A3 multifunction printers explained: Who needs one and why

Not sure whether your office needs an A3 multifunction printer, or what one even is? You are not alone.

This guide explains what an A3 multifunction printer does, how it differs from a standard A3 printer, and who genuinely benefits from having one.

What is an A3 multifunction printer?

An A3 multifunction printer, sometimes shortened as an MFP or MFD (multifunction device), is a device that prints, scans and copies documents up to A3 size (297 x 420mm) as well as standard A4. The word multifunction is the key part. Rather than a single-purpose printer, it combines several office document tasks into one machine.

Most A3 printers on the market today are colour devices, able to print colour and mono documents from the same machine to suit a range of printing needs. A3 printers also tend to print at a higher speed than smaller A4 models, since they are built to support a whole team rather than one desk.

For a business, this usually means one shared device replaces a separate printer, scanner and photocopier, positioned centrally for a team or department to use.

A3 printer vs A3 multifunction printer: What's the difference?

Not every A3 printer is a multifunction device. A basic A3 printer only prints. An A3 multifunction printer adds scanning and copying, and often document workflow features on top.

This is a separate question to A3 versus A4, which comes down to paper size and print volume rather than device capability.

A3 vs A4 office printers: How to choose the right option

It is also worth distinguishing A3 multifunction printers from wide-format printers, which print far larger than A3 and are built for architectural plans, engineering drawings and signage rather than everyday office documents.

Who needs an A3 multifunction printer, and why

An A3 MFP earns its place in an office where documents regularly need to be larger than A4, or where several people rely on one central device for printing, scanning and copying. A3 printing suits any business producing larger layouts, not just design-heavy industries.

• Professional services firms producing spreadsheets, financial reports or large contracts

• Architecture and design studios working with plans, layouts and presentation boards

• Construction and engineering teams handling markups, RFIs and site drawings

• Marketing teams producing posters, signage proofs or training materials

• Any office where one shared device needs to cover a workgroup rather than a single desk

If your office mostly produces standard letters, invoices and internal paperwork on A4 paper, a smaller A4 printer may be the better fit for everyday office use. The distinction usually comes down to document size and office needs, not office size alone.

What an A3 MFP adds beyond printing

The multifunction part of an A3 MFP is where most of the practical value sits.

Scanning and document digitisation

Scan-to-email, scan-to-folder and cloud upload let your team scan and copy documents without a separate scanner. The ability to print and scan from the one A3 device turns paper documents into digital files quickly, whether that's text documents for a client file or images destined for photo paper output. For offices moving toward paperless workflows, this is often the most-used feature on the device.

Finishing options (stapling, booklets, hole punching)

Many A3 MFPs include finishing hardware that a standard printer does not: automatic stapling, booklet creation and hole punching. Duplex printing, an automatic document feeder for multi-page originals, and support for A3 paper alongside standard stock are also worth checking, since these small features save real time in a busy office. For reports, training packs and proposals, this removes a manual step that otherwise falls to whoever printed the job.

Workflow and network integration

Modern A3 MFPs connect into existing business networks with security features such as secure print release, user authentication and cloud document platforms. This matters more as team size grows and print jobs need to be tracked, authorised or kept off a shared output tray.

See our A3 office printer range

A3 inkjet vs laser MFPs: Which is better for business?

An A3 laser printer is the standard choice for most offices. Laser MFPs handle higher print volumes reliably, deliver consistent print quality with sharp text and clean lines for diagrams and reports, and generally offer lower running costs per page over the life of the device. Print speed is usually faster on a laser device too, which matters when several people rely on the same A3 printer throughout the day.

An inkjet printer can suit lower-volume environments or where photo-quality colour matters more than speed, but ink costs and print quality on text-heavy business documents rarely match a laser device. A3 printing on an inkjet printer also tends to run slower than laser under everyday office conditions. An A3 inkjet printer is worth considering for design studios prioritising colour accuracy over volume, but most environments printing regular reports, spreadsheets or marketing materials get better value and reliability from an A3 laser printer.

There is no single best A3 printer between the two technologies. The right choice depends on whether your office values print speed and running costs, or colour accuracy on lower volumes.

A3 multifunction printers by office size

Scope BI supplies A3 printers from Sharp and Konica Minolta, sized to match different office volumes rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Newer compact A3 models also take up noticeably less floor space than older generations, so the footprint trade-off is smaller than it used to be. All of the A3 printers below are colour devices, and all are laser rather than inkjet.

Small office

Entry-level A3 colour MFPs suited to smaller teams with occasional large-format printing, such as the Sharp BP51C26 and BP56C26, or the Konica Minolta bizhub C251i and C301i. These A3 printers are a common starting point for offices upgrading from an A4-only fleet.

Browse printers for small offices

Medium office

Mid-range A3 printers built for busier workgroups with regular A3 output, such as the Sharp BP61C31, BP71C31 and BP71C36, or the Konica Minolta bizhub C361i and C551i.

Browse printers for medium offices

Large office

Higher-speed A3 printers for large departments or centralised print environments, such as the Sharp BP71C45, BP71C55 and BP71C65, or the Konica Minolta bizhub C751i and C651i. Larger A3 printers in this range are built to support many more users printing, scanning and copying in colour throughout the day.

Browse printers for large offices

An A3 multifunction printer is a business-grade, durable option built for a shared office where multiple users rely on the same device throughout a busy office day. Whether the output is client-facing proposals or day-to-day internal paperwork, finding the right A3 printer among the range of A3 devices on the market comes down to matching print volume, colour needs and finishing features to how your team actually works, rather than trying to find the best model in the abstract.