If you’re a frequent crafter, you’re probably familiar with cardstock and scrapbooking. When you buy cardstock, you get a large sheet you’ll need to cut down to fit, but getting the exact cut or size can be tricky. That’s where a printer for cardstock comes in! The following printer reviews will help you find the printer for your needs.
A Quick Overview Of My Favorite Printers For Cardstock
Key Takeaways
Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 printer is famous among photographers but can be expensive to run.
The printer’s features, speed, and ink cartridge are the main things to consider when purchasing a new printer.
Canon Pixma iX6820 is one of the best printer options that has excellent value for money.
Do not overload your printer’s tray when using cardstock.
The Top 6 Printers For Cardstock
My printer testing focuses on print quality, speed, ease of use, and paper handling. When testing printers, I rated them on their print speeds, how well they can handle card stock, ease of setup, how easy they are to install, and the quality of the output. So, here are the best printers for cardstock:
Brother HL-L6200DWT Laser Printer: Best For Bussines
- Help increase your productivity with a black print speed of up to 48ppm
- Print professional business documents with bold, crisp text and sharp images at up to 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution
- Backlit LCD display for easy navigation and menu selection
- Standard Interfaces: Wireless 802.11b/g/n, Gigabit Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB 2.0
- Connectivity technology: USB, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi
The Brother HL-L6200DWT Laser Printer is a high-performance workhorse that is well worth the price and will last you a long time. Compact and well-designed, it prints and scans quickly and reliably, with good performance for both text and graphics. I find it the best option for your office or small business.
I managed to set up the Brother HL-L6200DWT Laser printer pretty quickly, and the included software is straightforward to use and understand. Additionally, this device proved speedy while printing sharp text and graphics.
The page yield is also good. However, I find a slight flaw: The glossy plastic finish on the scanner unit picks up fingerprints easily, but it’s just a cosmetic flaw and does not affect the printer’s performance. This is a solid choice if you need a reliable printer for your home or office.
What I Like About It
- High-speed printing
- Tray space can hold over 1,000 sheets
- Easy to use
- Supports different paper types and sizes
- Mobile printing option
What I Dislike About It
- It is big and heavy
- Only monochrome printing
Why Should You Buy It?
The Brother HL-L6200DWT Laser Printer’s mixture of features and its value for money makes it an excellent option for you if some massive but quick monochrome printing should be done.
Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000: Best For Photographers
- Epson printing system is designed to be used exclusively with Epson Genuine Cartridges. Use of non-genuine ink could cause damage not covered under the printer’s ltd. wnty. .What's in the box : Expression Photo HD XP-15000 printer, CD-ROM for product setup, Power cord, 4x Claria Photo HD 312-I ink cartridges (1x Black, 1x Cyan, 1x Magenta, 1x Yellow), 2x Claria Photo HD 314-I ink cartridges (1x Gray, 1x Red), 1 Cleaning Sheet
- Professional ultra HD photo quality get brilliant border less prints upto 13 inches X 19 inches
- Individual 6 color Claria photo HD ink includes red and gray inks for an ultra wide color gamut and enhanced black and white prints. Sound pressure level: Pressure: 49 dB(A)
- Professional projects: Made easy features a 50 sheet rear tray for specialty media, including cardstock (1); Accommodates a variety of paper finishes and border less sizes from 4 inches X 6 inches To 13 inches X 19 inches
- Ultra compact wide format A3 plus printer 30 percent smaller than its predecessor (2); Easily fits on your desktop
Decent and good all-in-one photo printers are hard to come by, and the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is hard to beat for the price. I unpack it, easily set it up in a few minutes, and test it immediately. I can assure you that Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 offers professional-quality prints in a wide range of sizes and even includes professional paper options.
It’s considerably more expensive than the previous Epson model, but the XP-15000 is much faster and quieter and has a larger paper capacity (up to 200 sheets in the front tray). It also has better overall print quality, providing better detail and richer color. In addition, the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is more compact than the previous model, leaving plenty of room on my desk for my other equipment. However, when you open the front tray and the rear feed support, the printer needs almost twice as much space.
The disadvantage of this model is that with the cost of $0.45 per photo, it is expensive to run, especially if you are an amateur photographer just getting started.
What I Like About It
- Wireless printing
- Fantastic results on photo paper
- Many format options
- Monochrome and color printing
- Small and compact
What I Dislike About It
- Not the cheapest option
- Grain in grayscale
Why Should You Buy It?
The Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 will print your photos with quality comparable with much more expensive and professional photo printers.
