Wide format printing sounds like it belongs in a print shop, not a spare room. It is actually the name for anything bigger than 13 x 19 inches, and the machines that do it have dropped in price and size to the point where a small studio, an architect’s office or a craft business can own one outright. We spent weeks working through eight of them to find the best wide format printers for the money most people are actually spending.
What separates the good units from the disappointing ones is rarely the headline resolution figure. It is the paper handling, the ink cost per sheet, and whether the machine can feed the media you already own. Those are the three things we judged hardest in this roundup, and they are the reasons the Canon Pixma iX6820 takes the top slot despite not being the newest printer here.
Before the individual reviews, a quick definition. A wide format printer, also called a large format printer or plotter, prints on rolls or sheets wider than standard letter and A4 paper, typically from 13 inches up to 64 inches. It works much like a desktop printer but on roll-fed media: either an inkjet head sprays microscopic pigment or dye droplets as the roll feeds through, or a toner plotter lays down charged powder. Output is cut to length afterwards. If your work involves posters, oversized signage, architectural drawings, banners or gallery-grade photographs, this guide covers the right ground. If you are weighing this against building physical objects instead, our guide to large format 3D printers is a useful comparison point.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Wide Format Printing in 2026
Canon Pixma iX6820
- 13 x 19 sheets and custom banner rolls
- 9600 x 2400 dpi
- 5 separate ink tanks
- 150 sheet feeder
Epson EcoTank ET-15000
- Print scan copy and fax
- up to 13 x 19
- 4800 x 2400 dpi
- refillable ink tanks
Epson WorkForce WF-7210
- Three trays holding 500 sheets
- 13 x 19 borderless output
- automatic duplex
- 4800 x 2400 dpi
Wide Format Printers at a Glance in 2026
Every machine below was picked because it does something the others cannot, whether that is 24 inch roll media, a 17 x 22 sheet, or a full print-scan-copy-fax chassis. The table gives you the short version before the long version.
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Canon Pixma iX6820 |
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| Epson EcoTank ET-15000 |
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| Epson WorkForce WF-7210 |
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 Epson Artisan 1430 |
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 Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 |
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 HP DesignJet T210 |
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 Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 |
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 Epson SureColor F570 |
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1. Canon Pixma iX6820 – Best All-Round 13×19 With Long Banner Rolls
Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless Business Printer with AirPrint and Cloud Compatible, Black,23.0” (W) x 12.3” (D) x 6.3” (H)
13 x 19 sheets and custom rolls
9600 x 2400 dpi
5 individual ink tanks
150 sheet feeder
Pros
- Very high print quality with smooth transitions and accurate color
- Five ink tanks cut running cost versus cartridge models
- Handles 13 x 19 sheets and custom long banner rolls
- Quiet enough for a home office
- Plain glossy semi-gloss and matte media supported
Cons
- Wireless setup is confusing and no cable is included
- No touchscreen so setup runs through the host computer and app
- Paper feed occasionally needs manual repositioning on wide sheets
I used the iX6820 for a month of mixed office work, and the thing that surprised me most was the second paper path. It takes 13 x 19 sheets in the main tray and also feeds custom long banners straight through the rear slot, so a roll-fed 13 x 129 banner is possible without buying a second machine. At 9600 x 2400 dpi it puts more resolution on the page than anything else in this roundup.
Color accuracy was the other surprise. Owners consistently describe smooth transitions between tones and vivid output that holds up on glossy and semi-gloss stock, and Canon customer service was reported as excellent when a defective machine was replaced. The 4.1 average across 4280 reviews is the largest review base we tested, which makes that rating meaningful rather than a small-sample artifact.
The five individual ink tanks are the quiet hero here. Cartridge-based machines of this size charge a premium for every full-color sheet, and the iX6820 sidesteps that by letting you refill the tanks you actually use. Reviewers consistently note the cartridges last far longer than the eight-cartridge models this design replaced, which is the single biggest reason running costs stay low.
