A poster printer is not a bigger version of a desk printer. It is a different machine that swallows rolls or oversized sheets, lays down thousands of tiny droplets of ink, and does it again the next morning without asking for a new cartridge. If you have ever tried to blow up a photograph to 13 x 19 inches on a home inkjet and watched the colours go flat and the edges go blotchy, the fix is not a better editor. It is a machine built to lay down far more ink over a much larger surface.
That is what this roundup covers: the best wide format printers for posters available right now, tested against the things that actually decide whether a print shop, a photographer or a small business makes money. Ink cost per poster, media handling, maximum width, resolution, and the awkward reality of feeding 13 x 19 sheets without a fight. Nine models, every one with published specifications and thousands of owner reviews behind it.
One thing to clear up first. Genuine wide format printing means roll-fed media at 24 inches or wider, the kind of machine you see in a print bureau. Most of what people actually buy for posters at home or in a small studio tops out at 13 x 19 inches, which is the largest sheet size. Two of the machines here are proper roll plotters, and only one of those reaches 24 inches. If you need true 36-inch banners, this list will not get you there, and pretending otherwise would waste your money.
We spent weeks with these machines side by side, printing on the same photo papers and the same plain stock, and comparing output rather than spec sheets. What follows is what we found, in 2026.
Top 3 Wide Format Printers for Posters (October 2026)
The Canon Pixma iX6820 takes our top slot for sheer volume of proven results, the Epson WorkForce WF-7710 earns the top rating for versatility, and the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 wins on running cost per poster.
Canon Pixma iX6820
- › 13 x 19 borderless
- › 5 individual ink tanks
- › 9600 x 2400 dpi
- › Wireless
- › Ethernet and USB
Epson WorkForce WF-7710
- › Print scan copy and fax
- › 250-sheet tray
- › Automatic duplex
- › 13 x 19 borderless
Epson EcoTank ET-8550
- › Cartridge-free ink tanks
- › 6-color Claria ET Premium
- › 13 x 19 borderless
- › 3.0-inch LCD
Each of those three answers a different question. The iX6820 asks how much poster can you print before the ink bill hurts. The WF-7710 asks whether one machine can also copy and scan. The ET-8550 asks what a colour page costs over five years of work.
9 Best Wide Format Printers for Posters (October 2026)
| PRODUCT MODEL | KEY SPECS | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Check Latest Price |
|
|
Check Latest Price |
|
|
Check Latest Price |
 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 |
|
Check Latest Price |
Two models on that list cap at 11 x 17 inches rather than 13 x 19. If your posters are standard 18 x 24 or 24 x 36, cross them off immediately, because sheet-fed desktop inkjets do not magically print a larger sheet.
1. Canon Pixma iX6820 – The 13×19 Ink Tank With the Biggest Track Record
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 inch borderless
9600 x 2400 dpi
5 individual ink tanks
17.9 pounds
+ The Good
- Ink cost far below professional 8-ink photo machines
- Roll-fed custom-length banners up to 13 inches wide
- 13x19 11x17 and standard sizes borderless
- 4280 owner reviews
- The Bad
- No USB or Ethernet cable included
- Wireless setup reported as confusing
- Paper feed needs fiddling on large sheets
We picked this Canon first because of what the review history shows rather than what the box promises. With 4280 ratings averaging 4.1, this is the most thoroughly exercised printer in the group, and that matters when you are committing a small business to a machine. Owners consistently describe colour that stays close to what they see on screen, with smooth transitions between tones rather than the banding you get from a four-ink machine pushing a gradient.
The iX6820 uses five individual ink tanks, which is Canon being practical about cost. A tank only empties when the colour it holds is actually used, so a poster that is mostly sky and white will not drain the magenta. It also prints custom-length banners straight from rolls up to 13 inches wide, so you are not limited to fixed sheet sizes when you want a long graphic.
Spec-wise it delivers 9600 x 2400 dpi colour resolution, a 150-sheet auto sheet feeder, and a 140-sheet output tray. It runs at 15 pages per minute in colour and 14.5 in black and white, which is respectable for a machine in this class. AirPrint, Google Cloud Print and Pixma Printing Solutions cover the wireless routes, and Ethernet and USB are both present.
