A good budget printer is the quiet workhorse of a home office. It needs to connect to your phone or laptop without a wrestling match, scan the occasional form, and produce clean text and photos without draining your wallet on ink. For most households, an all-in-one wireless inkjet hits the sweet spot of versatility and affordability, covering printing, scanning, and copying in a single compact box.
When shopping on a budget, the printer itself is only half the equation. Pay close attention to ink efficiency, replacement cartridge availability, and whether the model supports features you will actually use, such as automatic two-sided printing or an automatic document feeder. A slightly more capable machine often pays for itself in convenience and long-term ink savings, so match the printer to your real-world habits rather than chasing the lowest sticker.
HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, Best-for-home, 3 month Instant Ink trial included. This printer is only 2.4 ghz capable. (588S5A)
The HP DeskJet 2855e is a compact wireless all-in-one that prints, scans, and copies in color, making it the most well-rounded pick for everyday home use. Its small footprint and simple setup make it ideal for shoppers who want reliable basics without complexity.
- The DeskJet 2855e is perfect for homes printing to-do lists, letters, financial documents and recipes. Print speeds up to 5.5 ppm color, 7.5 ppm black
- PERFECTLY FORMATTED PRINTS WITH HP AI - Print web pages and emails with precision-no wasted pages or awkward layouts; HP AI easily removes unwanted content, so your prints are just the way you want
- KEY FEATURES - Color printing, copy, scan, and a 60-sheet input tray
- WIRELESS PRINTING - Stay connected with our most reliable Wii-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues.This printer is only 2.4 ghz capable.
Canon PIXMA TS4320 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer for Duplex Printing, White - Home Printer with Copier/Scanner, Compact Design, Easy Setup, 1 Year Limited Warranty
The Canon PIXMA TS4320 adds automatic duplex printing to a wireless color all-in-one, helping you cut paper use on reports and documents. It delivers solid everyday performance and meaningful productivity features for a low outlay.
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer Duplex Printing, White - Home Printer with Copier/Scanner, 1.42” OLED Display, Intuitive Control Panel, Compact Design
The Canon PIXMA TS6520 steps up with duplex printing and stronger color output in a clean white design built for the home. It is the choice for users who want better photo and document quality while staying in budget territory.
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
Brother Work Smart 1360 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer with Automatic Duplex Printing and 1.8” Color Display | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1) (MFC-J1360DW) (Uses LC501 Series Inks)
The Brother Work Smart 1360 is a wireless color inkjet all-in-one with an automatic document feeder for fast multi-page scanning and copying. It is a dependable option for home offices that handle frequent paperwork.
- BEST FOR HOME AND HOME OFFICE: Get all your work done with an all-in-one multifunction printer. Print, copy, and scan on one compact printer for home use and home offices. Brother inkjet printers produce beautiful prints for results that stand out.
- EASY TO USE WITH CLOUD APP CONNECTIONS: Print from and scan to popular Cloud apps(2), including Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, and more from the simple-to-use 1.8” color display on your printer.
- PRODUCTIVITY-FOCUSED PRINTING FEATURES: This printer includes automatic duplex (2-sided) printing, a 20-sheet single-sided Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)(3), and a 150-sheet paper tray(3). Engineered to print at fast speeds of up to 16 pages per minute (ppm) in black and up to 9 ppm in color(4).
- MULTIPLE CONNECTION OPTIONS: Connect your way. Interface with your printer on your wireless network or via USB.
Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Home Use with Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Printing and Built-in Fax, Black
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 packs wireless printing and an automatic document feeder into an affordable home-use all-in-one. It covers printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, making it a versatile pick for the lowest cost in this lineup.
- Wireless 4-in-1 (print | copy | scan | fax)..Power Consumption: 7W (0.8W Standby / 0.3W Off)
- 8.8 / 4.4 ipm print speed.
- Designed for easy ink cartridge installation and replacement.
- Auto 2-sided printing and auto document feeder.
Key buying factors
The cheapest printer can become the most expensive once you start replacing cartridges. Look at page yield and whether high-capacity (XL) cartridges are available, and consider models that accept individual color tanks so you only replace the color that runs dry.
