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HP DesignJet T525
36" technical / CAD plotter
- ModelT525
- Prints36" wide
- Score48/100
Authorized HP dealerGenuine hardware & ink
1-year warranty includedExtension plans available
Free shippingContinental U.S.
Plotter specialistsAEC experts, not just sellers
Analyst take
- The 36-inch print width suits full-size technical drawings, maps and coordination sheets that do not fit a 24-inch device.
- HP rates normal-quality A1 output at 70 pph, but actual batch time includes processing, media loading and set handling.
- HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, JPEG and CALS G4 support aligns with common CAD and technical-document workflows.
Not sure if the T525 is right for you?
Compare key specs and an AI analyst read-out against similar models.
- Wide-format reach Prints up to 36" wide on rolls and sheets.
- Fine detail 2400 x 1200 DPI maximum resolution for crisp line work.
- Connectivity Wi-Fi + Ethernet for shared team printing.
- Verified specs 10 specs checked against the manufacturer datasheet.
- Analyst score Scores 48/100 in our class-relative rating.
Overview
Built for the work
HP Designjet T525 36-in Printer, Thermal inkjet, 2400 x 1200 DPI, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, JPEG, CALS G4, Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, 2400 x 1200 DPI, 70 pph
- 36″Max print width
- 471 ft²/hRated speed
- 4Ink channels
- 2,400 dpiMax resolution
- 12 moIncluded warranty
Spec Analysis
overall
overall
Where it performs best
Connections
100
Size / Fit
98
Print Quality
66
Class best is 63. How we grade →
Expert analysis
What you should know
Key takeaways
- The 36-inch print width suits full-size technical drawings, maps and coordination sheets that do not fit a 24-inch device.
- HP rates normal-quality A1 output at 70 pph, but actual batch time includes processing, media loading and set handling.
- HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, JPEG and CALS G4 support aligns with common CAD and technical-document workflows.
- Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet and USB provide several practical submission paths for office teams.
- No scanning or copying means this printer cannot replace a redline-copy or drawing-archive workflow.
- The HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in is the more appropriate in-family option when dual-roll operation is required.
At 4:45 p.m., the architect does not need a production-printing thesis. They need a legible 36-inch plan, a coordination drawing, or a marked-up PDF on paper before the meeting starts. The HP DesignJet T525 36-in Printer is built for that everyday office plotter job: color and monochrome technical output from a compact thermal-inkjet machine that can sit near the people issuing drawings.
It supports direct printing, cut sheets and roll media, with Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and USB Type-A connectivity. HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, JPEG and CALS G4 support make it a sensible fit for CAD-originated drawings and common technical-file workflows. HP rates it at 70 pph for A1 output in normal quality. That rating is useful for planning, but a real bid-set afternoon still includes file processing, roll loading and somebody asking for “just one revised sheet.”
70 pphRated A1 speed, normal qualityHP-rated output speed.
2400 x 1200 DPIMaximum resolutionFor color and technical-print detail.
1024 MBInternal memoryAlso listed as 1 GB RAM capacity.
67.2 lbsMachine weightRelevant when deciding where the plotter will live.
Where it earns its floor space
This is a practical choice for a small architecture studio, engineering satellite office, survey team or jobsite support room that needs up to 36-inch output without adding a scanning workflow. Fine-line CAD sheets, plan-check PDFs, color-coded MEP coordination drawings and GIS maps are all reasonable applications when the work is issued in manageable batches.
The four-color ink system uses HP 711 inks and an HP 711 printhead. Its supported media list includes bond, plain, recycled, coated, matte, glossy and heavier papers, up to 0.012 inches thick. That gives teams room to move from ordinary drawing bond to presentation-oriented sheets when the deadline calls for both. It is not a finishing department, though. The output still needs handling, sorting and folding after it leaves the printer. Bottom line: it fits offices where the printer supports the project team rather than running the project team’s whole print room.
Workflow, connectivity and the missing pieces
For submission, the supplied tools include HP Click, HP DesignJet Utility for Windows, the HP Smart app and HP Poster Web app. Ethernet LAN runs at 100 Mbit/s, while Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct give smaller teams a few practical ways to send work without turning the plotter into an IT side project. Direct printing is supported, and the 1 GB memory allocation is useful context for ordinary technical files.
The failure mode to recognize early is not print quality. It is workflow mismatch. This model has no scanner and no copying function, so it cannot replace the walk-up machine used to copy redlines, capture field sketches or archive old drawings. Teams that need that capability should look at the HP DesignJet T830 24-in, which is listed as a scanner/MFP model. The trade-off is width: it is a 36-inch machine. Bottom line: buy this for printing, not because someone hopes it will quietly become the scan station too.
