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The 6 Best Home Printers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

For all of your home office needs.

The Best home printers displayed on wooden desk in front of window
Photo:

Real Simple / Henry Wortock

A home printer can instantly upgrade your home office with the ability to take on your next project—whether that be making a family photo album or printing important forms and documents. But with a range of makes and models to choose from, it can be challenging to land on the right home printer.

“The way we live and work has changed these last couple of years,” says Diana Sroka, global head of HP Consumer Print Services. “But we have learned [...] that print remains essential for everyone at home—whether that’s a remote worker, student, or anyone in between.”

To find the best home printers, we tested 25 models in our Lab and evaluated them on setup, ease of use, design, speed, effectiveness, and value. Then, we tested the top-performing home printers for six months of real-world use, assessing their durability over time. After this in-depth testing, we narrowed the list to include only the best all-in-one, monochrome, and wireless options. For expert advice on how to choose a home printer for your needs, we spoke with Sroka.

Best Overall Home Printer

Canon Pixma TR8620a Printer

Canon Pixma TR8620a All-in-One Printer
PHOTO: Amazon
What Stands Out
  • This printer performed impressively across all tests, making it a versatile pick perfect for any home or office.

What Could Be Improved
  • The plastic construction could be higher-quality, though it doesn't cause any issues when printing.

With near-perfect ratings across the board, this all-in-one printer from Canon is our best overall pick for its ease of use and printing quality. In our testing, we found that it took just 18 seconds to print a single-sided color document. Not only can this model print colors and photos, but it also has copying, scanning, and faxing capabilities—making it one of the most versatile home printers on our list. During testing, the black and white copies and color prints were impressively crisp and clear.

When we used it to print wirelessly from our work computer, it worked perfectly and paired seamlessly with new devices (including our phone), with no technical issues. During our at-home testing, we printed a 4x6 photo, and it was on par with professional photo printing—though we didn’t test this capability extensively throughout our trial period.

This home printer also has bonus features like wireless connectivity, an intuitive LCD touchscreen, an automatic document feeder (ADF), and double-sided printing. Whether you want an all-in-one printer the whole family could use or need a reliable printer for the home office, this model can suit any home. Plus, we think it’s a great value based on its performance in our tests. After six months of use, we can confidently say that this printer is a reliable workhorse for all your home office needs.

Technology: Inkjet | Connectivity: Wireless, USB | Color: Yes | Size: 13.8 x 17.3 x 7.5 inches

Best Budget Home Printer

Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless Printer

 Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-In-One Color Inkjet Printer
PHOTO: Amazon
What Stands Out
  • This printer has all the versatility of a high-quality pick at a fraction of the cost.

What Could Be Improved
  • This printer doesn't have an automatic feeder.

Upgrading your home office with a reliable printer doesn’t need to be an expensive endeavor. The Canon Pixma MG3620 has all the functionality you need in a home printer, at a fraction of the cost of some other models. We commend this wireless printer for its ease of use and user-friendly design, though it could have performed better when it came to speed and setup. This printer took almost an entire minute before it began printing a 10-page document and we noted that the instructions weren’t very clear, but overall, the setup process was pretty self-explanatory.

After six months of use, we stand by our selection of the Canon Pixma as our best budget home printer. We used it to print black and white and color documents, which maintained an impressive, high-quality look throughout the entire testing period. We also loved the scanner, which came in handy when archiving family photos. When it wasn’t in use, we could easily tuck the printer into a cupboard to save space. The only downside to this printer is that its photos leave room for improvement—the color was slightly off, and the resolution was lower than we would have liked.

In addition to scanning, copying, and printing, this budget-friendly Canon printer also has wireless connectivity, cloud printing, double-sided printing, and a compact design that can fit in most spaces. Based on the quality alone, we expected this printer to have a much higher price tag. Considering its low price tag, ease of use, and high-quality prints, this printer is one of the best value options on our list. 

Technology: Inkjet | Connectivity: Wi-Fi | Color: Yes | Size: 17.7 x 12 x 6 inches

Best Color Home Printer

Epson Expression Home XP-4100

Epson Expression Home XP-4100 Small-in-One Printer
PHOTO: Amazon
What Stands Out
  • The color accuracy and vibrancy of prints, copies, and scans stood out to us during testing.

What Could Be Improved
  • This pick was not as easy to setup as some other selections.

Editor's Note: This specific model has been discontinued, but a newer model, the Epson Expression Home XP-4200, is available on Amazon, Best Buy, and Staples.

If vivid color is a top priority for your next printer, we recommend the Epson Expression Home XP-4100 Small-in-One Printer because it produces bright, well-saturated prints, copies, and scans. When we printed from our phone, the printer produced a very sharp/clear image—we felt the color of the photo was even better than the original. Even though this printer took less than 30 seconds to produce photos on both plain paper and glossy photo paper, we weren’t impressed with the quality and accuracy of the images, so we recommend this printer primarily for printing documents. 