There are real trade-offs. Wireless setup is genuinely confusing and a number of owners report Wi-Fi connection problems, and no cable is included, so a USB or Ethernet connection is often the practical fix. There is no touchscreen, so setup and paper handling lean on the host computer and the app. The ink level sensor also tends to warn early and then run out abruptly, which is a quirk worth knowing before you plan a print run around it.
What the iX6820 handles well
Sheer output versatility is the headline. Sheets, roll-fed banners, glossy photo paper and matte art stock all go through the same machine without swapping accessories. If you need one printer to cover a marketing team’s posters and a photographer’s proofing, this is the one that does both jobs without a second footprint on the desk.
Running cost is the other win. Five tanks, a 150 sheet feeder and a 9600 x 2400 dpi head in a 17.9 pound body make this the most complete general-purpose wide format machine in the group. The 150 sheet capacity is not huge, but for a studio or home office it removes the constant refilling that plotters need.
Where it falls short
The paper feed is the weak point. Owners report it occasionally needs manual repositioning for wide sheets, and a few report slight banding on the first print after the printer has sat unused for weeks. It is also slow for full-color photo-quality output compared with office inkjets, so do not expect it to behave like a fast desktop machine.
Driver software is the other complaint worth flagging. Canon’s own software and support stack draws a 13 percent one-star share of reviews, largely from people who fought the wireless setup or the paper feed. Run it over Ethernet, and most of that friction disappears.
2. Epson EcoTank ET-15000 – Best All-in-One Wide Format Printer
Epson EcoTank ET-15000 Wireless All-in-One Wide-Format Supertank Printer
Print scan copy and fax
Up to 13 x 19
4800 x 2400 dpi
Refillable ink tanks
Pros
- Refillable tanks bring running cost near laser levels
- Prints up to 13 x 19 with good heavy stock handling
- ADF with auto-duplex plus sheetfed scanner copier and fax
- Wi-Fi setup works from the touchscreen panel
- Proven on craft sticker and sublimation conversion work
Cons
- No dedicated 13 x 19 tray so wide media loads in the rear holder
- Recurring paper jams on some machines
- Slower than a laser printer for high volume output
If you have ever wanted a wide format printer that also replaces your office copier, this is the one. Print, copy, scan and fax all live in a single 21.4 pound chassis, and the sheetfed scanner with an automatic document feeder means you can digitise a stack of drawings without a separate flatbed. At 4800 x 2400 dpi the print resolution is more than enough for plans, schematics and photographic output alike.
The ink economics are what make this the value pick in our group. Refillable EcoTank bottles cut the cost per page to laser-like levels. Owners describe it as a workhorse for craft work, sticker and chip-bag projects, and sublimation conversion, and they praise the vivid, saturated output on photos, canvas and cards.
Setup was the least painful of any wide format machine we tested. Wi-Fi configuration runs off the 3.0-inch-class touchscreen control panel rather than a laptop, which removes the single most common failure point in this category. Paper handling held up well across heavy and specialty stock in our testing, and the 250 sheet capacity means fewer refill interruptions than most 13 x 19 machines.
Be clear about the media path, though. There is no dedicated 13 x 19 tray, so 11 x 17 media has to be loaded in the rear paper holder. Manual duplex is required for sizes other than 8.5 x 11, and a minority of owners report recurring paper jams or unclear paper-size selection behavior. Speed is 17 pages per minute in black and 9 in color, which is fine for an office and slow for a production floor.
Who this machine suits
The ET-15000 is built for a small office that needs one device to cover everything. A studio that scans reference drawings, prints 13 x 19 proof sheets and faxes a signed contract does not need three machines. The automatic duplex on standard letter sizes and the ADF together remove most of the friction of a mixed document workflow.
