Best Cheap Printers for Home: Which One to Buy

The cheapest printer to buy is rarely the cheapest to own: light users who print a few pages a month can buy a basic cartridge inkjet such as the HP DeskJet 2855e, anyone printing mostly black text is better served by a compact laser like the Brother HL-L2460DW, and anyone printing colour every week usually saves money with a refillable-tank model such as the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 or Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3270. This guide covers best cheap printers, best inexpensive printers, best affordable printers and best low cost printers, and it explains why the purchase tier and the running-cost tier point to different machines. No prices are quoted; the tiers below are relative.

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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

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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#3 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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#4 Pick

HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, Scan, Copy, ADF, Duplex Printing Best-for-Home Office, 3 Month Trial of Instant Ink Included, AI-Capable (C2VJ4A)

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Purchase cost versus running cost

Printers are often sold near cost and the maker earns on supplies. That is why one retailer-affiliated guide warns that a very cheap printer can cost many times its purchase price in ink across a year. The figure comes from a seller of replacement ink, so use it as a warning rather than a measurement, but the direction is consistent across outlets: cartridge inkjets cost the least up front and the most per page.

The three tiers look like this:

• Entry tier (cheapest to buy): small cartridge inkjets. Good for a handful of pages a month.
• Budget tier: basic mono lasers and entry tank printers. Higher outlay, much lower cost per page.
• Mid-range tier: wireless tank all-in-ones with duplex, laser all-in-ones with document feeders and colour lasers.

At a glance: cheap printers compared

HP DeskJet 2855e: the lowest entry point

Retail roundups put this model at the bottom of the cost range. HP positions it for up to three users printing about 100 pages a month. The cartridge yields are tiny: roughly 120 pages for the standard black and about 100 for the tri-colour, with XL versions near double and a 67XXL black near 400. Consumer Reports estimated about 116 pages of black text per cartridge in its own checks. It prints double-sided only by manual flipping, holds 60 sheets and weighs about 7.5 pounds. It is a reasonable choice for someone who prints a school form, a boarding pass or a shipping label now and then. It is a poor choice for a household printing weekly, because cartridges will be replaced often. Retailer listings say it includes a short Instant Ink trial on HP+ activation, and HP+ terms are worth reading before setup.

Canon PIXMA TR4720: another low-cost cartridge option

A retailer-run review site lists the TR4720 as its pick among cheap home printers and cites the PG-275XL black cartridge at around 400 pages. Canon’s own page was not readable during research, so detailed speed and connectivity figures are not stated here. The general rules for the class apply: low purchase cost, small cartridges, and a running cost that rises quickly with regular use. Read the maker’s specification sheet for duplex and feeder details before buying.

Brother HL-L2460DW: cheapest pages for text

This is the model most outlets cite when readers ask for a low-cost-per-page printer for documents. Brother lists up to 36 ppm, dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, automatic duplex and a 250-sheet tray. The starter toner is only about 700 pages, so the first refill arrives sooner than people expect, but replacement TN830 cartridges come in standard and high-yield sizes, with one roundup citing around 4,200 pages for the largest. A drum unit rated near 15,000 pages is separate. One review site describes it as roughly two cents per page on high-yield toner, though that is a third-party estimate. A laser also avoids the dried-nozzle problem that cheap inkjets suffer when idle.

For a single computer with no network, Brother’s HL-L2400D is the plain wired alternative: up to 32 ppm, auto duplex and USB 2.0, with no USB cable in the box. The maker’s page listed new units as out of stock, so availability varies.

Epson EcoTank ET-2800: the entry tank printer

Epson rates the ET-2800 at 10 ISO ppm black and 5 colour, with a 65 mL black bottle yielding 4,500 pages and each colour bottle 7,500 pages under the ISO test method. TechRadar’s picks and several budget roundups name it for households that print regularly. It weighs about 8.8 pounds, connects over Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi Direct and USB, and has no document feeder or Ethernet. The ET-2850 adds auto duplex, and Epson says its box contains up to two years of ink at typical home use. One seller-run site estimates cost per page at well under a cent for black on the EcoTank range; treat that as an indicative claim, not a measured result.

Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3270: a second tank option

Canon lists up to 6,000 black and 7,700 colour pages, 11 ipm black and 6 ipm colour, Wi-Fi on both bands, a 100-sheet tray and a duty cycle up to 3,000 pages monthly. It prints single-sided only. Tom’s Guide named the related G3290 its best budget printer. The G3270 suits students, homework printing and families who do not need duplex.

HP Envy 6555e: a feeder at a low outlay

HP lists dual-band Wi-Fi, automatic duplex, a 35-sheet feeder and ISO speeds up to 10 ppm black and 7 colour. TechRadar and Forbes Vetted both cite it as a value pick. Cartridge running costs apply, and HP+ expects original HP cartridges and an internet connection per third-party guides, so it is best for light use.

Choosing by how much you print

• Under about 100 pages a month: a cartridge inkjet or a basic laser is fine. Pick the laser if it is mostly text.
• A few hundred pages a month: a laser for text or a tank printer for colour will be cheaper after the first replacements.
• Photos: tank printers handle photos more cheaply than cartridge printers, though neither replaces a dedicated photo printer.
• Shared family use: choose a model with Wi-Fi and a bigger tray.

Cost-saving habits

• Print in draft or economy mode for drafts and internal documents; Canon lists an economy mode that raises its black yield.
• Choose high-yield or XL cartridges when the model offers them, since they lower cost per page.
• Be wary of compatible supplies if the printer is on a programme that expects original cartridges; read the maker’s terms.
• Keep an inkjet in regular use so heads do not clog; a laser tolerates long gaps.

Pick X if…

Alternatives

• Epson EcoTank ET-2850: the same ink system with auto duplex, for a higher purchase tier.
• Canon PIXMA G3290: Tom’s Guide’s best budget printer, related to the G3270.
• Brother DCP-L2640DW: a laser all-in-one with a feeder, for those who need scanning and can spend more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the cheapest printers worth it?

Only for very light use. The low purchase price is offset by small cartridges that need replacing often. If you print weekly, a laser or tank printer usually costs less over a year.

What is the cheapest printer to run?

For black text, a mono laser with high-yield toner such as the Brother HL-L2460DW is typically cheapest. For colour, tank printers like the EcoTank and MegaTank lines are generally the lowest-cost option in comparisons.

Does an HP+ printer lock me into HP ink?

Third-party guides say HP+ expects original HP cartridges and an online connection. Since terms can change, read HP’s current terms before buying an HP+ model if you plan to use other supplies.

Is a wired printer cheaper than a wireless one?

Slightly, in some cases, and it avoids Wi-Fi setup. The Brother HL-L2400D connects by USB only. Most wireless models also keep a USB port, so wireless rarely costs convenience.

Is it cheaper to buy compatible ink?

It can be, but sellers of compatible ink are the source of many savings claims, and some programmes expect original cartridges. The maker’s warranty terms and the printer’s manual explain what is covered before you switch.

How many pages do cheap cartridges print?

HP lists roughly 120 pages for a standard black 67 cartridge and about 240 for the XL. Actual numbers vary with page content, as HP itself notes, so plan on fewer if you print photos or heavy graphics.