Top Large Format Printer Brands in 2025: Why You’d Choose Them
Large format printers are crucial in various industries, including engineering, architecture, design firms, print shops, educational institutions, and more. Each customer has unique challenges and printing demands, so multiple large-format printer brands stand out as top choices in the market today.
At Steven Enterprises, we have supported Southern California businesses with plotter equipment purchases for over three generations. Our team stays at the cutting edge of the large-format and wide-format printing industry, continually educating ourselves about the latest plotters released by various brands.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the top recommended large format printer brands tailored to specific industry demands.
Ink vs. Toner Large Format Printers
One of the primary distinctions in large format printers is the type of printing technology they utilize—ink or toner.
Ink-Based Printers:
If your business’s monthly print volume is less than 10,000 square feet, ink-based printers are more cost-effective and suitable. While the cost per square foot for ink is approximately $0.025, it offers affordability for lower-volume needs.
Toner-Based Printers:
For businesses printing 10,000 to 20,000 square feet per month, toner-based printers are more economical in the long run. Toner costs about $0.011 per square foot, significantly reducing long-term expenses on printing supplies.
While the price difference seems small, printing with ink is basically twice as expensive as printing with toner.
Read more: How AEC Firms Can Maximize Savings on Large Format Printing Supplies
Top Ink-Based Large Format Printer Brands
Ink-based printers are typically purchased by businesses that need high-quality prints with extreme precision. The technology prints line by line, making it possible to get accurate lines and details in your prints.
#1 Brand: HP
HP is renowned for its technical large format printers, releasing new models almost yearly with innovations in speed and AutoCAD technology. These printers are indispensable for fields requiring detailed drawings and plans, such as architecture, engineering, and manufacturing.
Read more: Top HP Wide Format Printers: Organized By Print Volume & Costs
#2 Brand: Canon
Canon excels in producing graphic large format printers with superior ink durability and color quality. Ideal for marketing agencies, photography studios, and graphic design firms, Canon printers are also popular with movie production studios for their high-quality print needs during filming.
Top Toner-Based Large Format Printer Brands
Toner-based plotters use laser technology, also known as “LED machines.” This advanced technology is why they’re so popular for large-volume printing.
The way toner-based printers work is they do a single-pass on the page. This means it doesn’t matter how much coverage is on your print; the time to print will not change.
Ink-based printers, however, will slow down significantly if you have a page with 80%+ coverage (the percentage of the design that needs to be colored in the blank page).
LED machines always print at the same speed, regardless of the print details.
#1 Brand: KIP
KIP leads the industry with its advanced software enhancements, focusing on speed and ease of use in job submissions. Customers appreciate the simplicity with which they can manage their printing jobs using KIP’s efficient tools.
See the most popular large format printers by KIP.
#2 Brand: OCE
OCE, known for its reliability and recently acquired by Canon, is expected to integrate and expand upon Canon’s graphic technology. This brand is a solid choice for businesses that value consistent performance and technological innovation.
See the most popular large format printers by OCE.
Choosing the Right Brand for Your Business
Our certified printing technicians talk to businesses almost every day about purchasing the right large format printer for their unique business needs.
In talking with these business owners, they acknowledge that most businesses typically stick with the brand they’ve always worked with. They cite reasons like brand loyalty, trust in the product, and the fact that their team is already trained on how to use the printers.
If you already own a large format printer, it’s sometimes also wide to stick with the same brand to be able to benefit from possible trade-in offers to upgrade your equipment.
Need Help Purchasing Your Large Format Printer?
Selecting the right large format printer is crucial for meeting your business’s specific needs, whether you prioritize visual impact or precision. Our team of experts is ready to provide personalized advice on selecting the ideal large-format printer for your business. Contact us today to enhance your printing capabilities.
If you need help choosing the right printer for your business, contact our team of experts here or call (800)491-8785.