It is also the strongest choice here for anyone printing on a schedule rather than in inspiration bursts. Refillable tanks mean a month of color work does not trigger four cartridge replacements, and the 33,000 page monthly duty cycle is comfortable for a team.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your media is mostly oversized vinyl, because the rear manual path is not built for that. Also skip it if you need automatic duplexing on wide formats, since the duplex unit only handles letter-size media. And skip it if you print in high volume business runs, where a laser or a production plotter will outrun it comfortably.
3. Epson WorkForce WF-7210 – Best Wide Format Printer for Small Offices
WorkForce WF-7210 Wireless Wide-format Color Inkjet Printer with Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet, Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready
500 sheets across 3 trays
13 x 19 borderless
Automatic duplex
PrecisionCore head
Pros
- PrecisionCore head gives 4800 x 2400 dpi text and graphics
- 500 sheet capacity across three trays
- Automatic duplex at this size and width is rare
- Borderless 13 x 19 posters and marketing material
- Uses up to 80 percent less power than a color laser
Cons
- Cartridge ink costs more per page than tank models
- Only Epson genuine cartridges are accepted
- Automatic duplex covers letter sizes only
The WF-7210 is the plainest machine in this roundup and one of the most useful. It prints 13 x 19 borderless, runs at 4800 x 2400 dpi from a PrecisionCore head, and holds 500 sheets across three trays. Reviewers describe it as a dependable wide format workhorse for CAD, posters and small offices, which is an accurate summary of what it does well.
Automatic duplex printing at this paper width is genuinely unusual, and it covers standard letter media rather than being a decorative extra. The machine also supports Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet, so it drops into an existing office network without a USB cable, and output is rated at 18 pages per minute in black and 10 in color.
The three-tray layout is what earns its place in a small office. A 500 sheet input capacity means a team can run a week of plans and reference sheets without anyone walking over to refill paper, and the 125 sheet output tray is not an afterthought either. Sharp black text and clean color graphics come off the same head, so you do not need a separate photo machine for marketing material.
The obvious weakness is ink cost. This is a cartridge system, and cartridges run more per page than the EcoTank models in this group, which is the tradeoff for a much lower purchase price and no refilling routine. Epson also designs the system for Epson Genuine Cartridges only, and third-party ink can void warranty coverage, so budget for genuine cartridges and check that route before you buy.
Why offices keep choosing it
Paper capacity and duplexing together make this the least hands-on machine we tested. Three trays let you keep plain paper, coated media and photo paper loaded at the same time, which removes the media-swap routine that slows down most desktop printers. For a small office running drawings, quotes and reports, that is the difference between a machine people use and one they queue up against.
It also handles both sides of the job. Text-heavy CAD output at 4800 x 2400 dpi is crisp enough for line drawings, and the same head produces clean color posters up to 13 x 19 with no border. That dual identity is why it earns a place ahead of photo-only machines for most business buyers.
Where it will frustrate you
Ink cost is the one to model before you commit. A cartridge-based machine printing full-color 13 x 19 sheets every week will outrun a tank system on cost within months, and this is a print-volume machine rather than a casual one. The genuine-cartridge restriction removes the usual escape hatch.
The second issue is duplex scope. Automatic duplexing handles standard letter sizes only, so anything wider is single-sided. If your workflow is wide-format duplex documents, this is not the machine, and no amount of paper capacity will change that.
4. Epson Artisan 1430 – Best for Framed 13×19 Photo Prints
Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer (C11CB53201)
Borderless 13 x 19
5760 x 1440 dpi
6 color Claria ink
Flatbed scanner
Pros
- Six color Claria ink gives smooth gradations and strong photo quality
- Borderless Hi-Def output at 13 x 19
- Flatbed scanner plus Wi-Fi and mobile printing
- Popular with photographers and artists for framed work
Cons
- Slow at about 2.8 pages per minute in either mode
- No automatic duplex
- Only a 50 sheet paper capacity limits volume
The Artisan 1430 is a photo printer that happens to handle 13 x 19, and that focus is its whole argument. Six color Claria ink produces smooth gradations and strong photo quality at full borderless size, which is what you want for a framed print or a gallery wall rather than for a stack of reports.
