If you’re looking to add a printer to your craft room, this post is for you. Today we’re going to talk about large-format printers and which one might be right for you. With the new larger Cricut Design Space Print Then Cut sizes, you may be looking for a new printer that can print larger sizes for those Print Then Cut projects.
I’m going to talk about a variety of different large-format printers, also called wide-format printers to help you make the best choice for your craft room. The printers in this post all use regular ink. You can see my picks for large-format sublimation printers here.
If you haven’t seen the new Design Space Print Then Cut sizes, make sure you read my post all about how awesome it is.
What is a Large-Format Printer?
A large-format printer is a printer that can print larger than the standard 8.5″ wide by 11″ long. Some large-format printers can print only 8.5″ wide but up to 14″ long. Others can print up to 12″ wide or even wider.
You can watch me walk through large-format printers to help you decide which one is right for you by pressing play on the video below.
Why Would I Need a Large-Format Printer?
A large-format printer is great for a lot of reasons. I purchased the printer I did because I can print my own 12×12 scrapbook paper sheets with it.
Another reason you may want a large-format printer is the new bigger Print Then Cut sizes that Cricut announced. With those larger Print Then Cut sizes, you’ll need a larger printer. The ability to create Print Then Cut projects much larger than we could in the past is a great reason to want a larger printer.
Which Large-Format Printer is Right for Me?
Before we jump into the different printers I want to note that wide-format printers tend to be a bit more expensive than standard printers. I did try to choose budget-friendly options that are also good options for printing.
You will not find a $50 printer on this list. I don’t believe they make them and if they do, the print quality wouldn’t be good enough for the projects you’d want to make.
When it comes to printers, I tend to stick with three brands. My trusted brands are HP, Canon, and Epson. I tend to be an HP girl for most printing but my large-format printer is a Canon so let’s talk about Canon first!
Canon Large-Format Printers
For large-format printers, Canon has the Canon Pixma. I have the TS9521C Canon Pixma. There are a variety of models that can print larger and often they are in stock and then out of stock. Another great option that only prints up to 11 x 17 inches is the Canon Pixma TS9520.
I do think any of the Canon Pixmas that can print larger are a good option. There are a variety of model numbers and I don’t think they matter very much. The Canon Pixma prints really well. The model I have can actually print a 12″ x 12″ sheet of scrapbook paper which I love.
Cricut did not open up 12″ x 12″ printing when they increased their Print Then Cut sizes but they did open up 11″ x 17″ printing. I can print that size with this printer and create those amazing large projects.
Wide-Format HP Printers
I know I said I am an HP girl at heart so you may be asking yourself why I have Canon Pixma printer instead. When I was looking for a wide-format printer, the Canon Pixma was the only printer I could find that printed those 12″ x 12″ scrapbook pages.
The HP OfficeJet Pro prints larger sizes. There are a variety of different model numbers, the one I see recommended is the 7740. If you can find an HP OfficeJet Pro that prints larger, you will probably be very happy with your purchase.
I would recommend with both the Pixma and OfficeJet Pro printers that if you’re looking make sure you read the description of the printer well. Some of them only print smaller sizes so you want to make sure you’re purchasing a printer that does print that larger size.
Epson Large-Format Printers
Epson makes a pretty wide variety of wide-format printers that are fairly budget-friendly.
The Epson EcoTank options are the 8550 which is a pretty good option for wide-format printing and then there is the 15000 which is a wide-format printer that people like to convert for wide-format sublimation printing. While people like to convert the 15000 for sublimation, you can use it with regular Epson ink for inkjet printing and it will do a great job.
The Epson Expression Photo HD is also a great option. Personally, I love any printer that has photo-quality printing. When choosing a printer, I try to choose one that does have photo-quality printing because I know I can get the best quality prints without a lot of effort.
There is also the Epson SureColor P700. Don’t confuse those with the Epson SureColor sublimation printers, they have an inkjet version as well that will print wider format prints.
Another Epson option is the WorkForce Pro WF-7310. This is another printer that will work for your larger prints.
Which Epson Printer is Best?
Let’s say I knew I wanted an Epson printer. I would choose a printer that prints photo quality prints. If budget is a concern, the WorkForce line is the most budget-friendly. If I had enough budget and could spring for that photo version, I would probably do that.
I wouldn’t worry too much about model numbers. Any of them that says it prints tabloid prints and is in your budget is a good choice.
What if I Want a Different Printer?
If you have a brand of printer that you love definitely look into if they have a wide-format printer option. I wanted to share brands I have personally used and ones that when I researched had good reviews for large format prints that are more budget-friendly.
Why Are They Always Out of Stock?
In my experience, printers tend to go in and out of stock fairly rapidly. When I decided I wanted this Canon Pixma, I had to wait months for it to come back in stock. It seems like when they’re in stock they are in stock for a while and when they’re out of stock they’re out of stock for a while.
I do want to encourage you to use this list as a starting point. It’s possible not every printer will be in stock when you go to look.
Often times the model number changes if the printer color is different, it has copy or scan abilities, or it offers a rear feed tray, etc. I just want you to make sure you read the description and that it can print the size you want it to.
If you don’t need all of those options or you don’t care what color it might come in, there may be another model number that will do exactly what you want it to do.
Final Thoughts on Large-Format Printers
If you ask me which printer is right for me it is the Canon Pixma. I really like that I can print 12″ x 12″ cardstock edge to edge to create my own scrapbook paper with my own designs. That is why I chose it in the first place.
These wide-format printers can print up to 11 by 17 or 12 by 12 inches but they can also print on regular letter-sized paper. If you have a large-format printer, you don’t need a separate printer to print standard 8.5″ x 11″. All of these printers can print larger sizes and a regular letter-sized print.
If you’re looking into sublimation, you will need another printer for sublimation. I do have other posts and videos that cover sublimation printers and wide-format sublimation printers.
A sublimation printer is a printer that uses sublimation ink printed onto sublimation paper to create sublimation prints. I hope this has answered any questions you have about large-format printers. If you have additional questions, leave them in the comments below and I’ll get those answered for you.
