Can Every Copier Print Edge-to-Edge?

What Does “Edge-to-Edge” Printing Mean?

When people talk about edge-to-edge printing, they usually mean printing a document or image with no white borders—also known as full bleed printing. However, most standard office copiers cannot print completely to the edge of the paper.

Why?

Most copiers leave a small margin around the edges because:

✅ The paper needs something to grip as it moves through the machine

✅ The toner or ink distribution isn’t designed to go beyond a certain printable area

✅ Internal mechanics prevent printing on the very edges without special finishing options

This means that if you try to print a full-bleed document on a standard copier, you’ll likely end up with a small, unwanted white border.

Do Any Copiers Print Edge-to-Edge?

Yes, but only certain high-end production copiers have this capability. These machines use special finishing features to apply toner all the way to the edge and trim off excess paper for a truly borderless print.

✔ Who uses them?

• Commercial print shops
• High-volume marketing teams
• Companies producing booklets, brochures, or professional-grade print materials

✔ How do they work?

• Some production copiers have a built-in internal cutter to trim the edges automatically.
• Others rely on oversized paper that gets cut down to size after printing.

However, these production units come with a higher price tag and are only necessary for businesses printing large volumes of edge-to-edge materials every month.

The More Affordable Option: Using a Cutter

For most businesses, investing in a full-production copier just for edge-to-edge printing doesn’t make financial sense. Instead, the more practical solution is to:

1. Print slightly larger than the intended design (leaving small overhangs).
2. Use a high-quality external cutter to trim the edges—creating a clean, professional finish.

✔ When is a cutter the better choice?

• If you print fewer than 1,000 edge-to-edge pages per month
• If you need flexibility to print different sizes and designs
• If you want to save thousands of dollars compared to an internal cutter system

A Common Challenge: Lining Up Double-Sided Prints

One complication when using a cutter is alignment between the front and back of the page. If the design is slightly off, the trim may cut into text or images differently on each side.

How to fix it:

✅ Use crop marks to guide the cutting process

✅ Print with extra bleed margin (to ensure clean edges)

✅ Invest in a high-precision cutter for consistent results

Final Verdict: Which Option Is Best for You?

🔹 Standard office copiers cannot print edge-to-edge—they leave a margin.

🔹 Production copiers with internal cutters can, but they’re expensive.

🔹 For most businesses, an external cutter is the smarter, more affordable choice if printing fewer than 1,000 full-bleed pages per month.

If you’re unsure which setup is best for your needs, Pahoda Copiers & Printers can help. We’ll guide you to the right copier and finishing equipment so you get professional results without overspending.

📞 Call us today to discuss your printing needs!