I have spent the last three years helping photographers, architects, and small business owners pick the right large format printer, and one truth keeps coming back: the wrong choice is not just an inconvenience. Buy too small and you farm out work you should keep in-house. Buy too big and you pay for capacity you never touch, plus ink that ages in cartridges you rarely drain.
That tension is exactly why the best wide format printers in 2026 sit in a fairly narrow band. The sweet spot tends to be a 13 to 36 inch print width, a pigment or hybrid ink system that resists fading, and connectivity that does not punish you on macOS. Inside that band, your use case does most of the deciding. A photographer printing gallery wraps needs a different machine than a firm plotting 36 inch engineering sets or a shop turning out posters.
This guide walks through six printers I would actually recommend right now. The lineup covers budget home-office workhorses at 13 inches, a 6-color photo-focused supertank, and true 24 to 36 inch professional plotters for CAD and signage. Each review tells you who it fits, who it does not, and what the long-term ink cost looks like. Use the quick comparison below, then jump to the model that matches your work.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Wide Format Printers in 2026
Best Wide Format Printers in September
The table below lays out all six machines side by side so you can scan the print width, ink system, and key differentiators before reading the full reviews.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
 Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7310 |
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 Epson EcoTank ET-15000 |
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| Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 |
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 Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21 |
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 Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 |
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 Canon imagePROGRAF TM-340 |
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1. Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7310 – Budget 13×19 Workhorse
Epson Workforce Pro WF-7310 Wireless All-in-One Wide-Format Inkjet Printer
Print width: 13x19 inches
Speed: 25 ppm black, 12 ppm color
Resolution: 4800x2400 dpi
Capacity: 500 sheets
Ink: DURABrite Ultra pigment
Pros
- PrecisionCore Heat-Free tech with zero warmup
- Instant-dry pigment inks for sharp text
- 500-sheet capacity across two trays plus rear feed
- Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi Direct built in
- Low energy use at 26 watts
Cons
- Locked to Epson Genuine cartridges only
- Some users report third-party ink rejection
The WF-7310 is the cheapest credible way into real 13×19 wide-format printing I know of. I set one up for a small architecture studio that needed tabloid drawings in-house, and within an afternoon they were printing presentation boards without the wait or markup of an outside print shop. The PrecisionCore Heat-Free printhead fires fast, with zero warmup, and the DURABrite Ultra pigment inks lay down crisp text that does not smear the moment it hits the tray.
For a budget wide-format inkjet, the paper handling is unusually grown-up. Two 250-sheet cassettes plus a rear feed mean you can keep letter paper loaded for daily work and switch to 13×19 sheets without clearing a tray. Auto duplex works on standard sizes, and Wi-Fi 5 with Wi-Fi Direct makes phone and laptop printing painless on both Windows and Mac.
Where this printer earns its keep is daily office volume, not fine art. The pigment inks are excellent for text, charts, and presentation graphics, but this is a 4-color system and it will not match a dedicated photo printer for skin tones or color depth. At 4800×2400 dpi it is more than sharp enough for line work, schematics, and signage proofs.
The catch, and it is a real one, is that the WF-7310 is engineered to reject third-party ink. Some users on the printer forums have run into cartridge rejection errors even with cartridges that worked in older Epson models. If you want to run cheap refill ink, this is not your machine. Stay on Epson Genuine and the cost-per-page stays reasonable for the speed and width you get.
Who should buy the WF-7310
Small offices, architects, and students who need reliable 11×17 and 13×19 output for documents and presentations without paying for photo-grade color. The 500-sheet capacity and 25 ppm speed make it feel like a real office machine, not a hobby unit.
It also suits anyone whose priority is fast, smudge-free text and graphics on large media, where pigment ink’s instant-dry property matters more than an expanded color gamut.
What to watch out for
The hard lock to Epson Genuine cartridges is the main trade-off. Budget for genuine ink, and confirm your workflow does not depend on third-party bottles, before committing.
The 618-review average of 3.9 reflects that lock more than the hardware. The bimodal ratings, 60 percent five-star against 16 percent one-star, line up with ink-acceptance issues rather than print quality complaints.
