How to print from the Linux command line: double-sided, landscape and more

$ lpoptions | tr " " 'n' | more
copies=1
device-uri=socket://192.168.0.15
finishings=3
job-cancel-after=10800
job-hold-until=no-hold
job-priority=50
job-sheets=none,none
marker-change-time=1717856401
marker-colors=#000000,#00FFFF,#FF00FF,#FFFF00
marker-levels=5,28,68,27
marker-names="Black
Cartridge
HP
CC530A,Cyan
Cartridge
HP
CC531A,Magenta
Cartridge
HP
CC533A,Yellow
Cartridge
HP
CC532A"
marker-types=toner,toner,toner,toner
number-up=1
print-color-mode=color
printer-commands=AutoConfigure,Clean,PrintSelfTestPage
printer-info='HP

If you have multiple printers available, you can use the -p option to specify a particular printer.

$ lpoptions -p LaserJet

With the -v option, the lpinfo command will list drivers and related information, including the printer’s IP address.

$ lpinfo -v
file cups-brf:/
network beh
direct hp
network ipps
network lpd
network socket
network http
network ipp
network https
network smb
direct hpfax
network socket://192.168.0.15
network dnssd://HP%20Color%20LaserJet%20CP2025dn%20(F47468)._pdl-datastream._tcp.local/

Now that we’ve taken a look at all the details you can view about your printers, let’s dive into printing.

Using the lp command

To print a document on the default printer, just use the lp command followed by the name of the file that you want to print. If the filename includes blanks (rare on Linux systems), either put the name in quotes or start entering the file name and press the tab key to invoke file completion (as shown in the second example below).

$ lp mystory
$ lp the whole story
request id is HP-Color-LaserJet-CP2025dn-2 (1 file(s))

Use the lpq command to view the files in the printer queue. Note, however, that some files will print so quickly that they’ll be done before you hit the enter key after typing “lpq” and you won’t get a listing. In this case, I put the lpq command on the same line to avoid the print finishing too quickly.

$ lp the whole story ; lpq
request id is HP-Color-LaserJet-CP2025dn-3 (1 file(s))
HP-Color-LaserJet-CP2025dn is ready and printing
Rank    Owner   Job     File(s)                         Total Size
active  shs     3       the whole story                 1024 bytes

Printing multiple copies of a file

With the -n option, the lp command allows you to specify the number of copies of a printout you  want.