Whether you need a printer for work-from-home tasks, family printing needs, or both, picking the right printer can be challenging. Some are better suited for printing a lot of pages quickly, while others can print photo-quality images, but which you need will depend on your use case.

UPDATE: 08/25/2023

We've reviewed our recommendations and have updated our budget printer pick.

What to Look For in a Printer in 2023

When buying a printer, there are a few things that you need to consider since features can vary wildly, even within a specific price range.

First, it's important to note that most modern printers have a built-in scanner. This allows the printer to also function as a copier, scanner, and even sometimes a fax machine. These are called All-In-One printers, or AIO for short. Remember that not all printers are AIOs, so if you are looking for that functionality, check before you buy.

The second thing is whether you want to go for inkjet or laserjet, the two main printing technologies. The main thing to know between the two is that inkjet printers are generally cheaper to buy but more expensive to maintain and laserjet is the opposite. Also, laserjets tend to have sharper quality and are not prone to ink smudging.

Next on the agenda is the Cost Per Page (CCP), which is how much it costs to print every page. You come to that number by taking the cartridge's cost and dividing it by the number of pages it should yield. Remember that this is a rough estimation because ink usage can change depending on what you're printing.

Either way, we'll give you a rough estimate of what you should expect regarding CCP. Granted, the best printer is not always about getting the lowest CCP you can, especially if you don't print often. It can be better to pay a few extra cents per page for better print quality, speed, or overall features.

Besides the above, you'll also want to look at Page Per Minute (PPM), which tells you how many pages the printer can print in that time frame. So 10ppm means you'll get ten pages within one minute.

What you are comfortable with depends wholly on how much you print and how much patience you have. If you tend to do a high volume of printing, the more ppm you get, the better.

Finally, you'll want to look at the feature set, and more specifically, the connectivity you can get. Nowadays, most printers are expected to have at least WiFi access and an Ethernet port. Some also have Bluetooth and apps that you can use to print directly to the printer without needing a computer, which is pretty handy. You'll also see that some printers are voice-activated, which is a fun little extra.

That's a lot to keep in mind, but worry not---our recommendations below do all the research legwork for you.

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How-To Geek's product recommendations come from the same team of experts that have helped people fix their gadgets over one billion times. We only recommend the best products based on our research and expertise. We never accept payment to endorse or review a product. Read More »

Best Printer Overall: HP Envy Pro 6455e

HP Envy printing out graphs
HP

Pros

Cons

✓ Great upfront price

✗ No card port for SD or Flash

✓ Good print quality

✗ Wasteful ink cartridge design

✓ Cheap ongoing costs with Instant Ink Subscription

✗ Relatively slow printing

✓ A strong roundup of features

✓ Stylish and modern design

When looking at the best overall printer, it's essential to try and find something that does well in most scenarios. The HP Envy PRO 6452 manages to hit many of those essential targets.

For starters, this is an all-in-one (AIO) device, so not only can you print, you can scan, copy, and even fax, which isn't something you tend to see often with these AIOs. Even better, it's voice-activated and even supports both Alexa and Google Home Assistant, so you can get your printing done from anywhere without even touching a button. The Envy Pro also has WiFi connectivity if you don't want to tether it to a desktop or laptop with a cable.

In terms of print quality, it's suitable for an entry-level inkjet printer, and you'll likely see some good sharp quality in even somewhat smaller fonts.

Photo quality is also good, but unfortunately, since it uses two cartridges rather than four or six, it doesn't have the same color range that a printer with more cartridges has. Still, it's not that the quality is terrible, it's just not the best in its class.

Print speeds are around 10ppm for color and 7ppm for monochrome. As for the scanner, The Envy Pro has a resolution of 1,200 pixels by 1,200 pixels, which is pretty good. It has an auto-document feeder, although it can't print on both sides of a sheet of people.

Finally, we come to the critical caveat---if you plan to buy this printer, it's only economical if you purchase HP's Instant Ink subscription with it. The reason is that while the upfront purchase cost of the printer is excellent, the printing cost is pretty bad without the subscription.

