Editor
The Silhouette Cameo is a desktop cutting machine beloved by crafters for making stickers, cards, fabric patterns and more. The Cameo is even useful for businesses, allowing them to create their own merchandise or products in-house, rather than depending on a print shop. However, to complete your crafting kit, you’ll need a printer that’s up to creating your designs ready for cutting. This printer needs to be able to handle a variety of materials from vellum to cardstock, and produce clear, precise, colourful prints that stand out without smudges. We’ve reviewed all the printers on the market, to find you the best printer for Silhouette Cameo in 2022.
Product Comparison Table: Best Printer for Silhouette Cameo
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | Epson Expression Home XP-4100 Wireless | $ | 4 stars | Best value | Amazon |
 | HP Photosmart 6520 | $$ | 4.5 stars | Most versatile | Amazon |
 | Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best print quality | Amazon |
| Epson Stylus Photo 1400 | $$$ | 4.5 stars | Best value | Amazon |
 | HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best overall | Amazon |
Epson Expression Home XP-4100 Wireless
The sleek Epson Expression Home XP-1400 Wireless printer offers auto two-sided printing and other high performance features, all packaged conveniently for efficient everyday home printing. This machine allows you to get instantly touchable Silhouette Cameo crafts with instant dry Clarian ink ― all from a compact printer with a convenient space saving design. Other economical features include a 100 sheet paper feed tray (meaning you have to reload paper less often), a colour LCD, and hands-free voice activated printing via Amazon Alexa, making this machine both efficient and pretty foolproof. It is also fully wireless-capable, supporting both WiFi and wired connections to easily print from iPad, iPhone, Android tablets and smartphones, as well as computers.
Pros
- Standard resolution for solid print quality
- Affordable price
- Wireless connectivity including Alexa
- Compact size and sleek look
- Advanced paper handling capabilities
Cons
- Can’t use third party cartridges
Verdict
The Epson Expression Home XP-4100 is the best value printer we reviewed, offering excellent features in the areas that matter for Silhouette Cameo users at a very affordable price. Some features – like smudge-proof inks, duplex and hands-free capability – would be laudable on a machine even twice its price! The one major downside is the inability to use third-party inks, which could drive up running costs. However, the inks can be replaced individually, which works out as saving you money when you don’t have to replace a full set.
Read more reviews or buy this product
HP Photosmart 6520
The HP Photosmart 6520 All-in-One Printer may not have the sharpest resolution, at a decidedly average 1200 x 1200 dpi. It also only has a 4 cartridge configuration (pigment black, magenta, cyan and yellow). However, it does have plenty of other features to make up for that. This printer not only prints, but also copies and scans, including a duplex (double-sided) printing feature. It works quite fast too, at a speed of 12ppm in black and white, or 8ppm in colour, on various kinds of paper like labels, cardstock and even envelopes. It features various connectivity options such as USB, WiFi and WiFi Direct, which supports services such as ePrint and AirPrint. The input tray easily holds up to 80 papers, and the output and photo tray can hold 20 sheets at a time.
Pros
- Multifunctional (scans, copies and prints)
- Input tray holds up to 80 sheets
- Wireless connectivity options
Cons
- Quite loud, especially when starting
- Cartridges only print 500 sheets
Verdict
The HP Photosmart 6520 prints in decent quality, but where this machine really shines is its versatility. It not only prints, but also scans and copies on the same range of media as it can print. It is simple and straightforward to use too. This one would be good for large projects due to the lower resolution, which may struggle on more intricate designs.
Read more reviews or buy this product
3. Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless
The Canon Pixma iX6820 is capable of producing prints at an exceptionally high resolution – an incredible 9600 x 2400 dpi. This will make even the most intricate of designs clear and precise, matching up to the professional-standard cutting provided by a Silhouette Cameo. The print quality is also augmented by the advanced cartridge configuration; by using 5 cartridges (black, pigment black, yellow, cyan and magenta), the Pixma iX6820 is able to print bright true colours. The ChromaLife100+ technology incorporated in the printer also ensures your hard-worked prints don’t discolour or become damaged by water or dust. It can print images up to 13 x 19 inches, at a speed of 10ppm in colour, or 14ppm in mono. It also comes with a wide range of connectivity options: WiFi Direct, USB, Ethernet, and conventional WiFi, meaning you can print from practically any device with an internet connection including phones and tablets.
Pros
- Extremely high resolution for professional quality prints
- Includes quiet mode
- Easy to connect on multiple devices
- 5 cartridges for true colours
Cons
- No duplex scanning
Verdict
The Canon Pixma iX6820 is our choice if you’re looking for a printer for Silhouette Cameo that can produce the highest quality prints possible. This machine has the highest resolution out of any on our list, and the 5 cartridge setup you need to achieve professional quality. The high dpi is great if you’re making stickers or other small intricate designs.
Read more reviews or buy this product
Epson Stylus Photo 1400
The Epson Stylus Photo 1400 Wide-Format Colour Inkjet Printer is known for the high-quality photos it can print. It has a high resolution of 5760 x 1400 dpi,providing professional-level accuracy and details, all thanks to its cartridge configuration of 6 different cartridge inks. The 6 dye-based cartridges include black, yellow, magenta, cyan, light magenta, and light cyan. Epson’s signature Claria Hi-Definition Ink prevents pictures from discolouring or becoming damaged by water, plus this machine also incorporates DX5 Micropiezo technology which enhances each feature of the output for sharpened and brightened results. It can print on a full range of stocks from 4 x 6 inches to 12 x 12, and comes with free editing software included as standard.
Pros
- High resolution for high print quality
- Prints last for 98 years in optimal conditions
- Supports a range of media
- Technologically advanced inks
Cons
- Very expensive (price and running costs)
- No wireless connectivity options
Verdict
The Epson Stylus Photo 1400 boasts a range of extremely sophisticated print technologies, from the print head down to the inks. However, the very high price and running costs will make this model out of the reach of the average crafter; this is one for businesses looking to invest in a printer to make money out of their Silhouette Cameo products.
Read more reviews or buy this product
HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e has a great resolution of 600 x 600 dpi, guaranteeing beautiful clear prints every time. It is also extremely fast, printing a blistering 22 pages in a minute, borderless! The HP Photosmart’s talents are not just limited to printing, however, as it also scans and copies too. The automatic document feeder function also makes it easier to print large volumes with very little human involvement; it will automatically follow set instructions, including duplex printing on sizes up to 8.5 x 11 inches. For faster working, the machine also comes with smart features: both Ethernet and wireless internet capabilities, and a unique touchscreen interface that allows you to program the printer as well as access online file services like Google Drive. The HP Smart app even allows you to interact with the printer from your phone!
Pros
- High resolution for quality prints
- Fast printing speeds
- Can handle paper as thin as 50gsm
- Prints borderless up to 8.5 x 11 inches
- Wireless connectivity
Cons
- Maximum media weight of 105gsm
Verdict
What if you could scan an image on your phone, and then print it out straight away to cut on your Silhouette Cameo? That’s what the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e offers, with its flawless connectivity and intuitive interfaces. The print quality and paper handling are also impressively high, with the only downside being the printer is not capable of handling very heavy weight media. However, it is unlikely you will be needing to print on anything thicker than 105gsm if you’re planning to use a Cameo! This is our pick for the overall best printer for Silhouette Cameo in 2022.
