12 Best Printers For Architects in 2024

Architects are professionals that design and play a key role in constructing various structures such as buildings and houses. They create the overall appearance of the structure while also considering several factors such as its function, safety, and if it is economical. Aside from this, they also help their clients in obtaining construction bids, selecting contractors, and negotiating construction contracts.

One of the tools that an architect will need is a wide format printer. This type of printer is needed so that allows printing out the plans on a larger scale and make an impact while still maintaining high resolution and clarity. While most regular consumers will be content with and A4 size printer, architects on the other hand will need an A3 printer.

Why the best printers for architects is an A3 printer

An A3 printer is a type of wide format printer which is capable of handling paper up to A3 size. This is 11.69 in. x 16.53 in. or close to 11 in. x 17 in. or ledger paper in the U.S.

The reason why this is the perfect printer for architects is that it is able to print documents that need to make more of a visual impact, including large graphic pieces or high-resolution images. This is an advantage when presenting their designs to clients.

An A3 printer is quite versatile as it can also handle A4 print jobs. Although the A3 printer costs more than an A4 printer you will actually be saving a lot on the long run as service and supply costs are lower on A3 printers.

Different types of A3 printer for architects

There are various types of A3 printers that are available for architects to use. The specific type that is best will really have to depend on what the architect feels is right for him or her.

Inkjet printer

One of the most common type of printer is the inkjet printer. First introduced in 1950s, it is still very popular today and is the standard printer in most offices and homes. It’s best suited for architects that want to produce quality over quantity printouts.

This type of printer is capable of producing photo-realistic printouts, can start up quite fast, and has a relatively compact size. It uses four ink cartridges to reproduce a wide range of colors.

Some of its disadvantages are that it costs more to print per page, its print speed is slow, and the finished print out will be wet.

Continuous Ink Printers

This is actually an inkjet printer that uses a refillable ink tank instead of a disposable ink cartridge. This translates to huge savings in the long run since it has much greater page yields and reduced cost per printed page.

This type of printer can produce good quality prints although it has slow print speeds and requires a much larger space.

This type of printer is best suited for architects who print frequently.

Laser printers

Laser printers were first introduced by Xerox in the 1960s and are best suited for architects that need to print large volumes of documents through various connectivity options. It can print documents in color or in black and white.

It’s not as good in printing photo-realistic images when compared to the best inkjet printers but it has several advantages that make it suitable for any architect to use.

Laser printers can print at a much faster rate, text documents being printed out are sharper, and the cost per page for printing is much lower.

Solid Ink printers

Solid ink technology as first introduced in 1986 and works by melting block of solid ink, similar to wax crayons, onto the page at print speeds close to that of Laser machines.

It is aimed at graphic designers as its print quality allows for a brilliant color reproduction. The melted wax also creates a glossy surface across the top of the paper ( you can’t print on photo or specialty paper) which can make an impact on any architect presentation.

Here are the best printers for architects available in the market today

If you are an architect looking for the right printer for your needs then here’s some of the best choices that we have curated for you.

Epson Stylus Photo 1400 Wide Format Color Inkjet Printer

This Epson printer is one of the best wide format printers available in the market today. It can deliver Ultra HD high quality prints at up to 13″ x 19″ making your architectural drawings presentation to your clients stand out.

The print outputs are guaranteed to be smudge, scratch, water and fade resistant with prints lasting up to 4x longer when compared to lab quality prints.

Why you should get the Epson Stylus Photo 1400:

13″ Wide Format Printing: Accommodates paper and media up to 13″ wide

Smudge, Scratch, Water and Fade-Resistant Prints: The ultimate combination of photo quality and longevity; get prints that are smudge, scratch, water and fade resistant.

Professional Looking CDs and DVDs: Print directly onto inkjet-printable CDs and DVDs, eliminating the need for labels.

Amazing Quality and Detail: Get smooth gradations; accurate skin tones; sharp, grain-free photos and crisp, clear text. In short, you get good print quality.

Replace Only the Color You Need: Six individual ink cartridges are available in different capacities, so you can replace only the color you need.

