A compact multifunction printer handles printing, scanning, and copying in a single unit small enough to fit on a corner of a desk or a shelf. For home offices, small businesses, and students, an all-in-one printer eliminates the need for separate devices while keeping the workspace manageable. The five picks below cover inkjet and laser options across a range of budgets, with a focus on footprint size, ink or toner running costs, and wireless connectivity that works reliably in a typical home setup.
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA TR4720 | Budget home printing | 4.5/5 |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e | Home office productivity | 4.6/5 |
| Brother MFC-L2750DW | Laser black-and-white | 4.7/5 |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2800 | Low running costs | 4.6/5 |
| Canon PIXMA TR8620a | Photo + document combo | 4.6/5 |
Canon PIXMA TR4720 - Best Budget Home Printer
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is the most affordable fully capable multifunction printer on this list at. It prints, scans, copies, and faxes, with wireless connectivity and support for Apple AirPrint and the Canon Print app for smartphone printing. The footprint is under 14 inches wide, making it one of the most genuinely compact options available. Print speeds reach 8.8 pages per minute for black-and-white documents. Photo printing quality is solid for casual and school use. The cartridge-based ink system has moderate running costs, but replacement cartridges are widely available and often discounted. For households that print occasionally and want reliable wireless printing without spending more thancurrent pricing on the device itself, the TR4720 is the practical starting point.
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HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e - Best for Home Office Productivity
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e is designed for home office users who print regularly and want faster speeds and smarter features than a basic consumer inkjet. Print speeds reach 22 pages per minute for black documents, and the automatic two-sided printing (duplex) is standard. The 35-sheet automatic document feeder makes multi-page scanning and copying practical without manually feeding pages. HP+ subscription ink service (Instant Ink) reduces per-page costs for high-volume users. The 2.7-inch color touch screen simplifies direct operation. Wireless and Ethernet connectivity plus USB complete the connection options. At the 9015e costs more than budget options but saves time and ink costs for users who print more than a few pages per week regularly.
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Brother MFC-L2750DW - Best Laser Multifunction Printer
For offices focused on black-and-white document printing at high volume, the Brother MFC-L2750DW is the most practical compact laser multifunction printer. Print speeds reach 36 pages per minute, and the 50-sheet automatic document feeder handles stack scanning efficiently. Duplex printing and scanning are both automatic. The toner cartridge yields up to 3,000 pages on a standard cartridge and up to 8,000 on a high-yield replacement, keeping per-page costs well below inkjet alternatives. Wireless, Ethernet, and USB connectivity are all included. The compact body occupies a 16-inch by 16-inch footprint. At the upfront cost is higher than entry inkjet models, but the lower per-page running cost makes it more economical for anyone printing more than 200 pages per month.
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Epson EcoTank ET-2800 - Best for Low Running Costs
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 eliminates cartridges entirely in favor of refillable ink tanks that come pre-filled with enough ink for up to 4,500 black pages and 7,500 color pages. This dramatically reduces the ongoing cost of printing compared to cartridge-based systems. The compact body is under 15 inches wide and the printer supports wireless printing from smartphones and computers. Print quality for both documents and casual photos is strong, and the wireless setup is straightforward. Ink bottle refills cost per set and last thousands of pages. At upfront the initial cost is higher than a basic cartridge printer, but for households that print regularly over a multi-year period, the EcoTank system typically pays for itself within the first year of use.
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Canon PIXMA TR8620a - Best for Photos and Documents
The Canon PIXMA TR8620a bridges the gap between photo printer and document workhorse better than most compact multifunction printers. Six individual ink tanks produce lab-quality photo prints up to 4x6 inches without a color cast or banding. Document print speeds are solid at 15 pages per minute for black-and-white output. The 35-sheet automatic document feeder and auto-duplex printing cover office tasks efficiently. Wireless, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and USB connections are all included. A 3-inch touch screen makes direct navigation simple. At the TR8620a is the best pick for users who want a single compact printer that handles birthday photos, school projects, and office documents with equal competence and without needing a separate photo printer.
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How to Choose a Compact Multifunction Printer
Start with print volume. Users printing under 100 pages per month can use any printer on this list economically. Heavy users printing over 300 pages monthly should prioritize a laser printer like the Brother MFC-L2750DW or an EcoTank model to keep running costs manageable. For photo printing, inkjet technology outperforms laser. For documents only, laser is faster and cheaper per page. Check the automatic document feeder capacity if you scan or copy multi-page documents regularly. Wireless connectivity is essential for most households. Duplex (two-sided) printing saves paper and is worth prioritizing in any model above the entry price tier. Confirm the printer supports your phone’s operating system for mobile printing before purchasing.
For more home office essentials, see our guide to best compact all-in-one color laser printers and best desk organizers for small spaces. For how we evaluate products, visit our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose an inkjet or laser compact multifunction printer?+
For home offices that print documents and photos, an inkjet multifunction printer is usually the better choice because it handles color and photo printing well and costs less upfront. For offices that print high volumes of black-and-white documents, a laser multifunction printer has lower per-page costs and faster output. Laser printers also avoid the ink-drying issues that affect inkjet models that sit unused for weeks.
Do compact multifunction printers work without a computer?+
Most modern compact multifunction printers connect directly to a Wi-Fi network and support printing from smartphones and tablets via Apple AirPrint, Google Print, or manufacturer apps. Many also have USB ports for direct printing from a flash drive. Scanning to a device usually requires a connected computer or mobile app, but some models can scan directly to email or cloud storage without a computer involved.