Need to print labels, stickers, stacks of pages, color photos, or even a textured mug? I tested the best home printers, including ink-tank, cartridge, and laser options.
Everybody prints. At least, everyone I know. Yet as digital tickets and phone camera scanning become increasingly common, more homes are operating without a printer. For those who do need to print stuff from time to time or who just moved to a home office and really need a workhorse, I’ve got you covered.
In addition to writing for WIRED as a freelancer, I have a side hustle selling trading cards online, which has me printing packing slips, shipping labels, and even scanning cards on a daily basis. Given that I use a printer so frequently, I can understand how frustrating it is when the tool doesn’t work right.
I’ve spent hours testing top printers to gauge their printing quality, cost efficiency, and how often they gave me a headache. While I prefer laser printers for their ease of use and consistency, ink-tank options are quickly becoming more appealing. Below, I have great options for both, as well as your classic ink-cartridge–based devices.
Looking for more of the best home office gear? Be sure to check out our guides to the Best Computer Monitors, Best Standing Desks, Best Office Chairs, and Best Laptops.
Updated May 2026: I added new picks for thermal and photo printers, along with additional details to our general information.
Ink or Laser?AccordionItemContainerButton
Before anything else, you’ll have to decide between ink and laser. I’ll get into the details when it comes to each model, but the most important consideration is the paper type you print onto most often. Laser printers use heat in the bonding process, which means if you regularly print on windowed envelopes or photo paper, you’ll need to either use an ink printer or change to a thermally safe alternative, which can be cost prohibitive if you print a lot.
Inkjets are the most common flavor of home printer, and they work by boiling ink until it splatters through a series of tiny holes. Inkjet printers either come with prefilled cartridges or built-in tanks. The latter is quickly becoming more popular thanks to better pricing, more convenience, and a massive reduction in wasted plastic. If you’re buying a new printer in 2026 I recommend you opt for an ink tank (or a laser printer, depending on your needs). Ink tanks are a little more work to set up and maintain than using replaceable cartridges, since you have to keep the tanks topped off and they should remain in one place on a flat surface to avoid leaks. I can’t imagine many situations where a printer would be constantly moving and tilting, but it’s a consideration nonetheless.
You thought inkjets were cool? Laser printers work by blasting a tube full of dried plastic particles, then fusing them to the paper with heat. They tend to cost more upfront, but the cost per page is overall much lower. Where a $20 ink cartridge might print 200 pages, a $60 toner cartridge could print 2,000. Laser printers don’t dry out and tend to be a lot faster than inkjet printers. Plus, the pages come out of the printer nice and warm, and you can’t really put a price on that.
There are also thermal printers, which are commonly used for receipts or shipping labels. Instead of filling the printer with ink and depositing it onto a surface, these apply heat in precise patterns to special paper, allowing you to print text and images in low resolution, and typically in one color. If you print shipping labels or simple stickers at home, these can save you a lot of time and ink cost, but beyond those uses, they’re pretty limited.
Finally, there are UV printers, which make it possible to print onto a variety of surfaces. However, they’re typically incredibly expensive, so if you don’t anticipate regularly needing to make custom mugs or coasters, you could safely opt for a different printing format.
From my experience, most folks will get the best value from an ink tank printer. The ink pricing is generally much lower than cartridges, and without the limitations of a laser printer.
ConnectivityAccordionItemContainerButton
While Wi-Fi connectivity is an increasingly common feature for printers, especially high-end models, it isn’t a given. If you have a desktop in your home, you can often plug in the printer through USB and share the connection over the network, but otherwise you may need to find a spot with an Ethernet cable. If you don’t have a desktop or a convenient spot next to the router, Wi-Fi will make your life a lot easier.
You’ll also want to keep an eye out for different interface options. Basic models may have no screen at all, or a single line of dot-matrix characters. Upgrades often include a color LCD for clearer error messages, or even a touchscreen for advanced configuration without an app. I generally find these visual elements are most important during the initial setup and become less useful over time.
The exception here is on machines with a document feeder, where a good interface can save you time shuffling through settings. Particularly in situations where you make a lot of copies, a touchscreen with proper presets and options can save you having to pull out your phone or look for a computer to access instructions.
