Best Basic Printers for Home: Features, Costs and Trade-offs

For a basic home printer that just prints documents without fuss, a compact black-and-white laser is the most trouble-free type: the Brother HL-L2400D suits a single computer on a USB cable, the Brother HL-L2460DW adds Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and the Brother DCP-L2640DW adds a scanner. If you want basic colour at low cost to run, the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is the simple tank option, and the HP DeskJet 2855e is the cheapest cartridge choice for very occasional use. This guide covers best basic printers, best simple printers, best simple printers for seniors, best non wireless printers and best wired printers, and explains the trade-offs of keeping things simple.

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#1 Pick

HP DeskJet 2923 Color Inkjet Printer | Wireless | All-in-One | Easy Home Printing | Color Documents | Mobile Compatibility | Print, Scan & Copy | Ideal Home Use

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#2 Pick

Canon PIXMA TS4320 – Wireless Color Inkjet Printer with Print, Copy, Scan | Cost Efficient Multi-Function Photo Printer, Copier, Scanner for Home Use, Compact Design, Easy Setup

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#3 Pick

HP DeskJet 2955 Color Inkjet Printer | Wireless | All-in-One | Easy Home Printing | Color Documents | Mobile Compatibility | Print, Scan & Copy | Ideal Home Use

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#4 Pick

HP Envy 6155 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, Scan, Copy, Duplex Printing Best-for-Home, 3 Month Trial of Instant Ink Included, AI-Capable (C2WR7A) Portobello

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What “basic” should mean

A basic printer prints reliably, is easy to set up, and does not demand constant attention. In practice that points to four traits.

• Few moving parts to fail: a mono laser has no ink nozzles that dry out, which is why home-printing review sites steer light users toward laser models.
• Clear connection options: USB for one computer, Wi-Fi or Ethernet for several devices.
• Affordable supplies: toner or ink that lasts hundreds or thousands of pages, rather than a hundred.
• No accounts required: some cartridge printers push subscription programmes, so a model that works without sign-ins is simpler.

At a glance: basic printers compared

Wired versus wireless: the decision for non wireless buyers

A wired printer is a legitimate choice. It avoids Wi-Fi passwords, router changes and the dropped connections that come with them. The trade-off is that only one computer, or one computer at a time, can use it, and phones and tablets cannot print directly. If you have a single desktop or laptop that stays in the same room, a USB laser is the simplest setup there is.

The Brother HL-L2400D is the plain example. The maker lists it at up to 32 ppm, automatic two-sided printing, a 250-sheet tray with a 100-sheet output, a single-sheet manual feed and USB 2.0 connectivity to a single computer, and it notes that a USB cable is not included. It uses the same style of toner and drum as the larger Brother lasers (the starter toner is about 700 pages and the drum about 15,000). The maker’s page showed new units as out of stock, so supply varies by region.

Most wireless printers also keep a USB port, so choosing a wireless model does not stop you using a cable. If you ever want to print from a phone, buying wireless from the start avoids a second purchase.

Brother HL-L2460DW: the basic laser with Wi-Fi

This is the model many 2026 guides name as the dependable default for documents. Brother lists up to 36 ppm, automatic duplex, dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB 2.0, a 250-sheet tray and a duty cycle far above its 2,500-page monthly recommendation. First page out is listed at 8.5 seconds. It does not scan or print in colour. Forbes Vetted rates it as reliable for occasional use, and a secondhand report attributes the phrase “simple, dependable” to Wirecutter. Replacement toner is available in standard and high-yield sizes, and the high-yield is cited at about 4,200 pages by one roundup.

Brother DCP-L2640DW: when basic includes scanning

For anyone who needs to scan a signed form or copy a medical letter, the DCP-L2640DW adds a 50-page document feeder and flatbed to the same laser engine. Brother lists it at 16.1 by 15.7 by 12.5 inches and about 25 pounds, so it needs a firm surface. Its setup uses a touchscreen and a mobile app. Some retailer guides recommend it for households that copy and scan.