2. Epson EcoTank ET-15000 – Best Value All-in-One
Epson EcoTank ET-15000 Wireless All-in-One Wide-Format Supertank Printer
Print width: up to 13x19 inches
Speed: 17 ppm black, 9 ppm color
Resolution: 4800x1200 dpi
Capacity: 250 sheets
Ink: EcoTank refillable bottles
Pros
- Cartridge-free supertank slashes ink cost
- All-in-one with print scan copy fax
- Auto Document Feeder for batch scanning
- Energy Star certified
- Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity
Cons
- Lower 600 dpi black resolution
- Smaller 250-sheet paper capacity
If I had to recommend a single wide-format printer to a small business owner who could not tell me their use case, it would probably be the ET-15000. The EcoTank supertank system is the headline feature, and the math is straightforward: the bottles that ship in the box cover thousands of pages, and replacement bottles cost a fraction of what cartridges run. Over a year of moderate printing, the savings are real and documented by the 2,520 reviewers giving it a 4.2 average.
It is a true all-in-one, with print, scan, copy, and fax, and the Auto Document Feeder handles batch scanning without babysitting. The 250-sheet cassette is more modest than the WF-7310’s 500, but for a workgroup that prints 11×17 tabloid or up to 13×19 sheets on demand, the trade feels balanced. Auto duplex and Energy Star certification round out the practical office features.
For wide-format duty specifically, the ET-15000 handles up to 13×19 media through the rear feed. Color resolution lands at 4800×1200 dpi, which is solid for charts, brochures, and signage proofs. Black-only resolution is 600 dpi, lower than some competitors, so if your work is heavily text on large format this is a point to weigh.
The supertank design has one ongoing responsibility: you need to print regularly. EcoTank ink does not clog as aggressively as some pigment systems when idle, but any inkjet left unused for weeks will eventually need a cleaning cycle that drains ink. For a busy office that is a non-issue. For occasional print-at-home users, schedule a small job every week or two.
Who should buy the ET-15000
Small businesses and home offices that print a mix of letter, tabloid, and occasional 13×19 sheets, and who want the lowest ink cost per page in this class. The all-in-one scan and fax functions make it a single-device solution for a workgroup.
It also fits anyone moving off cartridge printers for cost reasons, since the EcoTank math genuinely pays off at moderate-to-high monthly volume.
What to watch out for
The 600 dpi black resolution is the main compromise. Pure-text large-format documents will still look clean, but not as razor-crisp as a dedicated pigment model like the WF-7310.
Setup has tripped up some users, with a few reporting priming and initial fill taking longer than expected. Budget an afternoon for first-time setup rather than expecting a 10-minute unboxing.
3. Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 – Best for Photographers
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 Wireless Wide-Format All-in-One Tank Printer
Print width: up to 13x19 inches
Speed: 16 ppm black, 12 ppm color
Resolution: 5760x1440 dpi
Capacity: 100 sheets
Ink: 6-color Claria ET Premium
Pros
- 6-color ink for true photo quality
- 4 cent 4x6 photos vs 40 cents with cartridges
- Up to 6200 color pages per bottle set
- Cartridge-free refillable tanks
- Ideal for home photo studios
Cons
- Smaller 100-sheet capacity
- Higher initial cost
- Larger physical footprint
The ET-8550 is the printer I personally would buy if my work were mostly photography. The 6-color Claria ET Premium ink set adds the light cyan and light magenta that 4-color systems lack, and the difference shows up in skin tones, sky gradients, and shadow detail. Resolution climbs to 5760×1440 dpi, which is genuine photo-print territory, and the prints I have seen from this machine hold their own against dedicated photo printers at twice the price.
What makes it practical, not just capable, is the EcoTank economics applied to photo ink. Epson cites roughly 4 cents per 4×6 print against 40 cents with traditional cartridges, and the included bottle set covers up to 6,200 color pages. For a working photographer or a serious hobbyist printing weekly, that is the difference between a profitable print run and one you put off because of consumable cost.
The trade-offs are honest ones. Paper capacity drops to 100 sheets, reflecting the photo-first design rather than office volume. The footprint is larger than a typical home inkjet, so measure your desk before buying. And the initial cost is higher than the WF-7310 or ET-15000, which makes sense given the 6-color system and photo-grade resolution.
For wide-format work, the ET-8550 prints up to 13×19, which covers most fine-art and portfolio print sizes a working photographer needs. The auto-duplex is a useful extra for proof sheets and booklets, and the color touchscreen keeps operation simple for non-technical users in a shared studio.
Who should buy the ET-8550
Photographers, fine-art printers, and content creators who need gallery-quality 13×19 output without the per-print cost penalty of cartridges. The 6-color ink and 5760×1440 dpi resolution make it the strongest photo printer in this lineup.
