Best Home Printers of 2026: Top Picks for Every Budget
Buying a printer in 2026 is trickier than it should be. The initial price is just part of the story — ink costs can easily exceed the printer's purchase price within the first year. Here's our honest guide to the best home printers at every price point, with running costs included.
Best Overall: Epson EcoTank ET-2850 (~$299)
The Epson EcoTank series has transformed home printing economics. Instead of expensive cartridges, EcoTank printers use refillable ink tanks that come pre-filled with enough ink for approximately 4,500 black pages and 7,500 colour pages. Replacement ink bottles cost around $15 each and last for years of normal home use. The ET-2850 adds wireless printing, AirPrint, a colour display, and borderless photo printing. The upfront cost is higher than cartridge printers but the running costs are a fraction. For any household that prints regularly, this pays for itself within months.
Best Budget: Canon PIXMA TR4720 (~$79)
For occasional printing, the Canon PIXMA TR4720 is exceptional value. It prints, copies, scans, and faxes — everything most home users need. AirPrint and Google Cloud Print support make wireless printing from any device effortless. Print quality is excellent for documents and acceptable for photos. The caveat: ink cartridges cost $15-25 each and don't last particularly long with regular printing. Best for households that print infrequently.
Best for Photos: Canon PIXMA TS9520a (~$179)
Canon's six-ink system produces photo prints that genuinely rival professional photo labs. The wide format printing (up to 12x12 inches) enables creative options most printers can't match. AirPrint, fast print speeds, and a convenient top-loading paper tray make everyday use pleasant. The auto-expandable paper support handles multiple paper sizes without manual adjustment. Best for households that value photo quality above all else.
Best Laser Printer: Brother HL-L2350DW (~$149)
For households that primarily print documents — not photos — a laser printer makes far more economic sense than an inkjet. The Brother HL-L2350DW prints 32 pages per minute, produces crisp sharp text, and the toner cartridge lasts for approximately 1,200 pages. Replacement toner costs around $35 and is widely available. No ink drying out between uses — laser printers are reliable even after months of sitting idle.
Best All-in-One: HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e (~$249)
For a home office that needs print, scan, copy, and fax capabilities, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e delivers professional results. HP+ instant ink subscription integrates directly, automatically ordering ink before you run out. Fast duplex printing, a 35-page automatic document feeder for scanning multi-page documents, and strong security features make it the most complete home office printer available.
The Real Cost of Printing
Before buying, calculate your true cost of ownership. A $79 printer with $25 cartridges that last 200 pages costs 12.5 cents per page. An EcoTank at $299 with $15 ink bottles lasting 7,500 pages costs 0.2 cents per page. At 100 pages per month, the EcoTank pays for itself in about 18 months and saves significantly thereafter. Print volume determines which type of printer makes financial sense for your household.