During the setup process, we had to refer to the instruction manual several times, although most of it could be done from the control panel. Still, this home printer received stellar ratings for its ease of use, design, and overall value. It has features like an LCD screen, wireless compatibility, and voice controls—all in a compact design. 

After six months of use, the printer was still producing high-quality black and white and color documents. We also regularly used the scanning and copying functionality, which remained reliable throughout. The only downside we noted was that this printer is only compatible with Epson cartridges, which have a slightly higher price tag than off-brand cartridges. Still, especially where value was concerned, we were impressed with the quality of the prints, copies, and scans in conjunction with the price tag.

Technology: Inkjet | Connectivity: Wi-Fi | Color: Yes | Size: 6.9 x 5.7 x 2.9 inches

What Stands Out
  • This printer is compact, affordable, and easy to set up.

What Could Be Improved
  • It doesn't produce high-definition prints.

Whether you’re dealing with a cramped home office, makeshift WFH space, or dorm room for a college student, there’s a good chance the HP DeskJet 3755 All-in-One Printer can fit. It has a super-slim profile—roughly 7 x 16 x 5.5 inches—and fits nicely in small spaces. 

The setup process took roughly 20 minutes, which impressed us during testing. Connecting it to our phone, computer, and Wi-Fi network was a seamless process, and during our real-world tests, the Lab test setup time was halved to just 10 minutes. Plus, this printer also features app and cloud connectivity, an LCD screen, and includes a color and black cartridge. 

While this printer was already impressive during our Lab tests, it stood out even more once we tried it in real-world conditions. Printing documents on paper was speedy, and our color prints appeared crisp and clear. We also found the photo printing exceptional—while it took a bit longer (around 3-6 minutes), the final results were stunning on matte and glossy paper. And for those who want IRL copies of their digital photos, the HP DeskJet 3755 makes it easy to print directly from your phone while adjusting for size, color, and quality. Overall, the compact size, affordability, and quality of both prints and photos make this one of the most versatile printers on our list.

Technology: Inkjet | Connectivity: App, wireless | Color: Yes | Size: 6.97 x 15.86 x 5.55 inches

What Stands Out
  • This printer created high-quality, crisp prints during our tests and can be controlled via a connected app.

What Could Be Improved
  • This printer is quite large, so it may not be suited to small spaces.

While most modern home printers now have wireless printing capabilities, not all models can pair with an app that allows you to print, scan, and copy from anywhere. The HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e All-in-One Printer can be seamlessly synced to your phone using the HP+ app, which also offers cloud-based security services to encrypt your data and protect your documents. We were especially impressed with this wireless printer’s speed, noting that it didn’t sacrifice quality—it seemed like it would rival (or at least come close to) a laser printer’s speed.

In our testing, we were also impressed with the intuitive control panel and the automatic edge-finder for scans. The copied pages were nearly indistinguishable from the original and no corners or edges or color were lost. Plus, the photo paper printed without a margin or a bleed edge. 

This level of quality remained consistent throughout six months of testing. Paper printing was high-quality and fast, though we noticed that color prints came out somewhat muted. Similarly, the photo print quality could be better—again, the colors were less vibrant. While we think this wireless model is the perfect printer for basic home office documents, copying, and scanning, if you need a specialized printer for color documents or photos, you may want a different option from our list. Also, keep in mind that the footprint of this printer is much larger than the home printers we’ve used in the past.

Technology: Inkjet | Connectivity: Wireless, app, USB | Color: Yes | Size: 15.6 x 17.2 x 12.53 inches

Brother HL-L2350DW Monochrome Compact Laser Printer
PHOTO: Amazon
What Stands Out
  • This pick prints quickly, was easy to set up, and comes at an affordable price.

What Could Be Improved
  • This printer can't copy, scan, or fax.

This home printer from Brother was one of the top-performing models in our tests—and it received perfect ratings across the board. Unlike the other printers on our list, this is a laser option that can better handle large print jobs without frequently replacing the cartridges. While laser printers can sometimes be more expensive than inkjet, this one comes at a more affordable cost that is well-aligned with its value and effectiveness. Our favorite standout feature was this printer's incredible speed, which didn’t cause any decline in picture or print quality. 

With two months of continued use, we think this one of the fastest and easiest home printers we’ve ever tried. It produced crisp documents in a mere second from the time we pressed print without any fussy functionalities that made the process overly complicated. 

During our Lab tests, we were able to successfully set up this printer in just 15 minutes, which is one of the fastest recorded times among the 25 printers we tested. Though this pick is great for anyone who needs to print a high volume of documents in black and white, it doesn’t offer scanning, copying, faxing, or color printing capabilities.

Technology: Laser | Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi | Color: No | Size: 14.2 x 14 x 7.2 inches

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the Canon Pixma TR8620a for its ease of use, sleek design, speed, and more—not to mention its versatile functions that can do everything from print photos to scan documents. In our lab testing, this printer received a near-perfect score, making it a great addition to any home office.

Our Testing Process

To find the best home printers on the market, we acquired 25 models and tested them in our Lab. First, we evaluated the ease of assembly and installation of each printer by setting up the cartridges, loading paper, printing an alignment page, and connecting to Wi-Fi, if applicable. We also timed the setup process from start to finish. We took note of any digital displays or control pads and evaluated how easy they were to use and navigate. 

