Large format printers range from 18” to 100” in width and can be used for all sorts of print jobs, from printing posters to fabrics. The main benefit, rather unsurprisingly, is that they produce large printed documents, photos, posters, banners etc.

Having a large format printer at your business reduces your outsourcing costs and gives you more flexibility in what you can print quickly on-site. But how do you know what printer is best for you?

You should take into account what kind of printing you intend to do, as well as any future-proofing you may feel is appropriate while making your choice.

Certain printers are more geared towards certain print jobs than others, so while you may have a good all-round printer, if you’re looking to achieve great results on a specific kind of print, you may need a specialist printer.

When it comes to printing photography, the Canon image PROGRAF PRO-1000 is top-of-the-line and can print up to A2. This model accepts print jobs via USB as well as over Wi-Fi, and supports Google Cloud Print, AirPrint, Pictbridge, and PIXMA Cloud Print from Canon.

It uses 12 inkjet cartridges that can be replaced individually and prints to a resolution of 1,200 x 2,400 DPI, resulting in fantastically sharp photos. It uses pigment-based inks and four of them are solely for monochrome printing so this creates beautiful photos both in colour and black & white.

When it comes to sublimation printing, the HP Stitch S500 is a fantastic printer that can run automated print jobs throughout the night onto transfer paper and directly onto fabric at a speed of approximately 110m2/hour.

The HP Stitch S500 accommodates 4x 775ml water-based dye-sub inks as well as large reams of fabric or paper, and it automatically dries print jobs with small fans while it’s printing.

The Epson Sure Color SC-P20000 is a 64”-wide printer perfect for printing onto canvas and benefits from a Precision Core MicroTFP printhead and highly accurate feeding technology for exact printing.

It uses Epson Ultra Chrome Pro 10-colour ink set for high-quality colour and black & white printing

If you need more information about the best large format printers for canvas, please visit our dedicated guide.

The Canon image PROGRAF PRO-2000 is the best professional large format printer when it comes to fine art printing; the 24” printer uses the Canon Lucia Pro ink set comprising 11 coloured inks and a Chroma Optimiser to deliver sharp professional colours.

Able to print a coated A1 in just 1 minute 37 seconds, this large format printer gets the (print) job done; it can print via USB, Ethernet or wirelessly and has a 320GB hard drive so it can handle whatever you throw at it.

If you do need a wider printer, it has two sibling models that can handle widths of up to 44” (PRO-4000) and 60” (PRO-6000).

Here at Perfect Colours, we are large-format print specialists and know all there is to know about printers. If you need support with choosing a large-format printer, get in touch with our expert team to discuss your needs.