Not every printer is designed to work with cardstock paper. Push in a thick piece of cardstock, and you are likely to experience a paper jam straight away.
That is why if you are planning on printing cards, whether for personal use or professional, you need a printer that is equipped enough to handle this kind of work. The good news is that you don’t have to stress yourself about such printers: this is where we come in.
We have done expert research on various printers suitable for cardstock. We checked out the manufacturer’s websites for details of the printers. We also tested some of them out to see if they provide the quality and experience they claim. Our research also involved reading reviews submitted by past buyers.
Therefore, we present to you a solid review of the best printer for cardstock. We are confident it promises a great experience. Read on to know more!
Best Printer for Cardstock
The Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless Business Printer is a versatile printer that will meet most, if not all, of your printing needs – both for home and business use.
It not only features a sleek design with a beautiful aesthetic but is also properly fitted with the kinds of features you would love to see in any high-quality printer.
To begin with, the printer comes with the ability to output nearly everything. This ranges from small sizes, such as 4” x 6” mailers, to big spreadsheets of up to 13” x 19”.
Whether you want small printing tasks for personal use, or you want to print big presentation charts, the Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless Business Printer has got you covered on all fronts.
The printer features a 9600×2400 maximum color dpi: this is your ticket to exceptional printing details. With a total of five inbuilt ink tanks, it gives you the convenience of working with amazing color quality, as well as the versatility to replace the colors as you please. If you have worked with other printers before, then you understand how great a convenience this is.
Another feature you will fall in love with is the My Image Garden software. This software contains all your favorite printing features, including Full HD Movie Print and very Special Filters. It is an application that will help you get the very best results out of every print, while also helping you stay organized.
Additionally, it gives access to a variety of creative templates with varying patterns and color combinations that will inspire you as you work on your photo projects.
The built-in wireless feature is also worth mentioning since you won’t have to bother with cable connectivity every time you want to print. You can now print wirelessly in any room within your house using a Wi-Fi-enabled device. Whether it is your phone or your laptop, all you need is wireless connectivity to print.
If you prefer to use USB, however, the printer has a LAN interface as well as a Hi-Speed USB port that you can easily use with your PC for data transfers.
The printer also comes with enviable compatibility.
Pros
- Superior resolution
- Easy to use with super-intuitive features
- Built-in Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity
- A quiet mode operations
- Prints documents fast
- Prints borderless
Cons
- Doesn’t scan or copy
- Uses expensive ink
If you are looking for convenience, versatility, and quality in your cardstock printing appliance, then this is one of the best options you will find in the market today.
It is a compact, color inkjet printer that comes with all the office functionalities you may desire to see in a top-notch product. Other than printing, you can use it for copying, scanning, and even faxing.
With this, you don’t have to anticipate any connection issues. This is due to the versatile connection options that it comes with. As far as the connection goes, it has wireless capabilities. This is greatly convenient, especially if you want to print from mobile devices such as your smartphone and tablet. It also comes with a USB interface that you can use to connect locally to a computer.
One feature that makes this printer unique from the majority in this list is its intuitive cloud connectivity.
For example, if you had your documents or photos stored in cloud services such as OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive, you don’t have to download the documents locally for you to print them. With this printer, you can print them directly from the cloud.
Its versatile paper handling capabilities are another feature worth admiring. It has an automatic document feeder, with the capacity to hold up to 100 sheets per tray. You can easily adjust this to match your preferences for both letter and legal-size papers.
This is a very compact printer that won’t demand a lot of space in your home or office but will gift you with a horde of versatile features regarding your printing needs.
Pros
- Comes with a one-sheet bypass tray
- Allows you to print from a mobile device
- You can scan and print directly from the cloud
- Compact in design
- Allows both wireless and USB connectivity
Cons
- Not ideal for printing large, borderless sheets
If you are looking for an all-in-one wireless printer for both your home and office printing needs, this is another great choice. With it, you have a wireless printer, a fax machine, a scanner, and a copier – all in one machine.
This is the kind of printer you need if you love the convenience of printing from the palm of your hands. This is because it is compatible with all mobile devices.
It also allows for cloud connectivity, where you get the added convenience of being able to scan documents directly from cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud among others.
The laser-sharp, lab-quality outputs of this printer are also worth mentioning. The quiet operations will ensure that you don’t withstand unnecessary printer noise when using it at home or in your office. The printer also offers the optional quiet mode feature to experience the least possible noise.
Its versatility is simply out of this world, and you can bet that you will be investing in a very decent choice when you buy this product.
Pros
- It allows for wireless printing
- Options such as a quiet mode for minimal noise
- Has a compact design
- Allows for cloud scanning of documents and photos
- Lab-quality outputs
Cons
- Doesn’t support automatic printing of double-sided sheets
Forget about all your printing worries by using this five-color wireless printer. It boasts superior photo quality and versatility that makes it ideal for use both at home and at the office.
With a 30-page auto document feeder and double-sided printing capabilities, the printer won’t just give you the quality you desire, but will also ensure that you print quickly and more efficiently!
Since the printer comes with both wireless and Ethernet capabilities, you can comfortably print directly from your smartphone or tablet. This is due to the inclusion of Wi-Fi Direct, which allows for network-free printing. But it still has an Ethernet port if you wanted to print directly from your desktop or laptop.
The features this printer offers are on a whole new level! It allows for the hassle-free printing of 4” x 6” photos in less than 12 seconds. Also, you can easily and conveniently scan photos and convert them into color books.
With the inclusion of the Creative Print App, the printer empowers you to directly print your social media photos from any social platform, such as Instagram or Facebook. The app also has features that will make it a breeze for you to create custom cards, and collages amongst other interesting applications.
It also comes with individual 5-color Claria inks that guarantee durable prints that won’t fade or smudge and is water-resistant.
The only caveat you should know about this printer is that it is designed to be used with Epson cartridges only. This means that you can’t use it with other third-party cartridges and inks. As such, many users find it to be very restrictive, even though it produces fairly good quality outputs.
Pros
- Very fast operations
- Allows for both wireless and Ethernet connectivity
- Durable prints
- Comes with the Creative Print app for printing social media photos
- Designed for productivity
Cons
- Designed to be used only with Epson cartridges
This is one of the top all-in-one wireless printers you will get from HP. It is an upgrade of the Pro 8710, and it comes with better features, taking your home or office printing to a whole new level.
This has a printing rate of 22 pages per minute, making it a versatile machine that will see you accomplish your printing tasks fast. This is further enhanced by a 35-page automatic document feeder, which will also promote proper organization in your office.
The printer also helps you do away with repetitive tasks that also increase efficiency and save time. This is because you can sync it to cloud services such as Google Drive and Quickbooks using Smart Task. This will make it easy for you to digitize and organize receipts and other office documents. It will also equip you with the ability to scan and print those documents directly from the cloud.
With the HP Smart App, you have all the power you need to print remotely with this printer. The app allows you to remotely access the printer and the scanner so that you can print, copy or scan whatever document you want without being physically present near the printer.
The app also allows you to monitor the ink levels so that you are facing an unexpected crisis right in the middle of printing.
The self-healing Wi-Fi will ensure that you get stable and reliable connectivity all the time. It will stay connected, and in case of any issues or disconnection, it will automatically undergo up to three stages of reconnection.
With the built-in security essentials, you get password protection, basic encryption, and document protection Wi-Fi security, so you don’t have to worry about any breaches that might compromise your sensitive data.
The Smart Task app feature will make it a breeze for you to scan and store documents to cloud services. This will also allow you to search and edit documents before printing them at a later date.
Pros
- Ability to print remotely
- Self-healing Wi-Fi
- Faster operations
- Sustainable design
Cons
- Relatively big in size
Buying Guide: What to Look for in a 4K Projector?
Here are some of the factors you should watch out for when you want to choose the best printer for cardstock:
1. Paper Thickness
This should go without saying, but your goal is to get a printer that can handle the typical thicknesses of cardstocks. These usually range between 135 – 200g/m2.
To get a better idea of what kind of thickness you should go for, think about what you will be printing most of the time. If you can ascertain the thickness that you will be working with, then you should be able to choose an appropriate printer. Ideally, you should choose one that can handle thickness that is slightly higher than what you will be working with.
2. Laser or Inkjet
You might have seen some people printing cardstock using laser printers. However, laser printers are not designed to be used with thick or cardstock papers. If you insist that you must use a laser printer, then you will have very few options to work with.
The laser printers you will find the most ideal for cardstock are the high-end models, but these may be very expensive. Also, they may not be ideal if you are not running a large printing business. To avoid hassles, you should aim for inkjet printers if cardstock printing is on your mind.
3. Printing Speed
This is another vital feature you have to look up before committing to buy a printer for cardstock. This is especially important if you anticipate printing large batches at the same time. Some printers can handle up to 30 pages per minute, while others can only handle lower volumes.
If you anticipate that you will be doing a lot of printing, then go for printers with high ppm. But if all you need is a printer for occasional use, then the low ppm printers will work just fine.
4. Image Resolution and Quality
The quality of the image is one of the top priorities for those looking to buy a printer and it ultimately boils down to the resolution of the printer. Target those that have high resolutions, and will lead to clear and sharp prints. Anything above 9600×2400 dots per inch print resolutions should work just fine for you.
5. Ink Configuration
This is simply the number of ink cartridges that the printer has. Most people will think that the larger the number of ink cartridges, the more expensive the product will be. But this is not necessarily true.
A printer with several cartridges – 5 or more – will be more pocket-friendly compared to those with fewer cartridges. With many cartridges, you will replace just one ink at a time. With them, you will find that you will run out of inkless quickly compared to using a printer that has only two cartridges.
6. Connectivity
Connectivity matters a lot when it comes to efficiency and convenience in printing. An ideal printer for cardstock should allow you more than one way to connect with your printing devices. In addition to the normal LAN connection, it should have USB and most importantly, wireless connectivity. These will greatly broaden the range of tasks you can accomplish with the printer, including printing directly from your mobile devices.
7. Size of Printer
Most modern printers feature compact designs, but you still have to think about the dimension of the printer you want to buy. You will find that some models are portable, but still bulky and might require a lot of space. As far as the size goes, just determine the amount of space you have, then use that to choose an appropriate size.
Some of the other factors you should consider include cloud connectivity, and software for organizing and printing photos. These are not absolutely necessary, but they will give you a great deal of convenience in using your printer.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
Which Printer type is Ideal for printing on Thick Paper?
Laser printers and inkjet printers can all print on thick paper, but inkjet printers are the most suited for this type of printing. Laser printers, that can deliver higher quality on thick papers and cardstock, tend to be very expensive and may not be suitable for non-commercial applications.
Can you Print Cardstock on Normal Printers?
Yes, it is possible to print cardstock using normal printers. All you have to do is ensure that the printer can handle paper with similar thickness to the cardstock you want to print.
Can you use Cardstock on an HP Printer?
HP printers are designed to handle a wide variety of media types, with cardstock being one of them. For best results, however, you will have to configure your printer appropriately to work with the cardstock.
The Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have an idea of what some of the best cardstock printers are. With the included buyer’s guide, you should now be aware of some of the factors you should consider when you shop for these printers.
Remember, the goal is to find a printer that will give you the highest quality prints. Depending on your needs, feel free to choose anyone from our reviews, or use our guide to find one that will serve your cardstock printing needs.