Best Printers for Photos and Documents: Buyer’s Guide (2026)

If you print mostly documents with the occasional photo, a refillable-tank all-in-one such as the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is the sensible middle ground. If photos matter as much as paperwork, a six-ink photo tank machine like the Canon PIXMA G620 or the wide-format Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 is a better fit. Buyers who print far more text than pictures are usually better served by a mono laser multifunction such as the Brother DCP-L2640DW, with photos handled by a separate small device or a print shop.

This guide is for a general reader who wants one machine that handles school forms, tax paperwork, boarding passes and the family photo that ends up on the fridge. Photo printing and document printing pull in opposite directions: photo machines add extra inks and care about paper, while document machines care about speed, sharp black text and cost per page. The models below were chosen because reviewers and the makers themselves position them as the best compromises, and the sections after the table explain where each one gives ground.

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#1 Pick

Canon PIXMA TR8620a – All-in-One Printer Home Office|Copier|Scanner|Fax|Auto Document Feeder | Photo, Document | Airprint (R), Android, Black, Works with Alexa

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#2 Pick

Canon PIXMA TR7120 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer, Duplex Printing, White – Home Printer with Copier/Scanner, Auto Document Feeder, Compact Design, Intuitive Control Panel

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#3 Pick

HP Smart Tank Plus 651 Wireless All-in-One Printer, Ink Tank Printer-for-Home Use, 2 Years of Ink Included Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Print, Scan, Copy, Fax. (7XV38A)

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At a Glance: Photo and Document Printers Compared

How Photo and Document Needs Differ

A document printer is judged on three things: how clean small black text looks, how fast pages come out, and how many pages a refill covers. A photo printer is judged on color range, how smooth gradients look in skin tones and skies, the paper sizes it handles without borders, and how long prints last. Tank printers sit comfortably between the two because the ink is inexpensive per page, which means you can print a few dozen photos for a school project without worrying about a cartridge running dry.

The most important distinction is the number of inks. Four-ink machines (black plus cyan, magenta and yellow) cover everyday color. Six-ink machines add extras: the Canon G620 uses red and gray bottles alongside the usual four, and the Epson ET-8550 adds photo black and gray. Reviewers generally report that the extra inks reduce visible grain and give smoother neutrals in photographs, which is why they show up in picks for photos.

Epson EcoTank ET-2980: The Everyday Compromise

The ET-2980 is a compact all-in-one that uses 502-series bottles: a pigment black (127 ml) and dye cyan, magenta and yellow (70 ml each). Epson’s spec sheet lists up to 8,500 pages for the black bottle and 6,500 for each color bottle on replacement sets, and says the ink supplied in the box covers up to 6,600 black and 5,500 color pages because some is used during setup. It prints up to 15 ppm in black and 8 ppm in color, has a 100-sheet rear tray and prints on both sides automatically. Because the black is pigment-based, text on plain paper stays crisp and resists smearing.

For photos, the ET-2980 produces respectable 4×6 and letter prints on glossy paper, and reviewers such as RTINGS and TechRadar treat it as a strong budget-friendly tank option. It is not the pick if you want deep blacks on photo paper or long print runs of pictures, but it handles the occasional photo without fuss. It is also the model most often suggested when a buyer asks for a machine that “does everything acceptably.”

Canon PIXMA G620: When Photos Come First

TechRadar names the G620 its choice for most people, and Trusted Reviews picks the closely related G650 as its best overall photo printer. The G620 is a wireless three-in-one with integrated tanks filled from keyed GI-23 bottles in cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red and gray. Canon quotes up to 3,800 4×6 color photos from a full set of replacement ink and states that borderless printing runs from 4×6 inches up to letter. A borderless 4×6 takes roughly 47 seconds according to retailer listings.

The trade-off is document handling. TechRadar notes there is no main paper cassette, no touchscreen and no automatic two-sided printing, and the stated document speed is only about 3.9 images per minute. If you print a ten-page form every week you will notice the slowness. If you print a handful of documents and a larger number of photos, the G620 is a very comfortable fit.

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550: Wide Format and Both Jobs

RTINGS calls the narrower ET-8500 the best home printer it has evaluated, because it combines solid document printing with excellent photo output. The ET-8550 is the 13-inch-wide version: it prints borderless up to 13×19 inches, and Epson lists six 70 ml 552-series bottles (black, photo black, cyan, magenta, yellow and gray) in the box. Reviewers report the starter ink is enough for roughly 2,300 4×6 photos. It prints at up to 16 ppm mono and 12 ppm color, has a 4.3-inch touchscreen, Ethernet, auto two-sided printing and CD/DVD tray printing.

