Printing at home can get quite expensive, especially when you figure in ink costs. Unless you're in need of a heavy-duty printer or you're concerned with getting the best picture quality possible, a budget option is generally a good idea. Unfortunately, there are a lot of cheap printers on the market that still aren't worth your money. We've rounded up the best of the best cheap printers that won't break the bank with both hardware and ink combined.
Printer, scanner, and copier
The HP Envy 5540 color laser printer will wirelessly print about 12 black-and-white pages per minute, plus it can scan and copy your documents. It has a large 125-sheet tray to cut down on reloading, and you should be able to find replacement ink kits with black and three colors for around $31.
Fax included
This wireless laser printer is the most expensive on this list, but it includes a fax feature (alongside print, scan, and copy) that will help round out your home office. A color touchscreen allows for easy control, and you can print about 22 black-and-white pages per minute. Third-party ink replacements for black and color can be had for about $29.
Save space
All-in-one laser printers generally take up a decent chunk of space, so if you're setting up in a small room, you might want to check out HP's DeskJet 3755. It prints up to 19 pages per minute, it can scan and copy, and it has a 60-page feeder tray. Full black and color ink replacements from HP cost about $29.
Great for photos
Those who need a home printer primarily for quality photos should check out the Selphy CP1300. It's compact, has a 3.2-inch color screen to preview prints, and it handles up to 4-inch by 6-inch page size. If you want to print on the go, an optional battery pack is available. Ink replacement cartridges are about $32 and will handle about 100 sheets.
Laser monochrome
Don't need to print color photos? Constantly changing the black ink in your inkjet printer? This monochrome laser printer from Brother will get the job done for far cheaper than some alternatives. It prints up to 32 pages per minute, it can duplex print, and it has a 250-sheet capacity for minimal maintenance. You can get some toner cartridge replacements for about $24.
Value all-in-one
Canon's TS9120 is the cheapest all-in-one (copy, print, and scan) on the list at $70, but it nevertheless delivers quality documents and photos. It has a 5-inch display for easy control, it spits out about 15 black-and-white pages per minute, and it can duplex print. Third-party ink replacements for black and color cost about $45.
If we're making some suggestions
Want to spend the least amount of money possible? Canon's TS9120 is a solid all-in-one that costs only about $70 with third-party full ink replacements for about $45. It will scan, print, and copy at a decent speed, and it handles USB or wireless connectivity. Those in more of an office setting no doubt want to focus on monochrome document printing, and in that case, Brother's HL-L2350DW is a great choice that should save you money in the long run thanks to cheap toner replacements and a high volume of printing per dollar.