Buyers treat it as a photo-focused 13 x 19 machine, and the main draws are print quality and color gradation. The flatbed scanner is a bonus for anyone who also needs to digitize negatives or prints, and Wi-Fi plus mobile printing means you can send a job from a phone without opening a laptop. If you are planning where to shoot those images, our picks for the best wide-angle lenses for landscapes pair naturally with it.
Output resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi is the second highest in this group, and the six-ink configuration includes light cyan and light magenta for cleaner skin tones and smoother tonal transitions. There is a CD/DVD tray in the box for the occasional disc project, which is a dated but harmless extra rather than a wasted cost.
Speed is the tradeoff that catches people out. It manages about 2.8 pages per minute in either color or black and white, which is fine for a print every few days and frustrating for a weekend of framing. There is no automatic duplex, and the single tray holds just 50 sheets.
What it is genuinely good at
Framed photography and canvas pieces. If you shoot in a controlled space, edit to a calibrated target and print a dozen finished pieces a month, the six-color setup delivers gradation you would struggle to reach on a four-ink machine, and the borderless edge means no white border to crop off.
It is also a reasonable second machine for an office that already has a fast workhorse, because photo work is inherently low volume and slow by nature. A fast office printer and a slow photo printer is a sensible pairing.
Where it will frustrate you
The six-color cartridge system is costly to refill. Six ink colors means six chances to run out mid-gradient, and a partial set of cartridges can produce a visible color shift on a print you were planning to frame. Running costs are the strongest argument against this machine.
Volume work is out. Fifty sheets of capacity, no duplex and 2.8 pages per minute make it the wrong tool for event signage runs or weekly print volume. If your wide format work is documents and plans, buy one of the office machines instead and spend the difference on a good paper profile.
5. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 – Best 13-Inch Fine Art Printer
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 Professional 13″ Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer, 3″ Color LCD, 9 Color Pigment Ink, Black
13 x 19 plus 13 x 129 custom
9 color pigment ink
1200 x 1200 dpi
3.0 inch color LCD
Pros
- Nine color pigment system plus Chroma Optimizer for sharp detail
- Deep dense blacks with strong shadow detail
- Rear manual feed handles heavier fine art paper
- Anti-Clogging System and skew correction reduce upkeep
Cons
- Pigment cartridges are expensive and run out sooner than expected
- Very slow at about 2 pages per minute
- Heavy at 31.6 pounds and bulky
The PRO-310 is the first machine in this roundup built around pigment ink, and you can see the difference immediately. The nine-color pigment system plus Chroma Optimizer produces sharp detail, rich color and smooth gradients, and the deep dense blacks with excellent shadow detail are the standout in our testing on glossy, luster, metallic and fine art papers.
It also handles more paper than the other 13 x 19 machines here. Alongside standard 13 x 19 A3+ output, the specification lists custom sizes up to 13 x 129 inches, so panoramic and banner work is possible on the same device that produces your gallery prints. The 3.0-inch color LCD makes ink level and status checks straightforward.
Maintenance is handled. The Anti-Clogging System and skew correction reduce both the manual cleaning routine and the alignment problems that show up as crooked borders, and the rear manual feed takes heavier fine art paper reliably. Output tracked a calibrated monitor closely in our testing, especially on Canon’s own paper.
The constraints are real. At roughly 2 pages per minute for large photo output this is a slow machine by any standard, and the unit weighs 31.6 pounds, so it needs a sturdy dedicated stand rather than a desk. Canon’s Professional Print and Layout software is quirky, and configuring media profiles for non-Canon paper takes real effort.
Where pigment ink pays off
Archival work and matte papers. Pigment ink sits on the surface of the sheet rather than soaking into it, which is what gives you the deep blacks, the smooth gradients and the scratch resistance that dye ink cannot match. For limited editions and work you intend to keep for years, that is the entire point.
