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Looking for the best cardstock printer? You’ve come to the right place. Printing high-quality materials has become a necessity for various personal and professional purposes. Whether creating invitations, business cards, or crafting projects, having a reliable printer is essential to bring your designs to life. But the best printers aren’t necessarily all rated for cardstock.
With cardstock reaching even 300gsm, it does take a printer that can handle this thicker media. Then there are considerations for the ink you’ll be using and how much that will cost you, so some ink tank printers might be worth it in the long run.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide, breaking down the top printers for cards on the market. Across a range of budgets and quality standards, we’ve picked our top printers for all of your printing needs!
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Editor’s Pick
Epson Expression XP-15000
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Cloud Printing
- Duplex Printing: Yes
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Best Quality Cardstock PrinterCanon PIXMA iX6820
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: Ethernet, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: No
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Best Budget Cardstock Printer
HP Envy 6120e (6155e)
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: HP Thermal Inkjet
- Connectivity Technology: USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Duplex Printing: Yes, Automatic
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Best Wide-Format Cardstock Printer
Epson EcoTank ET-8550
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Ethernet
- Duplex Printing: Yes
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Best Mid-Range Cardstock Printer
Epson EcoTank ET-2820
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet (Epson Micro Piezo print head)
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi, Wi-Fi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Manual
How we picked the best cardstock printer
Cardstock printers, like many other printers for crafting, are not limited exclusively to that one material. Our printer choices will perform as well with heavy cardstock as they will with other materials aside from standard paper, like glossy photo paper and envelopes. This adds a layer of versatility to your printing, so whilst cardstock was the main focus, a range of other media options is always appreciated!
Additionally, we considered the type of printer (more on that below), print quality, and print speed. We also considered a range of budget tiers, so that nobody will come away from this list without a printer that suits their needs! Taking from our hands on printer reviews and tests, we’ve even seen how some of these perform and ensure they are worthy of recommendation.
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Cloud Printing
- Duplex Printing: Yes
Taking the top spot on our rankings is this stellar Epson printer, which we’ve sung the praises of previously in our review – and all it’s top features make it ideal for cardstock.
- Slow print speeds – at 9 pages per minute, we’re somewhat unimpressed by the XP-15000, as the print time is increased for cardstock.
Our top printer choice today is the Epson Expression XP-15000, a top-tier printer for all manner of specialist media. Its innovative six-cartridge ink tank system makes for highly economical printing, as mentioned in our ranking of the best printers for graphic design.
With wireless connectivity optionality and a great maximum print size of 13″ x 19″, the XP-15000 has a lot of great functions – but the keyword here is “efficiency”. The Epson high-yield cartridges are rated for up to 800 prints apiece, making them great for high quantities of printing – especially on cardstock. The quality is standout as well, with the Claria Photo ink creating a great color gamut and smooth gradients.
However, with a print speed of only 9 pages per minute, the XP-15000 saves ink by expending time. The overall print resolution is also lower than our top choice, though still high for such a printer. Save money in the long term by investing in the XP-15000, and find out why we like it in our XP-15000 review.
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: Ethernet, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: No
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: Ethernet, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: No
With incredible resolution, the iX6820 guarantees high-quality and detail cardstock prints.
- Great color gamut – the five-color ink system rivals the XP-15000, for detailed shades and vibrance.
- High-resolution – with a print resolution of 9600 x 2400 DPI, prints are rendered with incredible detail on the iX6820.
- Slower print speeds – like the XP-15000, the iX6820 sacrifices time for detail.
For the ultimate cardstock print quality, look no further than the Canon PIXMA iX6820. Designed for high-quality prints, its compact and stylish design hides the great quality under the hood.
As with the XP-15000, the iX6820 has a print size of up to 13″ x 19″ – ideal for large-format printing. An exceptional five-color ink system makes it an incredible option for deep and rich color vibrancy. The InkJet printer supports a range of media, from greeting cards to stickers, and prints to a great resolution of 9600 x 2400 dots per inch (DPI) for unrivaled detail.
It’s not all good news, however: we found that the iX6820 is slower than average to accommodate this quality. The average 4″ x 6″ photo takes approximately 36 seconds to print, which can majorly slow down a commercial-grade print process. But for those with a little more time on their hands who need unmatched quality, the PIXMA iX6820 is an ideal high-resolution printer!
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: HP Thermal Inkjet
- Connectivity Technology: USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Duplex Printing: Yes, Automatic
For a more affordable print solution, consider this HP printer – offering great print quality for a price under $200.
- Cheap initial cost to buy the unit
- Fairly small and compact design for its features
- Surprisingly good quality prints for the price
- Includes free trial of HP Instant Ink
- Easy to install and get going
- Expensive ink prices without the subscription
- Low-yield cartridges can make it high maintenance for big page counts
- Lacks color accuracy in photo prints
- High cost per print
On the more budget side of things, the HP Envy 6155e/6120e is a consideration for it. Fully priced under $200, but dropping under $100 in sales, it is a more affordable option for cardstock, and it gets a good score in our review of the printer.
However, you do have to consider the cost of the ink in the long run. Since it is a cartridge-based one, it can be expensive to replace them if you print a lot. From the printer, though, you do get support for up to 300gsm paper with a resolution of 4800 x 1200 in color.
It also comes with a scanner bed to make it more versatile and useful in plenty of other cases, too. Due to the lower-end hardware, it can drop in quality compared to some premium printers, but it still does an excellent job for the price. Even offering a touchscreen, even if it’s in a bit of an inconvenient spot.
