What matters most depends on what you print

The best home printer is the one that matches what you actually print, not the one with the most features. If you print a few documents a month, a basic black-and-white laser printer will cost less to run than an inkjet. If you print photos or color documents regularly, an inkjet or color laser makes sense. If you print rarely but need it to work when you need it, a laser printer sits idle better than an inkjet, whose cartridges dry out.

Start by answering three questions: How often do you print? What do you print—documents, photos, or both? How much space do you have? Everything else follows from those answers.

Key Takeaways

  • Black-and-white laser printers cost the least per page and work best for documents if you print more than a few pages a month.
  • Inkjet printers handle photos and color well but have higher per-page costs and cartridges that dry out if unused for weeks.
  • All-in-one printers (print, scan, copy, fax) take up less space than separate machines but cost more upfront.
  • A printer that sits unused for months will likely have clogged nozzles (inkjet) or dried toner (laser), so consider how often you actually print before buying.
  • Monthly page yield and cartridge cost matter more than the printer's sticker price—a cheap printer with expensive cartridges costs more over time.

Laser printers for documents and high volume

A black-and-white laser printer is the cheapest option if you print more than 10 to 15 pages a month. Toner cartridges last much longer than inkjet cartridges—typically 1,000 to 3,000 pages per cartridge—and toner doesn't dry out. If you print a document, then don't touch the printer for three months, it will still work. Laser printers also print faster (usually 25 to 40 pages per minute) and produce sharper text.

The trade-off is upfront cost. A decent black-and-white laser printer costs $150 to $400, while a basic inkjet costs $50 to $150. But if you print regularly, the laser pays for itself in cartridge savings within a year. Look at the cartridge cost and page yield before you buy—some printers have cheap sticker prices but expensive toner.

Color laser printers cost more ($300 to $800) and use four cartridges instead of one, so per-page costs are higher. Buy one only if you print color documents regularly. If you print color once a month, an inkjet is cheaper.

Inkjet printers for photos and occasional color

An inkjet printer is the right choice if you print photos, color documents, or a mix of color and black-and-white. Inkjets handle photo paper, glossy paper, and specialty media that laser printers cannot. They are also smaller and quieter than laser printers, which matters in a small home office or apartment.

The downside is cost per page. A single color inkjet cartridge costs $10 to $20 and prints 200 to 400 pages, so each page costs roughly 3 to 10 cents in ink alone. If you print 50 pages a month, that is $1.50 to $5 in cartridge costs. Inkjet cartridges also dry out if the printer sits unused for more than a few weeks, which wastes ink and money.

If you print photos, look for a printer with separate cartridges for each color (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and sometimes light cyan and light magenta). Printers that use a single color cartridge for all colors are cheaper upfront but waste ink when you need only one color.

All-in-one printers that scan and copy

An all-in-one printer (also called a multifunction printer) combines printing, scanning, copying, and sometimes faxing in one machine. If you have limited desk space, an all-in-one saves room. If you scan documents regularly or make copies at home, the built-in scanner and copier are convenient.

All-in-ones cost more than single-function printers—expect to pay $100 to $200 more for the same print quality and speed. They are also more complex, which means more things can break. If the scanner fails, you lose scanning and copying until it is fixed, whereas a separate printer and scanner let you keep printing.

All-in-ones come in both laser and inkjet versions. A laser all-in-one is good for a home office that prints documents and occasionally scans receipts or contracts. An inkjet all-in-one works if you also print photos.

Wireless and mobile printing features

Most printers sold today have Wi-Fi, which lets you print from your phone, tablet, or laptop without plugging in a cable. This is genuinely useful if you print from multiple devices. Check that the printer supports the same Wi-Fi standard as your router—most modern printers use 802.11ac or 802.11ax, which work with current routers.

Some printers also support mobile printing apps like Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, or the printer manufacturer's own app. These let you print directly from your phone without connecting to your home network first. If you travel and want to print from a hotel or coffee shop, this matters. If you only print at home, it is a nice-to-have, not essential.

Wireless printing is slower than USB printing and sometimes drops connection. If you print large files (like 50-page documents or high-resolution photos), a USB cable is still faster and more reliable.

Page yield and cartridge costs matter more than sticker price

A printer that costs $80 but uses $25 cartridges that print 200 pages each costs more per page than a printer that costs $200 but uses $40 cartridges that print 2,000 pages each. Before you buy, find the cartridge cost and page yield, then divide cost by pages to get the true per-page cost.

For example: Printer A costs $80, cartridge costs $20, page yield is 300 pages. Cost per page: $20 ÷ 300 = 6.7 cents. Printer B costs $200, cartridge costs $50, page yield is 2,000 pages. Cost per page: $50 ÷ 2,000 = 2.5 cents. Over two years, if you print 100 pages a month (2,400 pages total), Printer A costs $161.28 in cartridges; Printer B costs $60 in cartridges. Printer B is cheaper overall despite the higher upfront cost.

Check the manufacturer's website or the box for "page yield" or "yield per cartridge." If it is not listed, the printer is probably not a good value.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not buy based on speed alone. A printer that prints 30 pages per minute is only useful if you print 30 pages regularly. If you print 5 pages a month, a slower printer is fine.

Do not assume a printer with more features is better. A printer that prints, scans, copies, and faxes is only better if you use all four functions. If you only print, the extra features add cost and complexity.

Do not ignore the cartridge cost. Some manufacturers sell cheap printers and make money on expensive cartridges. Check the cost per page before you buy, not after.

Do not buy a printer if you print fewer than 5 pages a month. The cartridges will dry out or the toner will settle, and you will waste money replacing them. If you print that rarely, use a print shop or library instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy a printer with a refillable ink tank?

Refillable ink tank printers (sometimes called "supertank" or "megatank" printers) have large built-in tanks instead of cartridges. They cost more upfront ($300 to $600) but have much lower per-page costs (under 1 cent per page). If you print more than 100 pages a month, a refillable tank printer pays for itself within a year. If you print fewer than 50 pages a month, the upfront cost is not worth it.

Can I use third-party cartridges or refilled cartridges?

Yes, but with caveats. Third-party cartridges are cheaper but may not print as well, and some printers show warnings or refuse to work with them. Refilled cartridges are the cheapest option but are inconsistent—some work fine, others leak or clog. If you go this route, buy from a reputable refiller and keep your receipt in case the cartridge fails.

What if I need to print large documents or photos?

Most home printers print on paper up to 8.5 by 11 inches (letter size). If you need to print larger, you need a wide-format printer, which costs $500 and up and is overkill for home use. For occasional large prints, use a print shop instead.

Do I need a printer if I mostly work on a computer?

Not necessarily. If you print fewer than 5 pages a month, the cost of maintaining a printer (cartridges, paper, repairs) exceeds the cost of using a print shop or library. Many libraries offer free or low-cost printing. If you print tax documents, contracts, or photos, a printer at home is convenient. If you mostly read and write on screen, you may not need one.

How long do printers last?

A well-maintained printer lasts 5 to 10 years. Laser printers tend to last longer than inkjets because they have fewer moving parts. The limiting factor is usually cartridge availability—manufacturers stop making cartridges for old models, making them expensive or impossible to use. If a printer is more than 7 years old and breaks, it is usually cheaper to replace it than to repair it.