Best A3 Printers & MFPs for Business UK 2026

An A3 multifunction printer (MFP) lets your team print, copy, and scan documents up to A3 size – useful for architects, marketing teams, solicitors, and any office that regularly handles larger format materials. Most modern A3 devices are laser or heat-free inkjet MFPs, not standalone printers, and in 2026 the UK market is dominated by a handful of established Japanese manufacturers.

Leasing an A3 MFP through a managed print contract typically costs between £49 and £150 per month for a floor-standing device, depending on speed, colour capability, and the brand you choose. This guide covers the eight leading brands available in the UK right now, with current 2026 models and verified pricing to help you make the right call.

Canon’s imageFORCE platform – launched in the UK in May 2025 – covers 33 A3 and A4 MFD models, with colour A3 speeds from 40 to 70 ppm and OLED-based D² Exposure print engines.

Canon’s imageFORCE platform is the company’s first unified MFP range, replacing both the imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX and imageCLASS X lineups under a single brand. Launched in the UK from May 2025, the imageFORCE family now spans 33 devices across 9 series – from compact A4 MFDs to the 105 ppm imageFORCE 8100 mono production device. For most offices looking at an A3 floor-standing device, the imageFORCE C5140 (40 ppm) through C5170 (70 ppm) are the current relevant colour models.

The imageFORCE uses Canon’s D² Exposure technology – an OLED-based solid-state print engine producing up to 4,800 x 2,400 dpi resolution. Unlike conventional laser exposure, OLED arrays are solid-state (no moving parts), which Canon claims improves reliability and reduces warm-up time. Each C5140–C5170 device comes with a 10.1-inch colour touchscreen, 6GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and supports Apple AirPrint, Mopria, and Canon PRINT Business for mobile printing.

Canon’s uniFLOW software comes in two forms: uniFLOW (on-premise) and uniFLOW Online (cloud SaaS). Both provide print authentication, cost tracking, rules-based printing, and scanning workflows – the cloud version adds Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace integration. Canon’s MPS layer adds proactive toner replenishment, on-site service, and cost-per-page billing.

For lease pricing, expect to deal through an authorised Canon dealer – no RRP is published for A3 business MFDs. A legacy imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C3830i (still stocked by some dealers) is quoted at approximately £68/month to lease, giving a rough market floor for the Canon A3 range.

One watch-out: the imageFORCE transition was ongoing through 2025, so some dealers may still offer older DX stock. Always confirm the dealer is quoting a current imageFORCE model and check that uniFLOW licensing costs are included in the monthly quote – it is a separate SKU.

• Canon's imageFORCE is the — strongest all-round choice for UK businesses in 2026
• OLED print engine — FIPS 140-3 security, and a mature cloud software stack via uniFLOW Online
• Get multiple dealer quotes — and always confirm the uniFLOW licence cost is included

Ricoh’s IM C SD Series, launched February 2025, uses 50% post-consumer recycled materials and won Best Print Productivity at the DataMaster Digital Imaging Awards 2025.

Ricoh’s IM C range is the company’s flagship A3 colour MFP lineup. In February 2025 Ricoh refreshed it with the SD Series – four models (IM C3010SD, C3510SD, C4510SD, C6010SD) introducing PFU straight-path scanner technology, a first for Ricoh. The straight-path ADF handles delicate originals – thin paper, mixed batches, stapled documents – without the curl-and-crumple risk of a conventional roller ADF.

The SD Series also cuts panel power consumption by 45% and uses 50% post-consumer recycled plastic, earning the IM C range the ‘Best Print Productivity, A3 MFPs’ award at the DataMaster Digital Imaging Awards 2025.

The standout feature across the entire IM C range is Always Current Technology (ACT). Every Ricoh IM C device receives automatic firmware and feature updates throughout its lease lifetime – so a device leased in 2022 can have the same feature set as one installed in 2026. This reduces the pressure to upgrade hardware frequently and makes Ricoh a strong fit for 3–5 year lease cycles. The IM C7010 (70 ppm, SRA3-capable) represents the top end of the standard range, while the SD Series covers 30–60 ppm with enhanced scanning. Pricing for all IM C models is quote-only – Ricoh does not publish RRP in the UK.