While there has been bad press about HP's Ink subscription DRM, it's still worth it. It takes an eye-watering color cost per page of 22 cents down to a more reasonable 3.5 cents per page. Monochrome pages go from around 10 cents down to 3.5 cents as well. It makes the HP Envy Pro an excellent printer.

hp envy
HP ENVY 6455e
Best Printer Overall

While a strong contender in various categories, what makes the HP ENVY 6445e an excellent choice is its low cost when paired with an HP Instant Ink subscription.

Best Budget Printer: Brother HLL2305W

brother HLL2305W laser printer

Pros

Cons

✓ Good PPM rate for a budget printer

✗ Lacks a LED display

✓ Easy to set up and use

✗ Priced towards the top end of "budget"

✓ Toner cartridges can print up to 2600 pages

✓ Wired or wireless printing

When choosing a budget printer, it makes sense to consider both the initial cost and the running costs. There is little point saving a few bucks on the printer cost if you need to buy new ink cartridges once a month at fifty dollars a pop. The Brother HLL2305W laser printer might be a little more expensive than a budget inkjet, but paying the extra makes perfect sense when looking at costs over the lifetime.

But before we look at print capacity, let's look at speed. Laser printers are almost always faster than inkjet printers, and that trend isn't bucked with this one. At 24ppm, print speed is good, if not mind-blowing, and certainly faster than a budget ink printer can manage.

The printer is shipped with a 12,000-page drum and a 700-page starter toner cartridge in the box. For reference, even that small toner cartridge capacity could provide between three and five times more printed pages than an inkjet cartridge. That could easily last a couple of years if you only print occasionally. Compatible cartridges include the 1200-page TN630 and the huge 2600-page TN660, both of which can be purchased for $60 or less.

It's missing a digital LED display, a feature that has almost become standard, even on budget printers. Fortunately, this wired or wireless printer isn't complicated to set up or use, so it shouldn't be a massive problem.

The Brother HLL2305W is likely aimed at small business use, but the price tag of $119 and easy operation means that it's perfect for home use too. If you only expect to need to print occasionally, a laser printer like this might feel like overkill. And if it was double the price of other budget printers, we would agree.

But as it is, it's hard to argue the case for buying a slightly cheaper inkjet printer when the lifetime savings from buying a laser printer like the HLL2305W are so apparent. And as a bonus, smudged pages will be a thing of the past.

brother-HLL2305W
Brother HLL2305W Laser Printer
Best Budget Printer

The Brother HLL2305W laser printer is a great option for a budget home office. With a reasonably fast PPM rate and a print capacity that blows comparably-priced inkjet printers out of water, the option for wired or wireless printing, and a very easy setup process, this is a printer you'll be happy to use for years. 

Best Home Office Printer: HP Color LaserJet Pro Multifunction M479fdn

HP LaserJet Pro on table
HP

Pros

Cons

✓ Feature packed

✗ Expensive running costs

✓ Excellent print quality

✓ Auto-duplexing

✓ Good security options

While the HP Color Laserjet Pro Multifunction is a mouthful, the printer has as many features as the name suggests, making it excellent for a home office or a small business.

For starters, this HP printer has a 300-page paper tray and 50-page feeder, so there's no need to babysit it while it prints or copies. Then, you have auto-duplex printing so you don't waste time having to feed paper in again for double-sided documents. It's also pretty fast since it's a color laser printer, and paired with the high-capacity, that means you can get a lot more printing done.

Connectivity on the Laserjet Pro is also pretty impressive, having USB, Ethernet, WiFi, and Bluetooth, which you don't see often. You also have a variety of 3rd-party apps you can use, such as the HP Smart App with HP ePrint, Apple Airprint, and Mopria. There's also some good security and encryption on it. Plus, the LaserJet Pro has permission controls if you only want certain people to have access to color printing.

In terms of performance, the Laserjet Pro works as expected in its price range. Print speed is around 28 ppm for black and approximately 17 ppm for color, which is about average for its class.

