Arek Dvornechcuck
Branding Expert
I'm a branding expert and graphic designer based in NY. I specialize in the development of brands: brand strategy, identity & web design. Need help with your project?—Get in touch
I'm a branding expert and graphic designer based in NY. I specialize in the development of brands: brand strategy, identity & web design. Need help with your project?—Get in touch
Graphic designers heavily rely on printers as they are a vital tool when it comes to showcasing their work to peers and clients.
As a creative who considers high print quality, finding the best printer may be a bit difficult.
What's the best printer for graphic design to buy in 2022?
There are a variety of printers available on the market today, at different price points and with different features to choose from.
However, I tried to make everything easier for you by listing the things to consider and my recommendations for the best ones.
Here is my recommendation of the 10 best printers for graphic designers in 2022.
When choosing the best printer, there are a lot of things to consider, such as choosing between laser or inkjet, ink and toner cartridges, dye-based or pigmented inks, size, and the paper it accepts.
Here are the factors that you should consider when choosing the best printer for your graphic design needs.
Now let’s go through each of them to see their importance when choosing a printer.
Due to advancements in technology, choosing between laser and inkjet printers has never been this challenging.
To make it simpler for you, inkjet printers are more appealing to graphic designers with their ability to produce vivid and stark images.
However, if you’re the type of designer who is leaning towards quality prints at low cost, then perhaps laser printers are best for you.
You must make sure that it has individual tanks for each color—or else, it will cause you to suffer from clogging.
As a designer, I recommend choosing an inkjet printer with no fewer than four-color plots to get the best quality in your photos.
Pro tip: Knowing how pigmented inks react to paper will surely bring you nothing but convenience in the long run.
Surprisingly, people miss assessing cartridge replacement when buying a printer.
However, this is crucial since this can be a major contributor to your future expenses.
You can produce more with laser toner cartridges, making it more efficient, but with inkjet cartridges, you need to look for a compatible ink.
Graphic designers usually make use of more affordable alternative ink options.
Ideally, dye inks tend to fade faster, but since graphic designs are not usually needed in the long term, this is already a good pick.
However, if you consider this an important factor, I suggest going for pigment inks as they last longer than dye-based ones.
Depending on the type of media that you produce, considering the maximum print size of a model is necessary.
If you typically work with the most common sizes, such as paper or legal size, then going for laser printers will bring you no harm.
On the other hand, if varied and larger prints are what you need, inkjet printers are what you are looking for.
Another factor you should consider when buying a printer is the paper it accepts—it must accept both light and heavy paper, as well as double-sided pages.
Moreover, you should note that inexpensive models are usually not capable of accepting heavier grade paper, making it a bit of a problem.
With these in mind, I have gathered some of my personal favorites that will surely help you produce spectacular and of high-quality photos while staying within your budget.
The Canon Pixma iP8720 is a great choice for anyone who is looking for the best overall graphic design printer in 2022.
The best overall inkjet printer for designers.
This is a budget-friendly printer that offers print-shop quality up to 13 by 19 inches.
With its well-built feed system, the Pixma iP8720 accepts up to 150 sheets of a variety of paper weights and finishes.
This printer offers versatility—from business to school-type and professional-grade—anything a designer would need.
The Pixma iP8720 lets you print with almost no head clogs and at a respectable speed, making it more suitable for serious photographers and graphic designers.
Canon printers are known for their reliable and quality printing, so it’s no surprise that this is at the top of my list.
If you are looking for the best graphic design inkjet printer, the Canon Pixma iP8720 might be the perfect fit for you.
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Canon
Print media: Glossy photo paper
Buy Canon Pixma iP8720 on Amazon
The Brother HL-L8360CDW is an excellent choice for graphic designers who are in need of a reliable, quality, and efficient laser printer.
The best laser printer for graphic designers.
It has an advanced triple layer security feature that helps you ensure restricted document and device access.
The HL-L8360CDW produces both excellent color and black prints up to 2400 x 600 dpi class resolution.