Ricoh’s service network is one of the largest in UK print: 900 UK-based field engineers backed by the OneRicoh Portal for service requests and remote diagnostics. MPS comes in four tracks: Office Printing, Cloud Print, Print Room, and Print on Demand – each targeting a different deployment model. The Ricoh Smart Integration platform handles cloud workflow (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, SharePoint) without requiring an additional server.

Xerox’s AltaLink C8100 Series handles up to 300,000 images per month on the C8170 model, with PagePack MPS offering colour pages from 3.91p per page excluding VAT.

Xerox offers two current A3 MFP families in the UK: the AltaLink C8100 Series (colour) and AltaLink B8100 Series (mono), both positioned at enterprise departments needing high duty cycles. The AltaLink C8170 tops the colour range at 70 ppm with a 300,000 image/month duty cycle – suitable for busy central print rooms or large legal and professional services teams. All AltaLink devices use ConnectKey Technology, Xerox’s app-based MFP platform, which connects to the Xerox App Gallery for pre-built workflow automation apps (legal, healthcare, accounting).

The most distinctive Xerox offering for businesses is PagePack – an all-inclusive managed print service with published per-page pricing. Colour pages start from 3.91p per page (ex VAT), and mono from approximately 1.04p per page. This transparency is unusual in UK MPS, where most rivals quote on application. PagePack includes all toner, maintenance, parts, and next-business-day on-site engineer cover. Independent partner Xeretec – Xerox’s largest Western European partner – reports 99.6% device uptime, 90.6% first-time fix rate, and a 14-second helpdesk answer time under PagePack contracts.

One significant development: Xerox completed the $1.5 billion acquisition of Lexmark in July 2025, the largest in Xerox’s history. Xerox has stated UK resellers will not be disrupted, and the expanded A3 portfolio from Lexmark’s SMB range is expected to be integrated into the Xerox go-to-market from Q2 2026. Verify your dealer’s status and preferred range during this transition period.

Konica Minolta’s OneRate subscription starts from £92/month for an A3 mono MFP, covering all prints, scans, consumables, parts, and 24/7 remote diagnostics with no per-page charges.

Konica Minolta’s bizhub i-Series covers 21 devices – seven A3 colour models, six A3 mono models, and eight A4 models – sold in the UK through the OneRate fixed-fee subscription and conventional lease. OneRate is an all-in monthly payment that includes every print and scan, all toner and consumables, parts, maintenance, 24/7 remote diagnostics, and nationwide engineer cover. There are no per-page overage charges – only paper is excluded.

Published OneRate prices from Konica Minolta’s UK online shop (verified March 2026) show the bizhub 301i (A3 mono, 30 ppm) starting at £92/month, and the bizhub C257i (A3 colour, 25 ppm) at £102/month. The bizhub C361i (A3 colour, 36 ppm) is listed at £174.60/month. These are the most transparent published A3 MFP prices available from any major brand in the UK market. The bizhub i-Series won the BLI 2025 A3 Line of the Year Award from Keypoint Intelligence, plus four individual BLI Pick Awards.

Security is a particular strength: the i-Series includes Authentication Attack Detection (blocks brute-force login attempts), optional BitDefender antivirus with device-screen threat visibility, and native SSO with Microsoft Azure Entra ID and Google Workspace. The Optimised Print Services (OPS) platform is AI-powered for cloud-based fleet management, automatic consumables prediction, and workflow automation – placing Konica Minolta as a Quocirca MPS Leader for the fifth consecutive year in 2025.

Sharp’s BP Series A3 colour MFPs start at £23/month to lease (BP20C20 at 20 ppm), rising to £85/month for the BP-70C65 at 65 ppm, based on UK reseller pricing verified March 2026.

