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There are plenty of cheap printers on the market, but many of them are low-quality units that will fail quickly after purchase. In searching for the best budget printer, however, we found an array of far better options that deliver on print quality without the associated price tag of the very best printers.
There is a wide range of options to choose from, be it an excellent AIO printer for everything you might want to print, a simpler laser printer, or even an ink tank printer. So we’ve gone broad and brought suggestions from various options, including some of our printer reviews, to provide hands-on experience with the selection.
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Editor’s Pick
Epson EcoTank ET-2850
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Bluetooth, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes
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Best Budget Laser Printer
HP LaserJet M209dw
- Printer Output: Monochrome
- Printer Type: Laser
- Connectivity Technology: USB 2.0, 100Mbps Ethernet, WiFi 2.4/5GHz, Wi-Fi Direct, Mobile printing
- Duplex Printing: Yes, automatic
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Best Budget InkJet PrinterBrother MFC-J1010DW
- Printer Output:: Color
- Printer Type: : InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: : USB, Ethernet, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: Yes
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Best Compact Budget Printer
HP Envy 6120e (6155e)
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: HP Thermal Inkjet
- Connectivity Technology: USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Duplex Printing: Yes, Automatic
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Best Budget Office Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: HP Thermal Inkjet
- Duplex Printing: Yes automatic
How we picked the best budget printer
The first consideration when choosing the best budget printers is, of course, the budget itself. As we were looking across a range of products, our budget varied from under $200 to higher-end models for more specialized printing. Different printer types are more expensive than one another, so a budget printer for arts and crafts will differ in price relative to a standard document printer. Overall, we managed to straddle the line between quality and price for different print requirements.
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In addition, we looked at printers with a range of different quality-of-life features that help make every dollar spent worthwhile: any standard warranties, extra features, or additional user-friendliness gained preferential treatment from us. We settled on five budget printers that each offered a great print quality and speed for their respective requirements, all whilst keeping costs low and value high.
Combining our printer tests with years of experience in the market, we have the knowledge to pick out the best options out there.
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Bluetooth, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Wi-Fi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes
Overall the Epson ET-2850 is a solid home printer. With reasonable printing costs, acceptable speeds, and nice range of features, you have everything you need for your day-to-day printing. Despite not having great color accuracy, the photo printing quality was surprisingly good as an additional benefit.
- Great value
- Good choice for affordable photo printing
- Cost effective
- Quality scanning
- Not the best color accuracy
- Average to slow printing speed
- No SD Card slot or Ethernet port
As our overall budget pick, we’ve gone for an Epson printer that has a smallish cost upfront but is also a low-maintenance one. As the EcoTank ET-2850 is an ink tank printer that brings with it a lot cheaper refills for longer compared to cartridge printers, which usually come at the expense of higher initial prices.
However, the InkJet printer provides a broad platform for several use cases at home, as we found in our ET-2850 review. During that, we tested the speed of the printer, and there we found it took around 60 seconds for a queue of three monochrome pages, while the color version took around 75 seconds. So it’s not the fastest in the world, but it offers a decent speed anyway.
The results of those were excellent too, with the color saturation at a high level and no ink leakage. It also did an OK job of using it for printing photos. So, along with the scanner and versatile connectivity, the Epson printer is an effective budget option.
- Printer Output: Monochrome
- Printer Type: Laser
- Connectivity Technology: USB 2.0, 100Mbps Ethernet, WiFi 2.4/5GHz, Wi-Fi Direct, Mobile printing
- Duplex Printing: Yes, automatic
The HP LaserJet M209dw is a budget-friendly printer that’s laser-focused on one thing: producing sharp text and clean lines. It handles documents with crisp clarity and even supports duplex printing, making it a reliable workhorse for long print jobs. Beyond that, however, its capabilities are limited – there’s no scanner, no color printing, and graphics or gradients come out with low contrast and poor intensity. If your needs are strictly black-and-white documents or envelopes, however, the HP M209dw is a solid choice.
- Inexpensive to buy
- Automatic double-sided printing
- Word and line print quality very high
- Easy and lightweight setup process
- Access to plenty of the insides for clearing jams
- Good connectivity options
- Only one paper feed
Images lack contrast - Doesn’t have smooth gradient intensities
- Included toner is low capacity, and replacements are expensive
- Lack of scanner and color very limiting in usefulness
Now, if you’re more into printing long documents in black and white, you don’t have to spend more on color cartridges. Instead, a black-and-white laser printer is the way forward. With just one colored cartridge inside, we recommend the HP LaserJet M209dw as the one to go for.