With its undeniable high performance, this printer elevates your productivity through its 33 ppm printing speed.
The HL-L8360CDW has a 50-sheet multi-purpose tray for letterhead and alternative media printing and optional multi-layer trays that can hold up to 1,050 sheets.
This also offers cost-efficient printing with the Brother Genuine high-yield replacement toner cartridges that are built to last.
So if you’re looking for a single-function laser printer with a wide spectrum of features, then the Brother HL-L8360CDW is highly recommended.
Printer Output: Color
Color: White
Printing Technology: Laser
Brand: Brother
Print media: Envelopes, Paper (plain), Card stock, Label
Buy Brother HL-L8360Cdw on Amazon
The HP ENVY 5055 is a budget-friendly printer you can get on the market.
A budget-friendly printer for graphic designers.
More than just being a “budget” option, this model gives you versatile features to support a range of tasks.
This ENVY 5055 offers professional-quality prints up to 8 by 10 inches, made possible through its 6-color Claria Photo HD Ink feature.
Like most photo printers, this model does the basics—print, scan, and copy wide and high-quality photos with the right amount of crispiness.
Surprisingly, the ENVY 5055’s borderless printing comes with good details and excellent color accuracy.
Despite its price, it is ENERGY STAR approved for maintaining a small ecological footprint—saving you from your regular power expenses.
If you are looking for the best all-in-one printer for graphic design, then this budget-friendly HP ENVY 5055 is perfect for you.
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: HP
Print media: Envelopes, Paper (plain), Glossy photo paper
The Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is a high-quality A3 printer that can print on nearly any common paper weight or finish.
The best mid-range graphic design printer in 2022.
This printer's XP-15000 model features six separate dye ink tanks for printing photos that are as close to reality as possible.
The XP-15000 is also excellent for printing on heat-transfer media and cardstock.
In order to print 800 pages per color, these cartridges are compatible with high-yield ink cartridges.
The XP-15000 can output a wide range of file formats and offers excellent image quality.
This is a good deal if you're willing to spend a little extra money on a good-quality printer for your graphic designs.
If you are looking for a printer that is small and user-friendly, then the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is an excellent choice.
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Epson
Print media: Paper (plain), Card stock
Buy Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 on Amazon
The HP ENVY Photo 7855 brings you nothing but excellent quality photos and comes with a scanner, making it the most convenient printer on the list.
The most convenient printer for graphic designers.
For its price and features, you will never regret risking your tight budget on this very convenient printer.
What makes the HP Photo 7855 so convenient is its wireless printing through Wi-Fi direct and Ethernet, along with its USB and memory card ports.
Quality-wise, it can produce great quality prints that are well-saturated and vivid, making them suitable for general business use.
The HP Photo 7855 measures 7.7 by 17.9 by 19.8 inches and weighs 17 pounds, stepping up its convenience.
Its size is also very compact and doesn’t demand too much area of your workspace.
The HP ENVY Photo 7855 is a great choice if you're looking for the best all-in-one printer for small businesses.
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: HP
Print media: Labels, Glossy photo paper, High-resolution paper
Buy HP ENVY Photo 7855 on Amazon
The Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20 is great for marketing, design companies, schools, and architectural and engineering firms.
The best home office graphic design printer.
This printer is considered one of the best graphic design printers for home and office use.
The imagePROGRAF is capable of storing an entire ream of paper between the two trays.
It is also equipped with high-yield ink cartridges that are capable of producing an astounding number of color and monochrome pages.
The imagePROGRAF can handle envelopes, photo paper, and duplex printing, but it doesn't come with a lot of ink.
With its compact design, the 24-inch TA-20 large format printer has a place in every office.
Overall, the Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20 is an excellent choice for graphic designers and business owners.
Printer Output: Color
Color: Grey
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Canon
Print media: Banner paper, Fabric, Glossy photo paper
Buy Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20 on Amazon
The Epson SureColor P800 is a great choice for creatives who are looking for the most versatile and high-end graphic design printer.
The most high-end printer perfect for professional graphic designers.