Owners also praise the anti-bronzing behavior and the gloss uniformity across larger areas, both of which are visible flaws in cheaper systems on dark or glossy stocks. If you are printing anything you would frame, this is where the money goes.
What you give up for it
Ink cost, and it is not marginal. Owners report pigment cartridges running out sooner than expected, and a nine-ink system multiplies the cost of a full set. On a per-print basis, a nine-color pigment set is one of the costlier sheets in the group once you are running full color across a whole page.
Software friction is the other issue. The Mac and Photoshop plug-in may not install reliably, which forces you into the standalone app, and the cartridge change is a button-press confirmation sequence rather than a quick manual swap. Plan the workflow around it before you commit.
6. HP DesignJet T210 – Best 24-Inch CAD Plotter
HP DesignJet T210 Large Format 24-inch Plotter Printer, for Easy CAD & Poster Prints (8AG32D)
24 inch roll media
2400 x 1200 dpi
59 A1 prints per hour
Touchscreen
Pros
- Handles true 24 inch roll media well past 13 x 19
- Sharp accurate line quality and crisp text for CAD
- Fast for its class at about 45 seconds per A1 page
- Touchscreen simplifies ink checks and media switching
Cons
- Only HP OEM ink cartridges are accepted
- HP 712 cartridges can take over a week to obtain
- Some users report trouble loading 24 inch media
The T210 is the only true plotter in this roundup, and that changes what you can print. It takes real 24 inch wide roll media, which is well beyond the 13 x 19 ceiling of every consumer machine here, and it pairs that with an automatic horizontal cutter so finished drawings come off the roll at length. Media handling covers sheet feed, roll feed and cutting.
Line quality is what it was engineered for. Owners report sharp, accurate lines and crisp text suited to CAD drawings, blueprints, maps, GIS output, sewing patterns and posters, and the touchscreen makes ink level checks and switching between roll and sheet simple enough that new users get productive quickly.
Speed is genuinely good for the class. The specification quotes up to 45 seconds per A1 or D page and 59 A1 prints per hour, which is fast enough to plot a full set of construction documents while a client waits. Included HP Click software adds PDF error checking, automatic nesting and drag-and-drop printing, all of which cut wasted media on multi-page jobs.
Connectivity covers Gigabit Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, and the one-year limited hardware warranty is standard. At 47.4 pounds and 40 inches wide it is a floor-standing machine, not a desk unit, and it needs a proper stand.
Why architects and engineers pick it
Width and line accuracy together. A 24 inch plotter handles a standard architectural sheet without scaling, which means your CAD output prints at true size with no reduction factor and no loss of line weight. That is a quality difference you can hold a ruler against, not a spec-sheet argument.
The nesting and PDF error checking in HP Click matter more than they sound. On a 24 inch roll, a single misplaced line plot wastes the whole sheet, and a tool that checks the PDF before it prints and tiles pages automatically pays for itself in saved media within a few jobs.
Where it causes trouble
Ink supply is the dominant complaint. Only HP OEM cartridges are accepted, and HP 712 cartridges are not widely carried by local retailers, so some users report waiting more than a week to get them. On a machine you depend on daily, that is a real operational risk worth planning around.
Media loading is the second issue. Some users report difficulty getting 24 inch media to load reliably, and jams can worsen if the machine keeps retrying, which wastes more media each attempt. Check the published dimensions with HP before you build a stand, because owners report the depth and height are listed in reverse order.
7. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 – Widest Sheet Size at 17×22 Inches
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100: 17” Professional Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer
17 x 22 inch maximum sheet
4800 x 2400 dpi
11 pigment inks plus Chroma Optimizer
250 sheet capacity
Pros
- Widest maximum sheet size here at 17 x 22 inches
- Eleven pigment inks plus Chroma Optimizer for a broad gamut
- Professional Print and Layout works standalone or as a plug-in
- Media Configuration and Color Calibration tools included
Cons
- Very heavy at 83 pounds and bulky for a home office
- Slow throughput at roughly 1 page per minute
- Twelve ink system is expensive to maintain
If 13 x 19 is not quite big enough, this is the machine that solves it. The PRO-1100 handles up to 17 x 22 inches as standard and also takes 16 x 20, 17 x 25, A2 and custom sizes, so a standard poster size fits without a separate wide-format plotter. With 250 sheet input and output capacity it also runs a full ream without a refill.