Next, we assessed each product’s printing capabilities. This test varied slightly depending on the type of printer, as color printers have different standards than black and white printers. For both printer types, we timed the process from the initial print request to when the document was fully printed. The printers were assessed on print quality, specifically the clarity and precision of the text and photos, as well as color saturation, when applicable. 

The second test involved printing a multiple-page document, again using a timer from start to finish. We looked over the printed pages for quality, streaks, consistency, and faded lines. For the final printing test, we printed a photo: We loaded the paper tray with glossy photo paper, timed the duration of the printing process, and assessed the photo for quality, saturation, streaks, and inconsistencies.

A group of people using printers on a white table

Real Simple / Henry Wortock

We also tested out any special features, like phone-to-printer technology, scanning, copying, smart connectivity, and cloud printing and scanning. While these features vary greatly, all of the tests included an evaluation of ease of use, quality, and duration. 

To see how the printers perform with notifications and error messages, we removed the paper from the paper tray and attempted to print a document. We looked for a notification on the display screen, or the app for smart printers. We also removed and reinstalled the ink cartridges to check for error messages and ease of removal (and replacement), and accessibility.

After the Lab tests were completed, we reviewed the retail price of the product. We evaluated the price in conjunction with the printer’s performance during tests to assess the overall value of the product. 

Finally, we sent out our top-performing models for further assessment in real-world conditions. We checked in after two months and six months of use, noting the ease of setup, functionality, and quality, along with any technical issues or errors we encountered.

How to Shop for Home Printers Like a Pro

Printer Type

Your printing needs can help determine what type of printer you need. “There are a few notable consideration points, including how often you print and for what purpose,” says Sroka. “For example, is the printer going to be most often used to print basic color documents like forms or recipes? Or professional, complex documents? That answer will help narrow down the list quite a bit and from there, comparing specific features and/or functionality should ultimately lead to the best option based on the print need.”

For example, students who primarily need to print papers and assignments would be better off with a low-profile, monochrome printer. On the other hand, artists and photographers will likely prefer a model with excellent photo printing capabilities.

Also consider the added features your printer has, like scanning, copying, and wireless functions. If you need something that works for the whole family, we recommend opting for a versatile printer that can handle most jobs, whether it be printing travel documents or photos for a scrapbook.

Connectivity

Thanks to wireless technology, there are more ways to connect your device, making it easier for you to print with the help of a Wi-Fi connection. Some printers still rely on the standard USB, Ethernet port, or memory card to transfer data—which are just as effective, but slightly less efficient.

Other printers are outfitted with all the latest tech to print your photos and documents. Some have cloud printing capabilities, while others use Bluetooth or Apple AirPrint. Depending on your comfort level with technology, budget, and how often you print, you may prefer a wireless home printer as opposed to one with standard connectivity.

Person scanning a barcode on an HP printer

Real Simple / Henry Wortock

Size

The size of your printer is also important to consider, as people with a dedicated home office will likely be able to fit a larger model than someone who needs to squeeze a printer in a small apartment. People with limited storage space should look for slim printers, like the HP DeskJet 3755 All-in-One Printer—our pick for the best small home printer.

More Home Printers to Consider

HP LaserJet M110we Printer: The HP LaserJet M110we is a monochrome printer that printed documents with decent quality in our evaluations. However, people with limited tech skills might have a hard time connecting their phone and setting up the app, which is important for a wireless printer.

Printer printing a document

Real Simple / Henry Wortock

Questions You Might Ask

Are laser or inkjet printers better?

When shopping for a home printer, most of the options you’ll find will be inkjet. Inkjet printers are more common for home use because they’re more affordable and they generally perform better with photo printing. However, inkjet printers also require more maintenance and frequent cartridge replacement.

Laser printers, on the other hand, are more frequently found in office settings, as they can handle high-volume printing. They don’t require as much maintenance or cartridge replacement, making them well-suited for those who will be printing daily. For this reason, laser printers are usually more expensive.

Do home printers come with ink cartridges?

Many of the home printers on our list come with ink cartridges, but the amount can vary. (For example, the Canon Pixma MG3620—our best budget pick—comes with compatible black and color cartridges in the box.) However, we recommend making sure you have extra cartridges on hand as soon as you purchase your printer. “Two big pain points with a printer are setting up and running out of ink,” says Sroka. You don’t want to be unable to print an urgent document from home because you’re out of ink, so it’s better to have extras.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Quinn Gawronski, associate commerce editor for Real Simple, who has three years of experience writing and editing product reviews and roundups. To compile this list, we tested 25 home printers in our Lab and evaluated them on setup, ease of use, design, speed, effectiveness, and value. For expert tips, we consulted Diana Sroka, global head of HP Consumer Print Services.

What Is Real Simple Selects?

Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn't an option. If that's the case, we test the product just like we test anything we buy, but we also disclose that we received it for free to be as transparent with you as possible.

Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.

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