Professional Quality: Print-shop quality color graphics and laser-sharp black text.

Buy it now on Amazon

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HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Wide Format Printer

The HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 is a large format inkjet printer that can deliver high quality prints, scan, and copy and A3 document. It’s capable of printing documents up to 11 x 17 inches at high speeds and at a very good quality.

This is best suited for architects looking for an all in one printer that is affordable yet can make high quality borderless printing jobs.

Why you should get the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740:

High-quality color prints that cost up to 50% less per page than HP color lasers.

Mobile printing using your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. This allows you to print remotely from anywhere in your office using the HP smart app.

Print wirelessly such as iCloud, Dropbox and Google Cloud Print.

Print, scan, and copy in standout color on a variety of paper sizes.

Buy it now on Amazon

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Brother MFC-J5330DW All In One Inkjet

The Brother MFC-J5330DW is an all in one inkjet printer solution for architects that need not just a printer but a scanner, copier, and fax machine as well. It has various connectivity options ranging from Wi Fi, Ethernet, and USB.

It is considered as a workhorse printer which is popular in offices. It has a high print resolution of 4,800 x 1,200 dpi allowing for lifelike print outs.

Why you should get the Brother MFC-J5330DW:

Built for business performance.

250-sheet paper tray capacity accepts up to 11″x17″ Single sheet bypass tray for printing on envelopes and card stock for added convenience.

Sharp black text and high impact color documents on plain paper.

Print and scan from almost anywhere smartphone, tablet, laptop, and desktop computer..

Enjoy the freedom of wireless connectivity. No router needed with Wi Fi Direct.

Scan to popular cloud services directly from the machine including Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, and more

2.7″ Touchscreen display Easily navigate to powerful features.

Buy it now on Amazon.

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Epson Workforce WF-7720 Wide Format All In One Printer

The Epson Workforce WF-7720 is an all in one inkjet printer that can deliver laser quality prints. It can print documents up to 11×17 inches in size and borderless prints up to 13×17 inches in size.

This large format printer has a wide range of wireless connectivity options. You can use smartphones and tablets to connect with the printer or can use the Ethernet, NFC, or Wi Fi direct.

Why you should get the Epson Workforce WF-7720:

Print-shop Quality: Borderless prints up to 13″ x 19″.

Economical: Uses up to 80 percent less power vs. color laser printers.

High-Volume Printing: 500-sheet capacity, dual trays, plus a rear feed for specialty paper; 125-sheet output tray.

Auto 2-sided Print, Copy, Scan and Fax: Plus 35-page Auto Document Feeder.

Easy Navigation and Control: Intuitive 4.3″ color touchscreen.

Ultimate Wireless Printing and Networking: Print from iPad, iPhone, Android tablets and smartphones, includes Wi Fi Direct, Ethernet and NFC.

Large Scans: Easily scan up to 11″ x 17″ with 2-sided Auto Document Feeder.

Buy it now on Amazon

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Xerox VersaLink C7000 Color A3 Printer

The Xerox VersaLink C7000 is a color laser printer that is ideal for a small to medium size architectural office. It’s capable of printing high quality A3 prints in duplex mode and with its customizable 5 inch color touchscreen all of its functionality will be easy to access.

One of the disadvantages of getting this is that it is quite expensive when compared to inkjet models.

Why you should get the Xerox VersaLink C7000:

Build for heavy duty usage.

Mobile and Cloud Ready, Instant connectivity to cloud and mobile devices right from the user interface.

Full multi-level protection for both documents and data.

Impressive print speed.

Superb print quality.

Supports Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB connectivity.

Supports duplex printing.

Buy it now on Amazon

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Epson Expression Photo XP-970 Small-in-One Printer

The Epson Expression Photo XP-970 is a wireless photo printer that also has a scanner and copier functionality. It can print borderless photos up to 11″ x 17″ with excellent color vibrancy. it has a 4.3″ touchscreen for PC-free printing.