Copy and ScanAccordionItemContainerButton
I can’t tell you definitively whether you need a scanner, but if you’ve used the feature in the last two years, and your phone camera hasn’t sufficed, it’s worth the upgrade. You don’t want to shop for a standalone scanner, or buy an entirely new printer, just to make a few copies. Most models come in full-scan and scanless varieties that are otherwise identical, so it shouldn’t complicate the decision much.
Flatbed scanners are the most common, and are often found on multi-purpose home printers. A flatbed is more than sufficient for uploading occasional forms, and it’s preferable for photos, with typically higher resolution, and no fear of bending precious memories.
Document feeders are found on higher-end and small-business–focused printers, and they’re really only necessary for situations where you’re regularly scanning stacks of pages. If you have customers filling out copious forms, or you’re making copies of handouts and need them collated, it’s worth upgrading.
Setting up and maintaining an ink tank printer adds a few extra steps, which is why I was a little wary of them at first. As it turns out, this Epson EcoTank ET-2980 proved the most straightforward and nonthreatening of all printers I tested. The ink bottles mount right into keyed holes, so you can’t mix them up, and installing yielded no extra drips or dribbles. There were no extra bits to install or configure, just a onetime scan sheet to check the alignment. It was also the easiest to secure if I needed to move it without getting ink everywhere. And after months of regular printing, I haven’t even thought about refilling the ink tanks, and I would’ve replaced cartridges several times over by now.Print quality is excellent. While the speed is slower than with laser printers, it’s quick enough for most home use. It includes a flatbed scanner, making it one of the best-equipped printers for the price, particularly when you take into account the savings from refillable ink. My only minor complaint here is that it uses a vertical feeding paper tray from the rear, which means a lower 100-page print capacity. The upside is that means better paper compatibility, since the pages don’t have to make a complete turn. For homes that print and scan occasionally, and want something flexible and inexpensive to maintain, this is my pick.SpecsPrint TypeColor Ink TankConnectivityWi-Fi, USBPaper HandlingInput: 100, Output: 30
- Best Color Printer (Without a Scanner):-
- As long as you don’t need a scanner, I’d check out the Brother HL-3280CDW. This laser printer worked slower than the black-and-white model, but still fast for a color printer, with a nice, crisp detail level and low noise level. The touchscreen makes setup and adjusting options straightforward. But after the initial setup, I mostly ignored the touchscreen and just hit print.This no-frills printer is great for mostly black-and-white printing with occasional color use. It has a fairly compact footprint and a second manual-feed paper tray. Photos tend to come out much richer and more detailed on inkjet printers, but color laser printers still do a great job at faster speeds, particularly for handouts with flourishes of color or simple brochures. If you’re printing photos often and the quality really matters, I recommend checking out one of the ink-based printers.SpecsPrint TypeColor LaserConnectivityWi-Fi, Ethernet, USBPaper HandlingInput: 250, Output: 150
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- Best Black-and-White Laser Printer
Not only does the Brother HL-L2460DW run quietly, it was also one of the faster I tested, making it a great choice for a home office that prints out lots of invoices or a classroom that needs lots of handouts in a hurry. If you’re printing out dozens of pages per day, all of them in black and white, and never scanning, you’ll save a lot of cash going with this consistent and sturdy laser option from Brother.Unfortunately, setup isn’t entirely intuitive. There’s only a single line readout, and limited buttons for entering a Wi-Fi password. But setup is a pain you’ll only have to grapple with once. Afterward, this printer requires little to no upkeep or changes to settings. It’s fast, cheap to run daily, fits cleanly onto any shelf, and just needs a power cable. Essentially, it’s a great choice if you want something simple and functional.SpecsPrinter TypeBlack and White LaserConnectivityWi-Fi, Ethernet, USBPaper HandlingInput: 250, Output: 100
- The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw probably offers more features than what the casual user would need, but if I showed up to work one day and it was near my desk, I’d assume Santa came early. This would be a great fit for a home office where multiple people are often printing out full-color promotional sheets or invitations.It’s fully connected, with dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB, so you could park it anywhere in your small office and have the whole team printing. It’s fast enough to ensure you’ll never be waiting on someone else to finish their printing, and quiet enough I wouldn’t be mad to sit nearby. That said, it’s physically quite large, and is probably a lot faster and handles more paper than most homes need (and trust, those are features you pay for on this upscale option).My only minor complaint here is that the document feeder up top likes to crunch documents if you don’t get the holders positioned exactly right, so just make sure to use the flatbed for anything important.SpecsPrint TypeColor LaserConnectivityWi-Fi, Ethernet, USBPaper HandlingInput: 250, Output: 150
