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From creating high-quality photo prints through to rapid-fire documentation, investing in the best printer for home is not necessarily as straightforward as you’d think. Having a multi-purpose printer in your household can add terrific value, for both quick and easy document printing and more varied crafting. For families and house-shares alike, it’s a worthwhile purchase – but with so many criteria and so many printers to choose from, narrowing down on one printer can be difficult.
We’ve compiled a list of our top 5 best printers for home use, across a broad range of criteria and budget ranges. No matter the needs of your home, we have a printer here that can meet them!
Products at a glance
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Best Printer for Home
Epson EcoTank ET-8550
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Ethernet
- Duplex Printing: Yes
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Best Laser Printer for HomeCanon imageCLASS MF753Cdw
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: Laser
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: Yes
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Best Budget Printer for HomeEpson EcoTank ET-2800
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Technology: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: Ethernet, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: Yes
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Best Compact Printer for HomeHP LaserJet Pro M15w
- Printer Output: Monochrome
- Printer Type: Laser
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Companion App
- Duplex Printing: No
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Best Large-Format Printer for Home
Epson Expression XP-15000
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Cloud Printing
- Duplex Printing: Yes
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Best for home offices
Epson WF-7310DTW
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: Inkjet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, WiFi, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes, automatic
How we picked the Best printers for home use
When it comes to choosing the best printer for home use, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Different households have different needs: a home office focused on documents may benefit most from a reliable laser printer, while families or creatives who need to print photos, greeting cards, or other specialist media will find more versatility in a high-quality inkjet printer. Our selection reflects this variety, offering a mix of both types to suit different use cases.
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In narrowing down our choices, we focused on the features that matter most: print size, speed, and media compatibility, along with print resolution to ensure consistently high quality. We also looked at more practical factors like ink efficiency, connectivity options, and overall value for money. The printer industry has long leaned on the “razor-and-blades” model – cheap upfront hardware with costly refills – so models with low running costs and strong long-term value scored higher. Compact design was another consideration, especially for printers that can handle larger formats without dominating your workspace.
Ultimately, we settled on these standout printers, each excelling in different ways. Some are better for budget-conscious households, others for those who prioritize photo quality or large-format printing. We’ve also included a few alternative picks that didn’t make our main list but still offer excellent performance and value.
Our in-depth reviews
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Ethernet
- Duplex Printing: Yes
As we highlighted in our recent review, the ET-8550 adds tremendous value to any home but will cost you quite a bit on the initial startup costs.
- Plenty of connectivity and print options
- Has lots of colored inks that are cheap to buy
- Very high initial cost to purchase
The Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is a premium all-in-one inkjet printer built for both home offices and photo enthusiasts. Using Epson’s EcoTank system with six refillable ink bottles, it offers significantly lower running costs compared to traditional cartridge printers, with yields of up to 6,700 black pages and 6,200 color pages. Setup is straightforward, aided by a large 10.9cm touchscreen, and connectivity is flexible with support for USB, Ethernet, WiFi Direct, SD card, and mobile printing apps.
In testing, the ET-8550 produced excellent results, with sharp text and vibrant photo output thanks to its high 5,760 x 1,440 dpi resolution and wide color support. It handles media up to A3+ size, supports duplex printing, and even manages borderless prints and specialty media like CDs. Print speeds are solid, though the motorized output tray adds a few seconds of delay, and the scanner is limited to A4 despite the printer’s larger format support.
At around $550, the ET-8550 comes with a steep upfront cost, but it pays off for users who print frequently, especially in color. It’s best suited for households, creatives, and small offices needing a reliable, high-quality solution that balances photo printing and everyday document work. If you can justify the price, the EcoTank ET-8550 is a versatile long-term investment with standout quality and low ongoing costs.
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: Laser
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: Yes
Productive and powerful, this laser printer proves to be just as capable as its InkJet counterparts.
- Highly efficient – the MF753Cdw has a huge input tray and high-yield toner for long periods between refills.
- Fast print speeds – this laser printer can churn out 35 pages per minute in standard document formats.
- Premium price point – this Canon printer is notably expensive, and some households may struggle to justify the expense.
For a more barebones print solution, consider the Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw. This laser printer is great for households printing heavy amounts of paper documents, as a fast and reliable model boasting a gamut of useful features.
Rated for a duty cycle of 4,000 prints per month, the MF753Cdw is a productivity powerhouse. It can print as fast as 35 pages per minute and has auto-duplexing features for double-sided pages. It’s paper capacity is also stellar, with a 250-sheet primary tray, a 50-sheet reserve, and an optional 550-sheet tray. As a color laser printer, the MF753Cdw can print high-resolution documents in both monochrome and color with ease and – though the colors aren’t as impressive as an InkJet printer – results are rendered with great detail and brightness.