Why you should get the Epson Expression Photo XP-970 :

Brilliant, borderless photos up to 11″ x 17″- 6-color Claria Photo HD Inks deliver smooth gradations and amazing skin tones

Fast, professional-quality printing-4″ x 6″ photos in as fast as 11 seconds

Print specialty media- Rear paper feed accommodates specialty paper; plus, print directly onto CD/DVDs

Innovative, fold-over scan lid- Holds originals in place

Convenient, easy-to-use design- Easy PC-free printing with 4.3″ touchscreen, built-in USB and memory card slots. You can use this as a standalone printer.

Wireless and router-free. Designed for easy printing from your iPhone, iPad, Android mobile devices, tablets and more; includes Wi Fi Direct for router-free printing.

Buy it now on Amazon

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Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wide format printer

The Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is one of the best printers for architects capable of delivering pro-quality borderless prints up 13″ x 19″. It offers a wide color gamut and enhanced black-and-white photo printing since it uses a 6-color Claria Photo HD Inks — with all-new Red and Gray inks.

Why you should get the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000:

Professional Ultra HD photo quality allowing you to enjoy brilliant borderless prints up to 13 x 19″.

Individual 6-color Claria Photo HD Ink — includes Red and Gray inks for an ultra wide color gamut and enhanced black-and-white prints.

Large format printer that features a 50-sheet rear tray for specialty media, including cardstock; accommodates a variety of paper finishes and borderless sizes from 4″ x 6″ to 13″ x 19″

Ultra compact wide-format A3+ printer — 30 percent smaller than its predecessor.

Supports auto 2-sided document printing, with a 200-sheet front tray.

Fast speeds — prints documents at 9.2 ISO ppm (black) and 9.0 ISO ppm (color) and 4″ x 6″ borderless photos in as fast as 27 seconds.

Ultimate wireless and wired connectivity — easily print from iPad, iPhone and Android tablets and smartphones; also offers Ethernet networking.

Easy-to-use 2.4″ color LCD

Hands-free voice-activated printing.

Buy it now on Amazon

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Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless Business Printer

The Canon Pixma iX6820 is a wireless inkjet printer that’s capable of printing 4″ x 6″, 11″ x 17″ and even big 13″ x 19″ presentation charts. It has five individual ink tank that allows excellent color detail to be reproduced.

Why you should get the Canon Pixma iX6820:

Superior Resolution: 9600 x 2400 maximum color dpi produces incredible quality and detail.

Five Individual Ink Tank System: The 5-color ink system consists of four dye-based inks for professional looking photos. A pigment-based black ink is used to produce crisp text.

1 Picoliter: 1-picoliter sized ink droplets produce sharp, exceptionally detailed photos.

Print Documents and Web Pages Fast: Print documents and web pages with fast speeds of 14.5 images per minute.

Borderless Photos Fast: Print a beautiful, borderless 4″ x 6″ photo in approximately 36 seconds.5,12

ChromaLife100: This system combines enhanced FINE print head technology with select genuine Canon photo papers and inks for beautiful borderless photos that will last up to 300 years when stored in an archival-quality photo album.

Buy it now on Amazon

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Brother MFCJ6945DW All in One Printer

The Brother MFCJ6945DW is one of the printers for architects that uses Inkjet technology and has the highest ink capacity . Its in-box ink is capable uninterruptible printing for a year if you print 300 documents every month. It has an activated Amazon Dash replenishment system that pre-orders your ink from Amazon before it runs out making this convenient for the busy architect.

Why you should get the Brother MFCJ6945DW:

Up to 1 year of ink based on printing approximately 300 pages per month using only the cartridges provided in-box.

Large page yields and low-cost printing.

Print with confidence using Page Gauge. Takes the guesswork out of when to replace ink by using the unique Brother Page Gauge, a visual, numerical way to know the amount of ink you’ve used and the amount of ink you have remaining.

Large format printer that can print, copy, scan and fax up to 11”x17”. Two paper trays with 500-sheet total capacity help minimize refills and accept up to 11”x17” paper.

Single-pass duplex (2-sided) copying and scanning via up to 50-sheet automatic document feeder.