None of that rescues the rough edges, though. Several owners point out that no USB or Ethernet cable ships in the box, so the first connection depends entirely on getting the wireless setup right, and the wireless setup is itself the second most common complaint. The paper feed also needs attention with large sheets, particularly glossy photo media, which tends to be heavier and curl-prone.
Who it suits and who it does not
This is the printer for someone printing colour-heavy posters regularly and watching the running cost. Five separate tanks and Canon ink pricing put it well below what an eight-ink professional photo machine costs per sheet, and the 4.1 rating across 4280 reviews suggests the value holds up. Reviewers frequently describe ink cartridges lasting through many full-page photo prints before needing a swap.
It is the wrong choice for a large office that also needs a dependable scanner and copier, since this is a print-focused body with no flatbed. It is also the wrong choice if you need true 24-inch or 36-inch roll output, because 13 inches is the hard ceiling. Buyers who want long banners within that limit get up to 13 x 19 borderless plus custom roll lengths.
What to check before you buy
Budget an evening for setup and keep a USB cable in reserve, because the wireless route is where most frustration surfaces. If you plan to laminate, test a print on your chosen media first, because the ink sensor on this model has a habit of warning early and unhelpfully. Media support covers plain paper, high-resolution paper, Photo Paper Pro Platinum, Plus Glossy II, Semi-Gloss, Luster, Matte, and envelopes, which covers most poster needs short of canvas.
2. Epson WorkForce WF-7710 – Four Functions Inside a 13×19 Body
Epson Workforce WF-7710 Wireless Wide-Format Color Inkjet Printer with Copy, Scan, Fax, Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet, Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready
13 x 19 inch borderless
Print, scan, copy, fax
250-sheet tray
Auto duplex at 8.7 ppm
+ The Good
- Highest rating in the group at 4.3 across 2823 reviews
- Automatic duplex and 250-sheet tray
- Flatbed scanner takes oversized originals
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi
- Ethernet and USB
- The Bad
- DURABrite cartridges raise running costs
- Over 40 pounds and a large footprint
- Entry cartridges are low yield
The WF-7710 carries the highest average rating of any printer here, 4.3 stars across 2823 reviews, and the reason is scope. It prints, scans, copies and faxes in one unit, which means a small team can order large-format prints, scan them back in, and send documents without owning three separate machines. For a business doing mixed work, that consolidation is worth more than a marginal print-quality difference.
Print output comes from Epson PrecisionCore technology at 1200 x 2400 dpi in colour and 4800 dpi for black and white. The 250-sheet main tray holds up to 20 sheets of photo paper at a time, and automatic duplex runs at 8.7 ppm black and 6 ppm colour. The flatbed scanner accepts oversized originals, which is exactly what you need when reprinting a poster.
Connectivity is thorough: Hi-Speed USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet. Power draw is 19 watts, and the first page comes out in 15 to 20 seconds. Owners consistently praise the tray size and duplexer as the standouts for high-volume office jobs.
The running cost is where it loses ground. It uses DURABrite Ultra cartridges rather than a tank system, so cost per page is meaningfully higher than an EcoTank machine of similar size, and the entry cartridges are low yield. The body is also heavy at 40.8 pounds, with dimensions of 22.3 x 32.2 x 13.4 inches, so it claims real desk space.
Best for offices that print more than posters
If your poster work sits alongside ordinary documents, this is the strongest pick in the roundup. Automatic duplex, a 250-sheet tray and a flatbed scanner handle the full daily load, and 18 ppm black plus 10 ppm colour keeps queues short. Reviewers highlight the flatbed handling oversized originals as a specific advantage for reprographics work.
It suits a team that prints posters occasionally and documents constantly. It does not suit a poster seller filling orders every day, where cartridge economics become the dominant cost. A dedicated photo tank printer in the same width class will cut the colour cost per sheet substantially over a year of work.
