Whether you’re running a small office or need a reliable printer for your work-from-home needs, it can prove daunting to pick one. Scouring countless models from various reputed brands, this guide includes the best printers, with consideration of features, pricing, and long-term value.
Good to know: bought a new printer? Learn how to add a printer to Windows.
Epson EcoTank ET-2850
Canon PIXMA TR4720
Epson EcoTank ET-3850
Brother MFC-J4335DW
Brother HL- L2350DW
Our Criteria
Choosing the best printers on the market involves more than just the best-selling ones or those with the fanciest features. Various factors affecting the upfront cost, running cost, printing technology, and convenience need to be assessed to arrive at the top options for most users.
Print Quality
Although each kind of printer can deliver great results, their strengths lie in different areas. Inkjet printers are better than laser printers when handling color prints and photos, while laser printers are known for their exceptional monochrome prints. Ink tank printers strike a good balance between monochrome and color printing quality.
Print Speed
While this varies from model to model, laser printers are much faster than both inkjet and ink tank printers. Also, as a rule, a printer will print fewer color pages per minute (ppm) than the number of black-and-white pages.
Cost Per Print
The running cost of a printer is extremely important when deciding which one to buy. Printer companies make most of their money from ink and ink subscriptions rather than the printer itself. Ink tank printers are usually more economical than inkjet and laser printers, due to long-lasting toners that can print 4000 to 6000 copies per refill.
Additional Features
Today, quality-of-life features can matter just as much as the print quality or cost. Other features that can enhance your printing experience include:
- Wireless printing
- Auto document feeder
- Duplex (double-sided) printing
- Color displays
- AirPrint support
Buying Guide for the Best Printers
HP introduced the era of mass-market, consumer-grade inkjet and laser printers in the 1980s. Since then, other manufacturers, like Canon, Epson, and Brother joined HP to account for the majority of printer sales.
In the early 2000s, wireless printing started to become mainstream, and by 2010, more than half of the printers sold in the U.S. were wireless printers.
In 2010, Epson introduced the first ink tank printer for the consumer market. Wireless printing using Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and mobile apps are also now pretty common across different types of printers. You’ll see more ink tank and laser printers in our guide, as they sell more than traditional inkjet printers.
1. Best Overall Pick: Epson EcoTank ET-2850
Ideal all-in-one, wireless, hassle-free printer
Ink tank printers are great if you frequently print both B/W and color documents and want to maximize savings. The Epson EcoTank ET-2850 is a wireless, all-in-one ink tank printer that prints excellent black-and-white and color pages. The bundled ink will last up to two years, even if you print over 500 pages in a month.
You don’t need a separate scanner, as this printer allows scanning as well as copying. In terms of extras, you can take advantage of voice-activated printing, auto-duplex printing, and color display for a convenient experience. There’s no auto document feeder (ADF), though. And don’t expect high-speed printing, as it can only print 10 B/W and five color pages per minute.
2. Best Overall Value: Canon PIXMA TR4720
All-in-one wireless printer for an unbeatable price
In terms of sheer value, it’s near-impossible to beat the Canon PIXMA TR4720 all-in-one wireless printer. Costing well under $80, this cheap inkjet printer can do it all as an easy-to-use home printer. The running costs are manageable if you only print a few documents every month. Thanks to its multi-function features, you can scan, copy, and fax with this all-rounder.
You can even print wirelessly using Canon’s own app, AirPrint, Mopria, or Alexa, if you’re interested in voice-activated printing. Even at this price, you’re getting a 20-sheet ADF, auto-duplex printing, and an input tray with a 100-sheet capacity. Unfortunately, there’s only a dated LCD display here, plus the printer can only print around nine B/W and four color pages per minute.
Tip: printing issues on Wi-Fi? Learn how to fix your Wi-Fi printer when it’s not working in Windows.
3. Best All-in-One: Epson EcoTank ET-3850
High volume wireless all-in-one printer with long-lasting ink tank
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 may cost more than other printers on this list, but it’s a multi-function wireless printer that can handle high print volume. Epson provides almost two years worth of bundled toner in the box, and even after a refill, your cost per print will remain extremely low for both B/W and color prints.
You’re getting all the nice-to-haves: wireless and voice-activated printing, auto-duplex printing, ADF, a 250-sheet input tray, and a large 2.4″ color display. Plus, you can connect to the printer using Ethernet for fast print speeds of up to 15 B/W and 8 color pages per minute.
4. Best Wireless: Brother MFC-J4335DW
High-quality and fast all-in-one wireless printer with ink tank
Brother printers are extremely popular among home users, and that’s not without reason. The Brother MFC-J4335DW ink tank printer bundles one year’s worth of ink in the box, getting you started with an extremely low cost-per-print.
Whether you need ADF, duplex printing, or an input tray, the MFC-J$335DW has you covered. You also get AirPrint and Mopria support for wireless printing. The 1.8″ color display makes the printer easy to use, and the above average print speed of 20 B/W and 16 color pages further cement this Brother printer as one of the best wireless mid-range options. Just remember that its color accuracy is not the best.
FYI: Need a print urgently? Learn how to print documents directly from your Android phone.
5. Best Monochrome: Brother HL-L2350DW
Ideal high-speed, B/W only, wireless laser printer at a great price
If you don’t print color documents, the Brother HL-L2350DW laser printer may be the perfect printer for you. Costing less than $100, this could be one of the best purchases for an office setup or even home use. This compact printer excels in print quality, due to the laser technology being perfect for printing monochrome documents.
Brother also includes a four-month trial of its toner subscription service, but you can cancel anytime. The printer also includes wireless and Alexa printing, and duplex printing, with the 250-sheet input tray providing fantastic value and convenience. Thanks to the laser technology, you can print up to 32 pages per minute, which is far more than any ink tank or inkjet printer on this list.
Good to know: looking for the best printer deals? Check out these options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do printers last?
Printers usually last around 4 to 5 years, before encountering mechanical issues. These days, printing isn’t as common as it used to be, especially for home printers. This can make your printer last longer, as there’s less wear and tear on the hardware.
Should you buy a printer with an ink subscription?
If you print, say, more than 100 pages a month, then ink subscriptions can save you a lot in terms of running costs. But, if you print less than that, you may want to steer clear of subscriptions. Almost every brand offers free trials of their ink subscriptions. Try them for free to see if they work for you.
Are third-party ink cartridges and toners worth it?
Third-party ink cartridges and toners claim to offer similar quality to the printer brand’s own offerings, but at a significantly lower cost. The catch is that some manufacturers can disable the use of third-party ink on their printers, while others will warn users of poor results and the risk of printer damage. Third-party options can be great if the brand’s own cartridges aren’t available anymore.
Image credit: Unsplash
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