It is the strongest single-machine answer to “photos and documents” but it has caveats: it is physically large, it has no automatic document feeder and it needs a maintenance box that eventually fills. For apartment desks, a smaller machine is usually more practical.

HP Smart Tank 7301: Documents With Color on the Side

HP lists the Smart Tank 7301 with a 35-page feeder, a 250-sheet input tray, automatic duplex printing, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and a duty cycle of 5,000 pages per month. The ink in the box is stated as up to 8,000 color or 6,000 black pages. Reviewers treat it as a sound home-office choice, and its feeder makes scanning bundles of paperwork easier than on the Epson or Canon photo models. Photo quality is acceptable for family prints but is not what you buy this machine for. HP also notes that part of the starter ink is used in setup, so expect somewhat less than the headline figure.

Brother DCP-L2640DW: The Document Specialist

If most of your printing is text, a laser all-in-one makes the most sense. The DCP-L2640DW is rated up to 36 ppm, has a 50-sheet feeder, automatic duplex, and the in-box starter toner is rated at 700 pages while replacement TN830XL toner is rated around 3,000 pages. It uses toner that does not dry out, so a machine that sits idle for weeks starts normally. For photos it is not a contender; pair it with a small photo device or order prints from a lab when you need them.

Running Cost and Maintenance

• Tank printers: The upfront price is higher than cartridge inkjets, but bottles cover thousands of pages and the cost per page is the lowest of any option here. Use the bottle yields printed by the maker as a planning guide, not a promise.
• Cartridge inkjets: Photos from a cartridge machine can be expensive per print, and reviewers warn that budget cartridge models can become costly if photos are a regular habit.
• Laser: Toner and a drum are separate consumables. Cost per page is low for text and there is no color option on the mono models above.
• Paper: Photo quality depends heavily on the paper. Use the maker’s own photo paper settings and keep unused sheets flat and sealed.

Setup and Compatibility Notes

• All of the tank models above support Wi-Fi printing from phones through each maker’s app; the ET-8550 and HP 7301 also have Ethernet.
• For Mac, iPhone and Chromebook users, check that the model supports driverless printing in the maker’s specification list before buying.
• Photo borderless printing and glossy paper settings are chosen in the print dialog, not on the printer. Pick the matching paper type each time.
• Photo-only printers need space, a stable desk and regular use; they do not scan or copy.

Pick X If… Decision Table

Alternatives Worth Considering

• Canon PIXMA G650: Trusted Reviews names it its best overall photo printer; it sits in the same family as the G620 and may add features aimed at document handling.
• Epson EcoTank ET-18100: A wide-format option that Trusted Reviews and TechRadar mention for larger photo output.
• A second small laser plus an online photo service: Often the cheapest way to get excellent photos and fast documents if photo volume is low.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is one printer really good enough for both photos and documents?

Yes, for most households. A tank all-in-one with pigment black ink and good photo paper handles text and snapshots well. People who print photos for sale or display often add a dedicated photo printer later.

Do I need a six-ink printer for family photos?

Not necessarily. Four-ink machines such as the ET-2980 give pleasing everyday prints. Six-ink machines mainly improve smoothness and neutral tones, which matters more for larger prints and enthusiasts.

What is the best all-in-one for printing photographs at home?

Reviewers most often cite the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500/ET-8550 and the Canon PIXMA G620/G650. The Epson is better for mixed work and bigger sizes, while the Canon prioritizes low cost per photo.

Can a printer scan old photographs?

Any flatbed all-in-one can scan prints at home. For fragile or very old photos, use the flatbed rather than a feeder and scan at a higher resolution setting listed in the scanning software.

Will ink dry out if I print photos only occasionally?

Tank printers are generally better than cartridge models at tolerating gaps, but all inkjets benefit from at least a short print every few weeks. Follow the maker’s manual for cleaning cycles, and avoid running them too often because they use ink.

Are third-party inks safe for photos?

Makers state that their own inks and papers are matched for color and longevity claims such as Canon’s ChromaLife100. Third-party inks may change color and are usually not covered by those claims or, in some cases, the warranty.