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Most people shopping for a home printer are really deciding between three things: how much they print, whether they need color, and how they want to pay for ink or toner over the years. The model name matters less than getting those three answers right.
This guide covers seven printers across the main types: refillable ink tank, everyday color inkjet, compact monochrome laser, and color laser. Each entry says who it suits, where it falls short, and who should look elsewhere. We built the list from published specifications and manufacturer documentation, and we have not used these printers ourselves, so confirm details on each product page before you buy.
Quick verdict: For most households that print often, the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 is the safest starting point, because ink tanks tend to lower the cost per page. If you only print text, the Brother HL-L2350DW is the simple choice.
Last updated: October 30, 2026. How we pick printers.
How We Choose These Printers
We do not test printers ourselves. We compare manufacturer specifications, published page yields and ink policies, and what buyers commonly report about setup and reliability, then pick one model for each type and need. Every entry says who it suits and who should skip it. Prices change daily, so we do not list them: use the button on each entry to see the current price and availability on Amazon.
Quick Picks
| Pick | Printer | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for High-Volume Printing | Epson EcoTank ET-2850 | Ink tank all-in-one | Families who print a lot and want low running costs |
| Best for Home Offices | HP OfficeJet Pro 9125 | Color inkjet all-in-one | Home offices that scan multi-page documents |
| Best for Occasional Use | Canon PIXMA TR4720 | Color inkjet all-in-one | Light, occasional printing in a small space |
| Best Compact Color | Brother Work Smart 1360 | Color inkjet all-in-one | Compact everyday color printing |
| Best for Text Only | Brother HL-L2350DW | Monochrome laser | Text-only printing: forms, school work, shipping paperwork |
| Best Laser All-in-One | Brother MFC-L2820DW | Monochrome laser all-in-one | Black-and-white offices that also scan and fax |
| Best Color Laser | HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw | Color laser all-in-one | Sharp text plus color for a busy workspace |
The 7 Best Printers for Home Use
1. Epson EcoTank ET-2850: Best for High-Volume Printing
The EcoTank line replaces small cartridges with refillable ink tanks, which is why it keeps coming up for households that print every week. It is an all-in-one, so it also scans and copies, and it connects over wireless.
Good for: students, families and anyone who prints enough pages that cartridge refills would feel constant. Strengths: ink tanks usually mean a lower cost per page than cartridge printers, and a full set of ink goes a long way. Weaknesses: the printer itself usually costs more up front than a basic cartridge model, and like any inkjet it can clog if it sits unused for weeks. Skip it if you print a handful of pages a month; the savings never catch up with the higher entry cost.
2. HP OfficeJet Pro 9125: Best for Home Offices
A color inkjet all-in-one built around a document feeder and two-sided printing.
Good for: remote workers who scan contracts and receipts. Strengths: automatic duplex printing and a feeder speed up longer jobs. Weaknesses: tied to the manufacturer’s ink program; check the cartridge policy first. Skip it if you print rarely or want third-party ink.
3. Canon PIXMA TR4720: Best for Occasional Use
A small, plain color inkjet all-in-one for people who want the basics: print, copy, scan. It does not try to be an office workhorse, which is the point.
Good for: a spare room, a dorm or an apartment where the printer comes out a few times a month. Strengths: compact footprint and a simple feature set. Weaknesses: small starter cartridges and a modest feature list mean it is not suited to heavy use. Skip it if you print daily; a tank or laser model will cost less over time.
4. Brother Work Smart 1360: Best Compact Color
A compact color inkjet all-in-one that prints, scans and copies, from Brother’s Work Smart line.
Good for: households that want occasional color without a bulky machine. Strengths: small size and a basic, easy feature set. Weaknesses: cartridge refills add up if volume grows. Skip it if you need a document feeder; check the product page.
5. Brother HL-L2350DW: Best for Text Only
A compact monochrome laser printer with wireless and automatic two-sided printing. It prints text only, but it does that quietly and reliably, and toner does not dry out the way ink can.
Good for: homework, forms, tax paperwork and shipping documents. Strengths: toner keeps for long stretches between uses, and text comes out crisp. Weaknesses: no color, and it does not scan or copy. Skip it if you ever print photos or colored charts, or you need a scanner.
6. Brother MFC-L2820DW: Best Laser All-in-One
A compact monochrome laser all-in-one that prints, copies, scans and faxes, with two-sided printing.
Good for: freelancers and small sellers who live on paperwork. Strengths: laser text quality with copy, scan, fax and duplex in one body. Weaknesses: no color, and larger than a compact inkjet. Skip it if color matters or desk space is tight.
7. HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw: Best Color Laser
A current color laser all-in-one from HP’s Color LaserJet Pro line with wireless and two-sided printing.
Good for: a home office printing reports and charts. Strengths: laser text quality with color, and prints resist smearing. Weaknesses: color toner sets are expensive and the body is big. Skip it if you mostly print black-and-white.
What a Printer Really Costs Over Three Years
The sticker price is only the start. Here are made-up numbers purely to show the math. A 100-dollar inkjet with cartridges costing 12 cents a page, printing 400 pages a year, costs 100 plus about 144 dollars over three years, or roughly 244 dollars. A 200-dollar ink tank printer at 2 cents a page costs 200 plus about 24 dollars, or roughly 224 dollars. A monochrome laser at 120 dollars with toner at 6 cents a page costs 120 plus about 72 dollars, or roughly 192 dollars for text-only printing. Your own numbers will differ, so use the real prices for the models you are comparing and our cost-per-page guide.
Which Type Fits You
Print color or photos often: choose an ink tank or a photo-oriented inkjet. Print text in batches or rarely: choose a monochrome laser. Print a few pages a month: choose a cheap inkjet, or print elsewhere. Read types of printers explained and printer terms explained if any of the terms above are new.
How to Choose a Home Printer
Start with pages per month
Under about 20 pages a month, a cheap cartridge inkjet or a monochrome laser is fine. Somewhere around 50 to 100 pages a month, running cost starts to matter more than the purchase cost. Above that, an ink tank or a laser usually wins.
Decide whether you need color at all
Color is the single biggest driver of running cost. If you print color a few times a year, a monochrome laser plus the occasional trip to a print shop is often cheaper than owning a color printer.
Compare cost per page, not the box
Divide the replacement ink or toner cost by the rated page yield for that cartridge. The result is your cost per page. Here are made-up numbers purely to show the math: a cartridge that costs 30 dollars and is rated for 300 pages works out to 10 cents a page; a toner that costs 80 dollars and is rated for 1,200 pages works out to about 6.7 cents a page. Use the real figures from the product page, and remember that rated yields assume a standard amount of coverage on the page.
Check what comes in the box
Some printers ship with starter cartridges that are only partly filled, so you may buy replacements within weeks. Others ship with full sets of ink. The product page usually states which.
Look at the connection and the scanner
Wireless is standard now, but confirm support for the way you print: from a phone, from a Mac, or from a shared network. If you scan stacks of paper, look for an automatic document feeder rather than a flatbed alone.
Which Printer Fits Which Situation
- A family that prints school work every week: the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 for its low running cost.
- A remote worker who scans contracts: the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125 for its feeder and two-sided printing.
- Text only, rarely used: the Brother HL-L2350DW, because toner does not dry out.
- Small space, a few pages a month: the Canon PIXMA TR4720 or the Brother Work Smart 1360.
- A home office that needs color and sharp text: the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw.
Common Mistakes When Buying a Printer
- Choosing by the cheapest sticker and ignoring ink or toner cost, which usually ends up costing far more than the printer itself.
- Buying a color printer when you print color rarely.
- Letting an inkjet sit unused for weeks, which is how nozzles clog. Print a test page now and then.
- Not reading the ink policy of the brand, including whether third-party cartridges are supported.
- Ignoring size. Laser all-in-ones are noticeably bigger than compact inkjets.
- Assuming the starter ink is a full set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ink tank printers worth it?
For people who print regularly, usually yes: the refillable tanks tend to lower the cost per page. For very light use, the higher up-front cost may not pay back.
Is a laser printer better than an inkjet for home?
It depends on what you print. Lasers are strong at text and tend to cope better with long gaps between uses. Inkjets handle photos and color better and are often smaller.
Do I need a printer that scans and copies?
If you handle paperwork, an all-in-one saves you a separate scanner. If you only print, a single-function printer is cheaper and smaller.
How can I lower my printing costs?
Print in draft mode for everyday pages, use two-sided printing, and pick a model with high-yield or refillable ink options.
Can I print from my phone?
Most wireless printers support printing from a phone or tablet. Check the supported apps and standards on the product page for your device.
Bottom Line
If you print often, an ink tank model such as the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 is the easiest way to keep costs down. If you print little and only text, a compact monochrome laser like the Brother HL-L2350DW is the low-fuss choice. Work out your monthly pages and your need for color first, and the right type will be obvious.
More Printer Guides
- Best Wireless Laser Printers for Home and Small Office
- Best Wireless Printers for Home Use
- Best All-in-One Printers for Scanning and Printing
- Best Cheap Printers
- Best Color Laser Printers for Home Use