As we found in our review of the printer, it is a bit of a workhorse, taking anywhere from 3 to 12 seconds on printing simple monochrome sheets, but more importantly, just 6 to 7 seconds in a long queue and duplex, it can get the job done easily. The results of which are fairly decent, with the simplest lines and curves of the documents clear and distinct without smudging. It’s only the images where the printer loses contrast and the brightness levels blend.
Offering a maximum print resolution of 600 x 600 dpi from the black LaserJet toner cartridge, the HP printer uses. That does provide a good quality standard and comes at a cost of just 6 to 4 cents per sheet if the yields of the cartridges are to be trusted.
Even the budget printer offers a good range of connectivity options, with USB, Ethernet, and 2.4/5GHz wireless, while also providing a range of mobile printing solutions with it.
HP LaserJet M209dw script, Image by PC Guide
HP LaserJet M209dw prints, Image by PC Guide
- Printer Output:: Color
- Printer Type: : InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: : USB, Ethernet, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: Yes
The MFC-J1010DW stands as a benchmark for price and performance, and is a stellar print offering from Brother.
- Multimedia printing – the MFC-J1010DW offers the option to print with a wide range of specialist media.
- Great value – with fast printing speeds and a range of configuration options, this printer’s sub-$100 price point is pushed to the limit.
- Poor ink economy – inefficient cartridges lead to the MFC-J1010DW being less economical in the long-term.
The Brother MFC-J1010DW is another sterling option for those looking for a budget print solution. Capable of printing documents and photos for a similar price as the Pantum P2502W, this Brother printer boasts unexpected—but highly appreciated—value for money.
As mentioned, alongside standard documents, this InkJet printer is capable of high-quality borderless photos. For standard prints, the MFC-J1010DW has a sterling high speed of 17 pages per minute and can be connected via the standard array of print options: Ethernet, USB, or WiFi Direct. The LCD touchscreen enables you to quickly view and configure your print settings, along with being the primary means of using the built-in scanner, should you need it.
However, though this is still a budget printer, the overall cost per print is higher than average due to the printer’s poor ink economy, which can cause costs to build up over time. The overall affordability remains high, however, and the Brother MFC-J1010DW remains a stellar budget printer!
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: HP Thermal Inkjet
- Connectivity Technology: USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Duplex Printing: Yes, Automatic
This affordable printer is basically everything you need for occasional home usage, performing quite well in everyday tasks, but as expected falling slightly flat with photo prints. It looks the part, doesn’t take up much space, and even has some quite clever design choices too. Sure, it’s a bit less economical than some of the ink-tank printers on the market, and you may find its cost-per-print a little steep if you’re using it for high-volume – but for most people considering this printer, that won’t be a huge issue. For home offices and lower volume printing, this is a great shout for the price.
- Cheap initial cost to buy the unit
- Fairly small and compact design for its features
- Surprisingly good quality prints for the price
- Includes free trial of HP Instant Ink
- Easy to install and get going
- Expensive ink prices without the subscription
- Low-yield cartridges can make it high maintenance for big page counts
- Lacks color accuracy in photo prints
- High cost per print
On the smaller side of things, you may consider this HP printer. The Envy 6120e/6155e offers a color thermal inkjet solution in a smaller package. It doesn’t skimp out on too many features during it, though, as it still provides a 1200 DPI flatbed scanner and printing of up to 4800 x 1200 in color and 1200 x 1200 in black and white.
It does lose out on some connection options, well, just Ethernet, as it still has USB and WiFi dual band, and is able to utilize mobile printing services. Each of which will come to cost 14 and 19 cents for black and white or in color, so it’s not exactly the most economical of printers out there.
It also only has the one input tray, which is capable of holding 100 sheets of paper, up to size A4, with support for smaller sizes too. Once you get it printing in our 6120e review, the colored pages took around 43 to 47 seconds each, as the monochrome tests were 26 to 34 seconds per page. So it’s certainly not the fastest of options, but it does so to a high quality.
The quality of those prints is fairly decent, as documents come out clear and legible, but the colors do lose quality in intense color situations. That’s the same case for the copier, which drops the finer details and adds some artifacts in there. It even manages to print photos to a decent level for any prints you want to make here and there.
HP Envy 6120e Copy results, Image by PC Guide
HP Envy 6120e color test, Image by PC Guide
HP Envy 6120e black and white, Image by PC Guide
HP Envy 6120e photo tests, Image by PC Guide
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: HP Thermal Inkjet
- Duplex Printing: Yes automatic
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e comes as a strong solution for an AIO where you want to get it and forget. Setting up the subscription is a good option for those printing plenty and not having to think about it. Getting the ink delivered to your door without having to think about it makes it a lot easier. But it is not the one-stop shop for everything, as it can be slow to print color and photos not coming out in the best light. Although as a lightweight and interestingly designed solution, it is simple and easy for the most part and has its place around.
- Good quality standard prints
- Easy auto-alignment features using the scanner bed
- Offers preview before copying
- On the lighter side making it easy to move
- Can run rather slowly in color printing
- Photo prints are bland and grainy
- Setting up on app pushed a lot of subscription options
- Installing cartridges can be sticky and tricky that took many attempts and cleaning out pins
Now, for a printer made for the office, there is the HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e. Providing a machine to do any of the work you have to chuck at it, considering it’s an AIO. But the OfficeJet is a great pick for any office environment, as we found in our review of the 9012e.
Particularly since it has an input capacity of 250 sheets, with the ADF holding up to 35 sheets, it does have a larger capacity than many previous options. Able to scan, copy, and print the printer is a versatile option for running in the office. Which comes to a cost of around 10 cents per colored sheet and 3 cents for black and white.
As for the speed of the printing, it took around 13 seconds per page printed, both in color and monochrome. The prints, including photos, do come at a decent quality to enjoy. Which are to be expected considering it has a print resolution of 4800 x 1200 for color and 1200 x 1200 in black.
Connectivity on the printer is quite significant, with options for two USB, one of which is for a memory stick, Ethernet, WiFi, and RJ-11. While it also has a load of mobile printing options to take advantage of, it may be considered not moving it as it is nearly 10 kg (20.5 lbs) in weight.
HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e color test print, Image by PC Guide
HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e photo test print, Image by PC Guide
HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e monochrome test print, Image by PC Guide
HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e copy test, Image by PC Guide
HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e images test print, Image by PC Guide
Features and Considerations
If you’re looking into a product not on our list and want to avoid disappointment, here are some things to consider before buying a budget printer:
Brand
Though it may not seem important, there are plenty of cheap printers from untrustworthy brands flooding the market, and buying one is likely to be an unreliable short-term investment. Names such as Epson, Brother, HP, or Canon are the best bet in terms of value for money.
Print Quality
We’ve generally looked at InkJet printers in our list today, as they offer the best print quality for both documents and photos. However, there are some great laser printers on the market as well, so quality can vary depending on the model. The easiest way to tell is to check the unit’s print resolution, measured in dots per inch (DPI).
Ink Economy
We’ve used the term “ink economy” a few times in this piece, which effectively refers to how well a printer utilizes the ink. InkJet printers are generally more efficient than laser printers, but the ink itself is generally more expensive. The most ink-efficient models on the market are Ink Tank printers, which use large reservoirs of ink that are easily refilled, but the printers themselves are more expensive. The printer market is infamous for its “razor and blades” business model, so do your research to make sure your printer has a good ink economy.
Connectivity
Depending on how you plan to print, you should definitely check to see how you can connect your device of choice to the printer. Though it’s rarer in the age of WiFi Direct and Bluetooth, some budget printers only offer wired connections via USB, which can be frustrating if you plan to print from a smartphone or tablet. The manufacturer will generally list the connectivity options online, so double-check compatibility before buying.
Print Speed
Print speed isn’t an essential factor, but it is worth considering if you plan to put your budget printer under heavy-duty cycles. For standard documents, a printer will generally have a listed print speed in pages per minute—make sure this is fast enough to suit your needs.
Are Epson printers good?
Yes, we’re big fans of Epson printers, as they offer a wide range of products to suit various budgets and specialist printing needs. Though their exclusive ranges of inks can vary wildly in price, the overall quality that Epson printers promise. We have tested quite a few models and have enjoyed each one in our reviews.
What’s a good price for a printer?
There’s a certain threshold of quality that only money can buy, so we never recommend going below $100 for a printer. Generally, we’d recommend a price point between $200 and $600, depending on what you plan to print.
What is the best affordable printer for home use?
In our selection, the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 is the best affordable home printer. As an ink tank, it has a great economy, even if you do have to pay a bit more for it initially. But it is also an all-in-one printer that is very versatile in what you use it for.
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