The 5 Best Printers for Home
The best printer for your home depends on what leaves the tray. If it is mostly forms and return labels, a black-and-white laser may be simpler to live with than a color inkjet. If it is photographs, paper handling and color ink matter much more. Before buying, count how often you print, whether anyone scans stacks of documents, and where the machine will sit. A low printer price can be undone by the supplies you buy next.
For a mixed home, I would start with Canon's compact TS6520 because it covers color documents, copying and scanning at a modest offer. Epson's ET-8550 is the expensive photo-and-wide-format exception. Brother's HL-L2405W serves text-heavy homes; HP's 3301sdw is the color-laser office step; Canon TR7120 adds an automatic document feeder. None wins for every household, and I would check replacement ink or toner before committing to any of them.
Our top 5 printers for home
Swipe to compare price, rating and best use →
| Product | Price | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
01 Canon PIXMA TS6520Details ↓ | $79.00 | 4.2/5Amazon | Best affordable home all-rounder |
02 Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550Details ↓ | $662.57 | 4.0/5Amazon | Best for serious home photos |
03 Brother HL-L2405WDetails ↓ | $139.99 | 4.0/5Amazon | Best for black-and-white text |
04 HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdwDetails ↓ | $438.90 | 3.7/5Amazon | Best color-laser home office |
05 Canon PIXMA TR7120Details ↓ | $89.00 | 4.2/5Amazon | Best budget model with a feeder |
01 — Canon
Best affordable home all-rounderCanon PIXMA TS6520
Canon's TS6520 covers the ordinary home list: wireless color printing, copying, scanning and automatic two-sided printing in a compact unit. I would choose it for school forms, recipes and occasional color pages rather than for a serious photo studio. Check the price of replacement cartridges and how often the printer will sit idle; the low machine offer is only one part of the cost.
It leads because most homes need a modest mixed-use printer, not a wide-format photo machine or office laser. Brother moves ahead if nearly everything is black text; Epson wins only when the photo job justifies its much higher price.
View on Amazon ↗Homes printing a mix of forms and occasional color pages.
You need large photos or frequent bulk text printing.
What I like
+Color, scan, copy and auto-duplex at a low offer.
What to weigh
−Cartridge costs require checking.
- ProductType
- printer
02 — Epson
Best for serious home photosEpson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
Epson's ET-8550 is the unusual home printer worth considering when photographs are the main job. Its six-color tank system handles up to 13-by-19-inch prints and still scans and copies ordinary documents. That range costs several times the TS6520 offer and takes more room, so I would buy it only when I expect to use the large-photo capability and refillable ink system.
Second place acknowledges strong but specialized value. It becomes first for a photo-making household; TS6520 is the more sensible default for ordinary forms and color documents.
View on Amazon ↗Home photographers making large prints and documents.
You need a low-cost occasional printer.
What I like
+Wide-format six-color photos plus all-in-one tasks.
What to weigh
−Large upfront cost and footprint.
03 — Brother
Best for black-and-white textBrother HL-L2405W
Brother's HL-L2405W is a print-only monochrome laser for people whose pages are invoices, letters and labels. No color ink is involved, and that focus can simplify supplies for a text-heavy household. It does not scan, copy or print photos, and Brother's specification says this exact model lacks automatic duplex printing. I would not assume another L2400-series model's features apply here.
Third place is format-specific. It would be first in a home that prints only black text; TS6520 stays ahead for mixed color and scan needs, while HP serves color-office jobs.
View on Amazon ↗Text-heavy homes with no color or scanner requirement.
You need photos, scanning or auto-duplex.
What I like
+Focused monochrome laser printing.
What to weigh
−Print-only model without automatic duplex.
- Output
- Monochrome
- Connection
- Wireless
- Functions
04 — HP
Best color-laser home officeHP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw
HP's 3301sdw is the color-laser choice for a busy home office that scans documents as well as printing them. The model offers an automatic document feeder and two-sided printing, which matter when paperwork arrives in stacks. Its higher purchase price, physical size and toner costs are hard to justify for a family printing a few pages per month. I would price a full toner replacement before deciding.
Fourth place reflects its office audience and high offer. It would rise above TS6520 for regular multi-page office work; the Canon is easier to justify for occasional home printing.
View on Amazon ↗Home offices with frequent color documents and scanning.
You print only a handful of pages monthly.
What I like
+Color laser with document feeder and auto-duplex.
What to weigh
−High machine and toner budget.
- Product type
- home-office printers
05 — Canon
Best budget model with a feederCanon PIXMA TR7120
Canon's TR7120 is the low-cost alternative when an automatic document feeder would save time copying or scanning several sheets. It still handles wireless color printing and two-sided output. I would choose it over TS6520 only if that feeder matters enough to accept a different footprint and supply setup; the two Canon models are close enough that their exact cartridge prices deserve a comparison.
Fifth place reflects overlap with the cheaper TS6520. It can jump ahead for a buyer who scans forms in batches, while HP's 3301sdw is the more substantial office investment.
View on Amazon ↗Budget households scanning multi-page paperwork.
You never use a feeder and want the simplest small Canon.
What I like
+Automatic document feeder at a modest offer.
What to weigh
−Overlaps TS6520 and needs a cartridge-cost check.
- ProductType
- printer
Price information
Amazon price and availability checked Oct 17, 2026, 10:25 PM Lisbon time. Prices and availability are subject to change; the information shown on Amazon.com at purchase applies.
Our process
How we picked.
We compare five relevant products for different needs, using documented specifications, clear use cases and practical trade-offs. Our goal is to make the differences clear and help you choose with confidence.
- 01Relevance
Each product must fit the guide’s intended use, audience and requirements.
- 02Specifications
We compare the key product details that meaningfully affect the buying decision.
- 03Use case and fit
We compare the intended use, configuration and practical fit of every selected product.
- 04Strengths and limitations
We explain where each option performs best and the compromises to consider.
Good questions
FAQ — Printers for Home
01Should I buy inkjet or laser for occasional documents?+
If nearly everything is black text, compare a monochrome laser and its toner costs. If you need color photos or flexible media, an inkjet is more appropriate; check supply prices either way.
02Does every all-in-one printer scan multi-page documents automatically?+
No. A flatbed scanner usually handles one page at a time. Look for an automatic document feeder if you routinely scan stacks; confirm the exact model and capacity.
The short answer
Start with the Canon PIXMA TS6520.
I recommend it for homes printing a mix of forms and occasional color pages. Choose something else if you need large photos or frequent bulk text printing.
View on Amazon ↗Keep looking
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