Picking the best home printer isn’t always straightforward. So many choices exist, and all those tech specs and sales talk can feel overwhelming. We took on the testing work for you, checking out dozens of models to find ones that actually perform well at home.
Maybe you print school assignments, work papers, or family pictures. The right machine really matters. Some printers are great for photos; others keep document costs low. Your goal is finding a match for what you need and what you can spend – that’s how you land one of the best home printers for you.
Our Top Picks for the Best Printers for Home Use
Here’s our comparison of the top five home printers that stood out during our testing:
| Model | Type | Best For | Print Speed | Paper Capacity | Key Feature |
| Epson EcoTank ET-4850 | Ink Tank | Overall Use | 15 ppm | 250 sheets | Ultra-low running costs |
| Canon PIXMA TS8720 | Inkjet | Color Photos | 15 ppm | 200 sheets | 6-color photo printing |
| HP Envy 6055e | Inkjet | Small Spaces | 10 ppm | 100 sheets | Compact design |
| Canon PIXMA G3270 | Ink Tank | Cheap Printing | 11 ppm | 100 sheets | Refillable ink tanks |
| HP LaserJet Pro M404n | Laser | Fast Documents | 38 ppm | 250 sheets | Professional speed |
Best Overall Home Printer
For most households, Epson EcoTank ET-4850 earns our top pick. This all-in-one delivers great print results and slashes running costs using refillable tanks. That combo makes it a strong choice for the best home printer.
Advantages:
- Comes with enough ink to print up to 14,000 pages
- Excellent print quality for both documents and photos
- Built-in fax, scan, and copy functions
- Automatic two-sided printing saves paper
- Large 2.7-inch color touchscreen
- Wi-Fi connectivity with mobile printing support
Disadvantages:
- Higher upfront cost than traditional cartridge printers
- Larger footprint due to external ink tanks
- Can be messy when refilling ink tanks
- Slower print speeds compared to laser printers
This printer cuts the biggest headache: stressing over pricey cartridges. Its refill system uses ink that costs way less than standard options. That’s a big win for busy homes or offices printing often.
Best Color Printer for Home
If vivid photos and rich colors matter most, Canon PIXMA TS8720 is hard to beat. Its six-ink system delivers outstanding photo prints and sharp documents, making it a top contender for the best color printer for home.
Advantages:
- Six individual ink tanks for superior color accuracy
- Excellent photo printing on various paper sizes up to 11×17 inches
- Compact design fits easily on most desks
- Multiple connectivity options including Wi-Fi and USB
- Easy-to-use touchscreen interface
- Supports borderless printing
Disadvantages:
- Higher cost per page due to individual ink cartridges
- Limited paper capacity for high-volume printing
- No automatic document feeder
- Slower printing speeds for large documents
This printer excels at bringing your digital photos to life with rich, detailed prints that rival professional photo labs.
Best Small Printer for Home
Short on space? HP Envy 6055e proves good things can come in small packages. This model packs a punch, offering strong features without hogging your desk. That makes it a standout among small printers for home.
Advantages:
- Ultra-compact design perfect for tight spaces
- Wireless connectivity with mobile printing apps
- Automatic two-sided printing
- HP Smart app makes setup and management easy
- Energy Star certified for efficiency
- Affordable initial purchase price
Disadvantages:
- Limited paper capacity of 100 sheets
- Slower print speeds compared to larger models
- No automatic document feeder
- Higher cost per page with standard cartridges
- Basic scanner functionality
Despite its size, this small home printer doesn’t compromise on essential features, making it ideal for apartments, dorm rooms, or home offices with limited space.
Best Printer for Home with Cheap Ink
Fed up with pricey ink? Canon PIXMA G3270 is a strong pick. This MegaTank model ditches costly cartridges for refillable bottles, slashing your printing bills. That makes it a top choice for the best printer for home use with cheap ink.
Advantages:
- Extremely low cost per page with bottled ink
- Comes with enough ink for thousands of pages
- Good print quality for documents and photos
- Compact design for a tank-based printer
- Wi-Fi connectivity with smartphone printing
- Simple setup and operation
Disadvantages:
- Manual duplex printing only
- No automatic document feeder
- Limited paper capacity
- Slower print speeds
- Initial setup requires careful ink filling
Families or students printing often find the best ink tank printer for home use is smart money. Those ink savings? They often cover the printer’s cost itself within a year.
Best HP Printer for Home Use
Within HP’s lineup, LaserJet Pro M404n is our go-to pick. This laser model delivers speed, reliability, and clean text quality—all packed for home use. It’s a solid workhorse and our pick for the best at home printer from HP.