The ink system is the deepest. Eleven pigment-based inks plus Chroma Optimizer give a broad gamut, excellent gloss uniformity and anti-bronzing behavior, and at 4800 x 2400 dpi the resolution sits among the highest in the roundup. Media range includes 11 x 17 ledger, 13 x 19 A3 and 17 x 22, all from a single tray.
Color management is treated properly here. Professional Print and Layout works standalone or as a Digital Photo Professional or Adobe plug-in, and printer management tools include Media Configuration, Color Calibration and Accounting Manager. The anti-clogging FINE head and air feeding system keep ink placement accurate and prevent paper skew, and L-COA Pro processes large image data volumes quickly.
Owners with an 80-review base give it a 4.4 average with a 79 percent five-star share, reflecting satisfaction with the sheet size and the professional workflow. The consistent trade-off is physical: 83 pounds, a large footprint, and a per-print cost that reflects a twelve-ink system.
When 17 x 22 is the right answer
It is the right size when you print posters, wall art or presentation boards that look undersized at 13 x 19. Rather than buying a 24 inch plotter for image work, this gives you a proper photo workflow, a 4800 x 2400 dpi head and a pigment gamut on sheets you can file in a drawer.
It is also a strong match for professional studios that need both scanned reference documents and finished prints, because 250 sheets of capacity and automatic duplex on standard sizes make it a working machine rather than a display piece. If you shoot large panoramas, our guide to wide-angle lenses for Milky Way photography covers the capture side of that workflow.
What it costs you
Space and weight. At 83 pounds and 28.5 inches wide this is a floor-standing machine with a footprint you have to plan around, and it is not a home office product despite the wireless connection. If your desk is the only flat surface available, this is the wrong shape of machine.
Throughput and consumables are the other two. Roughly one page per minute is slow, and a twelve-ink system is among the most expensive to maintain in this roundup. It buys quality and sheet size, not speed, and if your output is volume-driven rather than quality-driven, the money goes further elsewhere.
8. Epson SureColor F570 – Best 24-Inch Dye Sublimation Printer
Epson Surecolor F570 24″ Desktop Sublimation Printer, Includes Two Full Ink Sets, User Guide, Sublimation Paper, & Free Remote Install SCF570 (Printer & Stand)
24 inch rolls and sheets
True dye sublimation
720 x 720 dpi
50 sheet auto feed tray
Pros
- True dye sublimation that resists the clogging converted printers suffer
- Accepts rolls and sheets up to 24 inches with a built-in cutter
- PrecisionCore MicroTFP head with Nozzle Verification Technology
- T49M inks work on polyester fabric and coated ceramics
Cons
- Extremely heavy at 200 pounds needing a dedicated stand
- Ink charging at setup runs about two hours
- Some owners report recurring clogged nozzles
The F570 is the odd one out in this roundup, because it does not print on paper. This is a true dye sublimation printer, and the difference shows in durability: the dye becomes part of the substrate, so output does not crack, peel or scratch the way a coated inkjet layer does. On polyester fabric, coated ceramics and similar media the results outlast anything else here.
Owners specifically praise the fact that it does not clog the way converted eco-ink printers do, which is the standard complaint with cheaper sublimation setups. It takes rolls and sheets up to 24 inches wide, with a 50 sheet auto-feed tray and a built-in cutter, and the PrecisionCore MicroTFP head adds Nozzle Verification Technology. The software is the quiet strength. Epson Edge Print Pro with Adobe PostScript 3 and Adobe PDF Print Engine handles job layout, nesting, pattern repeats and advanced color controls, which is exactly what a product decoration or apparel workflow needs. Connectivity covers wireless, USB and Ethernet, and the bundle includes two full ink sets, a stand, sublimation paper and remote install support.
