Whether you’re a hobbyist, occasionally need stickers for events, or planning on running a small business, you’ll probably need a good deal of sticker printing.
I’ve got the whole spectrum, from more affordable units that suit casual sticker-printing to ones that suit professional use and come at a slightly higher price.
They alternate between being Epson printers and Canon ones as these two brands are the most famous and efficient when it comes to printing on specialty paper.
On this list, I’ve gathered the best printers for stickers that you’ll find on the market.
List of The Best Printers for Stickers:
- Canon PIXMA TS6220 – Best Overall Printer for Stickers
- Epson XP-7100 – Best High-Speed Printer for Stickers
- Epson Expression ET-2750 – Low Running Costs
- Canon PIXMA Pro-100 – Best for Professional Use
- Epson Stylus Photo R2000 – Best Wide-Format Printer for Stickers
Our Top Picks:
The 5 Best Printers for Stickers in 2020
1. Canon PIXMA TS6220 – Best Overall Printer for Stickers
Like the Epson XP-7100, the Canon Pixma TS6220 has high running costs despite its lower upfront cost, so it suits people with low-volume printing needs. It costs around 4 to 6 cents for monochrome pages and 13 to 16 cents for color ones!
Essentially, it’s not a specialized printer for stickers, but simply a budget printer that’s diverse in functionality and has great capabilities when printing photos and graphic designs.
The Canon Pixma TS6220 uses a 5-ink cartridge configuration with three dye-based ones and two black pigment ink ones. This gives it amazing capability when it comes to hitting the right tonal range, which is a lot more than you’d ask for in a budget printer.
Moreover, it produces prints at a speed of 10 PPM for color ones and 15 PPM for monochrome ones at a resolution of 4800 x 1200 DPI. This makes it suitable for small business purposes as well as hobbyists.
It also comes with ample connectivity options, including USB, WiFi, and Bluetooth. The latter means you can directly print from your smartphone or tablet using apps like Apple AirPrint or Mopria.
Plus, it’s much more than just a printer for stickers as it’s an all-in-one machine, so you also get scanning and copying capabilities.
Pros:
- Low upfront cost
- Five cartridge ink provides you with a high tonal variation on stickers
- Bluetooth connectivity for AirPrint and Mopria
- All-in-one printer
Cons:
- High operating costs
- No option to buy 3rd party ink
Bottom Line
The Canon Pixma TS6220 is the ideal choice for low-volume printing needs with great quality. However, if you know you’re going to do a lot of printing, say, for a business, this wouldn’t be the most optimum choice.
2. Epson XP-7100 – Best High-Speed Printer for Stickers
The Epson XP-7100 may not have the same high-quality prints as the Canon PIXMA TS6220, for example, but it does have amazing productivity features. However, it does have relatively high running costs as the cost per page is above average.
It comes with five ink cartridges, which means you get photo black ink along with the regular black one to get a higher tonal range. It produces prints at a 5760 x 1440 DPI resolution and an 11 PPM speed.
Not only is it a good printer for printing stickers, but it’s an all-in-one unit that you can use to scan and photocopy with an automatic document feeder.
As for connectivity, it has a lot to offer. You can connect to it via conventional USB, WiFi, WiFi Direct, Ethernet, USB Thumb Drive, or an external SD Card. WiFi Direct capability means that you can print using smartphones or tablets.
The downside, however, is that it costs around 5 cents for black and white pages and 13 cents for color ones –which is above the average cost.
If you really want to make use of its budget upfront cost, you should use it for low-volume purposes. Otherwise, you should look into something with lower running costs like the Epson Expression ET-2750.
Pros:
- 5-cartridge system produces a high tonal variation on stickers
- Plenty of connectivity options
- All-in-one printer with Sheet-fed ADF scanning
Cons:
- High running costs
- Affordability may be related to flimsy construction material
Bottom Line
The Epson XP-7100 comes with great print quality, and the reviews on it prove it. As far as vividness goes, it’s an excellent unit for sticker printing.
