How to Make & Sell Custom Coasters: The Ultimate Guide to High-Profit Home Décor

Looking for a low-cost, high-margin product to add to your custom apparel or promo business? Look no further than the humble coaster.

Coasters are the "unsung heroes" of the customization world. They are inexpensive to source, easy to store, and because they are usually sold in sets, they offer a fantastic average order value. whether you are selling to newlyweds or corporate offices, everyone needs a place to set their drink.

Here are just a few best-selling decoration ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• 💍 Newlyweds: Custom last names and wedding dates.
• 🏡 New Homeowners: Monograms and "Home Sweet Home" motifs.
• 🏢 Corporate: Company logos for conference rooms and client gifts.
• 🎄 Seasonal: Holiday themes for Christmas, Halloween, or Thanksgiving gatherings.

Why Cork & HTV are the Perfect Pair

Cork is a massive favorite for coaster material because it’s lightweight, durable, and—if dropped—it won’t break! But the best part for a decorator? It is incredibly cheap.

While adhesive vinyl (stickers) can work, it looks cheap and isn't durable. Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) is the superior choice. It melts into the pores of the cork for a professional, permanent finish.

We recommend Triton Heat Transfer Vinyl. It weeds easily, comes in dozens of colors, and doesn't require long press times—making it perfect for heat-sensitive materials.

🎥 Watch the Tutorial: Decorating Cork Coasters

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Step-by-Step: How To Decorate Cork with Triton HTV

💰 The ROI: Custom Coasters Profit Breakdown

This is where the magic happens. You can buy blank cork coasters in bulk for pennies. Let's look at the math for a single monogram coaster:

*Prices estimated based on bulk purchasing and standard retail rates.

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Beyond HTV: 3 Other Ways to Print Coasters

While HTV is great for simple, bold graphics, other technologies allow you to create photo-realistic coasters on stone, wood, and glass.

1. UV Printing (Texture Doesn't Matter)

UV printers (like the Compress iUV600) use UV-LED lights to cure ink instantly. The superpower of UV printing is that the coaster does not need to be smooth.

• You can print directly into the holes of porous stone tile.
• You can print full-color photos.
• You can load the bed with 50 coasters and print a different name on each one instantly.

2. Sublimation (The "Zero Feel" Finish)

Sublimation dyes the actual fibers of the coaster, meaning there is zero "hand feel" to the print. However, there is a catch: The coaster must be polyester-coated.

You cannot grab random slate tiles from Home Depot; you must buy special sublimation blanks (check out BestBlanks.com now ColDesi.com). This is perfect for high-gloss ceramic or hardboard coasters.

3. DigitalHeat FX (The Versatile Choice)

White Toner transfers (DigitalHeat FX) are the middle ground. Like sublimation, you use a transfer paper. Unlike sublimation, you can apply it to almost anything—no special coating required!

Great for:

• Wood Coasters 🌲
• Glass Coasters 🥃
• Dark/Colored Ceramics ☕

Note: Because white toner requires even pressure, stay away from very rough stone tiles. Stick to smooth surfaces for the best results.

Ready to Start Your Coaster Empire?

Whether you want to start small with a vinyl cutter and some cork, or scale up to full-color photo coasters with UV printing, there is a profit margin waiting for you.

Not sure which printer fits your budget? The best way to decide is to chat with a pro who knows the numbers.

👉 Chat with a ColDesi Pro Now