What Kind of Printer Should I Buy?

The right printer for you depends on your typical use case. Some printers are better than others for photographs versus monochrome text. A subcategory of models, dubbed “multifunction” or “all-in-one” printers, can also scan, copy, and fax. Typically, more supported features mean a higher up-front price.

In a nutshell, monochrome lasers are generally better for users who print mostly multipage text documents, with the occasional noncritical graphic inline. (You tend to save on the cost per page with mono lasers versus an equivalent inkjet for this kind of printing.) In most cases, color lasers tend to be economical only for businesses that need bulk printing with spot color in graphics, due to the cost of their four separate color toner cartridges.

As for inkjets, almost all inkjets are color models nowadays. With inkjets, low-cost cartridge-based models tend to have a high cost per page but can be adequate for homes that print just a handful of pages per month. Heavier-printing homes that need the color an inkjet affords might want to weigh the advantages of a bulk-ink tank-based inkjet. Look for models like those in Epson’s EcoTank or Canon’s MegaTank series.

Why Are Laser Printers More Expensive Than Inkjets?

It’s not quite that simple; there are cheap lasers and expensive inkjets, after all. It’s true that, in general, you get more overall functionality at a given price with an inkjet versus a laser. But if you print in high volume, the cost per page of a laser printer often ends up being less than that of an inkjet, saving you money in the long run.

That said, color lasers and their four required toner cartridges can be costly to maintain if you don’t print in volume. We recommend inexpensive monochrome lasers for folks who print lots of text documents, and color lasers only for businesses that need bulk printing, occasional color, and smear-proof output for things like newsletters, proofs, and internal communications. You can check our total cost of ownership guide to decide what’s right for you.

How Do We Test Printers?

When testing printers, our experts assemble multiple sets of document collections to print, depending on the printer model. One is a business suite that includes documents created in and printed from Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Some contain only text, while others include embedded charts and photos. We look here at both print speeds and quality, as well as font legibility at various sizes.

Another set of test files is a photo suite comprising 300dpi-resolution photographs in two sizes: 4 by 6 inches and 8 by 10 inches. We use 10 photos in total: nine color and one monochrome. The color images are chosen to include skin tones, a wide range of shading from dark to light, and “memory colors” (real-world colors people tend to remember), such as sky blue. When testing photo printing, we use the paper the vendor recommends; if there is no recommendation, we instead use a high-quality plain paper for lasers or a generic photo paper for inkjets. Photos are printed at the highest quality available without using custom or advanced settings. With photo output, we are looking here mostly at print quality, as opposed to speed.

For more on our rigorous, objective testing process, see our How We Test Printers explainer.

When Do Laser and All-In-One Printers See the Biggest Discounts?

Most categories of printers, along with most other personal tech devices, typically see the biggest discounts on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day. We’ve seen discounts on top-rated printers from Brother, Canon, HP, Epson, and many other manufacturers go higher than 50% on these blockbuster sales days.

Are There Ink Subscription Deals for Printers?

Whether you print a lot or a little, it pays to explore bulk-ink and subscription programs. HP, Brother, and Canon all offer ink subscription programs with several monthly levels of allotted pages, which can translate to considerable savings on ink costs. They can be especially advantageous if you print mostly in color.

All three companies plus Epson also offer printers with ink you can buy in volume, while Epson and HP have what amounts to rent-a-printer plans: Epson’s ReadyPrint and HP’s All-In Plan. These let you choose one of several specific printers as part of the plan with no up-front purchase price. Epson’s version even includes unlimited ink in the monthly fee. HP’s plan works like its ink subscription plan, with multiple pricing tiers, based on how many printed pages the plan covers per month.

For more, check out our complete guide to ink subscription plans.

Where Can I Find the Biggest Discounts on All-In-One Printers?

Check out our complete guide to all-in-one (AIO) printers. In it, we outline the best home and office AIO printers we’ve tested. Along with the pros, cons, and specs of each model, you’ll find buying links with up-to-the-minute pricing from various retailers. Rest assured that you’ll always find the biggest discount.