A playing card printer allows enthusiasts to design and print custom decks right from home. With professional printing capabilities producing stunning card quality, DIY custom decks make creative homemade games even more fun. We researched dozens of models to determine the top 5 card printers for custom game cards printing in 2025.

What Type of Printer Can Make Playing Cards?

When searching for a playing card printer, the first question many have is what type of printer is best suited for the job. There are a few key factors to consider:

Print Quality

For sharp, vivid designs that stand out, inkjet and color laser printers tend to provide superior print quality over standard office printers. The high-density CMYK inks and print resolution (2400 x 1200 dpi or higher) allow for professional quality card printing.

Card Stock Handling

Printers designed for card stock have auto-feeding card trays to easily load stacks of blank card sheets. Standard office printers may struggle feeding rigid card stock through.

Print Size

While standard printers have small trays best for letter or legal sheets, card printers accommodate larger print areas like 11" x 17" sheets that hold multiple playing card faces for efficient printing.

Best Playing Card Printers for 2025

After comparing print quality, stock handling, dimensions, and cost, we determined the top 5 printers that provide exceptional results for DIY custom decks.

1. Epson SureColor P900

With its 17 inch wide format design, the photo-quality Epson P900 consistently delivers exceptional print quality on a variety of surfaces like card stock. Despite its large size, the printer itself has integrated storage trays and roll media handling built-in for enhanced workflow.

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2. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300

A high performance large format printer designed for professional photographers, the 12 ink Canon PRO-300 provides stunning detail and vividness perfect for custom playing card designs. The integrated 300 ml ink tanks allow for low operating costs for frequent printers.

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3. Epson Expression Photo XP-9600

For gamers looking for affordable photo quality results, the 6-color Epson XP-9600 delivers beautiful prints up to 13" x 19" for less than $200. With individual cartridges, the ink cost stays manageable even for high yield printing.

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4. Brother MFC-J6545DW

The MFC-J6545DW checks off all the boxes with its wide format capability, high print quality, dual trays, and low cost ink refills. For game designers regularly printing prototypes and card mockups, the high ink yields keep operating costs affordable.

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5. Xerox VersaLink C8000W

Capable of dazzling 2400 x 2400 dpi resolution producing vibrant graphics and photos, the Xerox VersaLink C8000W also stays budget friendly with extra high-yield toner and drums to minimize consumable costs.

Key Features:

Whether playing cards, prototypes, or professional photography, this lineup of top-rated printers allow creative enthusiasts to produce gallery-worthy prints cost effectively right from home. Their stellar print quality, card stock handling, larger print areas provide exceptional results for stunning custom decks.

Recommended Reading: What Type of Printer Can Make Playing Cards to find the perfect printer for your needs.​