Freestanding ceramic microbeams were fabricated by inkjet printing of aqueous colloidal suspensions (up to 23 similar to vol% alumina). Their high strength (920 similar to MPa in bending) and stiffness (E similar to similar to similar to 400 similar to GPa) is attributed to low porosity (void fraction 0.03) and a paucity of microstructural flaws. A range of ink compositions and beam thicknesses were printed using a commercial inkjet cartridge and isostatically compacted prior to firing.