Budget Printers for Home Use
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The best budget printer should be inexpensive to own, not merely inexpensive to buy. My picks cover frequent color printing, black-and-white documents, and occasional home use.
Top picks
Canon PIXMA TR4720 — Best for scanning and faxing
This compact color all-in-one includes an automatic document feeder, mobile printing, faxing, and automatic duplexing.
Why it wins: Few entry-level printers include both an ADF and fax.
- Wireless 4-in-1 (print | copy | scan | fax)..Power Consumption: 7W (0.8W Standby / 0.3W Off)
- Print speed up to: 4" x 6" Borderless Photo (PP-201): Approx. 65.0 Seconds / Black Document...
- Designed for easy ink cartridge installation and replacement.
Pros
- Automatic document feeder
- Automatic duplex printing
- Built-in fax
Cons
- Small ink cartridges
- Better for light use
Social proof: See reviews on Amazon.
Who should skip: Frequent printers seeking the lowest long-term ink cost.
Brother HL-L2460DW — Best for black-and-white documents
This monochrome laser printer offers automatic duplexing, mobile printing, and a 250-sheet tray.
Why it wins: It is fast, simple, and well suited to essays, forms, and shipping labels.
- BEST FOR HOME OFFICES & SMALL TEAMS – Engineered for consistent, premium print quality, the...
- COMPACT, CONNECTED, EXCEPTIONALLY EFFICIENT– Connect with built-in dual-band wireless...
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Manage your wireless printer remotely and print from your mobile...
Pros
- Fast text printing
- Automatic duplexing
- Large paper tray
Cons
- No color printing
- No scanner or copier
Social proof: See reviews on Amazon.
Who should skip: Anyone who needs color assignments or scanning.
Scores: Performance 4.7/5 | Toner efficiency 4.4/5 | Ease 4.5/5 | Value 4.7/5
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 — Best for frequent color printing
The ET-2800 is a cartridge-free color printer with scanning, copying, and refillable ink tanks.
Why it wins: Its refill bottles make more sense than small cartridges for regular printing.
- INNOVATIVE CARTRIDGE-FREE PRINTING — High-capacity ink tanks mean no more dealing with lots of...
- LESS FREQUENT INK REPLACEMENT — Replacement ink bottles don't have to be changed nearly as often...
- COLOR PRINTING — Up to 2 years of ink in the box⁴ (and with every replacement ink set) for fewer...
Pros
- High-capacity ink tanks
- Print, scan, and copy
- Good fit for schoolwork
Cons
- No automatic duplexing
- Slow for large jobs
Social proof: See reviews on Amazon.
Who should skip: Occasional users who may leave an inkjet unused for months.
Scores: Performance 4.0/5 | Ink efficiency 4.8/5 | Ease 2>
Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3290 — Best overall
A refillable color all-in-one with scanning, copying, automatic two-sided printing, a touchscreen, and a 100-sheet rear tray.
Why it wins: It offers the best balance of low ink costs and everyday features.
- High-Volume, Cost-Efficient Printing: Print more and save more with the Canon PIXMA G3290’s...
- Exceptional Print Quality & Speed: Enjoy sharp text and vivid images with a 4800 x 1200 dpi print...
- Easy, Mess-Free Refilling & Monitoring: The integrated front-mounted ink tanks make it simple to...
Pros
- Refillable ink tanks
- Automatic duplex printing
- Color touchscreen
Cons
- No automatic document feeder
- Modest paper capacity
Social proof: See reviews on Amazon.
Who should skip: Anyone regularly scanning multipage documents.
Scores: Performance 4.4/5 | Ink efficiency 4.8/5 | Ease 4.5/5 | Value 4.7/5
Scores: Performance 3.8/5 | Ink efficiency 3.2/5 | Ease 4.1/5 | Value 4.1/5
HP DeskJet 2855e — Best for occasional printing
The 2855e provides color printing, scanning, copying, wireless connectivity, a 60-sheet input tray, and a flatbed scanner.
Why it wins: It covers basic homework and household printing without unnecessary features.
- The DeskJet 2855e is perfect for homes printing to-do lists, letters, financial documents and...
- PERFECTLY FORMATTED PRINTS WITH HP AI – Print web pages and emails with precision—no wasted...
- KEY FEATURES – Color printing, copy, scan, and a 60-sheet input tray
Pros
- Compact all-in-one
- Simple wireless printing
- Flatbed scanner
Cons
- Manual two-sided printing
- Cartridge costs suit light use
Social proof: See reviews on Amazon.
Who should skip: Anyone printing frequently or in large batches.
Scores: Performance 3.5/5 | Ink efficiency 2.9/5 | Ease 4.0/5 | Value 3.8/5
Quick compare
- Canon G3290: Best overall
- Brother HL-L2460DW: Best for black text
- Epson ET-2800: Best for frequent color
- Canon TR4720: Best for scanning and faxing
- HP DeskJet 2855e: Best for occasional use
Buying guide
Choose a refillable ink-tank printer for frequent color output, a monochrome laser for mostly black text, or a basic cartridge printer for occasional household jobs.
Automatic duplexing matters for essays and reports. An automatic document feeder matters more when scanning or copying several pages at once.
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