Finding art printers to make art prints on a budget isn’t easy. I see articles online recommending printers that cost $1,600+ and wonder who on EARTH their target audience is. Am I the only artist that’s poor? I’m sure those printers are great, but I don’t have that kind of money.
On the other hand, you can’t just buy a $25 art printer off eBay because your art prints will go from masterpiece to MESSterpiece real fast. Based on my research, it seems that the sweet spot between quality and price (that I could find) for a quality budget art printer is around $200-$300. So, without further adieu, here are the best art printers for art prints under $300:
| Printer Name | Price | Printing Size | Ink Packs | |
| 1 | Canon IP8720 | $226.20 | 13in x 19in | ~$63 |
| 2 | Canon TS9521C | $199.00 | 12in x 12in | ~$56 |
| 3 | Epson Expression Photo XP-970 | $249.00 | 11in x 17in | ~$63 |
Best Budget Art Printers for Art Prints Compared
I added three top considerations when looking at affordable art printers for art prints into the table above, but there are more things to look out for when looking for an art printer. Let’s dive into more specifics.
1 – Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer
This one came out as an easy first pick for an art printer on a budget. With an average rating of 4.2 stars and over 2,300 reviews, it’s clear that this is a favorite for starving artists. The printer is just under 19 pounds, and comes in at 13.1in x 23.3in x 6.3in.
This printer has a whopping maximum dpi of 9600×2400, and can print on surfaces up to 13in x 19in! This makes it an excellent budget printer for larger art prints. However, it has some reviews mentioning struggles with heavy card stock. So, you may need to purchase paper specific to Canon printers, so consider this when making the purchase.
The Canon IP8720 takes Canon PGI-250/CLI-251 ink, and you can get a combo pack with all colors for $63.
2 – Canon TS9521C All-In-One Printer
The Canon TS9521C All-In-One Wireless Crafting Photo Printer was made for artists. They literally call it a “crafting printer” to market it to artists. This one comes in as a slightly cheaper alternative to the Canon IP8720 and has an average rating of 4.4 stars with over 1,100 reviews.
The size comes in at 18.5in x 14.5in x 7.7in. It has a maximum dpi of 4800×1200, which is half that of the IP8720, and can only print sizes up to 12in x 12in. Those aren’t bad numbers, but it’s far off from the capabilities of the Canon IP8720. This was a big reason it took second place, but it’s still a great option for the price. Regardless of the lower dpi, reviews rave about the quality of their art prints.
The Canon TS9521C takes Canon PGI-280XL ink, and you can get a combo pack with all colors + black for $56.
3 – Epson Expression Photo XP-970 Wireless Printer
The Epson Expression Photo XP-970 Wireless Photo Printer comes in a close third with an average rating of 4.3 stars and about 1,000 reviews as of the time of this writing. The printer’s dimensions are 11in x 17in x 6in, weighs about 23 pounds, and can print images up to 11in x 17in.
The max dpi of the Epson Expression Photo XP-970 is 5760×1440, which is just above the Canon TS9521C. However, this is the most expensive printer on the list, which is why it ranks where it does. Cheaper alternatives can easily match the quality of art prints from this printer, but it’s still a great option if you choose not to go with the top two picks.
The Epson Expression Photo XP-970 uses Epson T277 ink cartridges. Their combo pack with all colors + black comes in at $63.18.
Final Thoughts
There we have it. Three great but affordable art printers for art prints under $300. You thought it wasn’t possible, but I say nay to naysayers! Wait, does that make me a naysayer? Whatever.
If you read this whole article, you can probably tell why the Canon IP8720 is the clear choice as the best budget printer under $300. The printing size is huge, the price is right, and the dpi far exceeds the competitors in the same price range.
But if, for some reason, you’re not all about it, the alternatives on this list are still a good choice. Alternatively, you can wait for some Prime Day Deals for artists, but these are the best options apart from any crazy sales.
Hopefully, one of these printers meets your needs, and you can get straight to printing high-quality art prints from home!