Sharp’s BP Series is the company’s current A3 MFP range, replacing the legacy MX Series as the primary product line. The BP Series covers a wide spectrum: the entry BP20C20 (20 ppm colour A3, £23/month lease) at one end, and the high-performance BP-90C80 (80 ppm, light production) at the other. The mid-range BP-50C and BP-60C series (26–65 ppm) cover most office requirements, while the BP-70C family adds a 10.1-inch tiltable LCD touchscreen, a motion sensor that wakes the device when a user approaches, and communication lamps for at-a-glance status.

Sharp’s UK pricing is the most granular of any brand in this roundup. A 31 ppm BP-50C31 leases from £38/month; the 45 ppm BP-50C45 from £55/month; the 65 ppm BP-50C65 from £75/month. The BP-70M90 high-volume mono model supports Microsoft Teams integration. All BP Series devices carry Bitdefender antivirus at device level and have been validated by Keypoint Intelligence for security.

Sharp’s MPS infrastructure includes 200+ UK engineers across 14 regional offices, a 95% first-time fix rate, a 12-second helpdesk response target, and 99% average device uptime. Fleet monitoring runs via OneStop software, giving real-time usage analytics across managed devices.

For smaller businesses or those trialling A3 printing, Sharp’s verified low entry lease price is the most accessible in this category. The MX Series is still available via some UK resellers, but the BP Series should be your priority – confirm with Sharp or an authorised dealer that you are getting current-generation BP stock.

Kyocera’s TASKalfa A3 MFPs use a long-life ceramic drum that only requires toner replacement – no drum unit costs – reducing TCO over a 3–5 year lease compared with conventional laser rivals.

Kyocera Document Solutions UK positions the TASKalfa range on total cost of ownership rather than headline lease price. The key technology is Kyocera’s patented amorphous silicon ceramic drum, which lasts for the lifetime of the device without replacement. Competing laser MFPs require periodic drum unit changes (typically every 75,000–200,000 pages depending on the model), each adding £100–£400 in parts cost. With Kyocera, only toner is consumed – reducing both direct costs and waste.

The current TASKalfa range for A3 offices includes the TASKalfa 2554ci (25 ppm colour A3, from £2,408 ex VAT at UK resellers) and the TASKalfa MA3500ci (35 ppm colour A3). Mono A3 high-volume models include the TASKalfa 7003i (70 ppm), 8003i (80 ppm), and 9003i (90 ppm). All feature a 10.1-inch multi-touch panel and HyPAS – an open platform for custom third-party workflow apps.

Kyocera Fleet Services handles cloud-based remote monitoring on Microsoft Azure, with automated toner alerts and remote panel access to reduce engineer callouts. Kyocera’s Managed Document Services (MDS) claims to reduce total cost of ownership by up to 30%, and all new devices are delivered carbon-neutral as standard – offsetting manufacturing, shipping, consumables, and engineer mileage.

Kyocera holds EPEAT Gold ratings across its new ECOSYS ranges and was named ‘Sustainability Vendor of the Year’ at the 2025 Stockies Awards. All Kyocera UK sales go through the reseller channel – no direct purchase from Kyocera UK – and pricing is entirely quote-based via authorised partners.

Epson’s WorkForce Enterprise A3 MFPs use Heat-Free inkjet technology drawing 0.19–0.25 kWh per week – significantly lower energy consumption than equivalent laser MFPs, which typically draw 1.5–3 kWh per week.

Epson is the only brand in this roundup that does not make laser printers. All Epson business products use Heat-Free Technology – PrecisionCore piezoelectric inkjet print heads that apply mechanical pressure to fire ink droplets without any thermal fusing element. This means no warm-up time, lower energy draw, and (Epson claims) a faster first-page-out time than equivalent colour laser devices.

The WorkForce Enterprise range includes the AM-C4000 (40 ppm A3 colour), AM-C5000 (50 ppm), and AM-C6000 (60 ppm) – all A3 colour MFPs with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, HDD encryption, TPM module, malware detection, and TLS 1.3 security. The AM-M5500 covers 55 ppm mono A3. These devices directly compete with mid-range photocopier MFDs from Kyocera, Toshiba, Canon, and Ricoh in terms of speed and workflow capability. WorkForce Enterprise devices draw 0.19–0.25 kWh per week – a significant energy saving at scale if your organisation runs multiple devices.