The features don’t stop there: with a built-in copier, document scanner and even a fax machine, you have a wide range of options for every occasion. What’s more, the intuitive touchscreen makes for easy configuration of print settings – though you can just as easily configure the printer wirelessly over a range of devices – including iPads and other Apple products. The high-yield toner that comes with the printer makes for long-lasting printing, without needing to order replacement ink. Overall, there is a great deal to like about the MF753Cdw.
However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to dislike. The upfront cost of this printer may alienate a great many households, and those after an unassuming and easy-to-use printer may think this unit is better suited as an office printer. We believe it’s worth the expense, though, and are happy to name it the best laser printer for homes!
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Technology: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: Ethernet, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: Yes
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Technology: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: Ethernet, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: Yes
Though the ET-2850 outclasses its ancestor in all other mediums, the ET-2800 is able to beat it’s already-low price.
- Affordable – retailing under $200, this printer is a tremendous asset to any household.
- Versatile – with an ink tank system for specialist media and a highly capable document print speed, this is an all-weather print solution.
- Poor media tray placement – the specialist media tray is located beneath the output tray, for annoying restocking.
If you’re not willing to part with a fortune but still want a stellar all-rounder printer, consider the Epson EcoTank ET-2800, the progenitor of the ET-2850. Though a little older, this budget printer employs similarly stellar features to the newer model – making it a highly valuable yet affordable InkJet printer.
Capable of printing on an array of specialist media such as cardstock, the ET-2800 gives you a wide array of options at a very narrow price. Like it’s aforementioned sibling, installation is quick and easy, employing the same Ink Tank technology for efficient ink usage and replacement. Epson claims that their refillable ink bottles save the average waste of 72 ink cartridges, truly putting the “Eco” in EcoTank. The “razor-and-blades” model is also absent, as ink refills are extremely affordable compared to contemporary printers.
As you can expect, prints of any variety are ready quickly without losing quality. With roll-feed support, the printer is capable of printing on paper as long as 47″. You can configure print settings, scanning, or ICC color profiles with the display easily. All-in-all, there’s a reason we always highly recommend this budget printer to everyone, from home offices to students: the value-for-money is nearly unmatched.
So why isn’t this the top pick for the best printer for home use? Unlike the ET-2850, which has a universal paper feeder in the top, the ET-2800 employs a rear tray for specialist media, that’s hard to reach when the printer is against a wall or other surface. It’s a small issue to overcome, however, and it hasn’t stopped us from naming the ET-2800 as our best budget prints for a range of uses!
- Printer Output: Monochrome
- Printer Type: Laser
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Companion App
- Duplex Printing: No
For a printer that doesn’t take up space or funds, the M15w is a great small printer for the home.
- Fast printing – with a general speed of 19 pages per minute, with a fast first page print, this printer remains highly productive.
- Energy saving – with a low base power draw and automatic switch-off, this is a great low-cost printer.
- Monochrome only – this printer is only capable of black-and-white prints.
After a barebones and compact print solution? The HP LaserJet Pro M15w is the ideal response. With a tiny footprint and even smaller price, this is a simple yet effective HP printer for homes of any size.
Even cheaper than the ET-2800, this laser printer is an unassuming model – 35% smaller than its predecessor. Size and speed are both improved, with a print speed of 19 pages per minute. The first print will be in your hands in as little as 8 seconds, which is ideal for last-minute document printing. You can use HP’s smart app not only to print, but to order replacement toner or check customer support details. And if you prefer printing from a more substantial device, you have the choice of WiFi Direct, USB and Ethernet connection points.
However, it’s important to note that this printer is so affordable because it does one thing very well, rather than being a jack-of-all-trades. You are limited exclusively to black-and-white laser printing, and though the built-in scanner and copier functions add value, it’s still a limited printer compared to others on this list. But for those who want standard prints and nothing more, the M15w is the best compact printer for homes on a budget!
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Cloud Printing
- Duplex Printing: Yes
Our penultimate pick is the Epson XP-15000 – another one of our absolute favorite home printing solutions.
- Wide print size – a 13″ x 19″ print size gives you just enough leeway to make this a sterling 11″ x 17″ printer.
- Great ink economy – Epson’s system of ink tanks means that the XP-15000 makes the most out of its ink refills.
- Slow print speeds – the 9 pages per minute print speed lowers the overall value of the XP-15000.
Our final place on this guide of top printers for households goes to the Epson Expression XP-15000. A great medley of all the top features we look for, this wide-format printer is able to exceed even the ET-2850, for only a marginally higher price point.
As we mentioned in our ranking of the best printers for graphic design, the XP-15000 is capable of prints up to 13″ x 19″ in size, with incredible color reproduction thanks to a six-color ink system. Though smaller than its predecessor, the print size and resolution are both increased – the latter up to 5760 x 1440 dpi. With a 50-sheet media tray, you have the possibility of creating a huge range of designs on a range of materials, from cardstock to canvas.
