Inkjet printers offer remarkable versatility, capable of producing detailed text documents, labels, vibrant color graphics, and even high-quality photos. All-in-one models further enhance their value by incorporating scanning, copying, and faxing functionalities, making them a practical choice for home offices and small businesses. We’ve rigorously tested inkjet printers from leading brands to curate a list of top recommendations, helping you find the perfect printing solution tailored to your specific needs.
Canon MegaTank Pixma G3270 Inkjet PrinterPhoto by Tracey Truly / MaagX
Best Overall Inkjet Printer: Canon MegaTank Pixma G3270
The Canon MegaTank Pixma G3270 is our top pick for the best overall inkjet printer, offering a compelling blend of versatility and affordability, ideal for home office use. This all-in-one printer handles a wide range of tasks, from printing and copying to scanning. Its standout feature is the MegaTank system, utilizing large, refillable ink tanks that yield an impressive output of up to 6,000 black-and-white pages and 7,700 color pages. This system eliminates the need for costly replacement cartridges and ensures uninterrupted printing for extended periods. The Pixma G3270 delivers sharp text documents and vibrant color prints, including internet content, envelopes, labels, and even borderless full-page photos. While glossy photo prints are excellent, plain paper photo quality is acceptable but not exceptional. Print speed is relatively modest at 11 pages per minute (ppm) for monochrome and 6 ppm for color. However, the Canon MegaTank Pixma G3270 offers exceptional value with its low initial cost and significant long-term ink savings.
Best Budget Inkjet Printer: Brother MFC-J1205W INKvestment Tank
Brother MFC-J1205W INKvestment Tank PrinterAlan Truly / MaagX
For budget-conscious consumers, the Brother MFC-J1205W INKvestment Tank is an excellent choice. Priced affordably, this compact all-in-one printer offers good print, scan, and copy quality. Its small footprint makes it suitable for any home environment. Despite its low price, the MFC-J1205W boasts a fast print engine, delivering black-and-white documents at 16 ppm and color documents at 9 ppm. While it utilizes cartridges instead of refillable tanks, the INKvestment system’s large cartridges provide up to 750 pages of monochrome and color output, resulting in a low cost per page of 3 to 6 cents. This combination of affordability and low ink costs makes the Brother MFC-J1205W our top budget inkjet printer pick.
Best Office Inkjet Printer: HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e
HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e Inkjet PrinterAlan Truly / MaagX
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is our top choice for office environments, excelling in print quality and speed. It produces high-quality text documents and rich, detailed color graphics, making it ideal for business documents, reports, and presentations. Its impressive print speeds of up to 22 ppm for monochrome and 18 ppm for color are a significant advantage. The 9125e offers features essential for office productivity, including a duplexing automatic document feeder (ADF) with 1200 dpi scanning resolution and high-speed draft printing at up to 28 ppm. Fax functionality is also available with a landline connection. Although cartridge-based, the cost per page is reasonable at 3 to 10 cents, further reduced by HP’s Instant Ink subscription service. With its large color touchscreen and reliable performance, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is an excellent choice for office settings.
Most Efficient Inkjet Printer: HP Smart Tank 7602
HP Smart Tank 7602 Inkjet Printer with Ink BottlesAlan Truly / MaagX
The HP Smart Tank 7602 earns our top spot for efficiency. Its refillable tanks hold enough ink for an impressive 8,000 color pages and 6,000 monochrome pages, minimizing ink replacements and saving both time and money. The estimated ink cost per page is remarkably low, as little as 0.3 cents for black-and-white and 0.6 cents for color. Beyond efficiency, the Smart Tank 7602 offers impressive print speeds of up to 15 ppm for monochrome and 9 ppm for color, along with sharp document details and high-quality glossy photos. While the initial cost is higher than standard inkjet printers, the inclusion of scanning, copying, and faxing capabilities makes it a versatile solution for families, home offices, and students alike.