The WorkForce Enterprise range is sold exclusively through the MPS channel – it is not available for direct purchase. Pricing is quote-only. Epson Print Admin (EPA) manages pull printing, user authentication, cost tracking, and cloud integration (SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Google Drive). The WorkForce Pro RIPS (Replaceable Ink Pack System) line extends ink yield to 86,000 mono pages per ink set for very high-volume departmental printing – also MPS-channel only. For clarity: the WorkForce Enterprise AM series are inkjet, not laser. They are correctly classified and presented here as such, unlike some older comparison guides that misidentified Epson products.

Toshiba’s e-STUDIO 6525AC series runs at 65 ppm A3 colour with a 5,200-sheet paper capacity, 6GB RAM, and 128GB SSD – its flagship UK office device in the current AC Series.

Toshiba TEC UK operates as a fully independent entity from Toshiba Corporation and continues to sell and service the e-STUDIO range in the UK. The current A3 colour lineup, the 2525AC–6525AC Series, runs from 25 ppm (e-STUDIO2525AC) to 65 ppm (e-STUDIO6525AC), with the e-STUDIO7527AC Series reaching 75 ppm for high-volume environments. The e-STUDIO6525AC flagship carries 6GB RAM, 128GB SSD, 5,200-sheet maximum paper capacity, and a 26cm multi-touch colour display. Optional finishing includes multi-position stapling, booklet creation, centre fold, and hole punch – a comprehensive finishing stack for document-intensive operations.

Control is managed via the e-BRIDGE Next controller platform, which handles cloud connectivity, print authentication, and process automation. In July 2024 Toshiba Tec formed the ETRIA joint venture with Ricoh (Toshiba Tec 15%, Ricoh 85%) for shared MFP hardware development and manufacturing. New ETRIA-manufactured devices are expected from 2026. Crucially, the e-STUDIO brand continues, and the UK sales, support, software, and service teams remain under Toshiba TEC – this is a manufacturing partnership, not a brand merger or acquisition. UK buyers should continue dealing with Toshiba TEC UK or authorised resellers (Midshire, Camelott, MiD Solutions, Copier King, Insight Systems) as normal.

No published GBP pricing is available from Toshiba TEC UK – all pricing is on application via authorised UK resellers. Leasing is available with Fair Market Value and buyout options referenced by UK partners. A notable sustainability initiative: Toshiba TEC partners with CleanHub to prevent ocean plastic waste across its supply chain.

A3 vs A4: Which Do You Actually Need?

An A3 MFP is worth leasing if your team regularly prints or copies documents larger than A4 – such as architectural drawings, marketing materials, spreadsheets, or legal bundles – at volumes above 5,000 pages per month.

A3 floor-standing MFPs cost roughly twice as much to lease as comparable A4 devices – and that premium is only worthwhile if your team genuinely uses the larger format. Before committing to an A3 lease, work through these questions:

Who will actually use A3? Architects, surveyors, and estate agents regularly print A3 drawings. Marketing teams benefit from A3 for presentations, posters, and client-facing materials. Solicitors and accountants use A3 for spreadsheets and document bundles. Most other office environments rarely need it – an A4 MFP would suffice and cost significantly less.

What is your monthly print volume? A3 floor-standing MFPs are rated for 10,000–60,000 pages per month. If your team prints fewer than 5,000 pages per month total, a desktop A4 MFP (from £22/month to lease) is more cost-effective than an A3 floor-stander. The volume thresholds are: under 5,000 pages/month – desktop A4; 5,000–25,000 – workgroup A4 or entry A3; 10,000–60,000 – floor-standing A3; above 60,000 – light production or enterprise A3.

Colour or mono? If your A3 output is mostly text documents – reports, legal bundles, internal memos – a mono A3 MFP (from £25/month lease) cuts costs significantly versus colour. If you print marketing materials, architectural plans, or client presentations, a colour A3 MFP is worth the additional outlay.

