Best Inexpensive Printer Options for Home and Office Use in 2025

Printing’s still an everyday need for plenty of households and small offices, even with so much shifting to digital. Students have assignments, parents need hard copies of forms, and remote workers often end up printing contracts or reports. Sure, high-end printers come with flashy features, but honestly, most folks just want something that works and doesn’t cost a fortune.

Budget printers have come a long way—print quality has improved, and you get more bang for your buck these days. You can expect decent text, photo prints, and the basics like scanning and copying. Wireless and mobile printing? That’s become pretty standard, even for entry-level models. Many of these affordable options now offer all-in-one functionality and even some extras you might not expect at this price.

When picking a cheap printer, keep an eye on ink or toner costs—sometimes those sneak up and end up costing more than the printer itself. Think about what you actually need: color or just black and white? How much do you care about speed or paper capacity? And don’t forget about connection options if you want to print from your phone or tablet.

Best Inexpensive Printers

Here’s a rundown of top budget printers that manage to deliver reliable performance without draining your wallet. These models stand out for their print quality, value, and how well they fit into home or small office routines.

Epson Expression Home XP-4200

The Epson Expression Home XP-4200 packs all-in-one features into a wallet-friendly package, so it’s a decent pick for light home and photo printing.

Pros

• Individual ink cartridges mean you only swap out what you need
• Automatic duplex printing helps save paper
• Big color display and a solid app make setup less of a headache

Cons

• Print speeds are on the slow side for both color and black-and-white
• Warranty only covers you if you stick to Epson’s own cartridges
• Feels a bit flimsy—not ideal for heavy-duty use

This budget all-in-one printer hits the mark for households with lighter printing needs. Wireless works smoothly with both Android and iOS, and the app integration is handy.

Photo quality is actually impressive—borderless prints come out vibrant, with colors that pop more than you’d expect at this price range.

The heat-free Micro Piezo tech keeps energy use down and output steady. Voice activation with Alexa is a nice touch if you’re into hands-free gadgets.

Setup is pretty painless, thanks to the color display and step-by-step guidance. The included ScanSmart software is basic but gets the job done for document scanning and searchable PDFs.

HP ENVY 6055e

This renewed HP model brings solid value for families who just want simple printing, scanning, and copying—nothing fancy, but it works.

Pros

• Duplex printing saves paper automatically
• HP+ system keeps things updated and lets you print remotely
• All-in-one does the basics well enough

Cons

• Setup can be a bit of a headache—takes patience
• Control panel isn’t the most intuitive
• Wi-Fi can be finicky over time

The HP ENVY 6055e handles everyday printing and offers borderless photo prints. The HP+ Smart Printing System keeps the firmware fresh without you having to think about it.

Speeds top out at 10 ppm for black, 7 ppm for color—not blazing, but fine for home use. Duplex printing is a plus. Wi-Fi works throughout most homes, but setup can be a little frustrating if your network is stubborn.

Some users run into snags getting it online at first, and the control panel could be friendlier. Still, once it’s up and running, it stays pretty consistent.

This renewed unit comes with setup cartridges in the box. The 100-sheet tray is enough for most home needs. Print quality’s decent for documents and photos, as long as you use the right paper.

HP LaserJet M209dw

The HP LaserJet M209dw is a straightforward pick if you just need fast, reliable black-and-white prints for a small office or work-from-home setup.

Pros

• Speeds up to 30 ppm for single-sided jobs—pretty quick
• Dual-band Wi-Fi with self-reset keeps connections steady
• Mobile printing through HP Smart app is genuinely useful

Cons

• No color printing—black and white only
• Paper tray is on the small side for heavy-duty needs
• Some toner issues reported after a few hundred pages

This mono laser printer is all about efficiency—quick, pro-looking prints, and automatic duplexing that doesn’t slow things down too much (about 19 ppm for two-sided).