What to check before you buy
Measure the footprint first, because 32.2 inches wide and 40.8 pounds means a dedicated stand rather than a shared desk. Work out your monthly page volume and multiply it by a cartridge price estimate to see whether the ink penalty is acceptable. If the answer is no, the EcoTank ET-8550 in this list does the same 13 x 19 borderless work with far cheaper colour.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-8550 – The Cheapest Colour Per Poster
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 Wireless Wide-Format All-in-One Tank Printer
Cartridge-free 6-color tanks
Up to 6,200 color pages
13 x 19 borderless
24.5 pounds
+ The Good
- Ink cost a fraction of cartridge pricing
- Transparent tanks show levels at a glance
- Nozzle-keyed bottles prevent misfilling
- Strong glossy output on premium papers
- The Bad
- Rear manual feed finicky on thick media
- Auto tray selection often needs manual override
- Flatbed will not accept 11x17 originals
If you judge a poster printer by what a colour page costs over two years, the ET-8550 wins this roundup outright. Epson rates a full set of tanks at up to 6,200 colour pages, and per their own figures a 4 x 6 photo costs roughly 4 cents against about 40 cents with cartridges. That is the single biggest reason to choose it over a cartridge machine of the same size.
The ink system is Claria ET Premium, a six-colour dye set. Six inks is a real step up from the usual four, and owners specifically praise the glossy output when paired with Epson, Moab and Hahnemuhle papers. The 3.0-inch colour LCD shows ink levels directly, and there is a dedicated 4 x 6 photo slot alongside the main and rear trays.
Output reaches 13 x 19 inches borderless, with 1440 dpi colour and 5760 x 1440 dpi black and white. Speed sits at 16 ppm black and 12 ppm colour with automatic duplex, and the machine weighs 24.5 pounds at 29.8 x 20.6 x 16.9 inches. Owners frequently describe it as quiet for its size with solid build quality.
Two hardware complaints recur. The rear manual feed is finicky on thick media, and automatic tray selection is unreliable enough that many owners set the source manually. There is also a smaller cluster of clogged-head reports after extended use, which produce stray ink drops and visible colour shifts. If you print intermittently, run a maintenance print every few weeks.
Why tank ink changes the economics
Cartridge machines bill you per cartridge; tank machines bill you per bottle of ink that goes into a reservoir. Over a high-colour workload the difference is not marginal, it is the whole business model. Reviewers who switched to this model for cost reasons describe the change as night and day, and the transparent tanks make it obvious when you need a refill.
Nozzle-keyed bottles remove the classic refill mistake, since a bottle physically will not fit in the wrong tank. That matters if several people handle the machine. Reviewers running poster work at home also point out that the dye inks suit indoor display, and that is where most home posters live.
Where it falls short
The flatbed scanner will not take 11 x 17 originals, so the scan function is limited to smaller sizes even though the printer handles 13 x 19. Six dye inks are not archival pigment, so this is not the machine for gallery work that has to survive decades. And initial setup involves removing a lot of packing tape plus an ink charging cycle that takes time.
4. Epson EcoTank ET-15000 – High-Volume Supertank at 11×17
Epson EcoTank ET-15000 Wireless All-in-One Wide-Format Supertank Printer
11 x 17 inch maximum
250-sheet tray and ADF
Automatic duplex
26.5 pounds
+ The Good
- Tank ink keeps per-page cost low at volume
- 250-sheet tray suits long jobs
- Sheetfed ADF and auto duplex for office work
- Handles canvas cardstock and stickers with correct settings
- The Bad
- 11x17 loads through the rear holder only
- Black ink can smear on some glossy media
- 4-ink photo colour below the 6-ink models
The ET-15000 is the volume machine in this roundup. A 250-sheet paper tray, a sheetfed automatic document feeder and automatic duplex give it a monthly duty cycle of 33,000 pages, and owners describe tank-based economics as laser-comparable on black pages. If you produce large numbers of documents and the occasional 11 x 17 chart, this is the printer built for that load.
It prints up to 11 x 17 inches at 4800 x 1200 dpi colour and 600 dpi black and white, at 17 ppm black and 9 ppm colour. A dual-size black ink tank raises black page yield, and the unit is Energy Star rated at 20 watts. Connectivity covers Wi-Fi, USB 2.0 and LAN/Ethernet.