It also suits home studios that print a steady volume of photos and want consumable costs that scale, rather than punish, as volume grows.
What to watch out for
The 100-sheet capacity and large footprint mean this is not a general office printer. If you also need high-volume document printing, the ET-15000 is the better fit.
A few users have reported ink-drying issues during long idle periods, which is common to any photo inkjet. Plan to print at least weekly to keep the printhead in good condition.
4. Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21 – Entry-Level 24 Inch Plotter
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21 24″ – Large Format Printer, Poster & Plotter Printer, Automatic Roll & Cut Sheet Paper Feeder, Includes 280 ml of Ink, White
Print width: 24 inch roll
Speed: 20 ppm black, 15 ppm color
Resolution: 1200x1200 dpi
Capacity: 100 sheets
Ink: 4-color with 280 ml included
Pros
- 24 inch desktop roll printer
- Ships with 280 ml of ink most in class
- Automatic roll and cut sheet feeder
- Tiltable touchscreen
- ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Gold rated
Cons
- No automatic duplex printing
- Heavy at 71 pounds
- Lower resolution than premium plotters
The TC-21 is the entry point into true roll-fed wide-format printing, and the jump from a 13-inch sheet printer to a 24-inch roll machine is bigger than the spec sheet suggests. I have seen small architecture and signage shops move onto a TC-21 and immediately stop outsourcing anything under 24 inches wide, which changes both their turnaround time and their margins. The automatic roll and cut sheet feeder means you can leave roll stock loaded for posters and still feed cut sheets for one-off drawings.
The value story starts in the box. Canon ships the TC-21 with 280 ml of ink, which is the most included ink in this class by a wide margin. For a buyer who has been burned by starter cartridges that run dry in a week, that matters. The 4-color ink system produces crisp text and serviceable color images, and at 1200×1200 dpi it is sharp enough for posters, signage proofs, and technical line work.
Physically, this is a serious machine. At 71 pounds and 44 inches deep, it needs a dedicated stand or a deep counter, not a student desk. The tiltable touchscreen makes operation approachable once it is in place, and Wi-Fi plus Ethernet cover the connectivity most shops need.
The TC-21 is rated ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Gold, which is worth noting if your shop tracks energy use or chases green certifications. The 28-watt draw is modest for a roll printer of this width.
Who should buy the TC-21
Small print shops, architecture firms, and signage businesses that need 24-inch roll printing for posters, technical drawings, and proofs. The included 280 ml of ink makes the total cost of ownership unusually low for the first year.
It also suits buyers moving up from a sheet-fed 13-inch printer who need continuous roll output but are not ready to spend on a full professional plotter.
What to watch out for
There is no automatic duplex, so two-sided printing is a manual flip. If your work is heavily duplex, plan for that step.
Resolution caps at 1200×1200 dpi, which is fine for posters and line work but trails the 2400×1200 dpi of the TM-series plotters below. Match the printer to the resolution your output actually requires.
5. Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 – Professional 24 Inch Plotter
Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 24″ Large Format Printer
Print width: 24 inch
Resolution: 2400x1200 dpi
Ink: 5-color pigment water and UV resistant
Processor: L-COA PRO II 30 percent faster
Warranty: 2 year
Pros
- L-COA PRO II processor 30 percent faster
- 5-color pigment ink UV and water resistant
- Built-in color calibration
- 6-channel PF-06 printhead 15360 nozzles
- Automatic media type detection
Cons
- Slow 2.4 ppm print speed
- Single-sheet manual feed
- Higher price point
The TM-240 is the machine I point architects and engineers to when they tell me they need CAD output that will not embarrass them in front of a client. The 5-color pigment ink set is water and UV resistant, which matters for drawings that get handled, pinned to walls, or shipped to site. Resolution climbs to 2400×1200 dpi, a real step up from the TC-21, and the L-COA PRO II processor is rated 30 percent faster than the previous generation for processing complex vector files.
The 26-review average of 5.0 is small-sample but telling. The buyers landing on this machine are professionals who know exactly what they need, and the reviews reflect that the TM-240 delivers on its narrow mandate. The 6-channel PF-06 printhead packs 15,360 nozzles, which is how it hits the resolution and detail it does on technical drawings.
Color calibration is built in, which is a quiet but important feature for firms that need consistent output across drawings printed weeks apart. Automatic media detection identifies paper type, which removes a common source of user error on a professional plotter.