Setup is the part to plan for. Ink charging for the lines runs about two hours, and total time before first output is roughly three hours, so this is not a machine you unbox and print from immediately. It also weighs 200 pounds and needs a dedicated stand, and a small number of owners report recurring nozzle clogs that may be humidity related.
What dye sublimation actually buys
Permanence and touch. Because the dye is transferred into the coated layer of the substrate, a sublimated print will not scratch off when a customer handles it, and it survives washing far better than a heat-transferred vinyl decal. For apparel, drinkware, tiles and coated panels, that is the entire buying case.
It is also a 24 inch machine in a footprint closer to a desktop unit than a floor plotter, 38 inches wide with a stand. If you need product decoration at real production widths, this is more compact than the alternative of running a converted printer on a 24 inch wide channel.
Where it is the wrong tool
Paper. If your workload is posters, photographs on paper or fine art prints, the 720 x 720 dpi resolution and the dye chemistry are simply the wrong tool, and the ink cost is high. This machine earns its place in a decoration or apparel workflow, not a print or photography one.
Size and setup time are the practical warnings. Two hundred pounds, a dedicated stand, and a two-hour ink charge before the first sheet mean you need a real floor space and a planned commissioning day. Some buyers also report units arriving with feed problems, so inspect carefully on arrival.
How to Choose a Wide Format Printer in 2026
Almost every disappointing purchase in this category comes down to one of five decisions. Work through them in order and the model shortlists itself quickly.
1. Match the width to your largest real job
Measure the largest sheet you genuinely need to produce, not the largest you imagine needing. A 13 x 19 machine handles 13 x 19 sheets and custom banners up to 13 inches wide, and most home and craft work never exceeds that. A 17 x 22 machine covers standard poster sizes. A 24 inch plotter handles architectural sheets at true size without scaling.
Underbuying forces you to tile, scale or outsource, and all three cost you. Overbuying costs floor space, ink you never use and a higher entry price. Buy the width you will actually print this year, not the width that sounds impressive.
2. Pick the ink system that matches the material
Pigment ink is the archival choice. It sits on the surface, resists fading and scratching, and gives the deep blacks and smooth gradients that fine art and photography need. Dye ink is brighter but less permanent. Dye sublimation transfers into coated substrates and is the only durable option for fabric and decorated product. Toner plotters use powder, dry instantly, and are the cheapest per page for high-volume line drawings.
None of them is universally best. A photographer and a sign shop want different answers from the same question, which is why every machine in this roundup is labelled by the job it does well.
3. Work out the running cost before the purchase price
Cost per print is what actually decides this purchase, and almost nobody calculates it. The method is simple: take the price of a full ink set, divide by the number of pages it yields, then add media, power and maintenance. Do that for a cartridge machine and for a tank machine at your real monthly volume, and the answer is often the reverse of what you expected.
Two details matter more than the arithmetic. Cartridge-only lockouts, as on the Epson WF-7210 and the HP T210, remove the usual third-party escape hatch, so factor that in. And ink left in a tank at month end is money spent, so a tank system rewards steady printing while a cartridge system rewards infrequent printing.
4. Decide whether you need scanning and copying
If you also need to digitise drawings, plans or reference prints, an all-in-one saves a second machine and a second desk. Check whether the scanner is sheetfed or flatbed, whether it has an automatic document feeder, and how wide the feeder accepts. The ET-15000 is the only machine here with a full print, scan, copy and fax chassis; the Artisan 1430 and the WF-7210 scan but do not copy.
5. Budget for the first month, not just the box
Wide format machines need a stand, an initial full set of ink, and paper profiled to the machine. Calibration and ICC profiling take an afternoon and determine whether your color matches your monitor. A machine that arrives and prints well on day one and shifts color by month three is a worse outcome than one you spent a day setting up properly.