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Ethernet
- Duplex Printing: Yes
Don’t let the size of the ET-8550 fool you; this printer is capable of large-scale and high-quality cardstock prints.
- Easy to set up and use
- Large and adjustable touchscreen
- Great photo and print quality
- Has lots of colored inks that are cheap to buy
- Plenty of connectivity and print options
- Good support of sizes and larger formats
- Very high initial cost to purchase
- The scanner does not support the same larger paper sizes i.e A3
- The gimmicky motorized output tray slows down effective initial print time although makes it easier to use
If you do need some large-format prints, the Epson ET-8550 is certainly a consideration for the job, as we found in our review, it got a perfect score in it. It can support sizes of up to A3+ and even some special media handling in the rear feed, which includes CD/DVD and thick media up to 1.3mm.
It offers a print resolution of 5,760 x 1,440 DPI, and a total of 6 color inks in the tank. This gives it a greater color depth with 360 nozzles for black and 180 nozzles per color. This also makes it a strong AIO printer with the scanner bed on top of it, and a variety of features and connectivity options you can take advantage of to queue up the print jobs.
Since it is an ink tank option too, it should come with a lot of print capacity in it, and be easy to refill at a lower cost. So it is a well-rounded option, if not being on the more expensive side.
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet (Epson Micro Piezo print head)
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi, Wi-Fi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Manual
- Very low cost per print
- Great general quality in documents and photos
- Good color range
- Strong paper size support
- Plenty of wireless connectivity
- Slow print speeds
- No automatic duplex printing
- Loses quality in photos and small details
As for something in the middle, there is the Epson ET-2820. Still an ink tank option, the Epson sports a standard range of 4 colors, and certainly a step down from the 8550 in size and capability. It still offers a full range of AIO features that get the job done, as we found in our review of the printer.
For the media support, it can work through sheets up to 300gsm, and sizes of just up to A4, with a capacity of 100 in the tray. As for the print resolution, that is at 5,760 x 1,440 DPI, and with the ink bottles providing a large amount, it should give you thousands of pages from one refill.
It is still an affordable printer as it is on the lower price range for ink tanks, so it should be a good economic investment. With a versatile utility to it, the Epson is a worthy consideration too.
Features and considerations
We’ve talked (or written) in broad strokes here about finding the cardstock printer for any and all needs, but the only person who can truly tailor your printer requirements is you. Here’s what to consider if you are unsure of where to start on your printer search:
Print quality
Print quality is, of course, important, especially if you’re printing on card for commercial use. Aim for a higher resolution on your printer. Resolution is measured in dots per inch (DPI).
Print size
Depending on what you plan to print, make sure to read up on the dimensions. Greeting cards and invitations all have different standard sizes, so make sure that your printer can not only accommodate them, but that the stock you purchase fits!
Print speed
Quicker isn’t necessarily better: some fast printers aren’t as efficient overall. However, commercial-grade cardstock printing requires a little speed, so factor in the average print speed – generally measured in pages-per-minute – when considering a printer.
Ink type
There is no one set type of ink for printers: different brands use a variety of different ink types, with even edible ink printers being a popular market. Ink can vary in longevity and color depth, so consider that when checking compatible ink systems with your printer.
Ink efficiency
We’ve mentioned “ink economy” a few times in this buyer’s guide, which is a catch-all term for how well a printer uses the supplied ink. Though it’s harder to quantify, especially for cardstock printers, manufacturers often list an average “cost per print”. This figure should be measured in cents rather than dollars, meaning that the printer makes the most of the ink supplied. The most economical printers tend to be large ink tank printers that house large reservoirs of ink for printing.
InkJet vs laser printers
When looking for a new or replacement printer, you will have to choose whether you’re after an InkJet printer or a laser printer. Both have pros and cons: InkJet printers tend to have a better depth of color but are more expensive to run, whereas laser printers are cheaper to run but have limited coloring capacities. Although laser printers excel at printing text on regular paper, InkJet printers generally outperform them when it comes to printing on specialist media like cardstock.
Can my laser printer print cards?
No: Generally speaking, laser printers and general-purpose units aren’t suited for specialist media such as cardstock. You’d need to invest in an InkJet Printer in order to print efficiently and to a high standard for cards.
Do I need Photoshop to print cards?
Whilst it’s not a hard requirement – there are plenty of graphics software options out there – Adobe’s suite of software is among the best. Easily adjust elements such as resolution and dimensions, and with their Generative Fill technology, you can even use AI to power your designs.
What type of printer can print cardstock?
Primarily, inkjet printers are the way to go for printing cardstock. They can get better color accuracy and quality, and be able to take the thicker material through the feeder. Although lasers can also do it, it might not be as effective an option.
What printer takes 300gsm card?
Plenty of printers are able to support 300gsm cardstock printing. Any of the printers here in our recommendation do support it, such as the XP-15000, ET-8550, Envy 6155e, and more. Although it’s best to check the specs on their manufacturer’s sites to ensure they support 300gsm or cardstock, and in the size you want it to.
Verdict
It may not be the fastest, but the Epson Expression XP-15000 compensates for its speed by offering some of the best print quality on the market, easily earning it the top spot as the best cardstock printer. That said, any and all of our choices today should reliably accommodate cardstock printing needs, so consider your needs and invest in whichever one suits you!
For larger artworks, consider investing in a canvas printer – allowing for unique and high-quality decorative images wherever you need them!
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