The Best Wide-Format Printers of 2021

The most basic definition of a wide-format printer is a machine that prints on large paper, though some models can print on plastic, vinyl, fabric or a flat medium. Depending on the use case and the business's needs, wide-format printers can get significantly large – more than 12 feet wide in some cases. As such, the price of a wide-format printer can go anywhere from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands. [Would a multifunction printer better suit your needs? Check out the printers and copiers we recommend for small businesses.]

Wide-Format vs. Large-Format Printing

When researching wide-format printers, you may also see the term "large-format printers" a lot. For the most part, the two terms are interchangeable. Some companies may call them large-format printers more often, but the meaning is the same. We use the terms interchangeably throughout our reviews.

Our research found that most printer companies use "wide format" and "large format" interchangeably. When speaking with sales representatives, you won't run into any confusion if you use either or both terms.

Wide-Format Printers vs. Plotters

There's some confusion among consumers about the differences between wide-format printers and plotters. Both wide-format printers and plotters create high-resolution images, but the way they produce those images is different.

Plotters use vector graphics to create images, while wide-format printers use pixels. If you want to create extremely detailed prints with lots of lines, a plotter may be exactly what you need. For example, construction companies making blueprints of building designs often use plotters, because they create accurate and detailed lines. Architects and engineers may also prefer plotters for their accuracy in drawing lines. This doesn't mean a traditional large-format printer can't accurately draw lines, but a plotter nullifies the chances of minor errors.

Purchasing a wide-format printer for your small business is a big decision. These machines often require a lot of real estate in an office and a large financial commitment, whether it's from a single lump payment or through other financing options.

When you choose a wide-format printer to purchase or lease, the most important thing to consider is your potential use and your business's needs. If your company only needs to print high-quality posters at a maximum of 24 inches, you probably shouldn't finance a $70,000 wide-format printer that can print on vinyl or fabric. Naturally, the same concept works in reverse. Knowing what you need out of a printer will be integral in ensuring you don't waste office space or money.

Here are some other things you should consider when choosing a wide-format printer.

Key characteristics

• Color spectrum. How your completed prints will look is incredibly important. One way you can make sure your work comes out exactly as you intended is to ensure that your printer and accompanying software use the right color spectrum. The two common spectrums are CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) and RGB (reg, green, blue). Certain printers prefer one over the other, so if color accuracy is important to you, this is something you should consider.
  
  
• Ink type. There are several ink types on the market, and some printers use only certain types. As we discussed above, aqueous, pigment-based, UV and latex inks are good for different uses. If you know how you want to use the printer, you can select one that uses the best ink type for the projects you have in mind.
  
  
• Size and weight. These machines can get big and heavy. If a wide-format printer is absolutely what you need for your office, size is an important consideration. Your office space is limited, so measure the space you have for the printer and compare it to the specs. If you plan on moving the machine around, make sure it doesn't weigh nearly a ton.
  
  
• Print speed. Time is money, so you can save on costs in the long run by selecting a fast wide-format printer. How quickly a printer functions depends on many things, but most manufacturers publish an estimated speed, so look for a printer that can put out a high number of square feet or pages per minute.

Image Quality

These printers match the best office machines with resolutions up to 2880 x 1440 dpi (dots per inch). While basic models paint the image with four or five inks, others can print with up to a dozen different colors and emulate Pantone standard colors.

Most use a combination of long-lasting pigment-based and vibrant dye-based inks. There are also wide-format printers that rely on latex inks (for outdoor use) or dye-sublimation technology (for photo-quality output).

One big difference with more pedestrian printers is that wide-format models can print on several stocks, including plain or bond paper, clear film for backlit advertising, and polypropylene and vinyl stock for outdoor installations. You can print huge photos on matte or glossy photo stock, or even print on fabrics with many of these printers.

