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HP PageWide XL 4600

42" PageWide production printer

Authorized HP dealerGenuine hardware & ink
Manufacturer warrantyExtension plans available
Free shippingContinental U.S.
Plotter specialistsAEC experts, not just sellers

Analyst take

  • The machine combines 40-inch color technical printing with color scanning, color copying, and Top Stacker output.
  • Its 1200 x 1200 DPI print and optical scan resolution suit detailed technical-document handling.
  • Roll support and a maximum roll length of 7874" (200 m) can reduce interruptions on longer runs.

Read the full expert analysis ↓

HP PageWide XL 4600 40-in Multifunction Printer product image showing front view with world map print sample

Not sure if the PageWide XL 4600 is right for you?

Compare key specs and an AI analyst read-out against similar models.

Compare printers →
  • Wide-format reach Prints up to 42" wide on rolls and sheets.
  • Fine detail 1200 x 1200 DPI maximum resolution for crisp line work.
  • Productivity Rated at 15 pages/min (HP-rated).
  • Scan & copy Integrated scanner for digitizing and sharing sets.
  • Verified specs 9 specs checked against the manufacturer datasheet.
  • Analyst score Scores 44/100 in our class-relative rating.

Overview

Built for the work

HP PageWide XL 4600 40-in Multifunction Printer with Top Stacker and 3-year Warranty, Inkjet, 1200 x 1200 DPI, HP-GL/2, 8 x HP 841 PageWide XL, Color copying, Color scanning

HP PageWide XL 4600 40-in large format printer with top stacker and control panel
Takes rolls up to 4″ wide
HP PageWide XL 4600 40-in Multifunction Printer product image showing front view with top stacker and control panel
1,200 dpi maximum resolution
HP PageWide XL 4600 40-in Multifunction Printer product image showing front view with stacker and control panel
4-channel ink set
  • 4″Max print width
  • 4Ink channels
  • 1,200 dpiMax resolution
44 Spec Analysis
overall

Where it performs best

Print Cost 80
Connections 67
Media Handling 45

Class best is 77. How we grade →

Expert analysis

What you should know

Key takeaways

  • The machine combines 40-inch color technical printing with color scanning, color copying, and Top Stacker output.
  • Its 1200 x 1200 DPI print and optical scan resolution suit detailed technical-document handling.
  • Roll support and a maximum roll length of 7874" (200 m) can reduce interruptions on longer runs.
  • The listed configuration has no Wi-Fi or Ethernet LAN, so IT should confirm the connection plan before installation.
  • HP F40 and HP F60 are current compatible finishing options, while HP F70 is listed as discontinued.

At 4:45 p.m., the person at the output tray does not care about a clever spec sheet. They need a legible, color-coded permit revision, a scanned redline, and a stack that does not turn into floor confetti. The HP PageWide XL 4600 40-in Multifunction Printer is built for that kind of technical-document work: wide-format color printing, color copying, color scanning, and orderly collection through a Top Stacker.

This is an inkjet MFP for AEC teams that print CAD sheets, PDF plan sets, GIS maps, coordination drawings, and marked-up field documents on bond, matte, or recycled paper. Its 1200 x 1200 DPI print and optical scan resolution give it the raw detail needed for fine annotation and small drawing text. Bottom line: it is aimed at technical output that has to be read, copied, and handed over without drama.

1200 x 1200 DPIPrint resolutionDetail for technical lines and annotations.
1200 x 1200 DPIOptical scan resolutionFor color scanning and copying workflows.
10 ipsScan speed, blackRelevant when scanning marked-up sheets.
7874" (200 m)Maximum roll lengthLong rolls reduce interruptions during larger runs.
HP PageWide XL 4600 40-in large format printer with top stacker and control panel
The 40-inch PageWide XL MFP footprint is a print-room consideration, not an afterthought.

Where it fits in an AEC workflow

The 8-inch touch display, USB Type-A port, 500 GB internal storage, HP-GL/2 support, HP Embedded Web Server, and HP Web Jetadmin support give print-room staff practical tools for technical-document handling and device administration. Color scanning can send files to e-mail, FTP, or USB, which fits a field redline that needs to get back into a project record before the next coordination call.