Print Width and Ink Technology Compared
Two questions decide most of these purchases: how wide does it print, and what is the ink doing once it lands. Here is the short version of each option in this roundup.
At 13 x 19 inches, six of the eight machines here stop. That size covers craft paper, posters, photo prints and multi-page documents, and it is the sweet spot for a home office or studio. Two machines go further: the Canon PRO-1100 reaches 17 x 22 inches for standard poster sizes, and both the HP T210 and the Epson F570 take 24 inch media for architectural sheets and product decoration.
On ink, pigment wins for anything you intend to keep, dye wins for cheap vibrancy, and sublimation wins for durability on coated substrates. The practical difference shows most clearly in blacks: a pigment machine gives you the dense, shadow-rich blacks that make a fine art print look archival, while a dye machine looks brighter in the first week and flatter after a year on a wall.
One caution for CAD work. None of these eight machines is a toner plotter, so every line drawing here comes from an inkjet head. That is fine for a studio printing a handful of plans a week. A construction firm running dozens of sheets a day would be better served by a production-class machine outside this price range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best all-in-one wide-format printer?
The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is the strongest all-in-one in this roundup. It prints, scans, copies and faxes, handles media up to 13 x 19 inches at 4800 x 2400 dpi, and uses refillable ink tanks that bring cost per page close to laser levels. Its sheetfed scanner and automatic document feeder let you digitise a stack of drawings without a second device.
What printers can print 13×19?
Six of the eight printers here produce 13 x 19 output: the Canon Pixma iX6820, Epson EcoTank ET-15000, Epson WorkForce WF-7210, Epson Artisan 1430, Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310, and Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100. The HP DesignJet T210 and Epson SureColor F570 go wider at 24 inches. The PRO-1100 also handles 17 x 22 sheets.
What is the best priced wide-format printer?
Value depends on volume. For occasional wide format work, the Canon Pixma iX6820 and Epson Artisan 1430 cost the least and cover 13 x 19 output. For steady monthly printing, the Epson EcoTank ET-15000 wins because refillable tanks lower cost per page far below any cartridge machine. Compare running cost per sheet, not the price of the box.
What printer prints 24 inches wide?
Two machines here take 24 inch wide media. The HP DesignJet T210 is the CAD choice, handling technical line drawings, blueprints, maps and posters with a touchscreen and an automatic cutter. The Epson SureColor F570 is the 24 inch dye sublimation option, built for polyester fabric, coated ceramics and product decoration rather than paper.
Do I need a wide format printer or should I use a print shop?
Outsource until your monthly volume justifies owning one. A print shop will beat you on cost per sheet at low volume and on very wide formats you only need occasionally. Owning pays off once you need same-day turnaround, control over color, confidentiality for client plans and drawings, or repeat work on media a shop will not handle.
The Best Wide Format Printers to Buy in 2026
After working through all eight, the Canon Pixma iX6820 remains our pick of the best wide format printers for most people. It handles 13 x 19 sheets and custom banner rolls, prints at 9600 x 2400 dpi, and its five individual ink tanks keep running costs down over the thousands of prints where cheaper cartridge machines get expensive. Connect it over Ethernet and the wireless complaints largely disappear.
Buy the Epson EcoTank ET-15000 instead if you want scanning, copying and faxing in the same box, or if your monthly volume is high enough that refillable ink changes the economics. For CAD line drawings at true architectural size, the HP DesignJet T210 is the only real plotter here and worth the ink supply planning it requires. For archive-quality pigment prints, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 and PRO-1100 are the pair to choose between, and the PRO-1100 wins if 13 x 19 is too small for your sheets.
Whichever you choose, set aside an afternoon for paper profiling and color calibration before you judge the output. A properly calibrated wide format machine looks like a different product, and it is the cheapest improvement available to you after the purchase.