The 5 Best Printers of 2026, recommended by experts
The best printers from Epson, Canon and HP, including monochrome laser printers to color inkjet.
Canon ImageCLASS MF455dw
$219.99
$369.99
When picking these suggestions, I drew on the advice of other gadget reporters and printer specialists, while also using my expertise as a consumer technology journalist for CNET, TechRadar and NBC Select. When choosing individual models, I kept the below criteria in mind:
This Canon laser printer is “outstanding value for the price”, according to Scott Bordman, a printer specialist and owner of Cartridge World of Wayne in New Jersey. He says the MF455dw is great for “a home office where there is a larger volume of printing”, thanks to its 40 ppm speed and ability to stack up to 900 pages in its sheet tray. It comes with a convenient mobile app as well as a 5-inch touchscreen. There’s also a scanner for copying, uploading and faxing documents.
Brand: Canon | Type: Laser | Dimensions: 17.8 x 18.3 x 15.4 in. | Color: Monochrome | Paper tray: 8.5 x 14 in. | PPM (Prints Per Minute): 40 | Sheet Capacity: 900 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, USB 3.0 | Weight: 35.7 lbs
Bordman considers the Brother MFC-L3720CDW a “very good option” for those with varied home office needs. This MFC (Multi-Function Center) model packs in not just a printer, but also a scanner, copier and fax machine. It also features two-sided printing and full-color printing, with a print resolution of 2400 x 600 dpi (dots per inch). However, copies will only come through at 600 x 600 dpi.
Brand: Brother | Type: Laser | Dimensions: 16.1 x 17.5 x 15.8 in. | Color: Yes | Paper tray: 8.5 x 14 in. | PPM (Prints Per Minute): 19 | Sheet Capacity: 250 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopria, USB | Weight: 44 lbs
This Canon printer is another MFC model recommended by Bordman, packing in a laser printer, scanner, fax and copier. It has a capable print speed of 22ppm, and it is slightly cheaper than the Brother MFC-L3720CDW. Its max resolution is only 1200 x 1200 dpi for prints and its copies come through at the same level of image quality.
Brand: Canon | Type: Laser | Dimensions: 18.2 x 17.8 x 16.3 in. | Color: Yes | Paper tray: 8.5 x 14 in. | PPM (Prints Per Minute): 22 | Sheet Capacity: 250 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, AirPrint, Mopria, USB 2.0 | Weight: 48.5 lbs
Professional photographer and printing specialist Keith Cooper recommends the Epson P900 for color photography and prints. It can print up to 11 x 17 inch sheets of paper, hold 120 sheets in its tray, and deploy an astonishing level of color and resolution (5760 x 1440 pixels). There’s also a dedicated app for Windows, MacOS and iOS, though this printer is best used for photo printing rather than everyday documents, given it prioritizes image quality over speed.
Brand: Epson | Type: Inkjet | Dimensions: 14.7 x 18.6 x 29.3 in. | Color: Yes | Paper tray: 11 x 17 in. | PPM (Prints Per Minute): 1 | Sheet Capacity: 120 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, USB 3.0 | Weight: 35.3 lbs
For “best all round value, especially for getting into better quality photo/art printing”, Cooper recommends this Epson EcoTank ET-8500 model. It uses low-cost ink bottles rather than pricey cartridges, making this a budget-friendly printer in the long run, while a high-resolution scanner makes it a great multipurpose tool “for some home office use.”
Brand: Epson | Type: Inkjet | Dimensions: 29.8 x 20.6 x 16.9 in. | Color: Yes | Paper tray: 13 x 19 in. | PPM (Prints Per Minute): 12-16 | Sheet Capacity: 100 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPrint, Mopria, USB 3.0, SD Card | Weight: 24.5 lbs
To get the best printer buying advice, we spoke to Gregory Carafello, printer hardware expert and President of Cartridge World. “When buying a home printer, you first want to figure out what your needs are for the printer,” says Carafello. “Do you need one with a feeder, scanner or copier mechanism? Do you need full-color or simply mono-chrome black? Do you need one-sided or two-sided? How much do you think you are going to print? These should be the first questions you ask internally before beginning to shop.”
Generally, you’ll want a laser printer, which uses toner cartridges, over an inkjet model. Carafello tells us that, while laser printers are more expensive, “they provide consistency in printing and can sit idle for a long period of time since there is no drying of ink. A toner printer will also provide a sharper and crisper text on the paper.”
Toner cartridges may cost more up front but the way that toner is printed onto the page — via a powdered dye — it’s much more efficient than using liquid ink, and you’ll generally get more pages out of a toner cartridge than an inkjet one. Carafello advises against budget toner cartridges, too: “When purchasing toner, it is important to buy name brands as these are made with higher quality compared to second-hand toner cartridges.
Each major printer brand caters to a wide range of price points and functionalities, though there are a few key differences. “Canon and Epson are the only two [involved] in higher end photo/art printing. They also both have excellent free software for printing,” says Cooper. Bordman recommends “Canon and Brother printers,” calling these companies “more consumer-friendly and more economical” when it comes to cartridges.
Manufacturers will often sell a printer at a loss, or for minimal profit, in the hopes of recouping it through ink and toner cartridges, which you need for the printer to work — similar to how games consoles may be sold at a loss and the profit made back through the games you inevitably buy.
This depends on your individual needs. Monochrome printers are generally simpler, cheaper and use cheaper toner or ink, than more complex color models. However, if you want to print color photography, you’ll need a good color printer.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I have worked as a gadget reporter since 2017, covering the latest developments in consumer hardware, from TVs and headphones to smart speakers and VR headsets. I previously worked as the News & Features Editor at TechRadar and now freelance for NBC Select, Healthline and The Independent.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