The distinction that scientific and engineering wide-format plotters produce monochrome prints while graphics-oriented models use color is quickly disappearing. This is a result of lower prices for general-purpose wide printers and the increasing use of color in technical drawings, such as for highlighting areas of concern or making 3D renderings.

Software

Most of these printers use PostScript and other popular printer languages, and they include an Office or Adobe plugin so you can upsize any document or image created at your desk for large-format printing. Some have apps for giving permission and accounting for the printer's use so it can be charged to certain budgets or departments.

Some manufacturers require you to pay extra for software that enables these extra features if you want them. For instance, it's not unusual for the automated workflow to be an optional extra.

Design

Wide-format printers are the heavyweights of the printer world, reaching up to 1,000 pounds, although some are meant to sit on a desk. Many include a stand and a tray to catch the prints. Then there are the workhorse printers that can easily measure 7 x 5 feet, which are built around a huge cabinet and often set up in their own room.

Most of the newer models have a touchscreen for interaction with the printer. Some flagship models include a powerful processor such as an Intel Core i7, up to 64GB of RAM, and large hard drives or flash storage for images.

With small and midsize businesses in mind, we looked for printers with sleek designs that aren't overly cumbersome. A few printers on our list are difficult to move, but their other elite features earned them a spot in our reviews.

Finding the right large-format printer design for your business requires a thorough understanding of your needs. Some of these printers require multiple people to set up, and moving them is a near impossibility. If you have a team of 5-10 people that expects to use the wide-format printer only a handful of times per week, look for a smaller and more affordable option. Some of the smaller wide-format printers still produce quality prints. If you can find an affordable option with good print quality, there's no reason to buy one of the massive printers. On the other hand, some businesses can't do their work without the larger models. If that's the case for you, it might be worth dedicating an entire room or area of your business to housing the printer.

Performance

Speed is of the essence with wide-format printing. There's nothing worse than waiting for print jobs, and nothing better than finishing print jobs quickly (and correctly) and the printer moving on to its next task. The more you use a wide printer, the cheaper and more valuable to the company it can become. It can also be costly if the prints are inaccurate. Wasting ink on large prints can cost hundreds of dollars, if not thousands. Performance ratings take both print speed and accuracy into account.

Wide-format printers not only supersize prints but create beautifully detailed output for various purposes, from event graphics to those oversized checks for lottery winners. On the downside, the more detail the print requires, the slower the printing. High-end photo paper or canvas, which require more ink, slow things down even more.

While the current speed demons can pump out roughly 5,000 square feet per hour in draft mode (for checking, proofing or marking up a print), most slow down to under 500 square feet per hour for final prints. That's still fast enough to pump out dozens of D-sized (24 x 36-inch) prints an hour.

Some printers connect to mobile phones or tablets. This can make the printing process more efficient. Many of the best wide-format printers offer Wi-Fi connectivity and the ability to work with mobile phones, tablets, and other technological devices. Consider the connectivity of mobile devices when making your purchasing decision.

Supported Media

All wide-format printers can work with plain, heavy bond, and photographic paper and automatically adjust how much ink is used to prevent bleed-through and missed spots. Many go a step further with the ability to print on less common stock, like film for backlit advertising or vinyl for an outdoor banner or poster. Some devices can even print on textiles for an old-master look or to simulate what a new textile would look like.

Like an office printer with several paper trays, to support this variety of media, the larger printers can hold up to four separate rolls of paper, ready to switch on demand. Most entry-level wide printers have a single roll, though.

Ink Types

Most inks either are water- or solvent-based, the former generally being more expensive and subject to degradation if left outside. Solvent-based inks cost less, are waterproof, and resist fading, so they're the better choice for outdoor applications. Eco-solvent printers are a good option for businesses looking to create outdoor banners or signs.

The ink's color comes from either a dye or a pigment, but this is only a small portion of the formula. Dye inks are made from organic compounds and are generally bright, but often transparent in thin layers and degrade in bright sunlight. For instance, an orange portion of a banner might end up looking yellowish over time. Pigment inks are made from opaque minerals that provide better coverage. They look duller but tend to last longer.