Print wirelessly from your desktop, laptop, smartphone and tablet. You can use NFC “touch to connect” to print and scan without connecting to a network .

Buy it now on Amazon

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HP OfficeJet Pro 7720 Wide Format All-in-One Printer

The HP OfficeJet Pro 7720 is one of the most affordable wide format printers for architects that is capable of producing high quality A3 print outs. Its the perfect choice for small businesses or individuals looking for a printer that can produce quality prints up to 11 x 17 inches.

Why you should get the HP OfficeJet Pro 7720

Wide-format (11×17) printer for the Office – Print up to 11×17, scan and copy up to legal size inches with this all-in-one, high-volume printer.

Easily Print from your mobile device.

Professional color prints – Print borderless brochures, flyers, posters and more with stunningly vibrant color.

Scan business documents with your mobile camera, and print through cloud services.

Auto document feeder, auto two-sided printing, color touchscreen and the timesaving shortcuts.

Supported paper sizes include letter; legal; government legal; executive; statement; 3×5 in; 4×6 in; 5×7 in; 8×10 in; L; photo 2L; envelope; Card; Tabloid.

Buy it now on Amazon

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Epson Artisan 1430 Inkjet Printer

The Epson Artisan 1430 is one of the inkjet printer models that is capable of delivering brilliant, Ultra Hi-Definition prints as large as 13″ x 19″. Architects will find it easy to use this printer even without a computer as it can be controlled wirelessly using an app on a smartphone.

Why you should get the Epson Artisan 1430:

Brilliant borderless photos up to 13″ x 19″

Ultra Hi-Definition prints

Connect to your wireless network in seconds

Superior image enhancement tools

Remarkable image quality using DX5 MicroPiezo print head technology, up to 5760 x 1440 dpi resolution and ink droplets as small as 1.5 picoliters provide the finest in color and detail

Professional looking CDs/DVDs — print right onto inkjet printable CDs / DVDs without labels

Individual ink cartridges.

Epson Connect — print and share from your smartphone, iPhone, tablet and other mobile devices — no computer needed.

Borderless photos in popular sizes — from 4″ x 6″ to 13″ x 19″; 12″ x 12″.

Buy it now on Amazon

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Canon Pixma Pro 100 Wireless Color Professional Inkjet Printer

The Canon Pixma Pro-100 is one of the best A3 printers available in the market today. It is the entry level model in the Pixma Pro series and is specifically designed for the photo enthusiast however it is also being used by architects. It’s best used for printing vibrant and glossy photos with its 8 Dye based inks capable of reproducing amazing gradients and color.

Why you should get the Canon Pixma Pro-100

Uses OIG technology which ensures the perfect print every time, by managing the balance of inks and precise ink droplet placement.

Can print professional, borderless prints on a wide range of papers, up to the size of A3+.

4800 x 2400 dots per inch with fine technology for incredible detail.

Print with convenience from anywhere in your home or office with a smart device.

Buy it now on Amazon

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Features Architects should look for in an A3 Printer

Architects looking to buy a wide format printer should not only consider the price but other factors as well. Choosing between an inkjet or laser printers can sometimes be a difficult decision but once you know what your requirements are it’s going to be an easy task.

Print resolution

The higher the print resolution a printer is rated the better the quality of prints will be. You can get good quality prints with resolutions of 4800×1200 or 4800×2400 dpi. However, if you want high resolution prints then look for a printer that is rated at 9600x2400dpi.

Paper size

A wide format printer should be able to handle A3 paper with the size of 11×17 inches. Some printer models though can handle much larger sizes such as 13×19 inches print. Make sure to check the paper size limits of the printer that you are about to buy.

Level of Detail

When choosing an inkjet printer you will need to know its level of detail which is measured in picoliters. A printer DPI refers to dots per inch while picoliters are units of measure that refer to the size of those dots. The smaller the drop of ink is, the more drops that can cover a single inch of paper. As a result, small droplets of ink produce more dots per inch, which results can higher resolution and better picture quality.

A printer with a one picoliter ink droplet size but one with a 1.5 picoliter droplet is even better.