Use the plot-time estimator as a rated-speed starting point, then allow time for file preparation, media changes and collecting a complete set.
One set: – · Weekly plotting time: –
Computed from the manufacturer's rated 471 ft²/h. Real-world mixed sets run slower — treat this as a best case for comparing machines, not a promise.
How it sits in the DesignJet range
The HP DesignJet T525 24-in is the natural narrower alternative where drawings do not need 36-inch output. It keeps the same named family but does not solve a wide-sheet requirement. At the other end, the HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in is the relevant in-family step-up for operations that need a 36-inch platform with dual-roll capability. That second roll matters when plain bond and presentation media, or two common sheet sizes, keep colliding during a deadline.
The T525 36-in is less appropriate for a central reprographics department, a contractor issuing frequent mixed sets, or a high-volume engineering group that cannot tolerate roll-change interruption. It also has a maximum roll diameter of 3.9 inches, which deserves attention before assuming it will behave like a larger production device. Bottom line: this is an office plotter with useful width, not a substitute for a dual-roll production workflow.
Compare the practical alternatives
HP DesignJet T525 24-inFor teams whose work stays within a narrower print width.HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-inFor 36-inch workflows where dual-roll operation matters.HP DesignJet T830 24-inFor offices that need scanning and copying in the same device.Technical-printer class rankingReview this printer alongside its class peers.
The read
The HP DesignJet T525 36-in Printer is a clean fit for AEC teams that need occasional-to-regular 36-inch CAD and PDF printing, color markup and ordinary technical media without the footprint or workflow complexity of a larger print-room device. Its connectivity and direct-print support suit distributed project teams. Its lack of scanning, copying and dual-roll capability draws a firm line around the job. If that line matches your office, it should stay out of trouble. Which, in print rooms, is a respectable career goal. Bottom line: choose it for straightforward 36-inch technical printing close to the people doing the work.
Spec analysis
How the specs grade
Overall performance
- This printer
- Epson SureColor T5475
Category leaders best technical / CAD plotters, by dimension
Verified specifications
The specs that decide it
| Print technology | Thermal inkjet, 4 cartridges (CMYK), 1 printheadmanufacturer-verified |
|---|---|
| Maximum resolution | 2400 x 1200 dpi |
| Print speed (HP rated) | 35 s/page A1manufacturer-verified |
| Maximum roll width | 36 inmanufacturer-verified |
| Maximum roll length | 74.7 in (1897 mm)manufacturer-verified |
| Media thickness | 0.012 in (0.3 mm) |
| Connectivity | Fast Ethernet (100Base-T), Wi-Fi, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 |
| Page description languages | HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, JPEG, CALS G4manufacturer-verified |
| Internal memory | 1 GB |
| Weight / footprint | 67.2 lb (30.5 kg); 50.9 x 20.9 x 36.7 in (W x D x H) |
manufacturer-verified = checked against the manufacturer’s official datasheet, not aggregator data. Everything else is standards-body / catalog data we consider reliable.
Specifications
Full technical detail
Print technologyThermal inkjet
Max resolution2400 x 1200 DPI
Max print width36"
ConnectivityEthernet (Gigabit LAN), USB, Wi-Fi
Use caseCAD / Technical
Printing
| Colour | Yes |
|---|---|
| Print technology | Thermal inkjet |
| Printing colours | Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow |
| Maximum resolution | 2400 x 1200 DPI |
| Print resolution colour | 2400 x 1200 DPI |
| Number of print cartridges | 4 |
| Page description languages | HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, JPEG, CALS G4 |
| Print speed (normal quality, A1) | 70 pph |
Performance
| RAM capacity | 1 GB |
|---|---|
| Certification | Compliant with Class B requirements, including: USA (FCC rules), Canada (ICES), EU (EMC/R&TTE Directives), Australia (ACMA), New Zealand (RSM), China (CCC), Japan (VCCI); Certified as Class A product: Korea (KCC) |
| Product colour | White |
| Internal memory | 1024 MB |
| Sound power level (standby) | 16 dB |
Paper handling
| Cut sheets | Yes |
|---|---|
| Media thickness | 0.3 mm |