The honest limitation is speed. At 2.4 ppm this is not a high-volume production printer; it is a precision plotter for technical drawings where quality beats throughput. The single-sheet manual feed reflects the same focus: this is a roll-fed professional machine, not a general office printer.
Who should buy the TM-240
Architecture and engineering firms that need durable, color-accurate 24-inch CAD output with UV-resistant pigment ink. The color calibration and media detection make it a fit for professional workflows where consistency matters.
It also suits graphic designers producing presentation-quality large-format output where the 2400×1200 dpi resolution justifies the price over the TC-21.
What to watch out for
The 2.4 ppm speed is the trade for the resolution and ink quality. If you print high volume, pair this with a faster office printer for day-to-day work.
The single-sheet cut feed means the TM-240 is a roll-first machine. Budget for roll stock and a cutter if your workflow leans toward cut sheets.
6. Canon imagePROGRAF TM-340 – 36 Inch Professional Plotter
Canon imagePROGRAF TM-340 36″ – Large Format 5 Color Poster & Plotter Printer with Media Detection, Color Calibration, Printer Stand/Catch Basket, 300 ml of Ink, and 2-Year Warranty
Print width: 36 inch
Resolution: 2400x1200 dpi
Ink: 5-color pigment 300 ml included
Stand and catch basket included
Warranty: 2 year
Pros
- 36 inch wide format for posters and technical sets
- 5-color pigment ink crisp text and vibrant images
- Automatic media selection and detection
- Built-in color calibration
- ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Gold rated
- Ships with 300 ml of ink and stand
Cons
- Very heavy at 130.5 pounds
- Slow 2.7 ppm print speed
- Premium price point
The TM-340 is the most capable machine in this lineup and the one I would specify for a firm that lives in 36 inch output. The jump from 24 to 36 inches is the jump from large posters to full architectural sheet sets, and once you can print Arch D and Arch E sizes in-house, outsourcing large-format work largely disappears from your workflow. The 4.7 average across 12 reviews, with 94 percent five-star, reflects a machine that lands in professional hands and delivers.
The 5-color pigment ink system matches the TM-240, with the same water and UV resistance that matters for drawings and signage headed outdoors or to a job site. Canon ships the TM-340 with 300 ml of ink, which is meaningful starter capacity for a printer in this class. The stand and catch basket are included, which is not a given at this size and saves you a separate purchase and a separate setup step.
Color calibration and automatic media detection carry over from the TM-240, so output stays consistent across long drawing sets. ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Gold ratings are notable for a 36-inch plotter, and the 65-watt draw is reasonable for the width and capability.
The trade-offs scale with the machine. At 130.5 pounds, the TM-340 requires a dedicated location and likely two people, or a delivery service, for installation. Print speed lands at 2.7 ppm, which is consistent with the TM-240’s precision-over-throughput philosophy. This is a plotter, not a production printer.
Who should buy the TM-340
Architecture, engineering, and signage firms that need reliable 36 inch output for full drawing sets, posters, and large-format marketing materials. The included stand, 300 ml of ink, and 2-year warranty make the total package competitive for professional use.
It also suits print shops moving into wide-format signage where the 36-inch width covers most standard banner and poster sizes.
What to watch out for
The 130.5-pound weight and large footprint mean you need a planned installation location, not a spare desk. Measure doorways and plan delivery before buying.
The 2.7 ppm speed is consistent with the precision-plotter category. Match this machine to a workflow that values quality and width over raw volume.
How to Choose the Best Wide Format Printer?
Picking from the best wide format printers comes down to four questions I ask every buyer: what is the largest media you actually print on, what are you printing, how often do you print, and what is your tolerance for ink cost. The answers narrow the field fast.
Match print width to your real output
Print width is the single biggest driver of both price and footprint. A 13-inch printer like the WF-7310, ET-15000, or ET-8550 handles tabloid (11×17) and super B (13×19) sheets, which covers most photography, presentations, and small signage. A 24-inch roll printer like the TC-21 or TM-240 covers posters and architectural C-size sheets. A 36-inch machine like the TM-340 covers full architectural sheet sets and standard signage widths.
Buy the width you use now, plus one step of headroom. Buying a 36-inch plotter for occasional 13×19 prints is paying for capacity and ink you will not cycle through.
Pick the ink system for your content
Pigment inks, used in the WF-7310, TC-21, TM-240, and TM-340, produce durable, water-resistant output that lasts. They are the right call for technical drawings, signage, and documents that get handled. Dye-based and hybrid photo inks, like the 6-color Claria set in the ET-8550, deliver wider color gamut and smoother gradations for photography and fine art.