For most UK SMEs, the practical recommendation is: if you print A3 more than 500 times per month, justify an A3 MFP on lease. Below that threshold, print A3 jobs at a print shop and use an A4 MFP for everything else. See our full guide to photocopier costs and photocopier leasing costs for a more detailed cost-per-copy breakdown.

How A3 MFP Leasing Works in the UK

A3 MFP leases in the UK typically run for 36–60 months, with monthly payments covering the hardware only. A separate cost-per-page MPS contract covers toner, maintenance, and engineer callouts.

Most UK businesses lease A3 MFPs rather than buying outright – and typically layer a Managed Print Service (MPS) contract on top. Understanding how both work will help you avoid surprises on your invoice.

The lease covers the hardware. You pay a fixed monthly or quarterly amount for 36, 48, or 60 months. At the end of the term you can renew with a new device, buy the residual value, or return it. You cannot exit early without paying all remaining instalments – confirm this before signing. Some suppliers also charge a collection fee at lease end that is not disclosed upfront.

The MPS contract covers everything else: toner (delivered automatically when the device triggers a reorder), all parts, all labour, and engineer callouts. You are charged per page printed – typically 0.35p–1.0p for mono and 3.5p–10p for colour (all ex VAT). There are three common billing models to be aware of:

Cost-per-copy: a fixed rate per page regardless of ink coverage – the most transparent model. Cost-per-development: charges per colour layer applied; a full-colour page with four colour passes = four charges, which can inflate costs significantly on colour-heavy documents. Tiered billing: rate rises as ink coverage increases, which can be expensive for image-heavy printing. Always ask your supplier which model applies before signing.

A3 pages are typically charged at double the A4 cost-per-page rate under MPS contracts. Always ask your supplier: which billing model applies? What is the per-page rate for A3 colour at 5% coverage? And what is not included in the MPS contract – commonly: paper, staples, accidental damage, and device insurance.

How to Choose the Right A3 MFP for Your Business

Match your A3 MFP choice to three factors: monthly print volume (determines speed tier), colour versus mono (determines device type), and your preferred contract model (per-page MPS, fixed-fee subscription, or conventional lease).

With eight brands and dozens of models available, choosing an A3 MFP for a UK business comes down to a handful of practical decisions. Work through these in order:

1. Decide on speed tier. Speed (pages per minute) determines the device tier and the monthly lease cost. Most offices with 5–25 users and 10,000–25,000 pages per month need a 30–45 ppm device. Larger teams (25+ users, 25,000–60,000 pages/month) should look at 55–70 ppm models. Very high-volume environments (production, education, central print rooms) should consider 70 ppm and above.

2. Colour or mono? Colour MFPs cost 2–3x more per page than mono on an MPS contract. If more than 80% of your output is text documents, a mono A3 device will cut running costs significantly. Colour is worth the premium if you regularly produce client-facing materials, marketing collateral, or architectural drawings.

3. Choose your contract model. For pricing transparency with no per-page surprises, Konica Minolta’s OneRate or Xerox’s PagePack both have published rates. For the widest verified UK reseller pricing at each speed tier, Sharp BP Series is the most granular. For lowest total cost of ownership over 5 years, Kyocera’s ceramic drum advantage is the strongest argument. For sustainability credentials, Ricoh SD Series (50% recycled) and Kyocera (carbon-neutral delivery) lead the field.

4. Check the software ecosystem. A3 MFPs are workflow devices, not just printers. Canon’s uniFLOW Online, Ricoh’s Smart Integration, Xerox’s ConnectKey App Gallery, and Konica Minolta’s OPS platform each offer cloud workflow integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. If you run a mixed fleet or have specific document management requirements (PaperCut, DocuWare, MyQ), verify compatibility before specifying a device.

For a full breakdown of what an A3 lease will cost you across different contract lengths and page volumes, see our guide to photocopier leasing costs. For a comparison of colour versus mono running costs, see our colour photocopiers guide.

Clara Wenslow

Finance & Business Services Editor

Clara analyses SME finance and procurement markets, covering business loans, invoice finance, payroll, and related B2B services. She ensures each comparison and guide is transparent and data-driven.

Reviewed by

Sarah Mitchell

B2B Commerce & Finance Reviewer