Best Printers for Cardstock ~February 2023 (Printer for Thick Paper)

Finding the best printers for cardstock can be a hassle. You will find the one you are looking for in less than 15 minutes read. Cardstock printing is a booming trend, and many crafters and artists are exploring it to expand their horizons. Cardstock is a specialized print paper that will help you make vivid art prints and other gorgeous, high-quality creations. Since it’s thicker and heavier than plain print media, you need to use a dedicated cardstock printer to ensure quality outcomes and avoid printer jams and ink smudges.

On spending hours, we have reviewed a few high-quality printers capable of handling thicker paper like cardstock. Through these printers, you can create a number of objects like business cards, greeting cards, jigsaws, photo albums, and a lot more. Not only are these the best printers for cardstock printing, but they are also perfect for everyday printing needs. Let’s have a look at our recommendations!

HP Officejet Pro 9015–Best Printers for Cardstock

The HP Officejet Pro 9015 is an all-in-one printer that supports thick and heavy 300GSM cardstock. It has a print resolution of 1200 x 4800 dpi for producing color-accurate, highly-detailed prints. The affordable printer with the ability to support thick print media is perfect for art and craft enthusiasts and DIYers.

Additionally, it has low operational costs and generates printouts swiftly. The printer has several connectivity options such as USB, Bluetooth, Cloud connectivity, etc. It is a reliable product with a one-year warranty by manufacturers. Regarding media compatibility, the HP Pro 9015 supports several print papers like glossy paper, photo paper, cardstock, matte brochure paper, and more.

The Pro 9015 is easy to use and makes cardstock printing effortless. The input tray has a large capacity that simplifies and expedites the printing process. The printer is perfect for cardstock printing and is also a good everyday printer with print, scan, copy, and fax functions. Also, 512MB memory can easily save hundreds of sheets of color images.

Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000–Epson Printer for 300gsm Paper

The XP-15000 is the best cardstock printer at an affordable price. It supports cardstock printing on large 13 x 19″ sheets. It allows users to be as creative as they want and take on any crafting and scrapbooking project. Also, it incredibly handles heavyweight paper (300gsm) with a specialty tray having a capacity of 50 sheets. It makes printing on cardstock easier and speedier.

With an optimized print resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi and six color ink system, you get fine details and crisp prints on cardstock paper. Since it supports various print sizes from 4 x 6′ to 13 x 19″, you can make several objects like business cards, wedding or birthday invitations, home décor items, etc.

The Epson XP-15000’s Claria HD technology and the ability to transfer high-resolution designs on different card stock types make it ideal for card printing and photos. It is a fine-grade printer perfect for professional artists, serious crafters, and photographers.

Read Also: Epson Sticker Printers

Canon Pixma Pro-200–Best Printer for 300gsm Card

The Canon Pixma Pro-200 is a dedicated photo printer. It is perfect for art and photography studios and sticker businesses. It has an eight-dye-based ink system that delivers exceptional photo prints with a smooth finish. That too, on different print papers. The Pro-200 printer has an intuitive design with a 3-inch color LCD and navigation buttons. Also, it offers several advanced connectivity options.

The Pro-200 is slightly costlier than other printers on the list, but it has a higher resolution than most printers at its price point. 4800 x 2400 dpi print resolution delivers professional art and photographic prints on 300gsm cardstock and other thick papers. Additionally, it supports a maximum print size of 13 x 19″, making room for enhanced creativity.

The rear input tray can accumulate up to 100 sheets of thick fine art media, making cardstock printing a breeze. The printer has a sturdy construction and delivers exceptional performance in every aspect. Its compact and space-saving design makes it suitable for home studios and small offices.

Epson Artisan 1430–Epson Printer for Cardstock

The Epson Artisan 1430 cardstock printer utilizes the MicroPiezo six-color ink system to deliver impressive details and high-definition, professional-quality prints worth hanging in an art gallery. It is a versatile printer that supports up to sixty different print papers. The rear input tray can hold thick and heavy print media like photo paper, fine art paper, cardstock, and more. You can also print on CDs and DVDs.

Epson’s advanced Claria ink system produces highly-detailed, sharp prints, and the ink absorbs quickly on any paper type. It ensures that there are no ink smears. Also, the printouts are fade-proof and water-resistant and last considerably longer. The wide-format printer is ideal for cardstock printing; it can produce borderless prints up to 13 inches wide.

If you want bright, clear, and accurate cardstock images, the Artisan 1430 is perfect for you. Also, it has individual color cartridges, so you can replace them with new ones whenever you run out of color. It is the best printer for printing large objects like flyers and brochures.

Brother MFC-J895DW–Brother Printer For Thick Paper

The high-quality cardstock printer from Brother comes at a reasonable price and flaunts many advanced features and functions of higher-priced printers. It is suitable for home and small business use, and its sought-after convenience features make it a perfect solution for your cardstock printing needs. The 2.7” color touchscreen display makes managing the device easier.

