Finding the best printer for planner making can save you time, money, and frustration — especially if you’re selling printable or physical planners on Etsy or Amazon. Whether you’re printing monthly layouts, habit trackers, or daily schedules, a high-quality printer is one of the smartest investments you can make for your planner business.
In this article, we’ll guide you through:
- What to look for in a printer for planner-making
- Why dual-sided printing is a game changer
- Top 3 recommended printers for planner sellers
- Tips for getting the most out of your printer
If you’re just getting started with DIY planners, check out our guide on how to make a custom planner first — then come back here to choose the right printer for your project.
Let’s get started!
Why Your Printer Choice Matters
Selling planners isn’t just about beautiful design — it’s also about clean, sharp prints that look professional. Your customers want pages that are:
- Clear and smudge-free
- Consistent in color and quality
- Properly aligned — especially front and back!
If you’re printing at home, choosing the right printer will:
- Reduce ink costs
- Make double-sided printing easier
- Help you scale your planner business faster
Key Features to Look for
When choosing the best printer for planner making, keep these features in mind:
1. Duplex (Double-Sided) Printing
This means the printer can print on both sides of the paper automatically — without you needing to flip the page manually. It reduces printing mistakes and saves time, especially when printing many pages.
Why it’s helpful: Planners often have front-and-back layouts. A duplex printer helps ensure your pages align correctly every time.
2. Ink Efficiency
Using a lot of ink every day? Supertank printers (or ink tank printers) are designed to print thousands of pages before needing a refill. These are more cost-effective in the long run than regular ink cartridges.
3. Print Quality
Look for printers that deliver sharp black text and vibrant color. Your planner pages should look crisp and clean, especially if you’re selling printed versions.
4. Wireless Printing
Having Wi-Fi or mobile printing makes it easier to send files directly from your laptop or phone — great for busy entrepreneurs.
Top 3 Recommended Printers for Planner Sellers
Here are three excellent options that balance quality, efficiency, and price. All of them are “all-in-one” models, meaning they can print, scan, and copy — great for designing or testing new planner layouts.
1. Canon PIXMA G6020 All-in-One Supertank Wireless Printer
- Excellent for high-volume printing
- Has automatic double-sided printing (duplex)
- Uses Canon’s MegaTank system with very low ink cost per page
Key Specs:
- Print up to 6,000 black and 7,700 color pages per refill
- Sharp resolution for detailed planner layouts
- Wi-Fi, AirPrint, and mobile printing supported
Best for: Sellers who print a lot of planners and need sharp, professional results. Check Product Features and Price
2. Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Color All-in-One Printer
- Compact and easy to use
- Cartridge-free ink tanks make refilling cheaper and simpler
- Has automatic two-sided printing to save time
Key Specs:
- Great color accuracy for printable stickers or colorful layouts
- Supports voice-activated printing via Alexa
- Up to 7,500 black and 6,000 color pages per ink set
Best for: Creators who want a reliable, mess-free printer that saves money on ink. Check Product Features and Price
3. HP Smart-Tank 5000 Wireless All-in-One Printer
- Prints excellent-quality text and images
- Easy-to-refill ink tanks, with up to 6,000 black or 8,000 color pages
- Modern design with a smart control panel
Key Specs:
- Strong wireless connectivity (dual-band Wi-Fi)
- Good for moderate to high-volume use
- Borderless printing for creating full-page planner designs
Note: This model does not support automatic duplex printing — so if you often print double-sided pages, you’ll need to flip the paper manually.
Best for: Sellers who want high-quality prints and low running costs, and don’t mind manual flipping. Check Product Features and Price
| Feature | Canon PIXMA G6020 | Epson ET-2850 | HP Smart-Tank 5000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duplex Printing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Supertank (Ink-Efficient) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Wireless | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Best For | High volume, sharp details | Easy color printing | Quality on a budget |
Why Duplex Printing Makes Life Easier
Let’s say you’re printing a weekly planner with 52 spreads — front and back. Without duplex printing, you’ll have to:
- Print all odd-numbered pages
- Manually flip each page
- Re-feed them into the tray
- Print all even-numbered pages
It’s easy to mess up the order or misalign pages. A duplex printer takes care of this automatically. You just click “Print Double-Sided,” and it does the rest — saving you both time and paper.
If you plan to sell many printed planners, duplex printing is worth every penny.
Tips for Planner Printing at Home
- Use the right paper: For planners, 100–120 gsm paper works well. It’s thicker than regular paper and prevents ink from bleeding through.
- Test before printing in bulk: Print 2–3 copies to make sure everything is aligned and looks professional.
- Design with bleed/margin space: Leave a bit of space at the edges for hole-punching or binding.
- Bundle with care: Neatly trim, bind, or package your planner pages before sending them to customers. For binding options, see our complete guide to book binding methods.
Final Thoughts: Invest Once, Save Long-Term
If you’re serious about growing your planner business, investing in the best printer for planner making is a smart move. It helps you:
- Keep your printing cost low
- Deliver consistent quality to your customers
- Save time by printing efficiently — especially with duplex features
Here’s a quick recap:
- Best all-around: Canon PIXMA G6020
- Easiest to refill: Epson EcoTank ET-2850
- Best budget option: HP Smart-Tank 5000 (but no duplex printing)
Choose the one that fits your needs, and you’ll be ready to start (or grow) your planner shop with confidence.
More DIY Planner Tutorials
Once your planner pages are printed, you’ll need to bind them. Try one of our step-by-step tutorials:
- DIY Half-Hidden Wire Notebook — wire binding with a hidden spine
- DIY Lay-Flat Sketchbook — PVA glue binding that opens flat
- Booklets with Signature Binding — Coptic stitch for sewn booklets
- DIY Tarot Planner Box — wire binding with a custom box enclosure
- DIY Double-Door Christmas Planner — double wire binding with folding cover
Want more tips and inspiration for building your own custom planner or launching a personalized planner brand? Check out our blog for a helpful beginner’s guide: “What You Need to Start a Planner Shop” and Courses to help you get started. Planify Pro has more DIY tips to help you personalize your planner, whether you’re designing a gift, building a product line, or just creating a layout that works for you.
Check out these easy tutorials and bring your custom planner ideas to life Click Here! Don’t forget to visit our Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest for more inspiration — and to explore our wide selection of premade planner templates, design stickers, and fonts for making your own personalized planner. Let Planify Pro help you on your journey to planner success!