As for print quality, it's terrific, as you'd expect from a laserjet. The text is sharp, and there's no possibility of smudging, so it's perfect for business documents. Photo quality is also good for charts and presentations, but don't expect to print accurate photos.

Finally, we come to running costs, and the truth can be painful depending on how much you print. For monochrome, you'll expect to see 2.2 cents per page and 14.2 cents for color. If you're printing thousands of pages a month, that can quickly add up.

The M479fdn is a pretty good, although slightly expensive, printer. Of course, not everybody needs a fancy printer, and if you're looking for high-quality monochrome printing, the HP Neverstop 1001nw is an excellent alternative. It does away with most of the features but provides the same quality and speed for less than half the price and only 0.3 cents a page, which is staggeringly low.

hp color laserjet pro
HP Color LaserJet Pro Multifunction M479fdn
Best Home Office Printer

While the M479fdn comes with an eye-watering price, it also has a host of genuinely excellent features, especially for SMEs.

Best Photo Printer: Epson Expression Photo XP-970

Epson Expression printer on work table
Epson

Pros

Cons

✓ Truly excellent photo quality

✗ Slow printing

✓ Great price for an A3 printer

✗ Lack of automatic feeder

✓ 11 by-17-inch borderless printing

✗ Even XL cartridges run out pretty fast

✓ Nice design

When it comes to photo printing, the two most important things are color accuracy and range, and the Epson Expression XP-970 delivers on both.

What helps it with that goal is that it opts for five-color inks, and when you add black, that's six altogether. The color gamut that you get is truly hard to beat unless you want to go for something four or even five times the price.

As for cost, that's a bit more complicated since there are so many different types of inks, and you can print in a variety of different sizes. You're probably looking at up to 4.5 cents a page for black and up to 14 cents for color when you do the CPP calculation.

Is that price range good or bad? Realistically, it's about average for this printer class, which is impressive considering its above-average color accuracy.

When it comes to other features, though, the XP-970 is run of the mill for the price. You get your standard suite of connectivity in the form of USB 2.0, WiFi, WiFi Direct, as well as support for most SDs and Micro SDs. You also get voice-command operation, support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, which is pretty nice.

All that being said, the one major downside is that the printer is a bit slow, which is compounded by the fact that it can only hold one sheet of paper at a time. That means that you will have to babysit it, and if you print in huge volumes, this can be an issue.

Still, this printer more than makes up for those downsides with its stunning photo printing quality.

41vjuRmJ4EL._SL500_
Epson Expression Photo XP-970
Best Photo Printer

It's hard to beat the color accuracy of the XP-970, especially since it's one of the AIO that come with six inks. While it is a bit on the slower side, it more than makes up for it with stunning photo quality.

Best Portable Printer: Canon Pixma TR150

Canon Pixma TR150 on pink background
Canon

Pros

Cons

✓ Handles photo printing well

✗ Small OLED display

✓ Optional battery pack

✗ Print speeds not the best

✓ Good range of features

✓ Reasonable ink costs

When choosing a portable printer, there will be a point where its size is being weighed against print features and quality. You will rarely get the same performance from something you can carry around as you would from a full-size printer. Thankfully, you can find a good balance by choosing the Canon Pixma TR150.

Weighing in at 4.5 pounds, and measuring just 12.7x7.3x2.6 inches when closed, the TR150 is small enough to fit into a large briefcase or small backpack. The optional battery pack adds a bit of weight, but the slight increase is worth it if you want a printer that can be used anywhere.

Despite its small size, the Pixma supports paper sizes all the way up to the standard 8.5x11 size. It has dual ink cartridges which allow you to print everything from simple text documents to crisp and glossy photos. The print speeds aren't mind-blowing at 9ppm for black and white and 5.5 for color but are reasonable for a portable printer.

The TR150 is compatible with Windows and macOS and iOS and Android through the Canon Print app. It also works with Apple AirPrint. There is a small OLED display alongside the control buttons on the printer, but it's easier to change printer settings in the app than trying to do so on a 1.44-inch screen.