HP OfficeJet 3830: Best Budget Option
- The main functions of this HP color inkjet photo printer: copy, scan, fax, wireless printing, AirPrint, touchscreen, Instant Ink ready so you'll never run out of ink, and more
- The power of your printer in the palm of your hand: The HP Smart app allows you to easily set up your printer, scan from your smartphone, order toner, and print from the cloud—such as iCloud, Dropbox and Google Drive
- Ink delivered to your home: Get your first 2 months free when you enroll in HP Instant Ink (optional) during printer set up; plans starting at 0.99 dollar per month after the trial period, shipping and recycling included
- Print laser-quality documents and lab-quality photos from your smartphone or tablet
- Optional quiet mode helps keep noise to a minimum
The HP OfficeJet 3830 is a color inkjet photo printer. This one is capable of copying, scanning, faxing, wireless printing, AirPrint, touchscreen, Instant Ink ready, and more.
I quickly set up this printer, scanned with my smartphone, ordered toner, and printed from the iCloud (Dropbox and Google Drive are also possible). As per my experience, you can print laser-quality documents and lab-quality photos. You can also print from your smartphone or tablet with the optional HP ePrint app and your HP printer.
The HP OfficeJet 3830 is also designed to fit your life! It has a compact design, so you can easily fit it on your desk, on a shelf, or anywhere you need it. Another great feature is its noise cancellation option so that you can print in quiet mode.
The negative side to this model is the expense of the ink; however, if you get a subscription to HP’s Instant Ink delivery program, the costs will be cheaper.
What I Like About It
- Noise cancelation feature
- HP ePrint mobile app
- Low price
- The first 2 months are free if you enroll in Instant Ink
- Easy to maintenance
What I Dislike About It
- No duplex print
- High running costs without Instant Ink
Why Should You Buy It?
You literally get a lot of “machine” for the money! It is a great cheap option for high-quality printing results.
Epson WorkForce WF-7720 Inkjet: Best For Electricity Saving
- Epson strongly recommends the use of Genuine Epson inks for a quality printing experience. Non Epson inks and inks not formulated for your specific printer may cause damage that is not covered by the Epson warranty.
- Get performance beyond laser — the workforce WF-7720, powered by Precision Core
- Print-shop quality — borderless prints upto 13" X 19". Operating Systems - Windows 10 (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 8/8.1 (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Server 2003 (SP2) – Windows Server 20167, Mac OS X 10.6.8 – macOS 10.12.x8
- Economical — uses upto 80 percent less power vs. Color laser printers (4)
- High-volume printing — 500-sheet capacity, dual trays, Plus a rear feed for specialty paper; 125-sheet output tray
I have to admit this is one of my favorite models. It prints pretty fast and generates impressive, high-quality results. Also, this model uses PrecisionCore technology, allowing it to deliver accurate and vibrant prints.
The printer is also equipped with a 35-page auto document feeder, allowing you to print several documents without the hassle of handling multiple documents. I enjoy this feature since I had to drink my coffee while the Epson WorkForce printed my high-quality copies.
The best thing is that the printer is also cost-effective, using up to 80% less power compared to other printers. The Epson WorkForce is also capable of high-volume printing, with a 500-sheet capacity. This model also has a software package that allows you to perform various tasks that you can control on buttons or its touch screen.
What I Like About It
- Prints 19-inch pages
- Multipage scanning and copying possible
- Few connectivity options
- Great design
- Huge paper tray
What I Dislike About It
- Loud while printing
- Epson cartridges only
Why Should You Buy It?
It is a superb all-purpose printer with a great design and a low cost.
Xerox VersaLink C400/DN Color Laser Printer: Best For Laser Printing
- Freedom, and app-based functionality, The VersaLink C400 Color Printer gives you the freedom to work where and how you want, and access to additional options through the Xerox App Gallery
- Easy, efficient and entirely new, Speed through tasks by saving common settings as presets for simple, single-touch job setup, With Simple ID, individual users and groups enter a user ID and password once, and then enjoy fast, secure, easy access to task-specific presets and commonly used apps on a personalized home screen
- Security, When it comes to safeguarding critical documents and data, VersaLink delivers deliver a spectrum of stringent security features, including Secure Print and card authentication to control access
- Total Peace of Mind, Outstanding Xerox Service and Support, with a standard one-year warranty
With a price tag of around $750, the Xerox VersaLink C400/DN Color Laser Printer is aimed at organizations that require reliability and high-quality output but don’t need all the bells and whistles of more expensive business devices.