Epson EcoTank ET-2800: basic colour

Epson’s ET-2800 is the simplest EcoTank. It prints 10 ISO ppm black and 5 colour, comes with ink bottles in the box, and refills from bottles rather than cartridges. Consumer Reports lists its weight at about 8.8 pounds. It has a flatbed scanner but no feeder, no automatic duplex (the ET-2850 adds it) and no Ethernet, and a reviewer notes Wi-Fi is limited to 2.4 GHz. It suits someone who prints homework, recipes or occasional photos, and who wants to buy ink rarely.

HP DeskJet 2855e: the lowest-cost cartridge option

HP positions this as a printer for up to three users printing about 100 pages a month. The cartridges are HP 67, with roughly 120 pages for the standard black and about 100 for tri-colour. It prints double-sided only by hand, holds 60 sheets and weighs about 7.5 pounds. Retailer listings mention a short Instant Ink trial under HP+ activation. It is fine for an occasional boarding pass, but heavy use turns it into an expensive habit.

Simple printers for seniors

No maker states that a printer is designed for seniors, so the guidance below is general and based on how these models are built.

• Choose mono laser if colour is not needed. It has fewer routine tasks. No dried nozzles or head cleaning.
• Prefer a full-size paper tray. A 250-sheet tray means loading paper less often.
• Look for a screen that is easy to read. The Brother DCP-L2640DW lists a colour touchscreen, which can help with menus; others rely on simple buttons.
• Avoid accounts and subscriptions. Programmes tied to online sign-ups add steps. Third-party guides say HP+ requires an online connection and original ink.
• Have someone set it up once. After initial Wi-Fi or USB setup, day-to-day printing is a single button press from the computer.
• Keep the manufacturer’s manual and support number somewhere obvious.

Running cost for basic printers

Basic does not have to mean expensive to run. A mono laser with high-yield toner has the lowest cost per page for text in most comparisons; One review site puts the HL-L2460DW at roughly two cents per page, a third-party estimate. Tank printers rank next. Small cartridge inkjets such as the DeskJet cost the most per page. The right match depends on volume: someone who prints a page or two a week will rarely notice the difference, while someone printing daily will.

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Alternatives

• Brother MFC-L2820DW: adds fax to the mono laser all-in-one, and is Brother’s stated replacement for the discontinued MFC-L2750DW.
• Epson EcoTank ET-2850: the ET-2800’s sibling with automatic duplex.
• Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3270: a tank alternative with dual-band Wi-Fi and single-sided printing only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a non wireless printer still worth buying?

Yes, if one computer will use it. USB avoids Wi-Fi setup and dropped connections. The drawback is that phones and other computers cannot print to it directly.

What is the simplest type of printer to own?

A monochrome laser is generally the simplest, because the toner does not dry out and replacement is infrequent. A wired model removes network setup as well.

Do basic printers need a subscription?

No, though some cartridge printers promote one. HP’s Instant Ink programme is offered with models such as the DeskJet 2855e and Envy 6555e, and it is optional in the retailer descriptions found, but HP+ activation has its own conditions. Read the terms for any model before agreeing.

How often will I have to buy toner or ink?

A Brother laser’s starter toner is about 700 pages and replacement toner lasts longer. Tank printers like the EcoTank ET-2800 list thousands of pages per bottle. Small cartridge inkjets, such as the DeskJet, need replacement after roughly a hundred pages.

Can a basic printer scan or copy?

Only the all-in-one models can. The Brother DCP-L2640DW, Epson ET-2800 and HP DeskJet 2855e include scanners, while the HL-L2400D and HL-L2460DW are print only.

Which basic printer is best for someone who prints rarely?

A mono laser is the safest because it will print as soon as it is switched on after weeks of idle time. If you also need colour, a tank printer is better than a cheap cartridge model for the same reason.