For mixed work, the EcoTank models balance cost and capability. The supertank design drops per-page ink cost dramatically, which matters more than any other factor if you print in volume.
Account for total cost of ownership
Initial price is the smallest number in the equation. Ink cost over two to three years is the one that bites. The ET-15000 and ET-8550 win on cost-per-page because the EcoTank bottles replace cartridges at a fraction of the price. The WF-7310 is locked to Epson Genuine cartridges, which keeps consumable cost higher than the supertank models.
For the Canon plotters, the included ink is a real factor. The TC-21 ships with 280 ml and the TM-340 with 300 ml, which covers meaningful initial output before you buy your first replacement.
Connectivity and platform support
Every printer in this lineup offers Wi-Fi, and most add Ethernet. Mac users should verify driver currency before buying, since several forum threads cite macOS driver lag as a real frustration on older wide-format models. The Epson Smart Panel app and Canon touchscreen interfaces both cover mobile and walk-up printing cleanly.
Reliability and long-term ownership
The forum threads I read converge on a few themes: pigment ink clogs when the printer sits idle, paper feed struggles with thick media, and print-head maintenance is the hidden cost of ownership. The EcoTank models mitigate ink cost but still need regular use to stay healthy. The Canon TM-series plotters earn consistent praise for reliability in professional settings.
If noise matters, note that roll-fed plotters are louder than sheet-fed inkjets. Plan placement accordingly.
FAQs
Which is better, HP or Epson for wide format printing?
Both make strong wide-format printers, but they lean different directions. Epson dominates the photo and supertank categories, with the EcoTank line delivering the lowest ink cost per page and the SureColor and EcoTank Photo lines leading for color quality. HP leads in production and signage plotters, especially the DesignJet line for technical drawings. For home and small office use, Epson’s EcoTank models usually win on cost. For professional CAD work, HP DesignJet and Canon imagePROGRAF are the stronger comparisons.
What is the best 13×19 printer for wide-format printing?
For 13×19 printing, the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 is the strongest choice for photographers thanks to its 6-color Claria ink set and 5760×1440 dpi resolution. For office and document work at 13×19, the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7310 offers faster speed and a 500-sheet capacity at a lower price. The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 splits the difference with the lowest ink cost per page and all-in-one scan, copy, and fax functions.
Which printers are capable of printing 11×17 sheets?
All six printers in this guide handle 11×17 tabloid sheets. The Epson WF-7310, ET-15000, and ET-8550 handle up to 13×19 inches through their rear feeds. The Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21, TM-240, and TM-340 handle 11×17 cut sheets plus much larger roll widths of 24 or 36 inches. If 11×17 is your only large-format need, the Epson 13-inch models are usually the most cost-effective choice.
What printer has the least amount of problems?
Based on long-term user reports, the Epson EcoTank ET-15000 and the Canon imagePROGRAF TM-series plotters have the strongest reliability records. The EcoTank design avoids cartridge rejection issues entirely since it uses bottled ink, and the TM-240 and TM-340 earn consistent professional-grade reliability praise. The main source of problems across all inkjet wide-format printers is leaving the machine idle, which causes ink clogging regardless of brand.
How do I choose between pigment and dye-based inks?
Choose pigment ink if you print technical drawings, signage, or documents that need to resist water and fading, since pigment particles bond to the paper surface. Choose dye-based or hybrid photo inks if you print photography or fine art, since dye inks deliver wider color gamut and smoother gradations. The Epson ET-8550 uses a 6-color photo ink set for art, while the Canon plotters and Epson WF-7310 use pigment inks for durable output.
Final Verdict: Best Wide Format Printer for 2026
For most buyers, the Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is the best blend of capability, ink cost, and all-in-one convenience. If your work is photography or fine art, the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 with its 6-color ink set is the clear upgrade. For pure budget 13×19 document printing, the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7310 gets you into wide format at the lowest entry cost.
For professional CAD and signage work, the Canon imagePROGRAF lineup is where to look. The TC-21 is the entry point to 24-inch roll printing with generous included ink, the TM-240 adds professional color calibration and pigment durability at 24 inches, and the TM-340 extends the same capability to 36-inch full drawing sets.
The best wide format printers in 2026 are the ones that match your actual output, not the widest or most expensive machine on the shelf. Pick the print width you use, choose the ink system that fits your content, and the rest of the decision falls into place.