A third class of ink includes a curing agent to solidify the liquid ink before it leaves the printer. After the ink is laid onto the paper, intense ultraviolet lights are aimed at the ink, curing it in less than a second. It is dry to the touch and good for outdoor use.

These are some other types of ink:

• Aqueous ink. Any water-based ink falls within this category. It's great for photos, posters, canvas and indoor applications. It could work outdoors but will likely fade out because of exposure to the elements.
  
  
• Latex. Used primarily for outdoor prints, latex ink is a quick-drying type of ink that can speed up production. It can be applied to a wide range of surfaces while creating high-quality images.
  
  
• Solvent ink. If you plan on printing things like banners and vehicle wraps, then solvent ink is the type you'll likely use. It's an affordable option that will need proper ventilation, since it consists of volatile organic compounds that can be detrimental to your health.
  
  
• UVgel. Canon's UVgel technology requires the use of LEDs to properly cure its industry-leading ink type. According to Canon's website, it creates UVgel ink with "maximum flexibility" in mind, seeking increased "stretchability" for every cured ink droplet. Through the use of LED curing, Canon's printers – like the Colorado 1650 – allow you to choose between matte and glossy finishes for each print job without changing the type of ink or media you use. Depending on the media and laminates you use, UVgel inks are covered for up to five years for outdoor applications and up to eight years with indoor applications.

Consumables

Getting a wide-format printer is only the start of the costs. As with every printer, the costs of ink, paper, and waste containers add up when you use it every day. Depending on how you use the printer and how often, you might need to replace the printheads.

The good news is that these wide-body printers use ink tanks as large as 700 milliliters, so they're cheaper on a per-ounce basis than desktop printers, and the paper rolls actually work out to be fairly inexpensive on a square-foot basis. Regardless of which printer you choose, it'll be cheaper to print this specialty material in-house than outsource it to a local print shop. For instance, a 24 x 36-inch print on plain paper would cost about $2 to print in-house – one-tenth of what a print shop might charge.

Some printers save ink better than others, reducing your future costs of ink cartridges. This is an important consideration in seeking the best printer for your business, as ink can cost hundreds of dollars per cartridge.

Another factor worth considering is how you dispose of materials, especially ink. Ink waste is often considered hazardous, which means its disposal can be tricky. The EPA lists a few options for disposal methods, such as using a registered hazardous waste transporter to send the waste to an approved disposal area. This process may include sending certifications and notifications with the material. This can be time-consuming and difficult, and it's worth taking a look at the ink you're using before you make a purchasing or leasing decision.

Technology

Though the main function of a wide-format printer is committing images and text to a variety of surfaces, today's machines have additional features that make the entire process quicker and easier. Depending on the model you consider, you may be able to take advantage of the following:

• Wireless access. The ability to connect to and access your wide-format printer without long and cumbersome cables is a major benefit of most modern devices. Whether it's internet and network connectivity via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth functionality for mobile devices, wireless access is a big help.
  
  
• Compatibility with mobile devices. With most mobile devices operating on Android or iOS, innate compatibility with those systems can open up new and convenient functionality that enriches and simplifies your experience with a machine.
  
  
• Memory capacity. As your wide-format printer gets multiple jobs in a queue, it will benefit from internal memory to store each job. Without it, printing will slow down.
  
  
• High-capacity or efficient ink cartridges. If you've ever used a home or office printer, you know that ink replacement can be costly. By selecting a printer with larger ink capacities or more efficient ink yields, you can reduce that cost.

With four- and five-figure price tags for these printers, you'd expect top-shelf help and your choice of support by phone, email or live chat. That's generally what you get, with the larger companies offering dedicated support technicians on call 24/7 and a wide variety of resources online, including videos, tips, FAQs and downloads.