The machine accepts roll paper and supports bond, matte, and recycled paper. It also has a 0.0157-inch maximum media thickness. That makes it a sensible fit for ordinary plan production and color coordination work, rather than a reason to assume it will solve every presentation-media job. The Top Stacker matters when sheets need to arrive collected instead of requiring somebody to sort a small paper weather event.

For finishing-led workflows, compatible options include the HP F40 and HP F60. The HP F70 is listed as discontinued, so confirm support and availability before making it part of a new workflow. Bottom line: this machine earns its space when printing, scanning, copying, and stacking technical documents happen in the same room.

HP PageWide XL 4600 40-in Multifunction Printer product image showing front view with top stacker and control panel
A Top Stacker is most useful when a mixed run must leave the printer in usable order.

The network question deserves an early answer

There is one item to settle before delivery day: the listed configuration shows no Wi-Fi and no Ethernet LAN. It does include one USB 2.0 port and HP Web Jetadmin support, but IT should validate the intended connection method, authentication approach, and job-submission path against the actual configuration being supplied. Do this before a bid deadline makes everyone suddenly interested in printer networking.

The listed operating range is 5 – 40 °C. During printing, sound pressure is listed at 58 dB, while PowerSave consumption is listed at 1 W. At 948 lbs and 77.2 inches wide, 34 inches deep, and 51.3 inches high, this is not a desk-side plotter. Plan its room, access route, power arrangement, and operator space as carefully as you would a piece of print-room equipment. Bottom line: the physical installation and connection plan are part of the purchase, not paperwork for later.

What to compare before choosing it

This model is strongest where an AEC office needs 40-inch color output plus color scan-and-copy capability and a stacker. It may be less appropriate where the requirement is a smaller-format device, a different connectivity arrangement, or a workflow centered on specialty output rather than technical rolls.

If you are weighing other catalog options, compare the 38-inch Epson SC-T5200 or Epson SC-T5400M for their stated format and scanner/MFP positioning, and the Canon iPF825 42-in for a 42-inch alternative. Do not reduce that decision to resolution alone. Check the real files your team prints, the papers they use, how scans are routed, and who clears a jam when the PM is waiting. You can also use the comparison tool to put this machine alongside the Epson SC-T5400M. Bottom line: the right comparison starts with workflow friction, not a box of numbers.

HP PageWide XL 4600 40-in Multifunction Printer product image showing front view with stacker and control panel
Color scanning and copying are useful when marked-up drawings need a digital route back to the project team.

The read

The HP PageWide XL 4600 40-in Multifunction Printer is a credible fit for AEC departments that need color technical prints, color copies, color scans, roll media, and stacked output in one substantial print-room device. Its compatible supplies are the HP 843C 400-ml Black PageWide XL Ink Cartridge, HP 843C 400-ml Cyan PageWide XL Ink Cartridge, HP 843C 400-ml Magenta PageWide XL Ink Cartridge, HP 843C 400-ml Yellow PageWide XL Ink Cartridge, and HP 841 printheads. Confirm connectivity and finishing needs first. Bottom line: buy it for the document workflow it supports, not because a 40-inch machine looks busy in the corner.

Spec analysis

How the specs grade

Overall performance

44/ 100Limited

within PageWide production printers · 7 compared

Class best 77

70% spec coverage

Mediaprint_qualityInk $ColorConnectWorkflow
  • This printer
  • class best

How it scores

Media Handling45class best 90catalog best 90 · Epson SureColor P8570DR →
Print Quality40class best 74catalog best 88 · HP DesignJet Z6 →
Print Cost80class best 94catalog best 100 · HP Latex 800 W →
Color16class best 56catalog best 100 · Epson SureColor P9570 →
SpeedNot enough spec data
Connections67class best 100catalog best 100 · HP DesignJet Z6 →
Workflow30class best 80catalog best 100 · HP DesignJet Z6 →
Size / FitNot enough spec data
WarrantyNot enough spec data

Graded on a curve against the best published spec among the wide-format printers we track — 100 = the catalog’s gold standard for that metric (the finest droplet, the longest warranty, the fastest rated speed actually on the market). Every input is a manufacturer-published spec; rated speeds are shown as listed, not timed throughput. Ticks mark the class best. How we grade →

