Key Takeaways
- Epson EcoTank is the community favorite — refillable ink keeps costs at roughly $0.04 per magnet for paper and ink.
- The ET-2800 (
$180–$240) is the budget pick. The ET-8550 ($600–$750 new, ~$490–$600 refurbished) is the premium choice.- Canon PIXMA/Megatank is the alternative — some makers prefer its color consistency and reliability.
- The printer you choose affects your cost per print, color accuracy, and reliability at events.
- Most beginners should start with an Epson EcoTank ET-2800 or ET-2850 and upgrade later if needed.
Why Your Printer Choice Matters
Your magnet machine, your supplies, and your creativity are all important. But the printer is where the magic actually happens. It's the thing that turns a customer's phone photo into a vivid, detailed image worthy of living on someone's fridge for years.
Choose the wrong printer and you'll fight dark prints, banding lines, paper jams, and constant frustration. Choose the right one and printing becomes the easiest part of your workflow.
We've analyzed what our community of 17,000+ makers actually uses, what they love, and what drives them crazy. Here's what we found.
Epson EcoTank Series: The Community Favorite
If you ask our Facebook group what printer to buy, the answer you'll hear most often — by a wide margin — is Epson. Specifically, the EcoTank series with its refillable ink tank system.
Why? Because ink cost is everything in this business. Traditional cartridge printers cost a fortune to run. EcoTank printers ship with enough ink to print thousands of pages, and refill bottles cost a fraction of what cartridges do. When you're printing hundreds or thousands of magnets, this adds up fast.
Here's how the main models stack up.
Epson EcoTank ET-2800: The Budget Pick
Price: ~$180–$240
This is the printer most beginners start with, and for good reason. It's the most affordable EcoTank, the ink cost is minimal, and for 2x2 and 2x3 magnets the print quality is perfectly good.
Important note on paper weight: The ET-2800 can handle paper up to about 100 gsm through its front-load tray. It won't reliably feed heavy glossy photo paper (200+ gsm). The good news? Lighter glossy paper in the 120–150gsm range works well for magnets, especially since the mylar cover on button-press magnets protects the print anyway. Several makers use it this way without issue.
One of our members asked the group for tips on making the highest-quality prints with the ET-2800, noting that she was just starting out and planned to upgrade eventually. The advice she got: use the right paper type setting, print in "best quality" mode, and let it do its thing.
That said, Susie (community member) shared that she was having issues with photos coming out dark and overly saturated on her ET-2800. This is common — and usually fixable with printer settings and brightness adjustments in your design software, not with a new printer.
Best for: Beginners on a budget. Makers who primarily do 2x2 and 2x3 magnets and are happy with lighter-weight glossy paper.
Epson EcoTank ET-2850: The Sweet Spot
Price: ~$200–$250
The ET-2850 adds a few features over the 2800 — better connectivity, a slightly more refined print engine, and generally smoother operation. It has similar paper weight limitations to the 2800, so plan on using lighter glossy stock here too. Several makers in our group use it as their daily workhorse.
Elizabeth (community member) asked if anyone uses the ET-2850 for photo magnets, reporting that her pictures were coming out dark. Melina (community member) had a similar experience, noting that her prints on presentation matte paper weren't as crisp as she wanted. In both cases, the community pointed to paper choice and driver settings as the fix, not the printer itself.
Jocelyn (community member) started her magnet business with the ET-2800 and was considering the 2850 as an upgrade after doing several vendor events and online sales.
Best for: Makers who want a step up from the 2800 without a big price jump. A solid all-around choice.
Epson EcoTank ET-8550: The Premium Choice
Price: ~$600–$750 new, ~$490–$600 refurbished
This is the printer serious makers upgrade to. It uses a 6-color Claria ET Premium ink system (1 pigment black + 5 dye colors) for noticeably richer photos, wider color gamut, and sharper detail. Crucially, it also has a rear feed tray that handles heavier photo paper (200+ gsm), which the budget models can't do. It prints up to 13x19" wide format.
The ET-8550 vs. ET-8500: These were released at the same time (2021), not as an older/newer pair. The key difference is size — the ET-8500 maxes out at letter/A4, while the ET-8550 handles 13x19" wide format. David (community member) shared an important insight: the 8500 is a lot smaller and easier to take to markets, and since all his magnets are on 8.5x11 paper, the extra wide-format capability of the 8550 is just unused extra bulk. Something to consider if portability matters to you.
Kathy (community member) asked what the best starter printer is if you can't afford the 8500/8550 — and the group was quick to reassure her that the budget models work great for getting started. You don't need the premium printer to make magnets that sell.
Elizabeth started on the ET-2850 and was considering upgrading to the 8550 to fix her dark print issues. The community advised her to troubleshoot her settings first before spending more money — good advice for any maker feeling the upgrade itch.
Best for: Makers who want top-tier quality, want to use heavier photo paper, do larger formats, or have grown past the capabilities of the budget models.
Canon PIXMA and Megatank Series: The Alternative
Canon is the second most discussed printer brand in our community, and it has a loyal following. Some makers specifically prefer Canon over Epson, and their reasons are worth hearing.
Ashley (community member) posted one of the most engaged discussions in group history — an Epson vs. Canon comparison that drew dozens of responses. Her experience: she'd been an Epson user and preferred it initially, but her printer started having issues. Ink splatters on images, roller marks — even after maintenance. She switched to Canon and was much happier with the consistency.
Julie (community member) asked the group specifically for Canon recommendations for those who've gone that route instead of Epson. Donna (community member) was considering the Canon PIXMA G3270 MegaTank (~$260–$290), noting that the reviews looked good and it was considerably less than the Epson 8550.
Shilpa, a newer member, was using a Canon and noticed her prints were coming out too bright. Like the "too dark" issue on Epson, this is usually a settings and paper combination issue rather than a fundamental printer problem.