3. Epson Expression ET-2750 – Low Running Costs
The Epson Expression ET-2750 is an EcoTank printer, and like any printer with a continuous ink supply system, it’s ideal for high-volume and bulk printing.
While it comes at a high upfront price, it has one of the lowest running costs you’ll find on the market. It prints monochrome pages for only 0.3 cents and colors ones for 0.8. So if you’re going to print stickers by the dozen, it’s the best printer for you.
Moreover, being an EcoTank printer means that it can be refilled easily. Refilling can cut down costs even further that a black ink bottle that can print 7500 monochrome pages can be bought for around 20 bucks.
However, this affordability comes at another cost –the quality of the colors. The Epson Expression ET-2750 uses only four cartridges to print, which is the lowest on the list, and that’s why its print quality isn’t as great as others.
It’s also a bit slower than most other options with a 5 PPM printing speed for color prints.
As for connectivity, you can connect to it through USB, WiFi. WiFi Direct, or an external SD Card. It lacks Ethernet connectivity, however.
Pros:
- Very low running costs
- EcoTank is capable of printing thousands of pages and can be replaced at lower costs
- All-in-one printer with WiFi Direct capability
Cons:
- High upfront cost
- Four ink cartridges may not be as great for specialty printing as other configurations
Bottom Line
The Epson Expression ET-2750 is the opposite of the XP-7100. It comes with a high upfront price and low running costs, so to milk it for all its worth, you should have high-volume printing needs. Its quality isn’t the best, so if you want something for professional use, skip on this one. If you don’t mind the lower color quality, though, this one is certainly one of the best printers for stickers.
4. Canon PIXMA Pro-100 – Best for Professional Use
If you’re a die-hard sticker enthusiast or if you’re planning on running a business, the Canon Pixma Pro-100 is a great choice for you. It is, indeed, an expensive one, but it’s affordable relative to other high-end professional options.
It’s equipped with eight dye-based ink cartridges that enable you to get the ultimate tonal variation. However, you can’t really pinpoint its cost of printing with multiple cartridges. But it’s not so cheap. I’ll give you that.
Plus, I wouldn’t recommend it for general use as this unit isn’t an AOI (all-in-one) printer, it’s built for the purpose of high-quality color printing. And it surely takes its sweet time as it produces one page in 77 seconds that it prints at 4800 x 2400 DPI resolution.
You can connect to it through WiFi, Ethernet, as well as conventional USB. It can even print onto CDs and DVDs.
Pros:
- Premium-quality color prints
- 8-ink system delivers amazing tonal variation and gradient capture
Cons:
- The high cost of operation and initial price
- Slow printing speed
- Not an AOI (all-in-one) unit
Bottom Line
Surely, the Canon Pixma Pro-100 is one of the best printers for stickers out there. However, you should keep in mind that it’s pretty expensive, both in terms of upfront price and running costs. So you should only get it if you have high standards you must meet for running a business. Otherwise, it’d be too much money for stickers that are too fancy.
5. Epson Stylus Photo R2000 – Best Wide-Format Printer for Stickers
The Epson Stylus Photo R2000 is the best printer for stickers if you’re a serious graphics artist. So if you run a business or an art studio, go for it. However, if you only need a printer for product labeling, this wouldn’t make sense.
Instead of using dye-based inks, the Epson it uses Hi-Gloss pigment inks that deliver very vibrant and vivid colors. This is further enhanced by the eight ink cartridges that give you a wide variation of tones. Along with CMYK, it also includes photo black, red, orange, and gloss optimizer.
It does print one page every 68 seconds, which is faster than the Pixma Pro-100, but still pretty slow. A full A3 print can take up to 4 minutes.
Also, its upfront cost is a bit expensive, but the cost of printing an A4 color page can be as low as 0.7 cents.
And not only is it a great printer for glossy labels, but it can also print on normal paper and cut sheets that are 13 x 19-inches or 44-inch long roll paper. Also, it can directly print on CDs, DVDs, Epson fine art paper, and even 1.3 mm thick paper.
As for connectivity options, this printer comes with USB, WiFi, and Ethernet connections.