Advantages:
- Fast printing speeds up to 38 pages per minute
- Sharp, professional text quality
- High-yield toner cartridges reduce cost per page
- Compact design for a laser printer
- Ethernet connectivity for network sharing
- Energy-efficient operation
Disadvantages:
- Monochrome printing only
- No wireless connectivity (wired model)
- Higher upfront cost
- Cannot print photos effectively
- No scanning or copying functions
Need fast, sharp documents? A toner printer for home handles heavy text jobs well. It’s ideal for busy home offices or students printing stacks of papers.
Types of Printers for Home: Which One Fits You?
Knowing different types of printers for home cuts through confusion when choosing. Each kind works best for certain jobs.
Inkjets are still the go-to for most houses. They spray liquid ink onto paper. You get great photos and solid color or black-and-white documents. They cost less to buy but more per page over time.
Laser printers use toner powder melted onto the page. They’re much faster than inkjets and make super sharp text, perfect for documents. The initial price is higher, but printing lots of pages costs less. Photo quality isn’t their strength though.
Ink tank printers offer a newer option. They work like inkjets but slash running costs using big, refillable tanks instead of cartridges. Finding the best tank printer for home use means getting one that prints thousands of pages per fill-up.
All-in-ones combine printing, scanning, copying, and sometimes faxing. These save space and cash versus buying separate gadgets. Picking the right one depends on your main tasks – that’s key to finding your best home printer.
How to Choose the Best Home Printers
Selecting the right printer depends on several key factors that match your specific needs and usage patterns.
- Consider Your Print Volume. Light users who print occasionally should focus on affordable inkjet models. Heavy users benefit from laser printers or ink tank models that offer lower cost per page.
- Think About What You Print. Document-heavy users should consider laser printers for crisp text. Photo enthusiasts need inkjet models with multiple ink colors. Mixed users benefit from versatile all-in-one inkjet printers.
- Evaluate Your Space. Measure your available space carefully. The best small home printer might sacrifice some features for compactness, which could be the right trade-off for your situation.
- Calculate Total Cost of Ownership. Don’t just look at the printer price. Factor in ink or toner costs, paper consumption, and energy usage over time. Sometimes paying more upfront saves money in the long run.
- Consider Connectivity Needs. Modern printers offer Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, and mobile printing options. Choose models with the connectivity features you’ll actually use.
- Look for Essential Features. Automatic two-sided printing saves paper and time. Automatic document feeders help with multi-page scanning and copying. Touchscreens make operation more intuitive.
FAQs
What’s the Best Printer for Home Use with Cheap Ink?
Want cheap prints? Ink tank models like Canon PIXMA G3270 or Epson EcoTank are often the best home printer with cheap ink. They ditch pricey cartridges for refillable bottles. This slashes ink costs big time – we’re talking way less per page. Sure, you pay more upfront. But if you print regularly, the savings on ink quickly add up.
Are Small Printers for Home Worth It?
Tight on space? Small printers for home are worth a look. Models like HP Envy 6055e pack in essential features without hogging your desk. Just know there’s usually a compromise: expect smaller paper trays, slower speeds, or fewer advanced options. For light to moderate printing in cozy spots, that trade-off often makes sense.
Which Brand Makes the Best Home Printers?
Forget sticking to one brand. Canon shines for photos and its ink tank models. HP delivers solid all-rounders with great software. Epson pushes ahead in ink tank tech and photo quality. Brother builds tough machines handy for business tasks. Ultimately, your best small home printer (or any top pick) depends entirely on what you need, not the logo on the front.
How Long Do Home Printers Last?
Printers typically last 3 to 5 years with regular use, though some keep going much longer. Durability is a big factor: lasers often hold up better than inkjets since they have fewer parts that move. To extend any machine’s life, clean it occasionally, use decent supplies, and avoid hot or damp spots. If you print a lot, you might need a new one sooner. Light users often get many more years. How long it lasts should definitely be part of your decision.
What’s the Difference Between Inkjet and Laser Printers?
Inkjet printers work by spraying liquid ink onto paper. They’re really good for photos and color documents. You’ll usually pay less upfront for one, but ink costs add up over time.
Laser printers use powdered toner fused by heat. They create sharp text fast and handle high volumes efficiently. Expect a higher initial price tag, but printing lots of documents costs less per page.
So, inkjets handle mixed printing needs well. Lasers are champs for churning out stacks of text documents.
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