Modern budget printers should connect over Wi-Fi and support mobile printing from phones and tablets. Confirm compatibility with AirPrint, Mopria, or the manufacturer app, and note that many inexpensive models only join 2.4 GHz networks rather than 5 GHz.
An all-in-one adds a scanner and copier for minimal extra cost and saves desk space. For most homes this is the smarter buy, but if you genuinely only print, a single-function model can run cleaner and cheaper to maintain.
An ADF lets you scan or copy multi-page documents without lifting the lid for each sheet. It is a major time-saver for anyone handling paperwork, contracts, or tax forms, and it is increasingly common even on affordable models.
Automatic duplexing cuts paper use roughly in half and gives reports and documents a more professional finish. Cheaper printers often force manual page-flipping, so confirm auto-duplex is included if you print frequently.
Inkjets generally win on color and photo output, which suits home users printing schoolwork, photos, and forms. Check rated pages-per-minute for black text if you print in volume, since budget models trade speed for a lower price.
Types explained
Small-footprint printers that combine printing, scanning, and copying in one unit. They prioritize space savings and simplicity over speed or high-volume features.
Best for: Apartments, dorms, and light home use where occasional printing and scanning is the norm.Mid-tier all-in-ones that add automatic two-sided printing and often a larger paper tray. They strike a balance between affordability and everyday productivity.
Best for: Students and home offices that print documents and reports regularly and want to save paper.Printers with an automatic document feeder on top for hands-free multi-page scanning, copying, and faxing. They handle paperwork far faster than flatbed-only models.
Best for: Remote workers and anyone who routinely scans contracts, forms, or stacks of documents.Color inkjets tuned for richer photo output, sometimes with extra ink tanks for finer gradients. They deliver noticeably better images than entry-level units while staying budget-friendly.
Best for: Families and hobbyists who print photos, crafts, and color projects alongside everyday documents.Care & usage tips
Use the manufacturer app during initial setup and keep the printer close to your router for the first connection. Most budget models need a 2.4 GHz network, so if pairing fails, check that your phone is not locked onto a 5 GHz band.
Inkjet print heads can dry out and clog if the printer sits unused for weeks. Run a quick test or color page every week or two, and use the built-in head-cleaning utility before assuming a cartridge has failed.
Install genuine or quality cartridges and avoid letting them sit exposed to air. Store paper flat in a dry spot, fan the stack before loading, and never overfill the tray, which is a common cause of misfeeds and jams.
The real cost of a budget printer is hidden in the cartridge, not the chassis. Two printers can sit at a similar price, yet one quietly costs far more per page because it uses a combined tri-color cartridge that forces a full replacement when a single color runs out. Choosing a model with individual ink tanks or available XL cartridges often saves more over a year than any feature on the box.
Before buying, download the manufacturer's app and confirm your home network is broadcasting on 2.4 GHz, since most affordable inkjets refuse to join 5 GHz-only Wi-Fi and setup headaches almost always trace back to this.
Frequently asked questions
Are inkjet or laser printers better for a budget home setup?+
Inkjets are usually the better budget choice for homes because they cost less upfront, print color and photos well, and suit low to moderate volume. Lasers make more sense if you print large amounts of black text and rarely need color.
Do budget printers work with both iPhone and Android?+
Yes. Most modern budget all-in-ones support AirPrint for iPhone and iPad and Mopria for Android, in addition to the manufacturer's own app, so you can print directly from your phone over Wi-Fi.
What is the difference between an all-in-one and a regular printer?+
An all-in-one combines a printer, scanner, and copier (and sometimes a fax) in a single device, while a regular printer only prints. For most homes the all-in-one is worth it because the added functions cost little extra and save space.
How important is an automatic document feeder?+
An ADF matters a lot if you regularly scan or copy multi-page documents, since it feeds pages automatically instead of one at a time on the flatbed. If you only scan single sheets occasionally, you can skip it and save money.
How do I keep ink costs low on a cheap printer?+
Choose a model that supports high-capacity XL cartridges or individual color tanks, print in draft mode for everyday documents, and print at least every week or two to prevent clogs that waste ink during cleaning cycles.