10 Best Dot Matrix Printers 2025 in the United States

The Epson 9-PIN Dot Matrix Wide DFX-9000 is designed for businesses needing efficient printing of reports, multipart forms, and labels. One of its standout features is its ultra-fast print speed of up to 1550 characters per second, making it suitable for high-volume tasks. Additionally, the automatic platen gap adjustment and jam-sensor help minimize paper waste, enhancing productivity.

Durability is another strong point, as the print head boasts a lifespan of 400 million characters and the ribbon cartridge lasts for 15 million characters, which can significantly lower the long-term costs of printing. The included LCD display simplifies setup and menu navigation, making the printer user-friendly even for those who might not be tech-savvy.

On the downside, the DFX-9000 is quite large and weighs around 3.75 pounds, which may require a dedicated space in an office environment. Its noise level can also be higher than that of modern printers, which might be distracting in quieter office settings. While it offers good connectivity with a USB port, it lacks the versatility of wireless options that many newer printers provide. The print quality is generally acceptable for monochrome outputs, but it may not meet the expectations of users seeking high-resolution color printing, as this is not the focus of a dot matrix printer. The limited maximum input sheet capacity of 9 sheets might also pose a challenge for some users who frequently handle larger print jobs.

The Epson DFX-9000 serves as a robust choice for environments where speed, durability, and cost-effectiveness are essential, though it may not cater to users looking for modern features or quiet operation.

The Epson LQ-590ii 24-Pin Dot Matrix Printer is a robust choice for those needing reliable daily printing. It excels in print speed, achieving up to 584 characters per second (cps), which is quite fast for a dot-matrix printer. This makes it suitable for high-volume tasks where speed is crucial. The 24-pin impact mechanism ensures decent print quality, especially for text documents, although it may not be ideal for graphic-heavy tasks.

Its advanced paper handling capabilities, including support for various media types like envelopes and plain paper, offer versatility for different printing needs. Connectivity is straightforward with USB, allowing seamless integration with both new and legacy systems, making it a flexible option for varied setups. The printer is designed to be durable and reliable, boasting a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 25,000 hours, ensuring long-term use with minimal downtime.

However, as with most dot-matrix printers, it can be quite noisy during operation, which might be a consideration for quieter office environments. Additionally, its weight of 7.2 kilograms makes it relatively heavy, so it may not be easy to move frequently. The low cost of ownership is a significant advantage, particularly for businesses looking to manage printing costs effectively. In summary, the Epson LQ-590ii is well-suited for industrial and high-speed printing tasks, offering a balance of speed, reliability, and cost-efficiency, though its noise level and weight may be drawbacks for some users.

The Epson TM-U295-292 is a dot matrix slip printer that excels in certain areas while having limitations in others. Its print speed is a notable strength, with monochrome printing at 250 pages per minute (ppm), which is quite high for this category. However, it's important to note that the color print speed is much slower at just 10 ppm. Print quality is typical for dot matrix printers, suitable for basic text and simple graphics but not ideal for high-definition images.

The printer handles various media types including plain paper and labels, and it has a decent input sheet capacity of 210 sheets, making it versatile for different printing needs. Connectivity is provided via USB, which is convenient for most modern setups, but it lacks wireless options that some might find useful. Durability and reliability are strong points, as Epson is known for producing robust printers. However, the absence of included cables and power supply means additional purchases are necessary to get started.

Noise level can be a concern with dot matrix printers, and while not explicitly mentioned, it is generally higher compared to modern printers. This model is compact and portable, which is a plus for small workspaces. It also has useful features like auto-duplex and CD printing. The Epson TM-U295-292 is suitable for users needing a reliable and fast monochrome printer with basic color capabilities, though the need for additional accessories and potential noise might be drawbacks for some.