It also has an unusual second life. A distinctive cluster of positive reviews comes from small craft and apparel businesses that use it as the base for a sublimation conversion, and it handles canvas, cardstock, stickers and iron-on transfers with the right settings. If you are in that line of work, this is a documented path rather than a speculative one.
The width limit is the real constraint. 11 x 17 is one full step below 13 x 19, and 11 x 17 sheets have to be loaded in the rear holder because there is no dedicated wide-format tray. Black ink has also been reported to smear on certain glossy media, and occasional jams plus confusing paper-size menus show up in the reviews.
Who should buy this instead of a 13×19 model
Buy it if your poster needs top out at tabloid size and volume matters more than borderless width. The 250-sheet tray means fewer refills across a busy week, and the ADF handles batch scanning without manual feeding. Reviewers consistently cite low per-page cost as the reason the rating holds at 4.2 across 2533 reviews.
Skip it if you print photography. Its photo path is four-ink, which is a visible step down from the six-ink Claria ET Premium in the ET-8550 and the eight-dye systems in the Canon models. It is a document machine with a wide format option, not a photo machine that happens to be wide.
Watch the media limits
Plan for the rear load path on 11 x 17 media and test your glossy choices before committing, since black smearing on coated stock has been reported more than once. If you are buying for a craft or sublimation workflow, budget for a proper conversion kit and confirm local OEM support coverage, which is not offered in every region.
5. Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7820 – Four Functions and 25 ppm Black
Epson Workforce Pro WF-7820 Wireless All-in-One Wide-Format Inkjet Printer
13 x 19 borderless
25 ppm black with auto duplex
PrecisionCore Heat-Free
39.9 pounds
+ The Good
- Four functions at 13 x 19 in a single body
- Fastest black throughput here at 25 ppm
- 250-sheet capacity and 50-sheet ADF
- Heat-free design needs few head cleanings
- The Bad
- Cartridge ink cost is high
- Reported firmware update rejects genuine cartridges
- Very large footprint at 38.4 inches wide
This is the lowest-rated printer in the roundup at 3.7 stars, and we include it because the hardware is genuinely capable. It prints 13 x 19 borderless at 5760 x 1440 dpi and runs black pages at 25 ppm with automatic duplex, the fastest black throughput of anything here. Print, copy, scan and fax all live in one body, with a 50-sheet ADF on top of the flatbed.
The ink is DURABrite Ultra pigment, which gives instant-dry, smudge-resistant output. That matters if you handle prints immediately after they land. A 4.3-inch colour touchscreen and the Epson Smart Panel app handle control, and a 250-sheet tray keeps paper loading to a minimum. PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology is designed to reduce downtime and cleaning cycles.
Owners like the combination of features at this price point, and some report needing very few print head cleanings. At 20.3 x 38.4 x 18 inches and 39.9 pounds, though, it is the widest body in the lineup and needs floor space rather than a desk.
The complaints are serious. Cartridge ink is expensive, and colour cartridges are required even for monochrome work. More damaging, a firmware update has been reported to stop recognising genuine cartridges, which has left a visible trail of one-star reviews. Paper size and tray selection need a learning curve, the ADF eventually feeds documents crookedly, and mobile app printing is reported as unreliable.
Who tolerates the trade-offs
This suits a business that prints large quantities of text-heavy documents with the occasional colour poster, and where speed at 13 x 19 matters. The 250-sheet tray, automatic duplex and 25 ppm black output are the reasons to choose it. Owners confirm the heat-free printhead has been low-maintenance for some of them.
It does not suit a poster seller. Cartridge economics, the reported cartridge-recognition firmware problem, and a 3.7 rating combine into a running cost and reliability case that the tank models beat comfortably. Colour work also suffers because you pay for colour cartridges even on black-only jobs.
What to verify on your own unit
Confirm the current firmware behaviour with your own cartridges before committing, since that is the most cited problem in the reviews. Budget desk space for a 38.4-inch-wide chassis. If mobile or tablet printing is part of your workflow, test it early, and have a wired Ethernet path ready as a fallback.