The Brother MFC-J895DW boosts multiple connectivity options like Ethernet and USB interfaces. It also has the advanced NFC mode. You can scan and transfer files with the touch of a button wirelessly. The printer has an input capacity of one hundred and fifty sheets. However, the rear feed tray can only hold one sheet at a time.

This machine is ideal for printing on thicker media for presentations, mailings, and business cards. The graphics are sharp, and you can select borderless printing also if you prefer. The Brother MFC-J895DW is also a decent routine printer as it has excellent scanning and document printing capabilities. The automatic document feeder allows the processing of several pages at a high pace.

Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300–Canon Cardstock Printer

The Canon image Prograf Pro-300 delivers high-quality pictures and art prints on thick paper. You can print photos and artwork in different sizes like A3+, super tabloid, wide-format 13 x 19in, and even banners as long as 39 inches. The pro-300 is super easy to use with a three-inch display and navigation buttons. You can easily select paper size and type and check ink levels.

The pro-300 is compatible with  Apple AirPrint, Canon Print, Easy-PhotoPrint Editor, and Mopria. You can print your files directly from your smartphones and tablets. Moreover, the printer comes with Canon’s Professional Print and Layout software. It has an intuitive interface and excellent editing tools to enhance your photographs or artwork.

The printer flaunts a print resolution of 4800 x 2400 dpi and utilizes Canon’s FINE print head technology to generate bright, vibrant, close-to-life images. Also, it delivers highly legible, crisp text so you can accurately print cards, flyers, and banners containing text.

HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 Inexpensive Cardstock Printer

The Pro 8035 is excellent at handling cardstock and other thicker and heavier papers. The high-quality, efficient laser printer has an input capacity of 225 sheets, and the output tray can hold sixty sheets. You can complete your cardstock printing projects smoothly and efficiently through this unit. 

The printer has impressive print speed. It delivers bright, vivid, high-resolution photo prints. Additionally, the printer has in-built security features like password protection to safeguard your data and images. You can also expedite the process and manage and organize your documents by syncing your device to Google Drive, QuickBooks, or HP’s Smart app.

The printer has self-healing WIFI technology that minimizes interruptions and stabilizes connection allowing for a better, faster printing process. Along with cardstock printing, it can also serve as a good everyday printer with scan, copy, and fax functions.

HP Color LaserJet Pro Multifunction M479fdw–Best Laser Printer for Cardstock

The Color LaserJet Pro is an efficient printer that delivers high-quality documents and professional-looking images. The M479fdw, like HP 8035, has embedded security features like instant threat notification to protect your data from breaches. It is super intuitive with a touch screen control panel through which you can easily and quickly access your most printed saved documents and images.

The Color LaserJet Pro deploys a convenient, environment-friendly, multifunctional toner cartridge. It also saves 18% of the energy and reduces paper wastage. The printer has a WIFI-direct connectivity feature to help you print documents and photos from your smartphones and tablets. 

The M479fdw has a decent print speed and a 250-sheet input capacity. Also, it offers two-sided scanning and a 50-sheet automatic document feeder to enhance productivity. The printer allows you to save time by automating the processes that take up a lot of your time and doing them with one click via the customizable touchscreen.

Epson WorkForce WF-100 Mobile Printer-Best Printer for Cardstock

The WF-100 is a compact, portable printer with output quality as good as regular desktop printers. This mobile printer is handy as you can carry it everywhere and print on the go. Even though it weighs only 1.6kgs, it has a robust construction of high-quality plastic.

The printer has a high print resolution of 5,760 x 1,440 dpi and delivers professional-quality color and black and white prints. It is a versatile printer that can produce large 13 x 19-inch prints on different specialized papers like cardstock, glossy photo paper, envelopes, and more.

Pigment-based inks ensure that the prints are fade-proof and long-lasting. Also, the printer has a user-friendly interface with a 1.4″ color LCD and several navigation buttons. Checking ink levels and print status and making print media adjustments are super convenient. The best thing about this printer is that students and card makers can fit it into a bag and get quality prints on thicker print media when traveling.

Epson SureColor P800–Best Printer for Cardstock Invitations

The Epson SureColor P800 delivers high-quality prints that last for years! It makes this printer suitable for professional crafters, photographers, and artists. It utilizes advanced imaging technology and Epson’s UltraChrome HD inks to generate high-definition, clear and vivid images.

The printer handles thicker and heavier papers like cardstock, fine-art paper, baryta-fiber, luster, photo-metallic paper, poster boards, and more perfectly. It can print up to 17 inches wide photos and documents. Also, the printer has numerous advanced connectivity features like Ethernet, USB, WIFI, WIFI direct, etc. The Epson P800 has excellent capacity for handling specialized paper. It also offers an optional roll adaptor and accepts 13″ to 17″ wide rolls.

The device is user-friendly with a 2.7-inch color touch screen interface. You can angle it for easy viewing while standing. The Epson P800 gives deeper and denser blacks than any other printer through its Resin Encapsulation Technology.