Some companies offer onsite maintenance as well. Many of these services are available within one business day of your maintenance request. You don't want your expensive printer to sit idle, so this service is important to many small businesses.

However, while the one-year warranty is still standard in this business, some vendors only cover their hardware and software for a short 90 days. Their expectation is that you'll buy a service contract that includes onsite repairs. This can cost several thousands of dollars a year but might include installation and initial setup. Other companies offer multiyear warranties, but these are rare.

You can also lease or rent a wide-format printer from various brokers or third parties. Most provide the same services for a monthly fee. There are generally two types of leases: a buck-out lease or a fair-market-value lease. In the first, you lease the equipment for a set amount of time (36 months or so), after which you buy the equipment for $1. In an FMV lease, you also pay a monthly fee for a set amount of time, at the end of which you can either purchase the equipment with a final balloon payment or upgrade with a new lease.

Who uses wide-format printers?

There are many uses for wide-format printers, with a multitude of products that can be made thanks to them. For example, architects rely on these printers to create high-quality blueprints and site designs for projects, while photographers use wide-format printers to create massive, high-resolution prints of their work.

The most common use of wide-format printers is in the marketing space. Thanks to these machines, marketers can get large, colorful advertisements out into the public square quickly and relatively affordably. If you see large signs, banners, or promotional window advertising, you've probably seen the fruits of a wide-format printer.

Which types of media can wide-format printers print on?

Along with different grades of paper products, wide-format printers can apply text and graphics to a variety of media, such as vinyl, PVC, fabric, metal and ceramics.

How can a large-format printer benefit your business?

A large-format printer can be a huge boon for your business – in the right circumstances. If you run a printing shop, for example, the benefit is immediately obvious. However, other uses are equally beneficial for certain businesses. The benefits depend largely on your need for the machine.

Production companies use a wide-format printer's vinyl application function to create colorful, realistic backgrounds without the need to construct physical sets. If your company exhibits at trade shows or produces collateral items for its customers, having your own wide-format printer allows you to create high-quality banners and signage. As long as the cost doesn't outweigh the machine's usefulness, a wide-format printer is a strong tool in a business's arsenal.

Is TIFF or JPEG better for printing?

With a wide-format printer, it's always best to use the file type with the least compression, so you should use TIFF. Though they are usually considerably larger than their JPEG counterparts, TIFFs are lossless image files that offer higher-fidelity graphics with minimal compression.

What color format is best for printing?

As with most printed materials, it's best to use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) as your color format. The other major format, RGB, is great for things like TVs and computer monitors, but CMYK prints by using different sizes of ink dots to display an image.

What is an inkjet printer?

Inkjet printers are a type of printing machine that effectively shoots tiny droplets of ink onto a piece of paper or other medium to display an image. Most home and small office printers are of the inkjet variety.

Is inkjet or laser better for printing photos?

When considering an inkjet or laser printer specifically for handling photos, you must remember how either works. While an inkjet printer sprays droplets of the appropriate inks at the right ratio to get the image onto the medium, a laser printer uses toner, meaning it's either only printing in monochrome or much more expensive for the color variant.

As long as you use a coated piece of paper designed for photos, you should always see better results from inkjet machines, especially since they provide darker black levels and feature a much wider range in the color packet.

What are the best software programs to prepare artwork and graphics for wide-format printing?

Unlike with normal printers, which can commit nearly any document or image to common printer paper, it often takes specialized software to create larger files to transfer to a much larger medium. The best software to prepare artwork and graphics for wide-format printing can handle vector formats like EPS and Adobe Illustrator (AI). Raster images, bitmaps, and other file types are also viable options, but they often cause additional problems if you need to make any changes.

As for the types of software you should use, Adobe's InDesign and Photoshop are staples of large-format printing. They are both stellar programs for designing large images without compromising clarity. If Adobe's programs are not your style, consider alternatives such as CADlink SignLab, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2020 and EasySIGN.