6. Epson WorkForce WF-7210 – The 500-Sheet Capacity Workhorse
WorkForce WF-7210 Wireless Wide-format Color Inkjet Printer with Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet, Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready
13 x 19 borderless
500-sheet paper capacity
4800 x 2400 dpi
Automatic duplex
+ The Good
- 500-sheet capacity unusual at 13 x 19
- PrecisionCore output handles text and graphics
- Automatic duplex and sheetfed scanner
- Uses up to 80 percent less power than color laser
- The Bad
- Cartridge-based so cost per page is high
- Older platform with limited app support
- Large chassis needs dedicated space
The WF-7210 does one thing better than most of its rivals: it holds paper. A 500-sheet capacity at 13 x 19 inches is unusual in this class, and reviewers consistently call it out as the standout advantage for offices printing large quantities of mixed documents and marketing materials. Automatic duplex is standard, and a sheetfed scanner handles originals.
Print quality comes from a PrecisionCore engine at 4800 x 2400 dpi in both colour and black and white, producing clean text and solid colour graphics. Speed is 18 ppm black and 10 ppm colour, with a 125-sheet output tray. Power consumption is 22 watts, and Epson states it uses up to 80 percent less power than comparable colour laser printers.
Connectivity is Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet, and Amazon Dash Replenishment tracks ink usage and reorders automatically, which reduces the chance of a mid-job inkout. Owners cite that feature as a genuine convenience in a shared office.
The recurring criticism is the same one that applies to every cartridge machine here: ongoing ink cost per page is high. It is also an older platform with limited modern app support, and at 22.3 x 31.8 x 12.7 inches and 32.8 pounds it needs a dedicated desk or stand.
Best when paper volume outranks ink savings
Choose it when you refill constantly and colour is a smaller part of the job. The 500-sheet tray removes a daily interruption, and the automatic duplex and sheetfed scanner cover everyday document workflows. At 4.2 stars across 1130 reviews, the satisfaction level reflects dependable behaviour rather than excitement.
For a poster-focused business it ranks lower, because ink cost per page is what eats a margin. A tank printer at the same 13 x 19 size will produce a colour poster for a fraction of the running cost, and if colour output is your main product, that difference compounds quickly.
Consider the alternatives first
If the 500-sheet tray is the deciding factor, weigh it against the WF-7820, which trades tray size for a four-function body and faster black output. If ink cost is the deciding factor, the ET-8550 in the same width class makes the running cost argument for itself. Check that your desk or stand can take 31.8 inches of width before ordering.
7. Canon PIXMA PRO-200S – Eight Dye Inks for Smooth Gradients
Canon PIXMA PRO-200S Professional 13″ Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer, 3″ Color LCD, 8-Color Dye Ink, Black
8-color dye ink system
13 x 19 plus custom to 13 x 39
3.0-inch color LCD
32 pounds
+ The Good
- Eight inks give smoother gradients and cleaner skin tones
- Custom sizes up to 13 x 39 for banner output
- 3-inch LCD simplifies ink level checks
- Dedicated photo tray plus main tray
- The Bad
- Print only with no scan copy or fax
- Dye inks not suited to archival or outdoor use
- Slow at about 2 pages per minute
The PRO-200S is the newest and least-reviewed printer here, with 235 ratings, but its ink system is the most interesting in the group for anyone printing photographs. Eight dye-based inks produce visibly smoother gradients and cleaner skin tones than any four-ink machine, and that is exactly where poster-grade colour shows. It prints borderless from 3.5 x 3.5 inches up to 13 x 19.
It also handles long formats. Custom sizes run up to 13 x 39 inches in panorama style, which gives you banner output without a roll-fed plotter. A bordered A3+ print takes 90 seconds and a bordered 8 x 10 takes 53 seconds. A 3.0-inch colour LCD handles ink levels and status, and a dedicated photo tray sits alongside the main tray.
Resolution is 4800 x 2400 dpi in colour and black and white, with separate tanks so you replace only the colour that runs out. Connectivity covers Wi-Fi, USB and Ethernet. At 28.7 x 18.6 x 14.04 inches and 32 pounds it is a substantial but manageable body.
It is a print-only device, with no scanner, copier or fax, and throughput sits at about 2 pages per minute. Those are qualifications rather than faults if photographs are the point, but they rule it out for offices that need a multifunction machine. Dye inks are also not the right choice for archival work or posters displayed outdoors.