Only one factor limits this otherwise stellar mid-range printer for home: the print speed. At a paltry 9 prints per minute, intensive printing is a no-go with the XP-15000. It exists in every other department, however, and it earns its place as our other best printer for home use!
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: Inkjet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, WiFi, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes, automatic
The Epson WF-7310DTW is a fast, high-quality A3+ printer ideal for heavy document workloads, but its cartridge-based design makes it costly to run long-term.
- Excellent print speeds, especially for monochrome and duplex jobs
- Crisp text and vibrant color prints, with solid photo results for the price
- Dual 250-sheet trays plus rear feeder support up to A3+ media
- Low-yield cartridges make it expensive to maintain compared to EcoTank models
- No scanner or copying features, reducing its versatility
- Lacks USB or SD card support, restricting direct printing options
The Epson WorkForce WF-7310DTW is a fast and capable inkjet printer built for offices or households that prioritize high-volume and high-quality printing. With dual 250-sheet trays, rear-feed support for A3+ paper, and automatic duplex printing, it’s designed to handle large jobs without frequent interruptions. Setup is straightforward, and connectivity options are plentiful, including USB, Ethernet, WiFi, WiFi Direct, and support for Apple AirPrint and Epson’s own mobile printing solutions.
Print quality is impressive for its class, with sharp text down to small font sizes and vivid colors in both documents and photos. Speed is another highlight – monochrome pages fly out in just a few seconds, and duplex printing quickly ramps up after the first sheet. While it’s primarily intended for document-heavy environments, it can also produce surprisingly good photo results on glossy media, albeit at a slower pace.
The biggest drawbacks come down to cost and features. Unlike Epson’s EcoTank models, the WF-7310DTW relies on traditional cartridges with relatively low yields, making it more expensive to run long-term despite its affordable purchase price. It also lacks a scanner and external storage support, which limits its versatility compared to all-in-one printers. Still, if you need a dedicated, speedy document printer with occasional photo capabilities, the WF-7310DTW delivers solid performance at around $200 / £180.
Features and Considerations
If you’re looking to buy a printer for home not on our list today, there are a few key features that you should factor into your purchase. We’ve detailed them below:
Use Case
This is the most subjective consideration of your printer purchase: what you specifically need to print. Most homes and home offices can get by with a simple printer-scanner combination, but we think it’s always better to have the ability to print more. InkJet printers are capable of not only printing stellar documents, but also a range of photos and even art prints. Some even allow you to create wafer designs using edible ink. If you want to experiment with some creative printing, consider investing that little bit extra into an InkJet printer.
Print Size
Likewise, if you need a printer for home to print larger-scale work, ensure that your printer is able to match your needs. Most laser printers are only capable of standard documents, but the average photo printer’s size can vary drastically. We recommend purchasing a printer with the largest print size within your budget – as in the worst-case scenario, that extra print volume simply isn’t used.
Connectivity
Regardless of what you print, how you print it is a crucial factor in how you use your printer at home. Most modern printers come with a selection of wireless compatibility options, from WiFi Direct through to Bluetooth, but many cheaper models under $200 are strictly wired – or have unreliable connectivity. Depending on your device, double-check with the manufacturer before buying that it can connect.
Print Speed
We don’t consider print speed an absolute essential – it will likely vary depending on duty cycle irrespective of the marketed speed. However, that may be more of an important factor in a high-paced environment. If you’re a business owner looking to print to a commercial scale from home, then consider if your printer is able to keep up.
Ink Economy
“Ink economy” refers to the overall efficiency of your printer in terms of ink or toner. We often see it measured in “cost per print” as an average for the printer. Thankfully, this is measured in cents rather than dollars, but print costs can creep up if the ink is too expensive and runs out too quickly – and you may fall victim to the aforementioned “razor-and-blades” model. We’ve chosen a selection of economical printers today, so if you’re looking to invest in a different model, see what people say about the cost of ink.
Which printers are the most cost-effective when it comes to ink or toner replacement?
Traditional inkjet printers tend to have low upfront costs but high cartridge replacement costs, which can quickly add up if you print often. For cost-effectiveness, you’ll want to look at printers that use high-yield cartridges or refillable ink tank systems (like Epson EcoTank or Canon MegaTank). While these printers cost more initially, they dramatically reduce the cost per page because you’re buying ink in larger bottles instead of small cartridges.
Laser printers also excel in cost-efficiency, especially for black-and-white text printing. A toner cartridge can print thousands of pages before needing replacement, and even though toner cartridges are more expensive upfront, the per-page cost is much lower compared to inkjet cartridges. If you print mostly text, a monochrome laser printer is usually the most economical long-term option.
Can I print straight from my phone or tablet?
Yes, most modern home printers support wireless printing through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cloud services. With Wi-Fi-enabled printers, you can connect your devices directly without needing cables, and many models also support printing via mobile apps like Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print (discontinued but replaced by manufacturer apps), or their own proprietary apps from HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother.
If you have multiple people in your household who need to print from different devices, wireless functionality is essential. Just make sure your Wi-Fi signal is strong where the printer is located, as weak connections can cause failed print jobs. For extra convenience, some models also include features like Wi-Fi Direct, which lets you connect and print even if there’s no home network available.
InkJet vs laser printers: Which is the best printer type for home use?
As mentioned throughout this article, there are two primary methods of printing used in printers for homes and small businesses.
Laser printers are your standard-fare printers: quick to dry and even quicker to print thanks to their heat-based transfer solution. These are the most affordable printers on the market – depending on quality, of course – and are commonly found in offices, schools and small businesses. However, they are generally quite limited machines, not capable of high detail, and often not even of color printing.
Where they fail, InkJet printers succeed. Employing an array of color ink printheads, InkJet printers are capable of great detail and color vibrancy, and are suited to a wide range of creative design applications. If you’re an artist or designer of any skill level, an InkJet printer is a worthwhile investment. though they are more expensive, they enable the user to do more.
We generally recommend InkJet printers as the better choice, hence choosing one as our overall best printer for home. They offer all the benefits of a laser printer, aside from the cheaper price – but as we’ve proven, there are even exceptions to that rule. If you can, always opt for an Ink Tank printer, as they have proven to be even more efficient than standard InkJet printers.
Other printer reviews
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Canon SELPHY CP1500
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: Dye Sublimation
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, SD Card
- Weight: 0.85kg
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Epson EcoTank ET-2850
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Bluetooth, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes
-
Canon Pixma G3570 (MegaTank G3270 US)
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet (2 FINE Print Head)
- Connectivity Technology: USB, 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi, Wireless Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes, manual
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DYMO LabelWriter 4XL
- Printer Output: Monochrome
- Printer Type: Thermal
- Connectivity Technology: USB
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Epson EcoTank ET-4800
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: Inkjet (Epson Micro Piezo print head)
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, WiFi, Wi-Fi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes, Manual
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Epson EcoTank ET-8550
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Ethernet
- Duplex Printing: Yes
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Epson TM-T20II
- Printer Output: : Monochrome
- Printer Type:: Thermal
- Connectivity Technology:: USB + Serial|Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR|Ethernet
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Epson Workforce WF-110
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Cloud Printing
- Duplex Printing: No
-
Epson Expression XP-15000
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Cloud Printing
- Duplex Printing: Yes
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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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HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdwe
- Printer Output: Monochrome
- Printer Type: Laser
- Connectivity Technology: USB*, Network, Wireless & Wi-Fi Direct
- Duplex Printing?: Yes
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HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: HP Thermal Inkjet
- Duplex Printing: Yes automatic
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MUNBYN RW401AP Label Printer
- Printer Output: Monochrome
- Printer Type: Thermal
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, AirPrint
- Duplex Printing: No
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Epson XP-7100
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: Inkjet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, WiFi, Wi-Fi Direct, USB host, SD Card Slot
- Duplex Printing: Yes, automatic
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Epson WF-7310DTW
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: Inkjet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, WiFi, WiFi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes, automatic
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Epson EcoTank ET-2820
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet (Epson Micro Piezo print head)
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi, Wi-Fi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Manual
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Epson Expression Home XP-5200
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: Inkjet (Epson Micro Piezo print head)
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi, Wi-Fi Direct
- Duplex Printing: Yes (A4, plain paper)
FAQs
Can you use AirPrint with Epson printers?
Yes: AirPrint is compatible with thousands of modern printers, including popular Epson models like the ET-2850. Double-check with the manufacturer to ensure that your model choice is compatible with Apple devices.
Are thermal printers good for home use?
No: Thermal printers are fairly rudimentary printers, using a heated element to press simple text and images onto paper. They’re generally not suited outside of label-making or receipts.
Verdict
- Printer Output: Color
- Printer Type: InkJet
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Ethernet
- Duplex Printing: Yes
The Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is a premium all-in-one printer that excels at both everyday documents and professional-quality photo printing. With six refillable ink tanks delivering thousands of pages per set, it offers exceptionally low running costs compared to cartridge models. It supports borderless printing up to A3+, boasts a sharp 5,760 x 1,440 dpi resolution, and includes flexible connectivity via USB, Ethernet, WiFi Direct, SD card, and mobile apps. While its scanner is limited to A4 and the upfront price is high, the ET-8550 is an excellent long-term choice for creatives, home offices, or anyone who values high-quality prints with minimal ongoing costs.
Want to add a whole new dimension to your printing? Check out our guides on the best 3D printers on the market!
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