There are many reasons why a small business would want to invest in a wide-format printer. They can be a great investment in the right circumstances, such as for an architect's office that needs highly detailed blueprints at a moment's notice or a signage company that needs to print out fabric banners for a client brand's upcoming promotion. We surveyed some small business owners to learn which printers they use and like.

Stephen Light, co-owner of Nolah Mattresses, said the Roland Texart XT-640 printer and its dye-sublimation printing process was a perfect fit for his company's needs. That process, he said, allows the machine to print "high-quality images with a wide gamut of colors" thanks to its four-ink and eight-ink modes. "We love using the Roland Texart XT-640 Dye-Sublimation Printer for printing out logos on our products, especially our wide mattresses."

That machine's dye-sublimation process is important to Nolah Mattresses because other methods "won't be vibrant and vivid," Light said. "Since the colors would be dull, the brand logo wouldn't significantly impact people who view the product."

Some small business owners need versatility in their wide-format printers. In one such instance, Matt Scott, owner of Termite Survey, said his company's reliance on the Canon imagePrograf Pro-1000 affords it the highest variability in output, from a 6 x 4 glossy print to a borderless A2 poster with a matte finish. He said the machine can achieve "a professional-quality picture finish" for all those projects.

"This amazingly versatile picture printer can produce everything," he said before touting the machine's inkjet cartridges. "From the front of the unit, you can see and view the 12 ink shades, and you can replace them one at a time, instead of trying to purchase a brand-new package when one wears out."

Other companies rely on latex-based inks for their prints. Tyler Roark, president of Kentucky Printing, said the HP Latex 115 printer speeds up the production process while being "more environmentally friendly." He also like that the latex ink doesn't usually clog printheads as easily as other inks often do.

"Latex ink also features extreme ink durability, which means we don't necessarily need to go through the additional step of laminating to produce an outdoor-worthy product," Roark said.

Given the nature of this category, it would be impossible for us to personally evaluate every printer on our list. To get an in-depth look into these wide-format printers and how they could benefit small and midsize businesses, we reached out to some of the top companies in the industry to see what models best fit our use cases.

Despite numerous attempts with some of the largest manufacturers, we were largely unable to receive the data directly from the source. Only one company provided the data we requested. For the companies that did not get back to us at all, we reverted to other data collection efforts, such as collecting information from their websites and specifications sheets. In the event that pricing was unavailable, we tried to get prices from third-party vendors.

After compiling a list of eligible machines and their defining features, we determined our best picks: Best for Small Business, Best for Detailed Applications, Best for Outdoor Signage, and Best for Fabric Printing. We took that data, noted the pros and cons of each machine, and weighed them against one another. Here are the main criteria we used to evaluate each wide-format printer:

• Pricing. In most cases, price is the most important factor for small business owners; before even looking at the machine's other qualities, they want to know how much it costs. However, we didn't remove a machine from consideration if it had a large price tag. In many cases, a leasing option was available, making the printer more affordable for small businesses.
  
  
• Features: The overall functionality of a wide-format printer is what separates one model from another.
  
  
• Ease of use: A wide-format printer should be intuitive and convenient for a small business to use. This presents itself in many forms, such as touchscreens and workflow solutions. Ease of use also applies to the system setup and initial user training.
  
  
• Dimensions: Wide-format printers are physical machines, so their footprint in an office environment is an important consideration. While some machines are small enough to fit on a desk, many others are massive machines that can take up too much space in an office setting.
  
  
• Speed: How quickly a wide-format printer can complete a job is important to its overall usefulness in a business setting.
  
  
• Duty cycle: Like most machines with moving parts, each wide-format printer has an expected monthly allotment of how many print jobs it can churn out.
  
  
• Warranty: Wide-format printers generally have a manufacturer's warranty to help cover any malfunction incidents. These usually guarantee your machine will remain in fine working order for the duration of the warranty.