The Difference Between A3 Vs. A4 Copier Or Printer

If you are planning to buy a copier or a multipurpose printer from the market, make sure to know the available options first. If you are new in the printing market, selecting the right printer can be overwhelming. The technical terms associated with printers and copiers complicate the buying process. However, you may stumble upon the terms A3 and A4 printers. These two terms represent the sizes of paper a printing machine can handle. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is responsible for setting the sizes of the paper. To know more about the difference between an A3 vs. A4 printer, keep reading this article.

What is an A3 printer?

An A3 printer can print multiple paper sizes, such as A3, A4, legal, US letter, and other small sizes associated with postcards and envelopes. Here, the paper size can go up to 11x17. It can also reach 12x18 if you are using a bypass tray. A3 can also print on different types of paper based on their composition and thickness. In addition to all this, it also has a finisher/stapler option. Because of all these properties and characteristics, the A3 printer is used for office purposes. These printers are also larger than the A4 printers, which enables them to deal with a large volume of paper. This is why many offices opt for the A3 printers because of their versatility, durability, and ability to deal with large projects.

What is an A4 printer?

On the other hand, A4 printers are used to print on smaller paper sizes. These paper sizes include A4 or US letters (8.5 x 11). Some can also handle legal-sized papers and smaller ones such as envelopes and postcards. However, you cannot use A4 printers to print on A3-sized papers or tabloid sizes. Therefore, such printers are only used by offices, teams or individuals who have lesser printing needs. For example, if you do not require tabloid-size printing often, you can choose this type of printer. This is why A4 printers are usually used in a home office. This printer can be a budget-friendly option if it fits your needs and requirements perfectly.

As we now have an idea of the A3 and A4 printers, let’s take a look at the difference between these two types of printers. You should consider several factors when choosing between these two types of printers. These factors include the cost, volume, durability, features, footprint, and your team's needs.

Costs

For selecting between an A3 and A4 printer, you should first know the total cost of ownership. Thus, you need to consider the upfront cost of the device. In addition, you should also take the cost of maintenance and supplies that will be needed over the life of the device. You also should know the black/white and colour volumes every month. Thus the cost of the device is highly dependent on your needs and requirements.

Volume

If the volume of printing at your office ranges more than 3,000-5,000 pages per month, you should opt for the A3 printer. However, if your printing needs are less, you can opt for the A4 printer. A4 printer also will provide you with great colour quality and speed, which are perfect for A4 printing.

Speed

Speed can be a great deciding factor when selecting a type of printer. The speed of the A3 printer is faster than that of the A4 printer. This means it can print more papers per minute (PPM). However, this doesn't necessarily mean that the A4 printers are slower. You can easily find an A4 printer in the market with great speed features. However, remember that A4 printers will not be able to handle large volumes like the A3.

Footprint

A3 printers are larger than A4 printers as they have to print on larger paper sizes. Their size could range to (picture 3 ft. by 3ft. minimum). They are similar to office copiers as they stand on the floor. On the other hand, the A4 printer requires less amount of space. Thus A4 portable printers can be a space-saving alternative.

Durability 

Since the A3 printers are made larger and with durable materials, they last longer. However, A4 printers are less durable but are built with lightweight materials. These machines also require maintenance and servicing over time.

Conclusion

Through the points mentioned above, you will learn ‘What are the benefits of an A3 printer?’ Therefore, when choosing a printer for your printing needs, you must first know the difference between the A3 and A4 printers. In addition to this, you should also take your team’s needs and requirements into consideration. Doing this will enable you to select the appropriate printer. However, don’t forget to consider the cost of the printer. You can also opt for a reliable service provider with great knowledge about A3 printers and scanners.