A printer is one of those pieces of technology that you don’t think you need… until you really do. Photographs, legal documents, and physical backup files all require physical printing, and, sure, you could go to the public library or a print shop, but why go through all that? Even if you only use it once a year to print out boarding passes for your family during your annual vacation, it’s convenient to own your own printer. Everyone likes convenience.
Choosing the right inkjet or laser printer can be a difficult decision, depending on whether you’re planning to print mostly black-and-white documents, or if you want to have the option to print photos, scan documents, make copies or even send faxes. (Yes, people still need things faxed in 2024).
An inkjet printer is likely the most inexpensive way to start and gives you a lot of flexibility, though purchasing ink cartridges that work with the device can be a bit frustrating (and pricey). A laserjet printer will cost more off the shelf, but for printing a high volume of documents, it could be worth the up-front costs. Most printers these days will at least save you one inconvenience: wires. Wi-Fi printing as an option is now the norm, but you can still connect a laptop or desktop computer if you prefer.
Brother is a brand that appears on our Best Printer list multiple times for good reason. User friendly and built to last, these devices are the go-to for business and personal use as well. This all-in-one inkjet is 19% off for a limited time and it is able to scan, copy, and print and includes an auto duplex feature that saves on paper. It’s the most bang for your buck in terms of a device that will serve your printer/copier/scanner needs for years to come.
Best Home All-in-One Option
If you’re looking for a home use all-in-one printer that won’t break the bank, the Epson Expression will meet your needs. With wireless connectivity to both PCs and mobile devices, a paper tray with a 150-sheet capacity, and paper-saving automatic 2-sided printing, this color printer can also produce documents and even photographs. Its compact size means it can easily fit on your desk or a side table. Check out our review for more info.
Recommended by Our Editors
This printer was designed for use in a small office, but it could also be used at home as your personal workhorse. It supports duplex scanning and printing with a quick printing speed of 22 pages per minute—whether they’re monochrome or color. A built-in USB port enables you to print directly from a flash drive or even connect your computer if your network isn’t available. You can even print from your mobile device thanks to the Canon Print Business app and Apple AirPrint.
For more basic printing/scanning/faxing needs, the HP DeskJet 2855e wireless all-in-one inkjet printer is a cost effective solution. Setup is easy with the HP Smart app and you can also print directly from your mobile device. The top loading tray holds up to 60-sheets of paper and 3 months of ink are included with your purchase. HP printers don’t play nicely with non-OEM ink cartridges, so keep that in mind when considering the cost of ownership.
More Great Deals on Printers
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Even More Printer Deals to Spill Ink Over
What Kind of Printer Should I Purchase?
That depends on your use-case. Some printers are better than others for photographs versus black and white and some printers can also scan, copy, and fax. Bear in mind that the more features your printer has, the more expensive they will be.
Why Are Laser Printers More Expensive Than Inkjet?
Oftentimes, the cost per page of a laser printer is less than that of an inkjet, saving you money in the long run. You can check our total cost of ownership guide to decide what’s right for you.
How Do We Test Printers?
To measure printer performance, we time and report results for a pre-assembled 12-page Word document in the business applications suite and for the 4-by-6 photos in the photo suite. After printing each document several times, we average the results. You can find out more in our explainer article.
Unlock Exclusive Deals on the Latest Tech Products
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
About Karl Klockars
Read the latest from Karl Klockars
About Jade Chung-Lee
Merchandising Associate