From what I got during the testing, I believe that small businesses that need to print up to 1,500 pages per month won’t be disappointed by the VersaLink C400/DN’s performance. As with most high-quality laser printers, Xerox’s VersaLink C400/DN offers exceptional print quality thanks to its 5-color toner set, which boasts cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and black light cyan (ink density: 200-2,200 dpi), and is compatible with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10.
The VersaLink C400/DN does lack a built-in duplexer, which is standard on most MFPs, so you’ll have to invest in a separate unit if you want to print on both sides of a page. However, I like that the printer has a 5-inch touchscreen and duplexing software, which is rare on budget-priced office printers. Better yet, the printer comes with a 1-year warranty, and Xerox offers phone, email, and live chat support.
What I Like About It
- Remarkable touchscreen
- Mobile App
- Great customer support
- Fast printing
- Good value for money
What I Dislike About It
- Big for home offices
- Complicated setup process
Why Should You Buy It?
Xerox VersaLink C400/DN is a low-cost printer wish will do an excellent job for you if you have a spacious office.
Canon Pixma IX6820: Best Overall
- OS compatibility: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 , Windows 7 SP1, Windows Vista SP1, Vista SP2, Windows XP SP3 32 bit13; Mac compatibility: Mac OS X v10.6.8 v10.913
- Utilizes Air Print, Google Cloud Print and Pixma Printing Solutions (PPS)
- Fine print head technology (Full photolithography inkjet nozzle engineering)
- High performance 5 individual ink tank system. Auto sheet feeder 150 sheets
- 9600 x 2400 dots per inch maximum print resolution; Print resolution (up to): Black: 600 x 600 dots per inch, number of nozzles: Color: 4,096, black: 1,024, total: 5,120
The Canon Pixma iX6820 is an excellent all-around printer. It’s compact, quiet, and speedy, and it produces high-quality photos that are slightly more vivid and vibrant than other printers in its class.
It’s easy to set up and comes with a host of accessible features, including wireless connectivity, AirPrint and Google Cloud Print support, and a good selection of software, including PictBridge and Canon’s popular Creative Park Premium subscription service.
During my testing, I noticed no sign of print wrinkles or poor ink, and the color, text, and images were all vivid and fluid. This model also has a second-black cartridge which allows better colors on the prints and holds a reserve on the black ink.
I really liked the quality of this printer, so I printed dozen of black-and-white documents and color photos. In both cases, the print was consistent in quality, and there was no uneven ink problem.
What I Like About It
- Remarkable printing quality
- Low ink cost
- Wireless access with mobile app
- Modern design
- Small and light
What I Dislike About It
- No duplex print
- 150-sheet capacity tray
Why Should You Buy It?
Canon Pixma iX6820 is inexpensive and requires low-cost running while prints with extraordinary quality and can be used for many purposes.
What To Consider When Deciding: Buyer’s Guide
Printer Features
If you’re in a rush, opt for an inkjet printer. However, a laser printer will be a better choice if you plan on staying in touch with your printer.
Paper Size
If you’re printing on cardstock, you’ll need to look for an A4 or A3 model.
Paper Weight
If you’re printing on cardstock, you’ll want to look for a machine that can handle 300gsm or 350gsm paper.
Speed
The type of paper you use will also dictate the speed at which your cardstock printer works. If you plan on printing a considerable amount of sheets, the speed of your printer may be crucial.
Ink Cartridge
The ink cartridge is basically what feeds ink to the printer and determines the amount of ink that it can print – so it can be a deal breaker.
FAQs
Can Any Printer Print On Cardstock?
No. Only color inkjets can print on cardstock, and only those that print in monochrome, such as Canon’s PIXMA iP4200, can print on photo paper.
Which Type Of Printer Is Best Suited For Printing Cards And Invitations?
If you’re printing invitations and cards, one of the best printers on the market is the Epson Expression Premium XP-6000. This all-in-one printer features advanced double-sided, postcard, and borderless photo printing. This printer’s ease of use in the setup is also outstanding, and it has an automatic document feeder that allows the user to scan multiple pages at once.
Can I Put Cardstock In My HP Printer?
Most HP printers allow using cardstock paper while printing. However, before doing so, ensure that your model supports cardstock and does not overload the tray.
Final Words
After a lot of searching and experimentation, I think I’ve narrowed down the list of the best printers for cardstock. Keep in mind that high-quality card stock doesn’t necessarily mean it will print in the best quality – that’s a much more subjective decision. I hope my list helped you if you are thinking of becoming a photographer, starting a small business, or just need a printer for your home office. Remember to research before purchasing to find the model that will be the best option for your needs. Happy printing!