How to Buy a Printer Without Losing Your Mind
Photo courtesy of etilize.com
Last updated
June 13, 2026

Our team uses AI to gather and suggest products, but our experts ensure every recommendation meets our high standards.

Key considerations

Let's be honest about printers. Everyone hates them. You just want a machine that prints your shipping labels and tax forms without demanding a blood sacrifice or a new expensive ink cartridge every three weeks. The biggest mistake buyers make is buying the cheapest inkjet on the shelf. Those models trap you in a cycle of buying costly replacement ink. You need to focus on operating costs over the upfront price. Look for high-yield ink tanks or reliable laser models that sit quietly until you need them.

Basic Black And White Laser

Most people only print text documents and shipping labels. A monochrome laser printer handles these tasks perfectly. The toner cartridges last for thousands of pages and never dry out. You pay a bit more upfront than a cheap inkjet, but you save massive amounts of money and frustration over the years.
Brother HL-L2460DW Laser Printer
Top Pick 4.4
Brother
Brother

Brother HL-L2460DW Laser Printer

Best monochrome laser printer for busy home offices needing fast, reliable output.

This monochrome laser printer handles your essential office tasks with speed and efficiency. Enjoy the convenience of wireless and wired networking, plus automatic duplex printing to reduce paper waste. Its compact size makes it suitable for any workspace.

Xerox B210
Runner Up 4.2
Xerox
Xerox

Xerox B210

Best dependable monochrome printer for small office environments.

This is the workhorse for those who need crisp, black-and-white documents without the headache of a complex setup. It sacrifices color capabilities and fancy bells and whistles, but in exchange, you get a compact, reliable machine that handles high-volume text tasks with effortless speed.

Brother MFCL2710DW Laser Printer
Runner Up 4.4
Brother International Corp

Brother MFCL2710DW Laser Printer

Best compact all in one for efficient home or small office document needs.

This monochrome laser all-in-one is built for small offices needing reliable printing, copying, and scanning. It boasts automatic duplexing and wireless connectivity, making document management efficient. While it offers a solid 32 ppm print speed and a 250-sheet tray, its true value lies in its compact design and cost-saving high-yield toner options.

Okidata MB471 Laser Printer
Runner Up 4.3
Okidata
Okidata

Okidata MB471 Laser Printer

Best reliable workhorse for small to medium business printing needs.

This monochrome multifunction printer handles printing, copying, scanning, and faxing with impressive speed and automatic duplexing. Its 50-sheet ADF streamlines multi-page tasks, while network connectivity makes it a shared office asset. It's an ENERGY STAR certified, reliable workhorse for professional document management.

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monochrome laser printer

When You Print Color Constantly

Families with school-aged children blow through standard ink cartridges fast. A refillable ink tank printer is the right move here. Instead of tiny cartridges, you pour ink from cheap bottles into large reservoirs. You get thousands of color pages per refill. Just print regularly so the printheads stay clear.
HP Smart Tank 5103 Printer
Top Pick 4.5
HP
HP

HP Smart Tank 5103 Printer

Best high-volume ink tank printer for cost-conscious home office users.

This is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it solution for high-volume home offices that are tired of constantly replacing cartridges. By swapping traditional ink systems for a high-capacity tank, you trade the convenience of quick-change pods for a significantly lower cost-per-page and the freedom to print for years without a refill.

Epson EcoTank ET-2400
Runner Up 4.4
Epson
Epson

Epson EcoTank ET-2400

Best cost-effective all-in-one for high-volume home printing needs.

This is the end of the cartridge era for home offices. By swapping disposable plastic for high-capacity refillable tanks, you trade the convenience of quick-swap cartridges for long-term sustainability and significantly lower ink costs. It is a smarter, waste-free way to handle everyday printing without the constant anxiety of running dry.

Canon MAXIFY GX6120 Inkjet Printer
Runner Up 4.5
Canon
Canon

Canon MAXIFY GX6120 Inkjet Printer

Best economical all in one for busy home offices.

This Canon MAXIFY GX6120 offers a cost-effective printing solution for small offices with its MegaTank system, significantly reducing ink expenses. It delivers high-quality color prints and sharp text, alongside seamless wireless connectivity for easy device printing. The all-in-one functionality includes a versatile scanner, all housed in a compact design that saves space.

Brother MFCT580DW
Runner Up 4.5
Brother
Brother

Brother MFCT580DW

Best all-in-one printer for cost-conscious home office users.

This Brother all-in-one offers exceptional value with up to three years of ink included and a 3-year warranty. Its innovative ink tank system simplifies refills and reduces waste. Enjoy wireless connectivity, mobile printing, and automatic duplexing for efficient home or home office use.

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refillable ink tank printer

High Quality Photo Printing

Laser printers do a terrible job with glossy photographs. You need a dedicated photo inkjet if you want to frame your pictures. These models use five or six different ink colors to produce accurate skin tones and deep shadows. Be prepared to spend significant money on specialized photo paper and ink.
Epson PictureMate PM-400 Inkjet Printer
Top Pick 4.5
Epson
Epson

Epson PictureMate PM-400 Inkjet Printer

Best compact printer for preserving cherished memories at home.

This compact photo printer makes it easy to create high-quality prints at home. While it offers convenient wireless features and fast printing for 4x6 photos, it's primarily a dedicated photo printing device, lacking broader multifunctionality.

Canon PIXMA PRO-200 Inkjet Photo Printer
Runner Up 4.5
Canon
Canon

Canon PIXMA PRO-200 Inkjet Photo Printer

Best professional-grade printer for photographers creating gallery-quality large-format prints.

This printer turns digital files into gallery-ready art by prioritizing vibrant dye-based color over the bulk of pigment-heavy alternatives. It sacrifices a smaller footprint for the ability to output stunning A3+ prints, making it the definitive choice for photographers who demand professional-grade detail at home.

Epson SureColor SC-P900
Runner Up 4.6
Epson
Epson

Epson SureColor SC-P900

Best high fidelity printer for discerning photographers.

This 17-inch photo printer delivers professional-grade output with its advanced 10-color ink system, producing stunningly vibrant and detailed prints. It handles a wide array of media, from glossy photo paper to fine art and canvas, offering unparalleled versatility for artists and photographers.

Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100
Runner Up 4.5
Canon
Canon

Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100

Best large-format printer for professional photographers and fine art creators.

This is the gold standard for photographers who demand gallery-grade prints without outsourcing to a lab. While its 17-inch footprint demands significant desk space, the 11-color ink system delivers a level of color depth and archival longevity that makes every other desktop printer feel like a compromise.

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dedicated photo inkjet printer

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