Pros:
- Studio-grade prints
- Versatile paper support including wide format and 44-inch roll paper
- 8-ink cartridge system that hits the perfect gradient capture and tonal variation
- CD and DVD sticker printing capabilities
Cons:
- High upfront and running costs
- Slow printing speed
- Damaged print heads cannot be replaced
- Cleaning the printer heads using the software can be a hassle
Bottom Line
Evidently, the Stylus Photo R2000 isn’t a sticker printer for everyone. It’s only a good investment if you’re going to do professional-grade sticker printing.
How to Pick a Printer for Stickers
When you’re shopping for a printer to print vinyl stickers and decals with, there are a couple of things that you should consider first.
1. Cost
Like regular printers, sticker printers can come at an affordable upfront price and have high running costs or vice versa. So you should know your printing volume and purposes before you make your choice.
Naturally, the more professional the printer’s output is, the costlier it’ll be. So if you want to do casual label printing, you can go for something more affordable like the Epson Expression XP-7100.
Contrarily, the Canon Pixma Pro-100 or Epson Stylus Photo R2000 is a lot more expensive, but they produce amazing quality stickers and decals.
2. Printing Speed
You may have noticed that the higher quality printers take a lot more time to produce their prints. This is because usually, they use more ink cartridges, so they take their time heating up the drum of each color. Consequently, you’ll have to wait a long time before it produces your print, but the wait is definitely worthwhile.
3. Availability of Supplies
If you get the best printer in the world, but its supplies aren’t available for replacements, you’d have thrown your money away.
Some printers don’t support 3rd party inks, while others use special inks that you can’t replace with common ones. So make sure you do your research well before you decide that a certain printer is the one for you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Inkjet and Laserjet the Same?
Printing stickers is different than normal printing, and the paper used for Laserjet isn’t the same as those for Inkjets.
Using inkjet sticker paper on a laserjet print will melt it, so make sure that you’ve read the labels and specifications very well before you make your purchase. Some sticker paper can only be used on inkjet and some only on laserjets. Finally, there are sticker paper options that can be used on both.
Should I Use Vinyl or Paper Stickers?
When it comes to printing materials, there are two main types.
Paper Sticker Sheet
Paper sticker sheets are cheap and easy for creating photo stickers, name tags, and many other creative applications. They’re suitable for labels that will be used indoors as they don’t withstand all kinds of weather.
Plus, they’re a bit easy to tear. If you want to identify whether a sticker is a vinyl or paper, ripping it is the best way to tell. If it has a clear film when you rip it, then it’s a paper sticker.
Vinyl Sticker Sheet
Vinyl stickers are generally the better option for most uses. Indeed, they are more expensive, but they can withstand external factors, so they’re good for outdoor use and last a lot longer.
Moreover, they’re not easily torn because they’re made of PVC vinyl.
Why Should I Go for Vinyl Stickers?
Vinyl stickers are a bit expensive, so you should get a printer for vinyl stickers if you’re running a small studio or if you’re running a business.
Can You Print White on Clear Stickers?
The short answer is no. When a printer registers to print something white, it simply leaves that area with no ink. Consequently, a blank area on clear paper would come out transparent and not white.
The solution is either to get a specialist printer that has a slot for white ink or add a white surface on the clear sticker before you print on it.
What is Die Cutting?
Die-cutting is a super fun and creative way to make your stickers unique. It allows you to make custom shapes for your stickers and pop out variously-shaped stickers right out of the paper.
You’ll need a DIY die cutting machine and compatible dies to give your stickers this unique twist, however.
Final Thoughts
It’s tough to decide which of these printers is the best printer for stickers, but if you’re going to print a huge volume of stickers, I’d recommend the Epson Expression ET-2750 as it’s running costs are super affordable thanks to the Eco Tank and continuous ink supply system.
However, if you’re looking for professional-grade and premium-looking stickers, you should go for the long-lasting stickers produced with vivid colors thanks to the eight dye-based ink system found on the Canon Pixma Pro-100.
Finally, if you’re looking for a budget printer that you’ll use every now and then, you should opt for the Epson XP-7100.