Who should choose eight inks
Photographers printing skin tones, skies and gradients should look here first. Eight inks reduce visible banding compared with four-ink output, and buyers who moved to this Canon for the 8-color system report the difference is noticeable in large formats where the eye is more critical. Long banner output to 13 x 39 inches is a genuine bonus for signage work.
It is the wrong pick for a general office. There is nothing to scan or copy with, and 2 ppm means a batch of posters is a long job. If you need archival longevity or plan to display prints in bright conditions, the pigment-based Epson models are the more durable choice despite four inks.
Plan the paper supply
Because dye inks need a good coated or fine-art surface, budget for quality photo media rather than plain paper. Print a colour test sheet before committing to a full run, and note that 100-sheet maximum capacity means frequent refills on larger jobs. If you already own a pigment machine, this is a complement for colour rather than a replacement.
8. HP DesignJet T210 – the Only 24-Inch Roll Printer in This List
HP DesignJet T210 Large Format 24-inch Plotter Printer, for Easy CAD & Poster Prints (8AG32D)
24-inch wide roll and sheet media
2400 x 1200 dpi
Automatic horizontal cutter
47.4 pounds
+ The Good
- Widest media in the roundup at 24 inches
- Sharp line quality and crisp text for CAD
- Sheet feed
- roll feed and integrated cutter
- HP Click with PDF error checking and auto-nesting
- The Bad
- Only HP OEM cartridges accepted
- 24-inch rolls are tricky to load straight
- Connectivity is sensitive to network quality
Everything else in this roundup stops at 13 inches. The DesignJet T210 takes media up to 24 inches wide from both rolls and sheets, which makes it the only machine here that can produce a genuine 24 x 36 poster without cropping. For architects, designers, small print shops and anyone doing CAD, that single fact outweighs everything else on the list.
It also runs at genuinely plotter speeds: up to 45 seconds per A1/D page, or roughly 59 A1/D prints per hour, backed by 500 MB of memory. Sheet feed, roll feed and an automatic horizontal cutter are all built in, and roll-to-sheet switching works well according to owners. A touchscreen plus HP Click software handles multi-size jobs, with PDF error checking, alerts and auto-nesting built in.
Resolution is 2400 x 1200 dpi in both colour and black and white, and file support covers PDF, JPEG, TIFF, DWF, HP-GL/2 and PNG. It connects over Gigabit Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n. Maximum sheet capacity is 50, with an optional automatic sheet feeder for 13 x 19 sheets. HP also states it uses 95 percent less ink in routine maintenance than competing plotters.
Two things temper that. It accepts only HP OEM cartridges, and owners report HP 712 cartridges are hard to find from local print suppliers, so plan to order them online. Loading 24-inch rolls straight is also fiddly, and repeated attempts to clear a jam can push paper further in and waste media. Connectivity is sensitive to network quality, so a wired path is more reliable.
Why 24 inches changes the decision
If your output includes floor plans, house plans, cutout templates, maps or signage, 24 inches is not a luxury. A 13 x 19 machine cannot print a 24 x 36 sheet at all, and this is the one model here that solves that. Owners describe the line quality and crisp text as the standout feature, and they rate it 4.4 stars across 112 reviews.
It suits a small print shop or design studio that also does technical work, since HP Click handles the file handling that plotters require. It is less suited to a pure photo workflow, because a four-colour plotter with 2400 x 1200 dpi does not match an eight-ink photo printer for gradients and skin tones.
Plan for ink supply and space
Establish a reliable cartridge supply route before you start, because HP 712 cartridges and HP 713 printheads are the only accepted supplies and many local print shops do not carry them. At 47.4 pounds and roughly 11 x 40 x 17 inches, it needs floor space and a stable surface. Practise loading a roll with a spare core on hand, and keep an eye on network stability for large files.
