Best home printers in 2024

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Best Home Printer for Remote Working
(Image credit: Future)

Find the best home printer for your needs with our expert-reviewed list. TechRadar Pro has tested and evaluated over 200 printers to bring you the top options for every budget and requirement. Our picks are chosen for their reliability, affordability, and multifunctional capabilities, and we've considered print and scan quality, cost, and more in our selection process. Whether you need a printer for a multi-generational household or a work-from-home setup, you'll find something that fits the bill here, including some of the best cheap printers on the market.

Before you start shopping for a home printer, it's essential to understand the differences between inkjet and laser printers. Inkjet printers use liquid ink to produce high-quality prints on various media, including photos and graphics. They are generally more affordable than laser printers and are well-suited for printing a wide range of materials. On the other hand, laser printers use a toner (a powdery ink) to produce prints. They tend to be faster and more efficient than inkjet printers, making them a good choice for high-volume printing. Laser printers are also better for printing text documents, producing crisp and clear text. However, they are typically more expensive to maintain, as the toner needs to be replaced more frequently than ink. Choosing an inkjet or laser printer will depend on your specific printing needs and budget.

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The best home printers of (2024)

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Lexmark M83442adw

(Image credit: Lexmark)
Superfast laser printing at home

Specifications

Category: All-in-one mono laser printer
Print speed: 42ppm (mono)
Paper capacity: 350 sheets
Paper size: up to A4
Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wireless

Reasons to buy

+
Convenient touchscreen
+
Fast print speed

Reasons to avoid

-
Print resolution is not high
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Slow to wake up

It might be small, but the Lexmark MB3442adw has the features and specifications of an accomplished office printer. It’s a four-in-one device, which means you have a fax facility (assuming you have a landline) in addition to printing, scanning, and photocopying. Printing at a rate of 42 pages per minute is among the fastest laser printers around. There’s plenty of room for paper, too, with a 350-sheet main tray and the option to upgrade, so it’s unlikely you’ll ever need another home printer.

The duplex printing and scanning are well executed, and the touchscreen and front USB ports are convenient. It can quickly print large documents such as manuscripts, and the quality is consistently high. If you need to print many pages and require the added functionality of a scanner and ADF, this is the AIO (all-in-one) device for you. Just bear in mind the cost of the toner.

The core selling point is that no other supplies need replacing beyond the cartridges. E.g., no separate photoconductors, developers, and even the waste tone bottle is a lifetime item. So while you might feel the cartridges are expensive – other elements that can require replacing on competitor products don’t need replacing.

Read our full Lexmark MB3442adw review.

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Canon PIXMA G3270 pages

(Image credit: Future)
The smallest home printer

Specifications

Category: 3-in-1 color A4 inkjet printer
Print speed: 11ipm (mono)
Paper capacity: 100 sheets
Paper size: up to A4
Connectivity: USB, Wireless

Reasons to buy

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Cheap for a MegaTank 
+
Affordable ink
+
Broad paper compatibility  
+
Lots of inbox ink 

Reasons to avoid

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Manual duplex only
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No front paper drawer
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Limited paper capacity  
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No ADF, or USB Host port 

The Canon PIXMA G3270/G3570 is the entry-level all-in-one in Canon’s refillable MegaTank lineup, so you can expect just the basic list of features, but big savings when it comes to consumables. 

As a three-in-one, you can scan, copy and print in color on any paper up to A4 in size. It also has Wi-Fi built so you can print from your smartphone using Canon’s companion app, but you’re not getting a touchscreen, a front-loading paper tray, or an auto duplex mode. 

If you don’t mind squinting at the small display and manually turning over each page to print on the the other side, this stripped back MegaTank, makes faithful hard copies and prints crisp simplex pages relatively quickly. It costs more than a cartridge-based equivalent, of course, but with bottled ink being around 90% cheaper and enough ink in the box to print 6,000 mono pages and 7,700 color, your running cost will be way lower.

Read our full Canon PIXMA G3270 review.

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HP Envy Pro 6420 printer

(Image credit: HP)
Best home printer on a budget

Specifications

Category: All-in-one color inkjet printer
Print speed: 10ppm (mono)
Paper capacity: 100 sheets
Paper size: up to A4
Connectivity: USB, Wireless

Reasons to buy

+
Space saving design
+
Strong wireless connectivity

Reasons to avoid

-
Slow print speed
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Wasteful tri-color cartridge

The HP Envy Pro 6420 is a budget-friendly inkjet printer that offers a range of features for home office use. With the ability to print, scan, copy, and even fax via your smartphone, this compact printer is a versatile choice. While the print speed may be slow, the Envy Pro 6420 can duplex print and photocopy stacks of up to 35 pages with its built-in ADF (automatic document feeder). Instead of an Ethernet port, it has Bluetooth and self-healing Wi-Fi built in, making mobile printing with the HP iOS/Android app a breeze.

Despite its limited paper capacity and slow print speed, we were impressed with the ease of use and overall print quality of the Envy Pro 6420. Replacement ink cartridges can be expensive unless you sign up for HP's Instant Ink subscription service, which guarantees cheaper cartridges delivered to your mailbox when needed. However, we recommend caution if you only print occasionally. Overall, the HP Envy Pro 6420 is a solid choice for those needing a compact and versatile home office printer.

Read our full HP Envy Pro 6420 review.

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Epson WorkForce WF-7210DTW

(Image credit: Epson)
Best A3 printer for the home

Specifications

Category: Color inkjet printer
Print speed: 18ppm
Paper capacity: 500 sheets
Paper size: up to A3
Connectivity: USB, Wireless, Ethernet, NFC

Reasons to buy

+
Duplex A3 printing   
+
Deep paper trays

Reasons to avoid

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Expensive ink 
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No front USB port

The WorkForce WF-7210DTW is a rare find - a printer that can automatically print on both sides of an A3 page for home office use. With impressive print quality for monochrome text and glossy photos, this type of printer has a long list of features, including Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity. Its two paper trays can hold up to 500 sheets combined, and it has a longer-than-average warranty at the time of writing. While it lacks scan and fax functionality, we think the ability to print on A3 paper at this price point is a worthwhile tradeoff. Remember that it takes up more space than your average A4 printer.

If you require a reliable home office printer that can handle A3 paper, the WorkForce WF-7210DTW is worth considering.

Read our full Epson WorkForce WF-7210DTW review.

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Brother MFC-J5945DW

(Image credit: Brother)
Best inkjet alternative to laser

Specifications

Category: 4-in-1 Color inkjet MFD
Print speed: 22ppm
Paper capacity: 500 sheets
Paper size: up to A3
Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wireless, NFC

Reasons to buy

+
A3 capability   
+
High paper capacity

Reasons to avoid

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Inconsistent prints 
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Less economical than laser

The Brother MFC-J5945DW is a versatile printer that blurs the line between home and office use. Combining the fast print speed and high capacity of a laser machine with the superior photo finish of an inkjet, this printer is suitable for both applications. It's smaller than the laser equivalent, the MFC-L8690CDW, but it can still handle A3 paper. If you frequently scan multi-page documents, the MFC-J5945DW can automatically scan up to 50 front and back pages. It ships with standard-sized ink cartridges, but the high-yield options offer up to 6,000 pages, making this device more economical than some laser printers. As a fully featured 4-in-1 printer, the Brother MFC-J5945DW can handle any task satisfactorily.

Keep in mind that its features are geared more towards the home office than the family computer desk when selecting the best home printer for your needs.

Read our full Brother MFC-J5945DW Printer review. 

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Brother DCP-J1800DW product image

(Image credit: Future)
The first guillotine printer makes the cut

Specifications

Category: 3-in-1 colour A4 inkjet printer
Print speed: 17ipm (mono)
Paper capacity: 150 sheets
Connectivity: Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi

Reasons to buy

+
Print and cut A4 to A5
+
Integrated ADF
+
Compact design 
+
Touchscreen interface

Reasons to avoid

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Slow to duplex print  
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Can’t cut A5 to A6
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No USB Host port 
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Small ink cartridges 

At first glance, the Brother DCP-J1800DW is a sensibly specified and well designed all-in-one inkjet. It has all the features required of a business printer aimed at the home worker with modest print demands. It’s compact enough to fit on a shelf while incorporating a useful 20-sheet automatic document feeder and offers both USB and Ethernet ports with neat cable management. 

There’s also a guillotine. Wait, what? It’s the first printer of its kind to come armed with an internal blade for chopping A4 down to A5. This unique selling point could prove invaluable for reducing your consumables cost along with your document size, but even if you never use the cutter, this is a good printer. 

As a cartridge-based inkjet, the ink bill is always going to be high, but the print quality is crisp and consistent with both documents and photos. Unless you plan to print lots of pages, we have no reservations recommending this ingenious inkjet.


More top-rated home printers:

HP OfficeJet Pro 9015
This all-in-one printer offers fast printing speeds, automatic document feeding, and smart features such as mobile printing and scan to email. It's also energy efficient, earning an Energy Star certification.

Canon PIXMA TR150
This portable printer is perfect for those on the go, with the ability to print wirelessly from your smartphone or laptop. It also has a long battery life and produces high-quality prints.

Epson WorkForce WF-7710
This wide-format printer can handle large paper sizes up to 13x19 inches and has a high print resolution for clear and detailed prints. It also has a convenient automatic document feeder and wireless connectivity.

Brother MFC-L8900CDW
This laser printer has fast print speeds and can handle a high volume of prints with its large paper capacity. It also has a range of connectivity options including NFC and Wi-Fi Direct.

Canon TS9120
This all-in-one printer offers a range of features including a 5-color individual ink system for high-quality prints, a large touchscreen display, and the ability to print directly from your smartphone or tablet. It also has a versatile paper tray that can hold a variety of paper sizes.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is a home printer?

A home printer is a device designed for personal use in a home setting, typically for printing documents, photos, and other materials. Home printers are typically smaller and more compact than commercial printers and are intended for low-volume use.

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How to choose the best home printer for you

With many of us now working from home, the best home printers have become essential devices in our homes and offices. However, the printer market is rammed with different makes and models. You can choose printers from manufacturers, such as Epson or HP. Not only that, but there are inkjet, laser, and black and white printer considerations.

There are also situations where you may need a different type of printer, such as wireless or portable, or even one specifically for a Mac.

This abundance of choice is good in some respects - it means no matter what type of printer you need, you'll be able to find one that's perfect for you. However, because there is so much to choose from, it means finding that perfect printer can be a lot more tricky. However, that's where our best printer's guide comes in.

Whether it's a home printer or a business printer for your office, the best printers on this page can help you quickly and easily print off documents perfectly, all while keeping running costs low.

For your sake and sanity, we put together a list of the best home printers. We’ve got all-in-one printers that can do scans and photocopies, photo printers that can produce lab-quality prints of your images, and even solid black and white laser printers for fast – and cheap – printouts for office use, 

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What are the different types of home printers?

There are several types of home printers available, including inkjet printers, laser printers, and multifunction printers. Inkjet printers use liquid ink to create prints and are good for printing photos and color documents. Laser printers use toner to create prints and are good for printing text documents and graphics. Multifunction printers combine the capabilities of a printer, scanner, copier, and sometimes a fax machine in one device.

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What should I consider when choosing a home printer?

There are several factors to consider when choosing a home printer, including the type of printing you will be doing (e.g. documents, photos), your budget, connectivity options, and size and weight. You should also consider the cost of ink or toner, as this can vary significantly depending on the printer and usage.

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How do I maintain my home printer?

To maintain your home printer, you should regularly clean the printer, replace the ink or toner when necessary, and make sure the printer is not overcrowded with paper. You should also keep the printer in a dust-free environment to prevent debris from clogging the machine.


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What is the cost of ink or toner for home printers?

The cost of ink or toner for home printers can vary significantly depending on the printer and usage. Some printers have high-capacity ink or toner cartridges that last longer and can save you money in the long run, while others have smaller cartridges that need to be replaced more frequently. It is important to consider the cost of ink or toner when choosing a home printer, as this can be a significant ongoing expense. Some companies offer subscriptions or bulk purchasing options to help reduce the cost of ink or toner. It is also a good idea to shop around and compare prices from different retailers.

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Which home printer has the cheapest ink?

The home printer with the cheapest ink will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of printer (inkjet or laser), the brand, and the type of ink or toner it uses. In general, inkjet printers tend to have cheaper ink than laser printers, but the cost can still vary widely. It's a good idea to compare the cost of ink or toner for different printer models before making a decision.

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How long do home printers last?

The lifespan of a home printer can vary depending on the brand, model, and how it is used. Some printers may last for several years with proper maintenance, while others may have a shorter lifespan. It's important to consider the overall cost of ownership, including the cost of ink or toner, when deciding whether to purchase a printer for home use.

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Should I buy a printer for home?

Whether or not you should buy a printer for home use will depend on your specific needs and budget. If you frequently need to print documents or photos, or if you work from home and need to print materials for business, a printer can be a useful investment. However, if you only occasionally need to print, it may be more cost-effective to use a printing service or access a printer at a local library or office.

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What type of printer should I buy for home use?

When choosing a printer for home use, it's important to consider your specific needs and budget. Inkjet printers tend to be more affordable and are well-suited for printing a wide range of materials, including photos and graphics. Laser printers are faster and more efficient, especially for text documents, but they tend to be more expensive to maintain. Consider factors such as the type of ink or toner the printer uses, the cost of replacement ink or toner, and the overall cost of ownership before making a decision.

Best home printers: How did we test them?

Printers are unlike smartphones, so don't expect the ones from five years ago to be significantly different from the ones launched last year. Printing resolutions, connectivity, and features haven't changed significantly, nor have our printing tests.

Each printer we source for testing is measured on our test bench, and the results are critically compared with every other model we have reviewed. Rather than relying on the manufacturer’s quoted figures, we time the first page out and print speeds in single sheet and duplex mode using a standard ten-page document and a stopwatch app.

To compare print quality, we print out the same set of test documents on every machine. These twelve test pages include text of varying font sizes and colors, mixed image and text pages, a set of photos, and a series of test patterns designed to assess sharpness, color fidelity, contrast, and grey scale. 

We also calculate running costs, compare functionality and consider each product’s versatility, design, and build quality. The overall score reflects all of these parameters and overall value for money.

Collin Probst

Former TechRadar Pro B2B Hardware Editor, Collin has been in journalism for years, with experience in small and large markets, including Gearadical, DailyBeast, FutureNet, and more.

With contributions from