Setup is simple with the HP Smart app. Dual-band Wi-Fi is stable, and the self-reset feature helps avoid annoying dropouts.

Printing from your phone or tablet is a breeze, and you can scan straight to cloud services like Dropbox or Google Drive.

It’s compact—won’t eat up your entire desk. Feels sturdy, and the 150-sheet tray is fine for most small offices.

Output quality is what you’d expect from a laser at this price: sharp, but not exactly “wow.” Still, for everyday docs, it gets the job done.

Toner costs are reasonable, and the starter cartridge gives you about 700 pages. If you print a lot, that’s something to factor in.

Canon G3270 MegaTank Printer

The Canon G3270 MegaTank is a solid pick for anyone tired of shelling out for pricey ink—it’s a wireless all-in-one with impressively low running costs.

Pros

• Huge ink reservoirs—thousands of pages before you need a refill
• Wireless works smoothly with phones and computers
• Comes with enough ink for up to two years of typical home printing

Cons

• No automatic duplexing (you’ll have to flip pages yourself)
• Print speeds are just okay—about 11 ppm for black
• Setup can be messy if you’re not careful with the ink bottles

The G3270 fixes the classic budget printer gripe: expensive cartridges. Canon’s MegaTank uses refillable bottles, so your cost per page drops way down. One set should last for roughly 6,000 black or 7,700 color pages.

Wireless setup is pretty painless via the small LCD. Once it’s on your network, mobile printing is reliable. Text and photo prints both look sharp, though color jobs take a bit longer.

You’ll pay a bit more upfront, but the included ink lasts ages. Not having to stress about running out of ink mid-project? That’s a relief.

The Canon G3270 all-in-one wireless inkjet printer handles scanning and copying through its flatbed. The 100-sheet tray fits standard and legal paper. Build quality doesn’t feel cheap, even though the price is low.

Brother MFC-J4335DW INKvestment Tank

The Brother MFC-J4335DW brings a ton of value with its clever ink tank setup and a solid mix of features that feel spot-on for home offices trying to save a buck.

Pros

• Includes up to one year of ink supply directly in the box
• Combines print, copy, scan, and fax functions in one compact device
• Internal ink tank eliminates messy manual refills

Cons

• Setup process can be time-consuming and complex
• Print quality may deteriorate over extended use
• Wireless connectivity setup requires technical knowledge

Brother’s INKvestment Tank system is a pretty smart move for affordable printing. The built-in reservoir works with front-loading cartridges, keeping ink flowing so you don’t have to mess with it.

This all-in-one gets through tasks fast with its 20-page automatic document feeder and duplex printing. The 150-sheet tray takes both letter and legal, which is handy if you switch paper sizes a lot.

Wireless printing is here, of course—just fire off jobs from your phone, tablet, or laptop using the Brother Mobile Connect App. You can even print straight from cloud storage, which saves a step or two.

The 1.8-inch color display isn’t huge, but it’s enough for getting around menus and tweaking settings. Home office users seem to really like the balance of features and price point here.

Alexa integration is a nice touch, offering things like low-ink alerts and automatic reordering if you’re into that. Print speeds are solid—20 ppm for black and white, 19 ppm for color—nothing to complain about there.

Buying Guide

Print Technology

Inkjet printers are cheaper upfront, but the ongoing ink costs can sting. Laser printers cost more at first, but you’ll usually pay less per page in the long run.

Color inkjets are better for photos and graphics. If you mostly print text or do a lot of volume, monochrome laser models are tough to beat.

Print Volume and Speed

Think about how much you’ll print each month. Light use? Maybe 500-1000 pages. Moderate? Somewhere between 1000-3000.

Print speeds are all over the place. Basic inkjets do 5-10 ppm, while even entry-level lasers can hit 15-25 ppm.

Connectivity Options

USB connection is the old reliable—plug it in and go. Wi-Fi connectivity lets you print from anywhere in your space, no cables needed.