Verified specifications

The specs that decide it

Maximum roll width40 inmanufacturer-verified
Print speed15 pages/min (HP-rated)manufacturer-verified
Maximum resolution1200 dpi
Ink cartridges4 (CMYK), 400 ml eachmanufacturer-verified
PrintheadHP 841 PageWide XL Printheads
Maximum roll length650 ft
Internal storage / RAM500 GB storage, 8 GB RAM
Page description languagesHP-GL/2, TIFF, JPEG
Scan technologyCIS, 1200 x 1200 dpi optical
Weight / footprint948 lb; 77.2 in W x 34 in D

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 technologyInkjet
Max resolution1200 x 1200 DPI
Max print width42"
ConnectivityUSB
Use caseGIS / Mapping
Printing
ColorYes
Print head8 x HP 841 PageWide XL
Print technologyInkjet
Maximum resolution1200 x 1200 DPI
Number of print cartridges4
Page description languagesHP-GL/2
Performance
Control typeTouch
RAM capacity8 GB
CertificationEPEAT Silver, CE
Product colorBlack, White
Storage mediaHDD
Built-in displayYes
Display diagonal8"
Built-in processorYes
Internal storage capacity500 GB
Sound power level (standby)35 dB
Sound pressure level (printing)58 dB
Paper handling
StackerYes
Roll paperYes
Stacker typeTop Stacker
Maximum roll length7874" (200 m)
Maximum roll diameter6.97" (17.7 cm)
Paper tray media typesBond paper, Matte paper, Recycled paper
Ports & interfaces
Wi-FiNo
USB portYes
Ethernet LANNo
USB connectorUSB Type-A
USB 2.0 ports quantity1
Weight & dimensions
Depth34" (864 mm)
Width77.2" (1960 mm)
Height51.3" (1303 mm)
Weight948 lbs (430 kg)
Power
Power consumption (standby)108.4 W
Power consumption (typical)400 W
Power consumption (PowerSave)1 W
Operational conditions
Operating temperature (T-T)5 – 40 °C
Other features
TouchscreenYes
Powersave acoustic emission16 dB
Copying
CopyingColor copying
Scanning
Scan toE-mail, FTP, USB
ScanningColor scanning
Scan technologyCIS
Scan speed (black)10 ips
Scan speed (color)3 ips
Maximum media thickness0.0157" (0.4 mm)
Optical scanning resolution1200 x 1200 DPI
Packaging data
Package depth42" (1068 mm)
Package width85.8" (2180 mm)
Package height69.4" (1764 mm)
Package weight1203.7 lbs (546 kg)
Sustainability
Sustainability certificatesENERGY STAR
Brand-specific features
HP Web JetadminYes
HP PageWide TechnologyYes
HP Embedded Web Server (EWS)Yes

Everything that fits the HP PageWide XL 4600

The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.

7 ink cartridges · 1 printhead · 2 paper & media items · 2 accessories

HP PageWide XL 4600 ink and paper →

Questions

Straight answers

What AEC work is this machine suited to?

It fits color CAD sheets, PDF plan sets, GIS maps, coordination drawings, and scanned field redlines where printing, copying, scanning, and stacked output are needed in one location.

Can it scan and copy color drawings?

Yes. It supports color scanning and color copying, with scan destinations of e-mail, FTP, and USB. Optical scanning resolution is 1200 x 1200 DPI.

How does it connect to a workflow?

The listed configuration includes one USB 2.0 port and USB Type-A connectivity, plus HP Embedded Web Server and HP Web Jetadmin support. It lists no Wi-Fi and no Ethernet LAN, so confirm the supplied configuration and IT workflow.

What paper can it handle?

It supports roll paper and lists bond paper, matte paper, and recycled paper as paper-tray media types. Maximum media thickness is 0.0157″ (0.4 mm).

What supplies does it use?

It uses the HP 843C 400-ml Black, Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow PageWide XL Ink Cartridges and HP 841 printheads.

Is it practical for a small office corner?

It measures 77.2 inches wide, 34 inches deep, and 51.3 inches high, and weighs 948 lbs. Treat it as print-room equipment with planned access and operating space.

Resources

Brochures, datasheets & video

Ready to put the HP PageWide XL 4600 to work?

Configuration, media and a quote tailored to your workflow — from AEC plotter specialists.

HP PageWide XL 4600