Are you struggling to find a printer that can handle heavy card stock? Like many crafters and small business owners, I’ve been there. The frustration of watching your beautiful, thick card stock jam in your printer is all too real. That’s why I decided to share my experience and guide you to what I believe is the best printer for Card Stock Printing.
heavy cardstock printer for printing on cardstock
Understanding the Heavy Card Stock Paper Challenge
If you’re searching for a reliable card stock printer, you’re likely familiar with the challenge of printing on heavy card stock, especially that thick card stock from Michaels or your favorite craft store. It’s incredibly annoying when your standard printer refuses to feed it properly! You need a printer specifically designed for thick paper, a true card stock printer.
For my business and my Etsy shop, I constantly print on card stock. Finding a printer that consistently delivers quality card stock printing without jams and frustration was a journey.
During my quest, I dove deep into the world of paper weight. Did you know that paper weight measurements are based on a bizarre system? In the US, it’s determined by weighing 500 sheets of uncut paper. For example, for letter-size paper, they weigh 500 sheets of 17 x 22 inch paper. Confusing, right?
The Best Cardstock Paper for Invitations
Alt text: A stack of pristine white card stock paper, highlighted as the best card stock paper for printing invitations and stationery projects.
The key takeaway is to understand your printer’s paper weight capacity. Finding this crucial specification can be surprisingly tricky, but it’s essential to determine if a printer is suitable for card stock printing. Let’s explore how to find this information for your current printer or one you’re considering.
How to Find Your Printer’s Card Stock Compatibility
Best Printer For Heavy Cardstock Paper: best printers for cardstock
To determine if your printer is capable of card stock printing, or to check a potential new printer’s capabilities, start by looking up the printer model on Amazon or the manufacturer’s website. Let’s use the HP ENVY Photo 7855 All-in-One Photo Printer as an example. Product pages often highlight many features, but the crucial paper weight specification can be less prominent.
The secret is to search for the “Specification sheet” or “Product Documentation,” usually available as a PDF download. Sometimes, it’s not directly listed, requiring a bit more digging on the manufacturer’s official website.
Once you open the PDF specification sheet, look for “Media Weight Supported” or a similar term in the paper handling section. In the screenshot below, you can see that the HP Envy 7855 supports paper weights up to 72 lbs.
Best Printer For Heavy Cardstock Paper: How to find the best printers for cardstock
This means the HP Envy is not ideal for card stock printing if you intend to use 110 lb card stock. Trying to force heavy card stock through a printer not designed for it will likely lead to jams, frustration, and subpar results. Trust me, I’ve learned this from experience!
Top Printer Recommendations for Card Stock Printing
After extensive research and personal testing, I’ve narrowed down the field to two printers that consistently perform well for card stock printing. It’s a surprisingly short list, as many consumer-grade inkjet printers struggle with heavier media.
The Best Printer for Heavy Cardstock paper
My Top Pick: Canon Pixma Pro-100 for Card Stock Printing
The Canon Pixma Pro-100 is, in my opinion, the best printer for card stock printing currently available for home and small business use. I personally use this printer for all my card stock projects, both for my business and personal creations. I even got a fantastic deal on it!
Pros of the Canon Pixma Pro-100 for Card Stock Printing:
- Handles 110 lb card stock effortlessly: This is the most crucial feature!
- Rear paper tray for thick media: Loading paper from the back allows for a straighter paper path, preventing creasing and jams with heavy card stock.
- Borderless printing: Perfect for creating professional-looking cards and invitations without white borders. (Want to print borderless without a borderless printer? Learn how here.)
- Versatile paper sizes: Prints on sizes ranging from 5×7 inches up to large 13×19 inch formats.
Cons of the Canon Pixma Pro-100:
- Large footprint: It’s a sizable printer, so ensure you have enough desk space.
- No scanning or copying: It’s a dedicated printer, not an all-in-one device.
- Occasional 5×7 card feeding issues: Requires patience at times when feeding smaller cards.
- Ink can be expensive: High-quality photo printing ink is pricier. (But keep reading for a cost-saving ink alternative!)
Looking for the best card stock printers in 2025? Check out this updated guide.
A Budget-Friendly Alternative: HP OfficeJet 3830 Printer
The HP OfficeJet 3830 Printer is another option that claims to handle even heavier paper, up to 145 lbs. However, it’s unclear if this applies to standard-sized paper or only smaller 4×6 card stock. Further investigation is recommended if you are considering this model for card stock printing. Since I haven’t personally used this printer for card stock, I can’t provide pros and cons, but I encourage you to share your experiences if you try it! (DM me on Instagram!)
The-Best-Paper-for-Birthday-Invitations
Alt text: Colorful birthday invitations printed on high-quality card stock, showcasing the importance of paper choice for vibrant card stock printing.
2024 Update: Still Loving the Pro-100 for Card Stock Printing
While my original post is a few years old, I want to give a 2024 update: I am still using my Canon Pixma Pro-100 for card stock printing, and it continues to perform exceptionally well. Although it has been discontinued, there are newer models available. However, the Pro-100 remains a workhorse for reliable card stock printing.
Save on Ink: Knockoff Ink for Canon Pixma Pro-100
For Canon Pixma Pro-100 users, here’s a money-saving tip: this knockoff ink works just as well as original Canon ink and is significantly cheaper. It’s a great way to reduce your card stock printing costs without sacrificing quality. I also use this black and grey ink set for monochrome card stock printing projects.
The Importance of Paper Choice for Card Stock Printing
Before you invest in the Canon Pixma Pro-100 for card stock printing, remember that the paper itself is crucial. While the Michaels 110 lb card stock is widely available, it’s not always the best for print quality. I highly recommend reading my article on The Best Paper for Invitations, which emphasizes that paper quality is just as important, if not more so, than your printer for achieving professional card stock printing results.
Printing on Extra Heavy Card Stock: 130 lb and Beyond
Some readers have inquired about printers for even heavier 130 lb card stock. While I haven’t personally tested it, the Pixma Pro-200 has been recommended by readers for this purpose. Given my positive experience with the Pro-100, the Pro-200 is likely an excellent option for those needing to print on very heavy card stock. If you try the Pro-200 for 130 lb card stock printing, please share your feedback!
Related Resources for Card Stock Printing and Invitations
Explore these related articles for more tips and resources on card stock printing and creating beautiful invitations:
- The Best Printer for Invitations
- Printing Invitations at Home: A DIY Guide
- Top Online Invitation Printing Services
- Choosing the Best Printer for an Invitation Business
Let’s Connect and Celebrate Card Stock Printing!
So there you have it! You now know more than you ever wanted to about paper weight and, more importantly, how to find a printer that actually handles card stock printing! I hope this guide helps you overcome the frustration of printing on heavy card stock and empowers you to create beautiful projects at home.
Thank you for reading about the best printer for card stock printing! Let me know in the comments if you found this helpful or if you have any other card stock printing tips to share. I love helping you celebrate life’s moments through creative projects. Connect with me on Instagram and join the celebration!
xoxo
Lindsay
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