Buying Guide for Printers for Thick Paper

When buying a printer for cardstock or other fine art paper printing, considering a few key characteristics is crucial. We will share some key considerations to make your printer shopping easier.

Print Media Compatibility

The first and foremost concern while buying a printer for cardstock printing is to ensure that the printer is compatible with the print media you intend to use. You must also be aware of your printing needs to check whether or not the printer can handle your desired papers. When it comes to cardstock, there are several different finishes available. So, to avoid ink smudges and bleeds, you will have to verify that the printer you select supports your finish and texture type.

Input Capacity

Some printers for cardstock have a dedicated input tray for thicker and heavier print papers. For some printers, the rear feeds are automatic, while for others, you will have to put the sheets manually one after the other. It is not an essential feature but having a large capacity specialty feed makes the process quicker.

It helps save time and effort if your print volume is higher. So, if you want that added boost, you can look for this quality in your printer. Some of the models we have reviewed in the article, like XP-15000, Pro 9015, Pro 8035, and Pixma Pro 200, have excellent sheet handling capacity.

 Output Quality

Understandably, the printout quality is a significant consideration. Examining the print resolution and the print technology the printer utilizes is critical to ensure high-quality, professional prints. You can look up online customer reviews to check whether the printer you are leaning toward buying delivers legible, sharp text and vivid photo prints.

All the printers on our list have high print resolutions and outstanding print quality. Also, the quality of the inks the printer uses influences the results. For excellent results, you’re better off choosing a printer with highly absorbent inks that dry up quickly on cardstock.

Print Size

Another major factor to consider when buying a printer is the maximum paper size it supports. We always recommend our readers opt for a versatile printer that handles multiple print sizes. Such a machine can handle all your printing requirements, which is perfect if you don’t want to buy and set up different devices. Artisan 1430, Pro-200, XP-1500, and Pro-300 are compatible with various print sizes.

Connectivity Features

Connectivity features are significant. The number of connectivity options a device can offer adds to its worth. Having multiple connection choices like WIFI, USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet, etc., is a highly-regarded quality. Wireless printers facilitate users in printing their documents and photos swiftly through their smart devices.

It also speeds up the process. Near-field communication (NFC) is another valuable connection system. It connects printers with Smart devices for smooth printing and scanning when a WIFI connection is absent. The Brother MFC-J895DW on our list offers NFC connectivity.

Conclusion

Cardstock is the ideal print media for making invitation cards, presentations, restaurant menus, flyers, customized envelopes, gift tags, establishments, and numerous other things. If you’re an entrepreneur or artist – a cardstock printer is an imperative need for you. We have evaluated all the necessary attributes and features of a number of printers and selected the best cardstock printers in terms of versatility, media handling capability, print quality, and overall performance.

The printers on our list are not only capable of handling thick papers, but they also provide a comprehensive solution to your other printing needs. Our top three picks from the list are:

1. HP OfficeJet Pro 9015 (A reliable choice, providing exceptional performance with thick paper, durability, and ease of use.).
2. Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 (Prints on many different paper types in various sizes, supports duplex-printing that comes in handy when printing on cardstock and other thick print media)
3. HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 Inexpensive Cardstock Printer

FAQs

Q: Which Cardstock Printers is inexpensive?

A: HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 is an inexpensive cardstock printer.

Q: Which Epson printers can print on cardstock?

A: The Epson SureColor P800, Epson Artisan 1430 and Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 printers could be the best choice to print on cardstock.

Q: What is the weight limit for cardstock?

A: The weight limit is usually 70-80 lbs. However, the maximum weight limit may change depending on the printer model and it may go up to 110 -120 lbs.

Q: How do I print double-sided on cardstock?

A: You would need to purchase a duplexer if your printer does not have one. Then, you can enable the duplex printing option in your printer settings before printing.

Q: Can I use cardstock in my printer?

A: It depends on your printer model. Some printers are not able to print on the cardstock while others can.

Q: How do I feed cardstock into my printer?

A: Check your printer’s manual for specific instructions on how to feed cardstock into your printer model. Generally, you would need to load the cardstock into the paper tray.

Q: My printer is not printing correctly on cardstock. What should I do?

A: Check your printer settings to make sure that you have selected the correct paper type and weight. Also, make sure that your cardstock is not damaged or bent. If the problem persists, try printing a test page to see if the issue is with your printer or the cardstock itself.

Q: What are some good cardstock brands?

A: Some good cardstock brands include HP, Canon, Epson and Brother.

Q: How do I know what kind of cardstock to buy?

A: Check your printer’s manual to see what types of paper it can print on. Generally, you would want to purchase a cardstock that is at least 70-80 lbs. in weight.

Q: Where can I buy cardstock?

A: Cardstock can be purchased at most office supply stores or online.

Q: How do I store cardstock?

A: Cardstock should be stored in a cool, dry place. It should also be kept away from direct sunlight and heat sources.