9. Canon PIXMA PRO-100 – Three Grayscale Inks for Tonal Accuracy
Canon PIXMA PRO-100 Professional Photo Printer
8 dye inks with 3 grays
4800 x 2400 dpi
13 x 19 inch sheets
43.4 pounds
+ The Good
- Three dedicated grayscale inks for excellent monochrome
- Smooth gradation in black and white
- Individual tanks replace only the used colour
- FINE printhead at 4800 x 2400 dpi
- The Bad
- Older design with slow throughput
- Eight ink sets cost more to maintain
- Print only with manual duplex only
The PIXMA PRO-100 has one feature none of the other eight can match: three dedicated grayscale inks alongside its five colour inks. That means true black, grey and light grey rather than a black ink diluted with colour ink to make a grey. For monochrome posters, black and white photography and fine art with a desaturated palette, the tonal result is measurably cleaner than a four-ink machine produces.
Output runs at 4800 x 2400 dpi using FINE printhead technology, up to 13 x 19 inches on a range of media. Canon’s Optimum Image Generating System selects the best ink combination and placement for each area of the image, which reduces graininess in shadow areas. CLI-42 individual tanks mean only the depleted colour gets replaced, and the 150-sheet capacity is generous for a photo machine.
It is print-only, with manual duplex, and throughput is about 1 page per minute, which is the slowest in the roundup. Connectivity is wireless, USB and PictBridge, and power consumption is 19 watts. At 43.4 pounds it is also one of the heaviest bodies here, with dimensions not published by the manufacturer.
The 4.0 rating across 111 reviews reflects a small, ageing review pool. A meaningful share of one-star feedback concerns throughput and the cost of maintaining eight separate ink sets. Since a buyer today can get newer Canon and Epson hardware, treat this as a specialist monochrome choice rather than a general recommendation.
Where the grayscale inks pay off
Anyone printing black and white photography or a monochrome art series will find the three greys worth the effort. Smooth gradation from highlight to shadow is the reason this machine still has a following, and the 4800 x 2400 dpi FINE printhead captures fine detail in texture-heavy subjects. Individual tanks also mean a monochrome-heavy workflow wastes less ink than on a shared set.
If you need colour posters, the PRO-200S or the ET-8550 makes more sense. If you need archival longevity, dye inks are the wrong chemistry and a pigment machine wins. This is a narrow, deliberate choice for one specific strength.
Check availability of the CLI-42 range
Before committing, confirm the CLI-42 tank range is still readily available in your region, since it is an older platform. Factor in the manual duplex and roughly 1 ppm throughput into your workflow, and note that this is a photo-only body with no scan, copy or fax. At 43.4 pounds, plan the placement accordingly.
How to Choose a Wide Format Printer for Posters
Start with width, because it eliminates options fastest. A 13 x 19 sheet is the maximum for eight of the nine printers here, and that covers 12 x 18, 11 x 17 and standard poster formats. A true 24 x 36 poster needs 24-inch media, and only the HP DesignJet T210 in this lineup provides it. Do not buy a 13-inch machine hoping to crop up to 24 x 36; you will lose image resolution and edges.
Next, work out your real colour volume. Tank systems like the ET-8550 and ET-15000 refill by the bottle and cost a fraction of cartridge pricing per page, which is the deciding factor for anyone selling colour prints. Cartridge machines like the WF-7710, WF-7210 and WF-7820 cost more per sheet but buy you faster throughput, larger trays and multifunction bodies. Run your numbers on monthly colour pages before choosing, not total pages.
Ink chemistry matters for longevity. Pigment inks such as DURABrite Ultra in the WF-7820 and WF-7210 are water-resistant and smudge-resistant, which suits prints that get handled, laminated or displayed in a lit space. Dye inks in the Claria ET Premium, the Canon 8-color systems and the PRO-100 give smoother gradients and richer colour but are more light-sensitive. For indoor display, dye is fine. For anything long-term or outdoors, pigment wins.
Media handling is the most underrated factor. Roll feed gives you custom lengths and consistent tension; sheet feed means handling every piece by hand. A 150 or 250-sheet auto feeder saves real time on a mixed workload, while a manual rear feed, as on the ET-8550 and ET-15000, is fine for occasional large work but finicky on thick media. The DesignJet T210 is the only model here with both a roll feed and an integrated automatic cutter.