The Canon Pixma TR150 isn't the smallest portable printer available, but it is still compact enough to be easily carried around without having to compromise too much on features. If you want wireless, high-quality printing on the go, without breaking the bank, the TR150 is a great choice.

canon pixma tr150
Canon Pixma TR150
Best Portable Printer

A great portable printer that doesn't compromise on features, offers great print quality and won't break the bank.

Best Ink Tank Printer: Canon Maxify GX6021

Canon Maxify printer in office
Canon

Pros

Cons

✓ Very low print costs

✗ Quite expensive

✓ Full scanner and copier function

✗ Fairly large when trays are open

✓ Good print speeds

Ink tank printers will, over the long run, give you much more economical printing. Getting rid of individual black and white or color cartridges means the ink isn't wasted.

Our favorite ink tank printer is the Canon Maxify GX6021. This is a fairly expensive option, but one from which you will quickly start to see savings if you do a lot of printing. The $649 price tag not only gets you a printer that can produce up to 14000 pages on a single set of full tanks but also includes a full-featured scanner and copier.

It has four tanks that each hold between 132 and 167ml of ink, which might not sound a lot until you compare it to the 8ml that a standard ink cartridge holds. According to Canon, the average cost per printed page is just two cents. That is a lot cheaper when compared to using standard cartridges.

The Maxify GX6021 is not a small printer, but it's compact enough to fit into a small office or home office without taking too much space. The paper tray can hold 100 sheets of A4, as well. The maximum print speed of 24ppm is very good, although this drops to 15.5ppm for color printing.

As for connectivity, you can use Wi-Fi to connect to the GX6021. It also has a LAN port for a wired internet connection, or you can connect directly to it using the USB cable. It is compatible with Apple AirPrint and the Mopria Print Service, or you can use the Canon Print app for iOS and Android devices.

The Maxify GX6021 is definitely not the cheapest of printer options. But if you need a fast, reliable, and economical 3-in-1 for your office or small business, this has everything you are looking for.

canon maxify gx6021
Canon Maxify GX6021
Best Ink Tank Printer
$499 $700 Save $201

In the long run, this capable and fast printer, copier and scanner should certainly save you money. And the more printing you do, the quicker the savings will start.

FAQ

How do I connect my printer to Wi-Fi?

Typically, your printer will have either a button or menu dedicated to Wi-Fi management. If you're using an HP printer, you can refer to the support page on its site. Canon and Epson printers are pretty similar; check out Canon's support page or Epson's instructions on connecting your printer to Wi-Fi.

Why is my printer offline?

If your printer is offline, there are a few usual suspects to check before thinking about a replacement. First, ensure your Wi-Fi connections works and the printer powers on. If you see signs of life but no connection, look for any error messages if your printer has a screen. Set up your Wi-Fi connection for the first time if you haven't already. Try clearing the queue and restarting the printer. If you still have no luck, you may need to seek troubleshooting tips from your printer's manufacturer.

How can I print from an Android phone?

Usually, when you're looking at the document you want to print on Android, there will be a "More" or "Share" icon in one of the corners. Tapping this, a list will populate with a "Print" option. Select it, choose your printer, the number of copies, and the page size, and print away. You may also need to use the Default Print Service for certain files; this is found in Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Printing > Default Printing Service.

How can I print from an iPhone?

Similarly to an Android phone, iPhone users should look for a "More" or "Share" menu icon. An option to "Print" will appear and allow you to connect to your printer. Choose the number of copies, range, size, layout, and where you want the document to print. Select Print again in the upper right-hand corner.

How do I print double-sided?

Double-sided printing is usually just a drop-down option away. HP Printers can use the method outlined on its double-sided printing instructions page, and the same goes for Epson printers and Canon options.

How do I find my printer's IP address?

If you use Windows, you can find your printer's IP address by opening Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers, right-clicking on your printer, selecting Properties, and swapping to the Web Services tab. If you're a Mac user, open System Preferences with Spotlight Search or through the Apple icon. Locate Printers & Scanners, then find your printer in the list. Your printer's IP address is under Troubleshooting Information.