10 Best Architectural Printers 2025 in the United States

The HP DesignJet T650 is a large-format printer designed for architects, engineers, and construction professionals who need precise, sharp prints for technical drawings, maps, and posters. It supports wide media rolls up to 36 inches and sheets up to 13x19 inches, with automatic switching between sheet and roll feeding, plus a built-in cutter to streamline workflow. The print resolution is a strong point at 2400 x 1200 dpi, ensuring detailed line work and crisp text, which is essential for architectural plans. It prints at a moderate speed of around 2.4 pages per minute for both color and black-and-white, equating to about 82 A1-size prints per hour, balancing quality and productivity well for most office environments.

The printer uses HP's pigment and dye-based 712/713 ink cartridges, designed to deliver durable, vivid prints while also being cost-efficient—maintenance ink consumption is notably low compared to some competitors, helping to reduce ongoing expenses. Connectivity options are versatile, including Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, and Gigabit Ethernet, enabling easy integration into various office setups and remote management through the HP Smart app. Media handling is flexible with a sheet feeder, roll feed, media bin, and automatic cutter included, allowing for multi-size project prints without manual intervention. The included HP Click software simplifies printing different file types commonly used in design and CAD workflows.

On the downside, the printer is quite heavy (over 120 pounds) and large, requiring dedicated space. Print speeds, while reasonable for fine detailed work, may feel slow if very fast volume printing is needed. It supports only printing (no scanning or copying), which might require additional devices for full office functionality. The 2-year onsite warranty and support add value, providing peace of mind for businesses relying on consistent uptime. The HP DesignJet T650 is a reliable, quality-focused printer ideal for architectural and technical professionals who prioritize print accuracy and versatile media handling with manageable running costs.

The Epson SureColor T5170 is a compact and wireless 36-inch printer designed to deliver sharp, detailed prints suitable for architectural drawings and plans. It offers a high print resolution of up to 2880 x 1440 dpi, ensuring fine lines and clear graphics—important for precise architectural details. It’s capable of printing up to A1/D size, but the maximum media size specified is 11 x 17 inches, making it better suited for smaller-format architectural documents rather than large blueprints.

In terms of speed, the printer produces A1/D-size prints in about 31 seconds and prints at about 6 pages per minute for both color and black & white, which is reasonably quick for detailed architectural prints. The use of high-capacity ink cartridges (50 mL for color and 80 mL for black) means you won’t need to replace ink too often, helping to manage consumable costs better compared to smaller cartridges. Connectivity is a strong point, with built-in Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and USB options allowing easy printing from smartphones, tablets, and desktop devices without complicated setups. The large 4.3-inch color touchscreen makes it straightforward to operate, even for users who aren’t tech-savvy.

However, the media handling is somewhat limited, with a maximum paper size of 11 x 17 inches and a 50-sheet input capacity, which may restrict workflow when printing multiple large-format architectural plans. While it supports duplex (double-sided) printing, it does not handle wide-sheet media duplexing, which could be a drawback if you need double-sided large prints. The Epson SureColor T5170 suits small to medium architectural offices or professionals needing high-quality, smaller-sized prints with flexible wireless connectivity and good ink efficiency. It may not fully satisfy requirements for larger-format blueprint printing or high-volume media handling but offers a good balance of quality, speed, and ease of use.

The HP DesignJet T650 is a solid choice for architects, engineers, and construction professionals needing precise and large-format prints. It supports up to 24-inch wide rolls and 13x19 inch sheets, which covers most architectural plans and posters. Its print resolution of up to 2400 x 1200 dpi ensures sharp lines and clear text, essential for technical drawings and detailed renders. The printer offers decent speed, producing about 82 A1/D size prints per hour and roughly 26 seconds per page, which is suitable for busy office environments but not the fastest in its class.

Connectivity options are flexible, with Ethernet, USB, and Wi-Fi support, allowing easy integration into different work setups. The included HP Click software simplifies printing multiple file types directly from CAD and design programs, saving time and reducing waste with features like auto-nesting and PDF error checking. Media handling is a strong point here: the printer can automatically switch between sheet and roll media, has an automatic cutter, and includes a media bin, making it convenient for mixed print jobs without manual intervention. Ink is pigment and dye-based, using HP’s original cartridges that promise quality but may add to consumable costs over time. However, routine maintenance ink use is notably lower than competitors, which helps reduce ongoing expenses.

Weighing 81 pounds, it’s a sizeable device but still manageable for an office. The 2-year onsite warranty adds peace of mind for business users. The print quality and media handling excel, although printing speed may be a bit slow for extremely high-volume needs. It is a print-only device without scanning or copying functions, so it’s best suited to those focused solely on high-quality large-format prints. For those prioritizing accurate, reliable wide-format printing with cost-effective maintenance and good connectivity, the HP DesignJet T650 fits well in architectural and technical project workflows.