Mobile printing is a must for a lot of folks, so check for app support. Some printers also have Ethernet ports if you want a wired network connection.

Paper Handling

Most trays hold 100-250 sheets. If you print a lot, a bigger tray means less time refilling.

Automatic duplex printing is a lifesaver for double-sided jobs. Manual duplex? You’ll be flipping pages yourself—kind of a pain.

Running Costs

Printer Type	Initial Cost	Ink/Toner Cost	Best For
Inkjet	Lower	Higher	Photos, Color
Laser	Higher	Lower	Text, Volume

To figure out real costs, divide the cartridge price by its page yield. That’s your cost per page, and it matters more than sticker price.

Essential Features

Automatic document feeders are a must if you scan multipage docs. Print quality settings help you tweak for speed or better output—depends what matters more to you.

Check cartridge availability and whether you can use third-party options. Some brands lock you in, which gets expensive fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re watching your budget, you’re probably wondering which printers are actually worth it, how much they’ll cost to keep running, and what kind of headaches they might bring. Here’s what most people want to know about affordable, dependable printers.

What are the top-rated budget printers for home use?

The Canon PIXMA TS3522 is a standout under $50. It’s wireless and the print quality is fine for basic stuff.

The HP DeskJet 2755e is about $60 and does a solid job. It’s an all-in-one, so you get scanning and copying, plus HP+ features if you care about that.

Brother DCP-L2350DW is a great pick if you mostly print text. It’s around $130, but you get fast speeds and crisp output from the laser engine.

Which printers offer the lowest cost per page for ink or toner?

Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is hard to beat for low color printing costs—about 1.4 cents per page. The refillable tanks mean you’re not buying cartridges all the time.

Brother’s HL-L2350DW laser does black and white for roughly 2.8 cents a page. If you go with high-yield toner, it’s even cheaper.

Canon PIXMA G3260 is also a good value at around 2.2 cents per color page, thanks to the MegaTank design that holds way more ink.

How do Epson EcoTank printers compare to other inexpensive models?

EcoTanks cost more upfront, but you’ll save a lot over time. The ET-2720 is about $200, compared to $50 for a basic inkjet.

Refill bottles are $13 and last for thousands of pages. Regular cartridges are $15-30 and don’t last nearly as long.

They’re not the fastest printers out there, but if you print a lot, the savings add up. If you only print now and then, it’s probably not worth it.

What are the best all-in-one printers for consumers on a budget?

The HP DeskJet 2755e is under $70 and covers printing, scanning, and copying. Mobile printing and an auto document feeder are included.

Canon PIXMA TS3522 is compact, wireless, and about $50. The scanner lid is roomy enough for books or thick stuff.

Brother DCP-L2350DW brings laser speed and scan/copy for around $130. Handles bigger jobs better than most cheap inkjets.

Can you recommend a reliable printer with low maintenance costs?

Brother lasers, like the HL-L2350DW, are pretty much set-and-forget outside of toner changes. They don’t need much cleaning and are built to last.

Epson EcoTanks skip the whole cartridge mess and rarely clog. You’ll need to clean the tanks once in a while, but it’s not a big deal.

Canon PIXMA models do auto maintenance to keep print heads clear. If there’s an issue, you can run a nozzle clean from the software.

What should I look for when choosing an affordable printer for domestic use?

Think about how much you’ll actually print—if you’re running off stacks of documents, laser printers are usually the way to go. They just chew through pages faster and don’t need ink swaps as often.

Don’t get too distracted by the sticker price. If you print a lot, what really eats your wallet is the ongoing cost per page—those ink or toner refills can add up, sometimes faster than you expect.

It’s hard to beat the convenience of wireless printing these days. Wi-Fi, mobile printing—most cheap printers toss these in now, so you can print from your phone or laptop without a headache.

And let’s be honest, not everyone has room for a clunky machine. If you’re tight on space, something compact like the Canon PIXMA TS3522 can squeeze in without taking over your desk.