It is powered by the Advanced Micro Piezo AMC technology along with its unique ink-repelling coating technology.
The Epson P800 is perfect for professional graphic designers who want to step up the game with larger prints on a wide variety of media.
It proves its overall quality with its undeniably sturdy trays that seem well-built for heavy use.
The Epson P800 has a Top Media Input Tray that can hold up to 120 sheets of plain paper, 30 sheets of premium ones, and 10 presentation-quality photo paper sheets.
It also comes with a 2.7-inch LCD color touchscreen with three buttons for ON and OFF, Home, and Return options.
If you are looking for the best professional graphic design printer, then the Epson SureColor P800 is a great option.
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Epson
Print media: Paper (plain)
Buy Epson SureColor P800 on Amazon
As far as large-format printers go, the Canon Inkjet Printer, PIXMA Pro-200, is one of the best options available.
The best wide-format graphic design printer.
It is one of the best business printers that can produce stunningly accurate prints.
The PIXMA PRO-200 is also ideal for entrepreneurs looking for the best graphic design printer near them.
In terms of speed and quality, it's one of the greatest options out there for consumers looking for high-quality printing.
The PIXMA PRO-200 uses eight ink cartridges and is very fast for an inkjet printer.
As one of the best A3 printers and the best printer for art prints, this printer is capable of producing results at 4800 x 2400 DPI.
If you are looking for the best wide-format printers for graphic design, then look no further than the Canon PIXMA PRO-200.
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Canon
Print media: Glossy photo paper
Buy Canon PIXMA PRO-200 on Amazon
If you’re looking for the best graphic design printer for business use, then the HP DesignJet T210 is a must-have.
The best printer for small and medium businesses.
This printer is popular not only with graphic designers but also with architects, engineers, and construction professionals.
The HP T210 is ideal for technical line-drawings, renderings requiring precise, accurate line-quality and crisp text, posters, and maps.
You can now manage your large format printing and printer virtually anywhere and anytime with the HP Smart app from your smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer.
The HP T210 is a wise choice for business owners that want to have the best graphic design printer available.
It will allow you to print easily and affordably with the world's smallest plotter printers with a modern office design.
Overall, buying the HP DesignJet T210 is surely a great investment for both creatives and entrepreneurs.
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Thermal Inkjet
Brand: HP
Buy HP DesignJet T210 on Amazon
The Brother HL-L3210C is definitely a great choice for designers and business owners that are looking for the best-buy printer.
The best graphic design printer for everyday use.
Another feature that makes it stand out and perfect for business is its compactness, which allows you to save more space.
The HL-L3210C is powered by LED technology, ensuring great-quality professional prints.
This model measures 9.9 by 16.1 by 18.1 inches and comes with an antiquated control panel with a one-line monochrome LCD display.
With its robust design, the HL-L3210C offers easy use and navigation even when paired with phone and tablet printing options.
This printer can reduce your expenses by providing high-yield supplies that are built to last.
If you need an upgrade from the previous one, the Brother HL-L3210C might be of help with your medium-sized business’ needs.
Printer Output: Monochrome
Color: White
Printing Technology: Laser
Brand: Brother
Print media: Envelopes, Card stock
Buy Brother HL-L3210C on Amazon
The laser printers are much more expensive than inkjet ones.
But you can get the best quality out of them, providing you with vivid and sharp prints.
Which is the best graphic design printer for you?
Well, the truth is, you can get better quality and more vibrant prints if you have a bigger budget.
As a designer, you need to invest in a printer that is built to last and a printer that will give justice to your work.
Depending on your needs, you can get a printer for as little as $149 or as much as $1250.
If you can’t afford to take the risk, I highly suggest you go for the most expensive printer with the most features you can afford.
The Canon Pixma iP8720 Inkjet Printer remains the top option for several graphic designers with the quality prints you can get for its price.
Needless to say, versatile and high-quality printers will be your best companions in making your designs come to life.
Do you have any recommendations?—Leave a comment below.