Best Inkjet Photo Printer: Epson EcoTank ET-8500
Epson EcoTank ET-8500 Inkjet Printer with Photo PrintsTracey Truly / MaagX
The Epson EcoTank ET-8500 excels in photo printing, delivering outstanding image quality with vibrant colors, crisp details, and accurate color reproduction. Epson’s six-color Claria ET premium ink set, including gray and photo black inks, enables a wide color gamut and smooth color transitions. The ET-8500’s refillable ink tanks further enhance its value, providing a cost-effective solution for high-volume photo printing, with estimated costs around 1 cent per black-and-white page and 0.3 cents per color page. With three paper trays supporting various media types, including card stock and multiple photo sizes, the ET-8500 offers exceptional versatility for both document and photo printing needs.
Best Premium Inkjet Photo Printer: Epson SureColor P700
Epson SureColor P700 Inkjet Printer Printing a PhotoEpson
The Epson SureColor P700 is our premium photo printer recommendation, utilizing a 10-channel, drop-on-demand printhead with dedicated nozzles for each color, including Photo Black and Matte Black, eliminating cartridge switching. Epson’s UltraChrome Pro10 ink promises remarkable print longevity of up to 200 years for color and 400 years for black-only prints. The P700 achieves enhanced D-max with its Carbon Black Driver mode for deeper blacks on glossy paper. It offers a maximum resolution of 5760 x 1440 and a printable area of 13 x 129 inches, printing a standard 8.5 x 11-inch sheet in 89 seconds and a 13 x 19-inch sheet in 143 seconds. A 4.3-inch customizable touchscreen and iOS support provide convenient control and direct printing from Apple devices.
FAQ
What is an inkjet printer?
Inkjet printers utilize a simple yet effective printing mechanism, spraying fast-drying ink onto paper through tiny nozzles in the printhead. The ink is often ionized, allowing for precise control using magnetic plates, resulting in accurate patterns and high-quality output.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of inkjet printers?
Inkjet printers are generally more affordable and offer faster start-up times than laser printers. Their ability to produce high-quality photo prints with rich colors makes them a popular choice for home use. However, ink costs can be high, and print speeds for large projects can be slower. Inkjet print quality is also more dependent on paper quality. Some models may have limitations regarding compatible ink cartridges.
Which printer has the lowest ink cost?
Tank printers generally offer the lowest ink costs due to their large ink reservoirs. While laser printers have efficient toner cartridges, tank printers provide even lower long-term supply costs.
Which printer brand is the best?
Epson printers are generally known for durability and feature-rich models. HP also offers excellent printers, particularly for small businesses. However, comparing specific models is crucial for determining the best fit.
Which is better, inkjet or laser printers?
The choice depends on your printing needs. Inkjet printers are suitable for home use and small businesses with moderate printing volumes, especially for photo printing. Laser printers are better suited for high-volume printing in office environments.
Will a new printer save me money compared to buying ink for my old printer?
If you frequently print with an inexpensive cartridge-based inkjet printer, a new, more efficient printer, such as a tank printer or one with high-capacity cartridges, could save you money in the long run. Calculate your annual ink expenditure. If it exceeds $100, a new printer may be a worthwhile investment.
How do I know if my printer is an inkjet?
Inkjet cartridges are relatively small and fit in the palm of your hand. Laser printer toner cartridges are significantly larger. Laser printers also use heat to fuse toner to paper, so their output is warm to the touch. Inkjet prints can sometimes smudge when freshly printed, while laser prints do not.
Can an inkjet printer print on glossy paper?
Yes, provided the glossy paper is designed for inkjet printers and has the appropriate coatings. Choose an inkjet printer model that supports glossy paper, such as the Epson SureColor P700.
Can you print on cardstock with an inkjet printer?
Yes, many inkjet printers can print on cardstock, including photo cardstock and business cards, provided they are designed to handle thicker media.