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- Best Classic Ink Cartridge All-in-One
Photograph: Brad While I think ink tank and laser printers offer a better value and user experience, I can understand feeling more comfortable dealing with classic ink cartridges. This upgraded HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is the newer model of the printer that powered my business for the last year or so. It has both a flatbed and document scanner, and it was one the speedier non-laser printers I tested with full color printing.It also boasts the widest support for paper types and sizes among all top picks. Although, it doesn’t always grab the right number of pages when working with thicker stock—an issue I noticed on the older version as well. With an easy setup process, minimal software needed, and wide feature set, this printer is a great option for people who don’t want to think about their printer often, but just want it to work when they need it.SpecsPrint TypeColor Ink CartridgeConnectivityWi-Fi, Ethernet, USBPaper HandlingInput: 250, Output: 60
- Best Thermal Printer
- Save to wishlistMunbynRW405B Thermal Printer
$220$170 (23% off)AmazonWhile thermal printers won’t really work for documents or photos, they’re excellent for printing shipping labels and simple stickers without having to worry about ink or toner. Munbyn isn’t exactly a household name, but I started using the 405B to print return labels, and it has quickly become a household tool upon which I lean heavily. The round 2-inch stickers are great for labeling food jars or storage containers, and I like to slap them on snack bags or wrapped sandwiches when heading to a party or potluck.This upgraded model has a user-replaceable printhead, even though the one inside is rated for almost a million prints and includes a spool, which you’ll want anyway for keeping your label rolls tidy. It works best via Bluetooth. For most of my stickers and labels, I use the Android app, which features a large library of templates and extra assets.SpecsPrint TypeThermalConnectivityBluetooth, USBMax Size4″ x 6″
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- For dedicated photo printing, I like the Canon Pixma TS6520, an ink cartridge printer with borderless printing capability for up to 8.5-by-11 inches and a 1,200 DPI (dots per inch) maximum-print resolution. The printer works quickly—even on full-color pages—and yields photos that are clear and vivid. Initial setup was easy using the mobile app, and the on-device screen is big enough to be useful for checking errors and managing settings.The biggest drawback of this printer is that it uses Canon’s combined color ink cartridge, which may mean wasted ink if you print colors at different rates. That’s because if one color runs out, you need to replace the whole cartridge—an issue that you wouldn’t encounter with ink tanks. The inclusion of “starter” ink cartridges means you’ll run out sooner than I’d like from the getgo.I wouldn’t recommend the Canon if it won’t spend most of its life printing photos. The intake tray is fairly small, and the ink is a bit expensive to warrant using this for concert tickets and shipping labels.SpecsPrint TypeColor Ink CartridgeConnectivityWi-Fi, USBPaper HandlingInput: 100
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- Best Portable Printer
- If you need a portable printer that can still handle full pages, I like the Inkwon A41. It’s a thermal printer, so you’ll need special paper, but the compatible rolls are pretty reasonably priced (around $10 for 130 sheets).The true charm of this setup is its simplicity. This would be a great fit for someone who needs to print out larger invoices or receipts while on the road or at shows and conventions. The overall entry price is quite low.
Related Accessories
Scotch Pro TL906 Laminator for $43: This simple laminator heats up quickly and runs smoothly and quietly. Although, I find it works better using the 5-millimeter setting, even with 3-millimeter pouches. This is a good pick for those who do occasional laminating at home, but it might not be quick enough for consistent, big projects.
Other Printers
HP LaserJet M209d for $160: While HP’s minimalist black-and-white laser printer might be wallet-friendly, it’s quite noisy and lacks some crucialIt connectivity ability. Even just adding Ethernet would sweeten the pot here. However, if you want something basic and only require USB connectivity, it’ll get the job done.
HP Smart Tank 5101 for $180: Unlike with Epson’s ink-tank printer, setup for this HP was involved and messy—I ended up staining my fingers multiple colors in the process. I wasn’t stoked by the print quality, and in addition to frequent random printer noises, it occasionally let out a high frequency beeping.