Why some makers prefer Canon:
- More consistent color output, especially for skin tones
- Fewer reported clogging issues for some models
- The MegaTank line offers similar refillable ink savings to Epson's EcoTank
- Some find Canon's driver software more intuitive
Why Epson still dominates:
- Larger community knowledge base — more people can help you troubleshoot
- EcoTank ink system is proven and widely available
- More model options at different price points
- Most templates and guides are written for Epson settings
Epson vs Canon: Head to Head
Let's compare the factors that actually matter for magnet making.
Ink cost. Both the EcoTank and MegaTank lines use refillable tanks, making them roughly equivalent. Either way, you're looking at about $0.02–$0.04 per print on photo paper, which is pennies compared to cartridge printers.
Print quality for small formats. For 2x2 and 2x3 magnets, both produce excellent results. The differences become more noticeable at larger sizes. The Epson ET-8550's six-color Claria ET Premium ink system has an edge for color depth and shadow detail, but for typical magnet sizes, you'd have to look very closely to tell the difference.
Paper handling. The budget Epson models (ET-2800, ET-2850) are limited to lighter paper (~100 gsm max), while the ET-8550's rear feed tray handles heavier stock. Canon MegaTank models vary — check the specs for your chosen model. This matters if you want to use heavier glossy paper (200+ gsm), though many makers find lighter paper works fine with the mylar protection.
Reliability. This is where opinions diverge. Some Epson users report banding and clogging after heavy use. Some Canon users report their own quirks. The truth is that any inkjet printer needs regular maintenance — especially if it sits idle for days between use. Print a test page at least every few days to keep the nozzles clear.
Common Printer Problems and How to Fix Them
No matter which brand you choose, you'll eventually run into these issues. Here's what our community has learned.
Photos printing too dark. This is by far the most common complaint. Walter, Elizabeth, Susie, and many others have posted about this issue. The fixes: increase brightness by 10–20% in your design software before printing, make sure you've selected the correct paper type in your printer settings (glossy paper needs the "glossy photo paper" setting, not "plain paper"), and check that your printer's color management isn't doubling up with your software's.
Kate raised another angle on this: what do you say to customers when their photo is inherently dark? The community's advice was to be upfront — brighten what you can, but let customers know that a dark source photo will produce a darker magnet, and offer to try a different photo if they have one.
Banding and horizontal streaks. Those faint lines running across your prints are usually caused by clogged nozzles or misaligned print heads. Run your printer's built-in nozzle check and cleaning cycle. If that doesn't fix it, try a more thorough deep cleaning. Prevention is key: print something at least every few days to keep ink flowing.
Blurry or soft prints. Brittney (community member) shared that her prints were coming out blurry, especially family photos, even though the source images were high-resolution professional shots. The usual culprits: printing in "draft" or "normal" mode instead of "best quality," using the wrong DPI setting, or the photos losing resolution when texted or downloaded from social media. Always use the highest-quality version of any photo.
Paper jams with thick stock. Some printers handle thick glossy paper better through the rear feed tray rather than the front cassette — but remember, the ET-2800 and ET-2850 don't have rear trays and aren't designed for heavy stock. If you need thick paper, that's a reason to upgrade to the ET-8550 or similar.
Best Printer Settings for Magnets
Getting your settings right eliminates most quality issues. Here's what works for most magnet makers.
Paper type: Select "Glossy Photo Paper" or "Premium Glossy" in your printer driver — even if your paper's brand name doesn't match. This tells the printer to lay down more ink and optimize for photo output.
Quality: Always use the highest quality setting. Yes, it's slower. For magnets, speed doesn't matter — quality does. Hans in our group mentioned struggles getting Canva-designed magnets to come out right on his ET-8550; the issue was export settings in Canva, not the printer.
Canva export tip: When exporting from Canva, always choose PDF Print for 300 DPI output. PNG and JPG exports from Canva's free plan are only 96 DPI and will look pixelated on a printed magnet. This one change fixes a huge number of "blurry print" complaints.
DPI: Print at 300 DPI minimum. For 2x2 magnets, your source image should be at least 600x600 pixels. Higher is better.
Color management: Keep it simple. Let your printer handle color management rather than trying to manage it in both your design software and your printer driver. Pick one or the other — doubling up is a common cause of dark or oversaturated prints.
Borderless printing: If your printer supports it, borderless printing can save trimming time. Not all paper sizes support borderless mode, so check your printer's specs.
Our Community's Verdict
Here's the honest truth from watching thousands of makers discuss printers over years.
If you're just starting out, get an Epson EcoTank ET-2800 or ET-2850. They're affordable, the ink costs are low, and the vast majority of our community can help you troubleshoot any issues. Use lighter glossy paper (120–150gsm) and you'll make great magnets from day one.
If you want the best quality and have the budget, the Epson ET-8550 is the premium pick. The six-color Claria ET Premium ink system produces noticeably better photos, the rear feed tray handles heavier paper, and the wide-format capability opens up options as your business grows.
If you've had Epson trouble — or just prefer Canon, the Canon PIXMA G3270 MegaTank is a legitimate alternative. Ashley's switch to Canon resolved her ongoing issues, and the MegaTank's refillable ink system keeps costs comparable.
The most important thing? Don't overthink it. Any refillable-tank photo printer will make beautiful magnets. The printer is a tool — your creativity, customer service, and hustle are what actually build the business.
What's Next?
Ready to get started? Here's where to go from here.
Compare your full setup options — machine, printer, and supplies — with our machine comparison.
Get the complete supply list with links and current pricing in our free starter toolkit.
Join 17,000+ makers in our Facebook group and ask any printer question — you'll get answers from people who use these machines every day.