The Best Home Printers

Choosing the right home printer can be surprisingly challenging. After countless hours of research and hands-on testing across many different models, one thing has become clear: for most households, a straightforward black-and-white laser printer is the most practical choice. These machines are typically inexpensive to buy and maintain, easy to operate, and they do not clog if left unused for weeks at a time. That reliability makes them ideal for everyday printing tasks such as documents, forms, and schoolwork.

Of course, not every situation calls for a simple laser printer. If you only need to scan occasionally, a mobile scanning app can usually handle the job without adding bulk to your setup. But if your needs include frequent scanning, color printing for presentations, or photo-quality prints for creative projects, there are versatile alternatives worth considering. In this guide, we will walk through the best options across different categories and help you find a home printer that suits your specific needs.

HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e

Best Overall Option

A versatile all-in-one color inkjet printer with fast printing, scanning, and copying, ideal for home offices and family use.

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The HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is designed for families, especially those with school-age children, and for anyone who needs a printer that can handle a wide variety of tasks. As an all-in-one inkjet, it balances speed, quality, and ease of use, making it one of the most versatile choices for a home or home office. It offers a sleek design that looks modern compared to many bulkier competitors, while still being practical for everyday printing needs.

Running costs are reasonable, averaging about 3.2 cents per black-and-white page and 12.8 cents for color. The printer also supports HP’s Instant Ink subscription, which can lower color printing costs by providing automatic refills, though it is important to carefully consider whether that program is right for you. With printing speeds of up to 22 pages per minute in monochrome and 18 in color, it keeps up with demanding workloads, whether it is a homework packet, business document, or presentation handout.

One standout feature is its bright capacitive touchscreen, which makes navigating menus significantly easier than the small monochrome displays often found on competitors. The HP Smart desktop and mobile app also provides simple integration for scanning or printing directly from various devices, ensuring that it fits smoothly into both family and work environments.

There are a few trade-offs worth noting. The printer comes with a single 250-sheet tray, which is sufficient for most homes but may be limiting for busier households or small businesses that need more frequent paper changes. The touchscreen, while intuitive, is relatively small, which can make some menu interactions a bit fiddly. Additionally, opting into HP+ limits you to first-party ink and requires the printer to maintain an internet connection, so it is worth weighing those restrictions before enrollment.

Overall, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is a reliable and flexible all-in-one printer that delivers high-quality results, fast performance, and manageable costs. With its combination of features, design, and usability, it is an excellent fit for households and home offices that need a single machine to cover printing, scanning, and copying.

Brother HL-L2460DW

Best Budget Option

A fast, reliable, and affordable monochrome laser printer that delivers sharp text and low running costs for everyday home printing.

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The Brother HL-L2460DW is a practical choice for anyone who does not need to print every day but still values having a reliable printer on hand. It is designed for those occasional times throughout the year when printing is necessary, offering dependable performance without requiring constant upkeep. Its compact size allows it to sit comfortably on a shelf or desk without taking up much space.

This model is simple, fast, and dependable while remaining affordable to operate. As a laser printer, it can go unused for weeks or months and still be ready to start again without issues. Automatic duplex printing, a generous 250-sheet paper tray, and wireless connectivity are included, providing convenient features at a budget-friendly price. High-yield toner cartridges are also available, reducing the frequency of replacements and lowering the long-term cost of ownership. Compatibility is broad, with support for Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, iOS, and Android.

When it comes to print quality, the HL-L2460DW produces sharp, clean text that is well suited for everyday documents. For graphics-heavy documents, it may require a few adjustments to the settings to achieve optimal results. Its small footprint makes it especially appealing for tight spaces where larger printers would not fit, such as a bookcase shelf.

There are some drawbacks, but none are dealbreakers. The construction feels a bit flimsy, and the packaging may leave some parts vulnerable during shipping, so it is worth checking the printer carefully after unboxing. The included software is another weak point, as Brother’s iPrint&Scan application often produces excessive contrast that can diminish detail in printed documents.

Finally, it is important to note that this is a monochrome laser printer. It cannot print in color and does not offer copying, scanning, or faxing functions. For those who need only straightforward black-and-white printing, however, the Brother HL-L2460DW remains an excellent, cost-effective choice.

