If you need a printer that can handle paper sizes larger than letter or legal, you should consider a wide-format printer. These printers can print on tabloid (11 by 17 inches), supertabloid (13 by 19 inches), or even larger paper sizes, and are ideal for producing posters, flyers, banners, photos, and other large documents.
But how do you choose the best wide-format printer for your needs? There are many factors to consider, such as print quality, speed, paper capacity, connectivity, and cost. In this article, we will review some of the best wide-format printers available in 2024, and help you find the one that suits your budget and requirements.
Before we dive into the specific models, let’s go over some of the key features and specifications that you should look for in a wide-format printer.
Print Quality: This is perhaps the most important factor, especially if you are printing photos or graphics that require high resolution and color accuracy. You should look for a printer that can print at least 1200 by 1200 dots per inch (dpi), and has a wide color gamut and high color depth. You should also check the reviews and samples of the printer’s output to see how well it reproduces colors, gradients, and details.
Print Speed: If you are printing large volumes of documents, you don’t want to wait too long for each page to come out. You should look for a printer that can print at least 10 pages per minute (ppm) for black-and-white documents, and at least 5 ppm for color documents. Of course, the speed will vary depending on the paper size, quality settings, and complexity of the document, so you should take these numbers with a grain of salt.
Paper Capacity: A wide-format printer should have a large paper tray or a roll feeder that can hold enough paper for your printing needs. You should look for a printer that can hold at least 100 sheets of letter or legal paper, or at least 50 sheets of tabloid or supertabloid paper. You should also check the maximum paper thickness and weight that the printer can handle, as some papers may be too thick or heavy for some printers.
Connectivity: A wide-format printer should have multiple connectivity options that allow you to print from different devices and sources. You should look for a printer that has USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi ports, as well as support for cloud services, mobile apps, and wireless printing protocols such as AirPrint and Google Cloud Print. You should also check the compatibility of the printer with your operating system and software, as some printers may not work well with certain platforms or applications.
Cost: A wide-format printer can be a significant investment, so you should consider the initial purchase price, as well as the ongoing costs of ink, paper, and maintenance. You should look for a printer that has a reasonable price tag, and offers good value for money in terms of features and performance. You should also look for a printer that has low running costs, such as high-yield ink cartridges, refillable ink tanks, or economical paper options.
Based on our research and analysis, here are some of the best wide-format printers that you can buy in 2024, along with their pros and cons.
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7310
The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7310 (Check Discounted Price Now) is a single-function wide-format printer that can print on paper sizes up to 13 by 19 inches. It has a fast print speed of up to 25 ppm for black-and-white and 12 ppm for color, and a high print resolution of up to 4800 by 2400 dpi. It has a large paper capacity of up to 500 sheets, and supports automatic duplex printing. It also has a 4.3-inch color touchscreen, and multiple connectivity options, including USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC, and cloud services. It uses high-yield ink cartridges that can last up to 2,200 pages for black and 1,100 pages for color, and has a low cost per page of 2 cents for black and 8 cents for color.
Pros:
Fast and high-quality printing
Large paper capacity and duplex printing
Multiple connectivity options and cloud services
High-yield and low-cost ink cartridges
Cons:
No scan, copy, or fax functions
No SD card or USB flash drive slots
Noisy operation
Canon imagePrograf PRO-1000
The Canon imagePrograf PRO-1000 (Check Discounted Price Now) is a professional-grade wide-format printer that can print on paper sizes up to 17 by 22 inches. It has a superb print quality, with a print resolution of up to 2400 by 1200 dpi, and a 12-color pigment-based ink system that delivers vibrant and accurate colors, smooth gradients, and deep blacks. It has a moderate print speed of up to 4 minutes for a 17 by 22 inch photo, and a decent paper capacity of up to 150 sheets. It has a 3-inch color LCD, and multiple connectivity options, including USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and wireless printing protocols. It uses large ink cartridges that can last up to 700 pages for black and 300 pages for color, and has a moderate cost per page of 10 cents for black and 30 cents for color.
Multiple connectivity options and wireless printing protocols
Large ink cartridges
Cons:
Slow print speed
No scan, copy, or fax functions
No touchscreen, SD card, or USB flash drive slots
Expensive purchase price and ink cartridges
HP DesignJet Studio 24
The HP DesignJet Studio 24 (Check Discounted Price Now) is a large-format inkjet plotter that can print on paper sizes up to 24 inches wide, and on paper rolls up to 150 feet long. It has a good print quality, with a print resolution of up to 2400 by 1200 dpi, and a 4-color dye-based ink system that produces sharp and vivid output. It has a fast print speed of up to 26 seconds for an A1 or D plot, and a large paper capacity of up to 100 sheets or one roll. It has a 4.3-inch color touchscreen, and multiple connectivity options, including USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and cloud services. It uses high-capacity ink cartridges that can last up to 2,400 pages for black and 1,200 pages for color, and has a low cost per page of 1 cent for black and 5 cents for color.
Pros:
Fast and good-quality printing
Large paper capacity and roll printing
Multiple connectivity options and cloud services
High-capacity and low-cost ink cartridges
Cons:
No scan, copy, or fax functions
No SD card or USB flash drive slots
Limited color gamut and depth
Conclusion
A wide-format printer can be a great asset for your home or office, if you need to print large documents, photos, or graphics. However, not all wide-format printers are the same, and you should consider your needs and budget before buying one. We hope this article has helped you find the best wide-format printer for your large scale printing needs. Happy printing!
