Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
If you need to print blueprints, architectural drawings, sewing patterns, or oversized spreadsheets, you already know that most home printers stop at letter size. An 11 x 17 printer (often called a tabloid or ledger printer) handles that second page-folder fold without forcing you to tile-print or shrink your work. The catch is that the wrong one can drain your wallet on ink or jam the moment you feed heavy cardstock.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind KitchPrep. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
If you need to print blueprints, spreadsheets, or posters on paper up to 11 by 17 inches, these eight wide-format printers are the ones worth considering right now. Each is chosen for a specific reason — speed, ink costs, or real owner experiences — so you can match one to your workspace.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best 11 X 17 Printer
Not every wide-format printer is the same under the hood. A machine that prints gorgeous photos may cost you a fortune per page, while a laser-like inkjet built for speed may struggle with rich colors. Here are the three specs that separate a smart buy from a regret.
Ink System and Per-Page Cost
The single biggest expense over a printer’s life is the ink. Cartridge-based models (like the Canon Pixma iX6820) have a low upfront cost but demand frequent replacements. Tank or INKvestment systems (like the Brother MFC-J5845DW or Epson EcoTank) hold far more ink and drive the cost per page down dramatically — sometimes to pennies per print. If you print more than a few 11×17 pages per week, one of these high-yield systems will save you real money within the first year.
Print Speed and Auto-Duplex
Speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm). A model running at 14 ppm can feel slow when you need 50 blueprints before lunch, while a 22 ppm or 31 ppm machine finishes the job in half the time. Auto-duplex (two-sided printing) is a must if you produce multi-page reports — turning each sheet over by hand on a duplex-free model gets old fast. Most office-oriented picks include it, but always confirm.
Paper Handling and Media Flexibility
An 11×17 printer is only as useful as its paper path. Look at the input tray capacity (250 sheets is the baseline for a home office; 500 sheets keeps a busy team running). A rear specialty-feed slot helps when you use cardstock, photo paper, or labels. And if you scan or copy large documents, an automatic document feeder (ADF) that can handle 11×17 originals saves you from standing at the scanner glass.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | B&W PPM | Auto Duplex | Input Capacity | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother MFC-J5845DW★ Best Overall | Balanced office all-in-one | 22 | Yes | 250 sheets | Amazon |
| Canon Pixma iX6820Budget Champion | Budget photo & graphic prints | 14.5 | No | 150 sheets | Amazon |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9720Top Performer | Fast color office jobs | 22 | Yes (letter/A4) | 250 sheets | Amazon |
| Brother MFC-J6560DW | Speed-focused small business | 31 | Yes | 250 sheets | Amazon |
| Epson WF-7840 | High-volume tabloid prints | 25 | Yes | 500 sheets | Amazon |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9730 | Dual-tray office workgroup | 22 | Yes | 500 sheets (2×250) | Amazon |
| Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21 | Posters & roll-media prints | 20 | No | Roll + cut sheet | Amazon |
| Epson EcoTank ET-16650 | Lowest long-term ink cost | 25 | Yes | 500 sheets | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Brother MFC-J5845DW INKvestment All-in-One
Our pick — over 4★ from 550+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The all-around workhorse that delivers a year’s worth of ink in the box and runs without complaining.
Print quality is the most-discussed strength here — over 100 owners single it out, and the consensus is that text and graphics come out crisp and professional. The 22 ppm black speed keeps up with a busy home office, and the auto-duplex (two-sided) printing handles 11×17 reports without you flipping a single page. Buyers report that the included cartridges lasted 28 months of moderate use — a dramatic leap compared to the weeks-long ink life of some competitors.
The trade-off is physical size; this unit is large enough that you will want to measure your desk space beforehand. A few owners also note that photo quality is merely average, with blacks that wash out on glossy paper, so if your primary output is gallery-quality images, look elsewhere. But for everyday business documents, spreadsheets, and the occasional 11×17 flyer, the consensus is clear: it is a tank that keeps running.
The 3.7-inch color touchscreen makes navigation simple, and the built-in Ethernet and Wi-Fi give you flexible placement away from your PC. With 573 ratings and a strong 4.3-star average, this is the crowd favorite for a reason.
What wins owners over
- Ink economy is the star — one set of cartridges can last well over a year of regular printing
- Fast 22 ppm black speed keeps multi-page jobs moving quickly
- Automatic two-sided printing works reliably on 11×17 paper
Realities to know
- Physical footprint is large; measure your space before buying
- Photo and glossy print quality is average — not for dedicated photo work
Best suited for: The home office or small team that needs a reliable all-in-one for text-heavy 11×17 work and wants to minimize ink trips.
Think twice if: you print high-resolution photos or art prints — the image quality on glossy media falls short of Canon or Epson photo models.
2. Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless Business Printer
The entry-level ticket to 13×19 prints that punches above its weight on photo quality.
This Canon delivers the highest print resolution in this round — 9600 x 2400 dpi — which means text looks razor-sharp and photo prints come remarkably close to lab quality. The five individual ink tanks let you replace only the color that runs out, rather than tossing a whole cartridge. At 14.5 ppm black, it is noticeably slower than the Brother 22 ppm, and buyers confirm that a full-color 25-page batch takes about 15 minutes.
The catch is that this is a print-only machine — no scanner, no copier, no fax. It also lacks auto-duplex, so two-sided 11×17 documents require manual flipping. The 150-sheet input tray is modest, and several owners note that the paper feed can be finicky. Still, for a pure output device that handles up to 13×19 media, the price is tough to beat. WiFi setup can be tricky, but the print quality once connected justifies the effort for many.
Weighing under 18 pounds, it is one of the lighter tabloid printers and will fit on a standard desk shelf. With over 4,200 ratings and a 4.1-star average, it is the most-reviewed model here by a wide margin.
Where it shines
- Exceptional 9600 x 2400 dpi resolution delivers crisp text and near-lab photo quality
- Five individual ink tanks let you replace only the empty color
- Lightweight build (under 18 lb) is easy to move and place
Where it cuts corners
- Print-only machine — no scanning, copying, or faxing at all
- No auto-duplex; every two-sided job is a manual flip
- WiFi setup has a reputation for being temperamental
Reach for this if: you primarily print photos, posters, or graphics on 11×17 or larger media and want the best image quality for the least upfront cost.
Look elsewhere if: you need an all-in-one with scanning and copying, or you print heavy-volume text documents where speed matters more than resolution.
3. HP OfficeJet Pro 9720 Wide-Format All-in-One
A color-accurate office workhorse that matches your screen with a wider-than-sRGB color space.
Colors on your screen match what comes out of the HP OfficeJet Pro 9720 better than any other printer here, because it is the only one that supports the P3 color gamut (a wider range of blues, greens, and reds). That matters for architects and designers checking floorplans or mood boards. It prints at 22 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 18 ppm in color — as fast as the Brother 5845 — and its 250-sheet tray takes 11×17 paper without needing a separate adapter. The auto document feeder (ADF) scans or copies multi-page tabloid-size documents in one pass.
A 2.7-inch touchscreen and the HP Smart app simplify walk-up tasks, and the dual-band Wi-Fi is praised for staying connected. The notable limitation is that auto-duplex does not support legal-size paper — you will need to hand-feed those sheets manually. The 3.9-star average across 25 ratings shows early owners are mostly satisfied, with particular praise for the fast setup and crisp output. At 17.5 inches deep and 22.9 inches wide, it demands a solid footprint but fits most desks.
The included Instant Ink trial covers three months of automatic refills, after which a monthly fee kicks in. Owners mention that the subscription model can run cheaper than retail cartridges for moderate-volume users.
Why it stands out
- P3 color gamut delivers screen-accurate color reproduction for design work
- Fast 22 ppm black / 18 ppm color handles office pace with ease
- Easy QR-based setup and reliable dual-band Wi-Fi
The fine print
- Auto-duplex does not work on legal-size paper — only letter and A4
- A few customers note occasional Wi-Fi disconnects
The right pick for: design studios and offices where color accuracy on 11×17 prints matters and where team members print from multiple devices.
Not ideal if: you frequently print legal-size documents with two-sided auto-duplex — that feature is restricted to smaller paper sizes.
4. Brother INKvestment MFC-J6560DW
The fastest inkjet in the lineup, cranking out 31 black pages per minute without sacrificing reliability.
At 31 ppm black and 30 ppm color, the MFC-J6560DW nearly doubles the speed of many competitors — a real advantage when you are printing sets of architectural drawings or multi-page proposals before a deadline. Brother’s MAXIDRIVE Technology keeps the paper moving smoothly, and the auto-duplex works on 11×17 sheets so you save paper on two-sided jobs. The 2.7-inch color touchscreen provides access to cloud apps like Google Drive and Dropbox, letting you print directly from cloud storage without a computer.
The 250-sheet tray and 50-page ADF work fine for a small team, but the real value is the INKvestment tank system (a high-capacity ink setup). It ships with a black cartridge rated for 1,800 pages and color cartridges rated for 750 each, so you print a lot before buying more. Owners say text and line art come out crisp and fast. A few reviewers point out the printer is large — 22.7 inches wide and 18.8 inches deep — so measure your desk first. Across 38 early reviews it averages 4.0 stars, suggesting solid early performance. The trade-off: replacement ink, while high-yield, is not cheap.
Built-in Wi-Fi Direct lets mobile devices print without a network, and the Brother Mobile Connect app gives you full control from your phone.
Speed highlights
- Blazing 31 ppm black / 30 ppm color is the fastest in this guide
- Auto-duplex works on up to 11×17 paper
- Large-yield starter cartridges: 1,800-page black, 750-page each color
Speed trade-offs
- Bulky footprint requires dedicated desk space
- Replacement ink cartridges are pricey
Best suited for: high-volume small offices and creative pros who print frequent 11×17 jobs and value speed over every other spec.
Think twice if: your workspace is tight or your budget for ongoing ink is constrained — the speed premium comes with higher per-cartridge costs.
5. Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840
A heavy-duty machine built to swallow 500 sheets and keep printing past 13 inches wide.
With two 250-sheet front trays and a rear specialty feed, the WF-7840 holds twice the paper of most rivals — you can load letter in one tray and 11×17 in the other and never swap paper again. It prints up to 13 x 19 inches, giving you room for oversized posters and full-bleed architectural sheets. Print speed hits 25 ppm black and 12 ppm color, and the PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology means the printhead does not generate heat, which keeps energy use low and extends the machine’s life.
Over 876 owners give it a 3.9-star average, with the large-format capability getting the most praise. The DURABrite Ultra ink is pigment-based, so color documents resist smudging and water damage immediately. The firm downside is that many shoppers say the firmware aggressively pushes updates and can block third-party ink. Others note the printer is bulky — 22 inches deep — and the menus on the 4.3-inch screen can feel buried. If you are willing to ignore firmware prompts and stick with Epson cartridges, this is a genuinely high-capacity workhorse.
The auto-duplex scans both sides of an 11×17 document in one pass, and the included starter cartridges last longer than most expectations.
Capacity wins
- 500-sheet capacity across two trays keeps reprints flowing
- Prints up to 13×19 for oversized posters and data sheets
- Pigment-based DURABrite Ultra ink resists smudging
Epson quirks
- Firmware updates are aggressive; third-party ink is often blocked
- Heavy and large — at 22 inches deep, it needs a sturdy table
Ideal for: offices and workshops that plow through 11×17 and 13×19 paper daily and need a printer that can digest large volumes without constant tray refills.
skip it if: you want to use generic or refilled cartridges — Epson’s firmware actively discourages third-party ink.
6. HP OfficeJet Pro 9730 Wide-Format All-in-One
The office-centered upgrade that gives you two paper trays and a single-pass duplex scanner for high-speed archiving.
The HP 9730 takes the same 22 ppm / 18 ppm engine as the 9720 and adds a second 250-sheet tray, bringing total paper capacity to 500 sheets. That means you can load 11×17 in tray 2 and letter in tray 1, or keep a separate stock of photo paper ready. The single-pass duplex scanner (ADF) grabs both sides of a document in one sweep — ideal for digitizing multi-page tabloid contracts or reports without flipping each sheet.
The 4.3-inch touchscreen is larger and more responsive than the 9720’s 2.7-inch panel, and the HP Smart app provides a clean mobile interface. The P3 wide color gamut carries over from the 9720, so your screen-color matching remains strong. Buyers highlight print quality and the ability to handle 11×17 paper easily as the top reasons they chose this model. The weak link appears to be software reliability; a few buyers report needing to reinstall drivers or reconnect the printer between jobs, and the setup process via the HP Smart app can sometimes stall. At 22.9 inches wide and 18.4 inches tall, it is one of the larger chassis in this list.
A 3-month Instant Ink trial is included, after which the subscription model offers the same savings for moderate-volume users.
Office-friendly features
- Two 250-sheet trays mean you rarely pause to reload paper
- Single-pass duplex scanner digitizes both sides of 11×17 in one go
- P3 color gamut delivers accurate, professional color output
Software caveats
- Some owners need to reconnect or reinstall software periodically
- Large footprint — does not fit on a shallow desk shelf
Best for: offices with moderate-to-high print volume that also need fast double-sided scanning of large-format documents.
Not ideal if: you prefer to avoid an app-driven setup process and want a printer that works flawlessly with a single driver install.
7. Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21
A dedicated plotter that jumps from 11×17 to 24-inch-wide rolls for true poster-sized printing.
If you need to print posters or banners as well as 11×17 sheets, the Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21 is the specialist here. It is not an all-in-one; it is a pure large-format printer that handles both cut sheets and roll media up to 24 inches wide. That means you print a single 11×17 or a continuous 24-inch-wide poster from the same machine. It ships with 280 ml of ink (70 ml per color) — the most generous starter set in its class, according to Canon — so you can make many prints before buying more.
The 4-color pigment ink system (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) delivers crisp text and vivid poster colors. Owners confirm that glossy poster prints look excellent and color matching is screen-accurate. The downsides are speed (20 ppm black, 15 ppm color is moderate) and size — at 44 inches wide and 71 pounds, this is a floor-standing machine, not a desktop accessory. A few owners mention software quirks with US architectural paper sizes and occasional English-language errors in the interface. The 4.1-star average across 96 ratings reflects that for its intended role, it delivers strong value, but it is not a general-purpose office printer. Setup is straightforward, with an animated guide on the tiltable touchscreen.
Wired (USB/Ethernet) and wireless connectivity are included, and the top/front interior access makes refilling ink and swapping rolls simple.
What it does uniquely
- Prints on roll media up to 24 inches wide, plus standard cut sheets
- Ships with 280 ml of ink (70 ml per color) — the most generous starter supply
- Excellent glossy poster quality and color matching
The plotter trade-offs
- Very large: 44 inches wide and 71 pounds, needs dedicated floor space
- Software localization is rough for US architectural standard paper sizes
Reach for this if: you regularly print posters, banners, or architectural drawings on roll media and need professional-grade output up to 24 inches wide.
Not the right pick if: you want a compact all-in-one for everyday office tasks — this is a specialty production machine.
8. Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16650 Supertank All-in-One
The supertank that slashes per-page ink costs to pennies while printing up to 13×19 in color.
The ET-16650 uses a refillable ink-tank system — the bottles that come in the box contain enough ink for up to 7,500 black pages and 6,000 color pages. That puts per-page cost at roughly 2 cents per color ISO page, versus 14 cents with cartridges, according to Epson. For anyone who prints heavy 11×17 volumes, this is the most cost-effective machine over time. Print speed is a solid 25 ppm for both black and color, and the auto-duplex handles tabloid sheets cleanly.
The 500-sheet paper capacity (two front trays plus a rear feed) keeps the workflow moving, and the 4.3-inch touchscreen makes navigation straightforward. Owners praise the crisp, smudge-resistant output from the DURABrite pigment inks, and the printer supports borderless 11×17 photo prints. The reliability picture is mixed, however — some users report printhead failures after about a year, and Epson’s warranty policy has frustrated a few owners who were denied coverage. The machine is also massive: 23.3 inches wide, 22 inches deep, and over 17 inches tall, so it demands a substantial table. The 3.8-star average across 479 ratings reflects the split between those who love the low ink cost and those who hit durability issues.
Two years of ink (via rebate promo) can be claimed on purchases made through March 2025, adding even more value for early adopters.
Cost-saving advantage
- Ink bottles yield up to 7,500 black / 6,000 color pages — lowest cost per print
- Fast 25 ppm speed for both black and color documents
- Borderless 11×17 printing with smudge-resistant pigment ink
Reliability watchpoints
- A subset of owners experience printhead failure within the first year
- Very large and heavy footprint — measure your workspace carefully
Ideal for: high-volume offices and studios where total cost of ownership over two years is the top priority and the desk space exists for a large machine.
Consider alternatives if: you value a smooth warranty experience and proven reliability more than the lowest per-page ink cost.
Understanding the Specs
Pages Per Minute (PPM)
This tells you how fast the printer churns out black-and-white pages. A model at 14 ppm is fine for occasional use; a 22–31 ppm machine is better suited for a busy office or small team printing multi-page sets. Color PPM is usually slower — check both numbers so you are not disappointed when that 30-page color proposal takes twice as long as you expected.
Auto-Duplex and ADF
Auto-duplex means the printer automatically flips the paper to print on both sides — essential for saving paper on 11×17 reports. The Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) lets you load a stack of originals for scanning or copying without standing at the glass. A single-pass ADF scans both sides in one pass; a duplex ADF flips the page and does a second pass, which is slower.
FAQ
What size paper does an 11 x 17 printer actually support?
Can all 11 x 17 printers auto-duplex on tabloid paper?
How much ink does an 11 x 17 printer use per page?
Is a wireless 11 x 17 printer reliable for a busy office?
What is the difference between an INKvestment tank and a standard cartridge?
Can I print photos on an 11 x 17 office printer?
Does an 11 x 17 printer need a special paper tray?
How long do these printers typically last under daily use?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
Across the board, the best 11 x 17 printer is the Brother MFC-J5845DW because it balances speed, ink economy, and feature depth in a single well-reviewed package. If your priority is the lowest possible ink cost and you do not mind the larger size, the Epson EcoTank ET-16650 delivers a per-page cost that nothing else here touches. And for pure print-only budget value with excellent photo quality, the Canon Pixma iX6820 is the one to reach for.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of July 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, KitchPrep earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.
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