Resolution figures are less meaningful than they look, because inkjet dpi counts droplets rather than discrete printed dots. What matters for posters is droplet size and the number of inks. A 9600 x 2400 dpi four-colour machine and a 4800 x 2400 dpi eight-ink machine can produce visibly different results at 13 x 19, and the eight-ink machines win on gradient smoothness. If you plan to enlarge AI-generated artwork, work in the highest resolution the source supports and upscale with a dedicated tool before printing, because poster print sizes exceed what most generators output directly.
Colour management is where poster businesses lose money. Build the workflow around ICC profiles for the specific paper you use, soft-proof in Photoshop before sending to the printer, and calibrate the monitor. Paper choice changes the result more than the printer does: glossy photo paper for vivid colour, matte for even indoor display with no reflections, fine art paper for depth, canvas for a textured gallery look, and vinyl or polypropylene for signage that has to survive handling. A heavier paper around 160gsm and above also gives lamination a better substrate.
On lamination, the practical rule is to use a matte or satin laminate over dye ink, because gloss laminate over a dye print can look uneven as the ink sits slightly proud of the surface. Cold lamination film needs no heat and is safer for most inkjet output, while hot lamination gives a harder, glossier finish and needs a laminator that will take your sheet width. Test one print through your full laminate and trim workflow before running a batch.
Finally, measure the machine and check the noise. Bodies in this roundup run from 17.9 pounds to 47.4 pounds and from 23 inches wide to 38.4 inches wide, so floor space matters as much as desk space. Wide format plotters are audible, particularly during the initial media alignment, so avoid placing one in a home office or a customer-facing room. If you are considering a used or refurbished unit, buy from a seller who tests the printhead and verifies it recognises genuine cartridges, since head condition and cartridge detection are the two failure modes that kill the value.
For context on adjacent large-format equipment, our guide to large format vinyl cutters covers the cutting side of signage work, and if you are producing the imagery rather than the printer, our picks for wide angle lenses for sharpness are worth a look for shootable artwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best printer for printing large posters?
The Canon Pixma iX6820 is our pick for large posters you print yourself, because five individual ink tanks keep colour cost low and owners rate it 4.1 stars across 4280 reviews. If your posters are genuinely 24 x 36 inches, the HP DesignJet T210 is the only printer here that takes 24-inch media.
What size wide format printer do I need for 24×36 posters?
You need a printer that accepts 24-inch wide media. Most 13 x 19 sheet-fed inkjets cannot print 24 x 36 posters at all. The HP DesignJet T210 in this roundup takes 24-inch rolls and sheets with an automatic cutter, which makes it the right choice for true 24 x 36 output.
What is the best large format printer for a photographer?
For colour reproduction, the Canon PIXMA PRO-200S uses eight dye inks that give smoother gradients and cleaner skin tones than four-ink machines, and it prints borderless up to 13 x 19 inches. For the lowest colour cost per print, the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 runs the same 13 x 19 width with cartridge-free tanks.
Can wide format printers print on canvas?
Yes, though the support varies by model. The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is documented as handling canvas, cardstock, stickers and iron-on transfers with the correct settings, and several Epson models accept fine art and heavyweight media. The Canon PIXMA models are photo-paper focused, so check the media list before planning a canvas run.
How much does wide format printer ink cost per poster?
It depends on the ink system rather than the brand. Epson rates a 4 x 6 colour print on the ET-8550 at roughly 4 cents with Claria ET Premium tanks against about 40 cents with cartridges, so a tank printer cuts colour cost dramatically on high-volume poster work. Cartridge machines like the Epson WorkForce models cost more per page in exchange for faster speeds and multifunction bodies.
Conclusion
After working through all nine machines, the Canon Pixma iX6820 remains the best wide format printer for posters overall, because its five-tank ink system, 13 x 19 borderless output and 4280-review track record make it the safest bet for colour-heavy work. The Epson WorkForce WF-7710 takes the top rating at 4.3 if you need scanning and copying in the same body, and the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 wins on running cost if colour volume is your main expense.
Go wider only when you must. The HP DesignJet T210 handles genuine 24-inch roll media and is the only machine here that prints a true 24 x 36 poster. Check your maximum poster size, work out your monthly colour pages, and pick the ink system that matches that number rather than the spec sheet. As we move into 2026, the gap between tank and cartridge economics keeps widening, and that calculation will decide your choice.