The 11 x 17 printers are gaining a lot of popularity lately, especially among architects. Basically, these are the printers that are able to print 11 x 17 inches sized paper sheets. The common name for these printers is the Tabloid printer.
The 11 x 17 is the biggest size of a tabloid printer and it is able to print all kinds of maps, drawings, plans and proposals for clients and representations. That’s why having the best 11 x 17 printer for architects is a must.
Why an 11 x 17 printer for architects?
Since most of the drawings, plans and maps are designed on and printed in a large format like A3 or 11 x 17, having an 11 x 17 printer is basically a necessity for professional architects, whether they are new or experienced. It is a piece of tech without which the office of an Architect will be considered incomplete.
But in order to buy the best tabloid/11 x 17 printer, you need to have some basic knowledge of what to look for in such a printer before buying.
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Buying Guide for 11 X 17 Printer for Engineers, Architects – 2024
1. Print quality:
The main thing to look out for in an 11 x 17 printer for print quality is the DPI (Dots Per Inch). The higher this number is, the better is the quality of the print. It is an indication of how accurate and precise your printer is when it comes to resolution. In most cases, any printer with a DPI of more than 600 x 600 DPI is able to print a page with a clear and good resolution.
2. Printing speed:
The printing speed might not be a problem for some. But for architects, as the printer will be used in an office setup professionally, having quick prints can save up a lot of time. Plus it really sucks to sit patiently and wait for your printer to print all the pages. You don’t want your productivity to be affected. The printing speed is measured in PPM (Pages per Minute). The higher this number is, the better is the printing speed.
3. Paper capacity:
Usually, the paper capacity in an 11 x 17 size printer will be more than sufficient. But some of the brands compromise on paper trays due to the larger size and you have to constantly refill the sheets every now and then. So to maintain your productivity, make sure to get a tabloid printer with a decent paper tray capacity.
Best 11 x 17 Printer for Architects – Our Top Picks
It can be a hefty work with all the different options available for 11 x 17 printers in the market to make a choice, so we did the hard part for you and compiled a list of the best 11 x 17 printer for architects after reviewing each of the products thoroughly.
No. | Products | Rating | Price |
1 | Epson Expression XP-15000 Editor's Choice | ||
2 | Canon Pixma iX6820 | ||
3 | Epson WorkForce WF-7710 |
Editor’s choice:
For a speedy instant decision, by comparing all of the tabloid printers in our list and testing them in every domain, we have come to a conclusion and the editor’s top pick for the best 11 x 17 printer for architects is the Epson Expression XP-15000 printer. It stands out in almost every aspect optimal for any kind of office work.
1. Epson Expression XP-15000 11×17 printer
On the first place on our list of best 11×17 printers for architects comes the Epson Expression XP-15000 Tabloid printer. This specific printer has survived the trial and error era of its usage and is now widely considered as one of the most reliable wide format printers in the market. Talking about its features, it has two trays, a front one for 200 and a rear one for 50 sheets, so you don’t have to worry about refilling the paper every now and then in the tray. Also, the plus point of having this printer is that it can easily accommodate a footprint of upto 13×19 paper size.
The printing resolution on this printer is remarkable; a staggering 5760 x 1440 DPI. So you can expect your prints of your maps and drawings to be extra clear and sharp. It is a very versatile printer and enables you to print on various types of papers including plain, glossy and matte sheets. In addition to the standard conventional color gamut of magnetta, yellow, black and cyan, this printer also handles gray and red inks. So the ending result of the print will be much more vibrant and color accurate.
2. Canon Pixma iX6820 – best budget 11×17 printer for architects
The Canon Pixma iX6820 is the successor of the legendary Pixma iX6520. And this specific model might be the best budget 11×17 printer for architects. This one also holds the printing capability on a paper of upto 13×19 inches of size. And likewise our previous mention, this printer also offers an extra color cartridge along with the 4 standard ones you get, so you can expect some pretty color accurate photos and color prints of your drawings and maps while staying under a pocket-friendly price.
Not only is it a cheaper printer to buy, but it is also very economical in the long run. With the option of wireless connectivity and canon support for AirPrint, you can easily make your prints from any of your devices wirelessly without having to set up a driver every time.
3. Epson WorkForce WF-7710 – all in one 11×17 printer for engineers
Finally, last but not least on our list for best 11×17 printers for architects engineers is another printer by Epson. The best part about this specific printer is its versatility. It is an all-in-one printer that can print, scan, fax and copy all the same time. And the plus point of that is that it is also very affordable for an all-in-one printer. This printer can increase the productivity of an architect’s office set up by multiple folds with all of its features. The scanner in this printer can scan both sides at the same time. It is also fairly compact in size and also aesthetically pleasing to look at.
Regarding connectivity, this printer beats them all. Along with over the wifi connectivity options, you also get USB, Wifi Direct as well as ethernet connectivity options. If you are looking for an AIO 11×17 printer for architects, this is the best choice for you.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you in choosing the best 11 x 17 printer for architects. If you have any further queries, you can ask in the comments below.