Brother MFC-L3780CDW

Best Upgrade Option

A fast, full-featured color laser all-in-one printer with duplex printing, scanning, and wireless connectivity for home or office use.

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The Brother MFC-L3780CDW is a strong choice for home-office workers, small-business owners, or anyone who frequently prints in color but wants to avoid the clogging issues that inkjet models can experience. As a color laser all-in-one, it balances speed, sharp output, and durability, making it particularly well suited for professional environments where reliability is essential.

One of the highlights of this printer is its fast performance and ability to produce crisp text along with vibrant graphics. It also includes robust security features, making it suitable for printing sensitive information such as medical or legal documents. The intuitive color touchscreen is easier to navigate than what you find on many competing models, though the darker footer design may pose challenges for users with limited vision. A front USB port adds convenience by allowing direct printing from thumb drives that contain JPEG, PDF, or TIFF files.

In use, the MFC-L3780CDW delivers sharp, clear text documents and colorful graphics with minimal banding. It can print full-color photos suitable for school projects or presentations, although its photo output is not as rich or detailed as what a dedicated photo printer or inkjet might provide. Where it shines is versatility: the bypass tray allows it to handle various paper sizes, from postcards to executive sheets, and its 4,000-page monthly duty cycle nearly doubles that of simpler models, making it better suited for a busier office environment.

Operating costs are competitive for a color laser printer. With super high-yield toner cartridges, black-and-white pages average about 2.5 cents and color pages around 12.9 cents, though the initial expense of the toner set is significant. While Brother provides only a one-year warranty by default, extended coverage can be purchased, which includes free repairs at authorized locations or expedited replacement service if needed.

There are some compromises to note. Scans are less impressive than those from some competing models, with occasional pixelation, muted colors, and distortion in image-heavy documents. Still, for most business and office needs, these limitations will not be a dealbreaker. Overall, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW offers an excellent mix of speed, print quality, and durability that makes it one of the best color laser options for home and small office use.

Epson SureColor P700

Best Photo Printer

A professional photo printer that delivers gallery-quality color and black-and-white prints with exceptional detail and tonal accuracy.

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The Epson SureColor P700 is built for serious photographers and anyone aiming to produce professional-quality prints at home. Capable of handling media up to 13 inches wide and panoramas as long as 10 feet, it offers flexibility that goes far beyond standard home printers. It also supports printing on a wide range of materials, from fine art papers to metal sheets and even CDs, making it an excellent choice for creative projects.

What sets this printer apart is its outstanding image quality. While its color output is vivid and accurate, its black-and-white prints are particularly impressive, rivaling traditional darkroom results. The P700 uses UltraChrome HD pigment inks, which are known for their longevity, ensuring that your prints will stand the test of time. Combined with the ability to use extra-large ink tanks, this printer helps reduce the frequency of refills while maintaining excellent tonal depth and consistency.

Ease of use is enhanced by a bright, responsive touchscreen interface that makes navigating settings simple. Connectivity options are also strong, with Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet available for fast and reliable printing. Ink costs are reasonable for a photo printer of this caliber, especially when opting for larger-capacity tanks, which extend the time between replacements.

There are, however, a few limitations to consider. Driver installation can be confusing due to minimal guidance, and third-party papers require some learning with Epson’s Media Installer software before they perform reliably. The paper feed also struggles with stacks of glossy sheets, often requiring single-sheet loading to avoid jams. In addition, the included starter ink runs out quickly, so plan to purchase a full set of cartridges early on.

Despite these drawbacks, the Epson SureColor P700 stands out as one of the best photo printers available for home use. It combines professional-grade print quality with versatile media handling, making it the ideal option for photographers who want to bring gallery-level printing into their own workspace.

Choosing a home printer ultimately comes down to understanding your own needs and how often you actually print. Some people benefit from a machine that can sit quietly until it is called upon a few times a year, while others need a versatile device that can handle frequent, high-volume tasks without slowing down. Taking the time to consider your printing habits will make it much easier to select the right balance of speed, cost, and functionality.

No matter which direction you go, today’s printers are more reliable, easier to connect, and more cost-efficient than they were even a few years ago. With features like wireless connectivity, duplex printing, and smart apps for mobile integration, modern models are designed to remove the usual frustrations and keep you focused on the work at hand. The right printer should feel like an invisible tool, always ready when you need it and unobtrusive when you do not.