, leaving a gap at the handle. Bulk corporate mugs in one or two colours may also be screen or pad printed. Ask which method the printer uses, because it affects how the print handles the dishwasher.
Artwork and care
Send a full colour image at about 300 dpi at print size, or a vector logo. Keep important parts away from the handle and the top and bottom edges. For a photo mug, use the original photo, not a screenshot from a chat app. Ask for a proof showing the wrap. Common mistakes: small text too close to the handle, a dark photo that prints even darker, and a white mug design on a magic mug. Most sublimated ceramic mugs handle the dishwasher and microwave, but magic mugs and metallic finishes should be washed by hand. Check the care advice with the printer.
What affects the price
The mug type, the quantity, the print method and any gift box set the price. Ask each printer:
- The price per mug at your quantity, with the mug included?
- Is there a design or setup fee?
- Are gift boxes or bubble wrap included for courier?
- Is the mug dishwasher safe, and is VAT included?
For matching gifts, ask about printed T-shirts in the same design.
What to include in your request
- Mug type and size
- Number of mugs
- Same design or personalised names
- Gift boxes or packaging
- Collection or courier, and the date
Mug Printing for different clients
- Families and individuals: a photo mug for Mother's Day, a birthday, a new granny or a memorial
- Small businesses and start-ups: a few dozen mugs with the business name for staff and loyal customers
- Companies and offices: staff welcome mugs and year end client gifts packed in gift boxes
- Shops, restaurants and salons: personalised mugs sold in a gift shop or used as a loyalty reward
- Events, conferences and clubs: speaker gifts and prize mugs for conferences, golf days and races
- Schools, churches and NGOs: teacher gifts, matric farewell mugs and church fundraiser mugs
- Government and municipalities: commemorative mugs for municipal events, heritage days and staff awards
- Designers, agencies and resellers: contract mug printing for gift shops, agencies and promotional resellers
Frequently asked questions
How much does mug printing cost?
Can I get one personalised mug printed near me?
Are printed mugs dishwasher safe?
What file do I send for mug printing?
Mug Printing by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg