Whether you're a fan of poster making, canvas art or scrapbooking, an A3 printer is a great investment for crafters. Rather than attempting to make do with the more commonly found A4 printers (we've all attempted to stick paper together for certain art tasks), an A3 printer is an easy way to achieve that professional finish for your larger scale printing needs.
To help you find the perfect A3 printer for your craft room, we've tested two top models and compiled a list of other highly recommended options. Along with detailed specs, we’ve included a variety of brands like HP, Canon, and Epson, offering options across different price points. Whether you're looking for premium quality or something more budget-friendly, our roundup has you covered.
Of course, you can still use your A3 printer for your A5 and A4 projects, such as invitation-making and other papercraft projects, and you'll even find models that offer letter, legal and square printing options. But it's worth thinking about any additional features you may require, including scanning and photo printing functions. Jump to our handy buyer's guide for more on what to look for when buying your A3 printer.
So check out the best A3 printers below, and take your papercraft projects and prints to a whole new level!
Don't forget to check out our popular roundup of the best printers for card making too!
The best A3 printers at a glance
- Best A3 printer for photos: Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 A3 Photo Printer
- Best A3 printer for craft features: Canon TS9550 Multifunction Printer
Best A3 printers
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300
Best A3 printer for photos
Key features
- Dimensions: 639 x 379 x 200 mm
- Weight: 14.4 kg
- Connectivity: WiFi, USB, Ethernet
- Paper sizes: A3, A4, A5, B5, LTR, LGL, 20x25cm, 13x18cm, 10x15cm, 13x13cm, 8.9x8.9cm, 10x10cm, 17.5x25cm, 25x30cm, 30x30cm
- Ink cartridges: LUCIA PRO Ink Tanks:PFI-300. MBK/ PBK/C/M/Y/PC/PM/GY/R/CO
- RRP: £654.29
I recently tried out the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300, and I have to say, the print quality blew me away. I tested it with some classic paintings on A3 Canon Premium Fine Art Rough Paper, and the results were stunning. The colours were rich, and the textures looked almost lifelike — it was like having a mini art gallery at home.
Even on smoother paper, it handled modern art prints beautifully, capturing clean lines and vibrant colours. I also printed photos on glossy paper, and the sharpness and contrast were just as impressive.
Functionality-wise, the printer is versatile, supporting a wide range of media types, including some quirky ones like magnetic photo paper and nail stickers. Setting it up wirelessly was a bit of a hassle, though — it took about 15 minutes to download the driver, and I needed admin rights on my laptop. But once I got it up and running, it worked flawlessly.
The printer is quite large and heavy, so it’s not exactly portable. However, for a professional-grade printer, it’s relatively compact. The design is sleek and modern, and while it’s not a touchscreen, the interface is easy to navigate.
Overall, while the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 is pricey, its exceptional print quality and professional performance make it worth the investment, especially for photographers and artists who need high-quality prints regularly. It’s a bit of an upfront cost, but it pays off in the long run.
Pros: Professional quality prints | Max size A3+ | Prints on a variety of media types | Sleek and modern
Cons: Large and heavy compared with regular printers | Set-up was a bit time-consuming
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Canon TS9550 Multifunction Printer
Best A3 printer for craft features
Key features
- Dimensions: 468 x 366 x 193 mm
- Weight: 9.7kg
- Connectivity: WiFi, USB, Ethernet
- Paper sizes: A3, A4, A5, B5, LTR, LGL, 20x25cm, 13x18cm, 10x15cm, 13x13cm, 8.9x8.9cm, 10x10cm, 17.5x25cm, 25x30cm, 30x30cm
- Ink cartridges: 5 Individual Ink Tanks (PGBK, BK, C, M, Y). ChromaLife100 inks
- RRP: £223.41
I was impressed by the Canon PIXMA TS9550's print quality, especially considering its price. I tested it with 4 x 6 inch photos on Glossy II Photo Paper, and they came out vibrant and sharp.
Even on A3 paper, the colours were accurate, and the contrast was great. While the high-quality setting produced the best results, it did take longer than the standard and fast settings.
Functionality-wise, it’s versatile, handling a variety of media types and offering features like duplex printing, scanning, and copying.
However, setting it up was a bit of a headache. The manual didn’t have an English section, so I relied on the QR code instructions. Connecting the printer to my phone via the Canon Print app was frustrating, and I couldn’t get it to work wirelessly with my laptop. I ended up using a USB connection, which worked smoothly. Customer support later explained that my Wi-Fi strength was too low, and you need an 80% Wi-Fi strength to use the wireless features.
Despite the setup challenges, the printer is compact and fits well in both home and small office settings. I love its sleek design and the user-friendly touchscreen interface, which makes daily use a breeze.
Overall, the Canon PIXMA TS9550 offers great value for money with its excellent print quality and multifunctional capabilities, but be prepared for a potentially tricky setup process.
Pros: Really great quality prints | Max paper size A3 | Compact and versatile | Great value
Cons: Must have 80% Wi-Fi connection for wireless use
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Best of the rest
We haven't tested these printers, but after conducting extensive research we think they'd be a good choice!
HP Officejet Pro 7720 A3 Wireless Printer
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Printer specs: Wireless | 34 ppm print speed | Duplex printing | Touchscreen | Inkjet
Renowned for producing reliable office equipment, HP is the go-to printer brand for many. The HP Officejet Pro 7720 offers wireless printing technology, so you should be able to print from your phone or tablet for hassle-free printing.
Featuring A3 printing capabilities, a claimed printing speed of 34ppm and touchscreen controls, we're fairly taken with this model, and all for a reasonable price too.
The Officejet Pro 7720 also functions as a scanner, which is handy for all tasks, whether they're craft or work-related.
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Brother MFCJ5345DW A3 All in One Printer
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Printer specs: Wireless | 28 ipm print speed | Inkjet | Touchscreen
The Brother MFCJ5345DW A3 printer is a bit of an all-rounder that won't set you back too much.
One for the office as well as your craft room, you can print, copy, scan and even fax with this device. While it may not be as swanky in appearance (although we're not opposed to the retro, 80s vibe) as some of the more contemporary models, Brother is a solid and well-trusted brand.
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Epson Expression Photo XP-970 A3 Wireless Printer
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Printer specs: Wireless | 28 ppm print speed | Touchscreen
While the Epson Expression Photo XP-970 A3 printer is directed towards photograph enthusiasts, it's a three-in-one design that prints, scans and copies so it covers all bases really.
Thanks to the dual drawer system, you can store your A4 and photo paper in different sections for faff-free, effortless printing. Jump between your work and craft projects with ease!
You can really perfect your photographs with nifty features such as the red eye remover - ideal for personalised photo gifts.
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Brother MFCJ6940DW Wireless A3 Printer
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Printer specs: Wireless | 21ppm print speed | Touchscreen | Inkjet
Described as a 'workhorse', this Brother A3 printer may be large and bulky, but it's sure to get the job done. If you've got the space (this A3 printer measures 37.5 x 57.6 x 47.7cm), the Brother MFCJ6940DW wireless A3 printer is a solid option for your home office, or even small business, that'll scan, photocopy, print and fax.
The large paper tray capacity of 500 sheets will let you crack on with your printing tasks without constant interruptions, and you can make use of the automatic double-sided printing feature that works for A3 prints as well as A4.
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EPSON WorkForce WF-7310DTW A3 Printer
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Printer specs: Wireless | 25ppm in black and 12ppm in colour print speed | Inkjet
For an efficient model that'll zap through your printing tasks, the EPSON WorkForce WF-7310DTW A3 printer is a strong contender. As well as printing double-sided on A3, this model boasts a compact look despite holding three paper trays.
We all know that ink cartridge costs can add up, but this model lets you replace the inks individually, so you're only replacing the colours used. This is also the cheapest model in our roundup, so it's all-round great value!
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What to look for when buying an A3 printer
Additional features
There are many multi-functional devices in the field of A3 printers. It's best to consider what you're using your printer for: for example, are you an enthusiastic scrapbooker with hundreds of photos to print? If so, Canon and Epson models are great options that offer a professional finish for your prints.
If you're doubling up and using your printer as both an office and craft gadget, look out for scanning, photocopying and duplex printing features which always come in handy. Long gone are the days when we have to manually turn our paper to print on both sides!
You'll also find models that come with apps and these are perfect for us crafters as you can browse prints, patterns and wrapping paper inspiration!
Print speed
Print speeds vary depending on whether it's a laser or inkjet device, and what you're printing. Colour prints often take longer than black and white prints.
Print speed can be measured in pages per minute (ppm) or images per minute (ipm). A3 printers with a print speed of anything above 20ppm are certainly on the faster side. Print speed may not be of importance to you if you're printing individual odd jobs. It is however something to consider if you're taking on big projects such as invitations or fashion design.
Inkjet or Laser?
You'll notice all of the A3 printers in our roundup are inkjet printers. That's because as crafters, we're most likely to be using our printers for colourful prints and photographs! A3 laser printers are available, and if you primarily print in black and white text, they tend to be more efficient in terms of print speed. However, we know you'll have lots of vibrant and colourful projects up your sleeve, so for that reason, inkjet is your best bet!
Make the most of your A3 printer
So much more than an office accessory that's occasionally used for printing flight tickets or photocopying passports, printers can really change the game for our crafting projects. Explore the apps and printing options, think about how you can use your A3 printer at all stages of your project, and get creative.
Whether you fancy printing a logo for a new tote bag design, or want to have a go at creating your very own paper flowers, the possibilities are endless when you get the perfect A3 printer!
Find your next A3 print project with Gathered
Here at Gathered, we've got plenty of papercraft project ideas to help you put your new A3 printer to use. Head over to our papercraft section, and explore our video guides, seasonal content and stash! Why not check out the best printers for cardmaking while you're here?