| Maximum roll diameter | 10 cm |
| Paper tray media types | Bond paper, Coated paper, Glossy paper, Heavy paper, Matte paper, Photo paper, Plain paper, Recycled paper, Satin paper, Semi-glossy paper |
| ISO A-series sizes (A0…A9) | A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 |
Ports & interfaces
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
|---|---|
| USB port | Yes |
| Ethernet LAN | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Direct | Yes |
| USB connector | USB Type-A |
| Direct printing | Yes |
| USB 2.0 ports quantity | 1 |
| Ethernet LAN data rates | 100 Mbit/s |
| Ethernet interface type | Fast Ethernet |
Weight & dimensions
| Depth | 530 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1292 mm |
| Height | 932 mm |
| Weight | 30.5 kg |
Power
| AC input voltage | 100 – 240 V |
|---|---|
| AC input frequency | 50/60 Hz |
| Power consumption (sleep) | 4.5 W |
| Power consumption (standby) | 0.3 W |
| Power consumption (typical) | 35 W |
Operational conditions
| Storage temperature (T-T) | -25 – 55 °C |
|---|---|
| Operating temperature (T-T) | 5 – 40 °C |
| Operating relative humidity (H-H) | 20 – 80% |
Copying
| Copying | No |
|---|
Scanning
| Scanning | No |
|---|
Packaging data
| Package depth | 570 mm |
|---|---|
| Package width | 1395 mm |
| Package height | 480 mm |
| Package weight | 58 kg |
| Bundled software | HP Click, HP DesignJet Utility for Windows, HP Smart app, HP Poster Web app |
| Quick start guide | Yes |
| Cartridge(s) included | Yes |
Sustainability
| Sustainability compliance | Yes |
|---|---|
| Sustainability certificates | ENERGY STAR |
Brand-specific features
| HP Dynamic security | Yes |
|---|
Everything that fits the HP DesignJet T525
The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.
13 ink cartridges · 1 printhead · 14 paper & media items · 2 accessories
HP DesignJet T525 ink and paper →Supplies
Compatible ink, printheads & media
Genuine consumables that fit the HP DesignJet T525 36-in — only the cartridges, printheads and media compatible with this model.
Ink Cartridges 13
HP 711 2-pack 80-ml Black Ink Cartridges
HP 711 3-pack 29-ml Cyan/Magenta/Yellow Ink Cartridges
HP 711 29-ml Yellow Ink Cartridge
HP 711 3-pack 29-ml Cyan Ink Cartridges
HP 711 29-ml Magenta Ink Cartridge
HP 711 3-pack 29-ml Yellow Ink Cartridges
HP 711 3-pack 29-ml Magenta Ink Cartridges
HP 711 29-ml Cyan Ink Cartridge
HP 711 80-ml Black Ink Cartridge
HP 711 38-ml Black Ink Cartridge
HP 711B 38-ml Black Ink Cartridge
HP 711B 2-Pack 80-ml Black Ink Cartridges
HP 711B 80-ml Black Ink CartridgePrintheads 1
Paper & Media 11
Representative image8 Mil Microporous Gloss Self-Adhesive PolypropyleneRepresentative image5 Mil Water-Resistant Self-Adh Vinyl (3" AC)Representative imageHP Universal Gloss Photo Paper
HP Universal Coated PaperRepresentative imageHP Universal Bond Paper, 4-pack
HP Universal Bond Paper, 2-packRepresentative imageHP Bright White Inkjet Paper, 4-packRepresentative imageKODAK Universal Self-Adhesive Satin Poly Poster (7 Mil)Representative imageKODAK Production Matte Paper / 170gRepresentative imageMagic 4mil DM Inkjet Film (JR440IJME)Representative imageMagic 4mil Inkjet Clear Film w/ Side Stripe (DMCF4HPS)Accessories 1
Questions
Straight answers
Can the HP DesignJet T525 36-in Printer print CAD drawings?
Yes. It supports HP-GL/2 and HP-RTL, along with JPEG and CALS G4. Those formats make it appropriate for common technical-drawing and PDF-centered workflows.
Does this printer scan or copy construction drawings?
No. Copying and scanning are not included, so separate equipment is required for redlines, field sketches and drawing archives.
What connectivity options are available?
The printer supports Ethernet LAN, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and USB Type-A. Its Ethernet interface is Fast Ethernet with a listed data rate of 100 Mbit/s.
Which inks and printhead does it use?
It uses HP 711 inks and an HP 711 printhead. The printer uses four cartridges: black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Is it a good choice for a busy central print room?
It may be less appropriate where uninterrupted mixed-media production is critical. It has a single listed roll capacity and a maximum roll diameter of 3.9 inches; the HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in adds dual-roll capability.
Ready to put the HP DesignJet T525 to work?
Configuration, media and a quote tailored to your workflow — from AEC plotter specialists.