Best Home Printers: Top 5 Devices Most Recommended By Experts

Working from home doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice equipment quality. A printer is a key item for any home office. Ideal for both remote workers and students, the best home printers make it easy to print out documents, photos and presentations. 

Having the right home office equipment is an essential part of staying productive while accomplishing tasks. Productivity may also depend on what day of the week it is too. According to a recent survey, Monday is the most productive day of the week (28%), especially among introverts (39%).

Since the pandemic, many employees are on a hybrid schedule— splitting time between a home office and a company office during the work week. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of hybrid workers polled think their communication skills have improved, including more introverts than extroverts (82% vs. 62%).

Video seems to have played an integral role in streamlining co-worker interactions, as well as improving productivity. Eight in 10 people who turn on their video while working (1,722 respondents) say meetings feel more productive when everyone else does, as well. Many respondents also think they’re better able to interact with co-workers when they can share documents, images, and videos during a meeting in real time (66%) and see everyone who’s in a meeting (58%).

So if you’re considering a home office equipment overhaul, StudyFinds is here to help. With so many available options, you may be unsure which home printer will fit your printing needs best. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top brands from ten expert websites, to find the best home printers. As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the comments below!

Printer in a home office
Printer in a home office (Photo by Evelyn Geissler)

The List: Best Home Printers, According to Experts

 

1. HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e

This compact all-in-one printer from HP is a reviewer favorite. PCMag calls it the best for everyday use, noting the “text output that is near laser quality, and it’s both faster and has a higher duty cycle than most of its competitors.”

HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e
HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e

“The HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e remains one of the easiest printers to set up. It quickly prints crisp text documents and glossy photos at an affordable cost of 2.4¢ per page in black or 8.8¢ per page in color with its high-yield cartridges,” according to The New York Times. HP also offers a subscription Instant Ink program that can further reduce printing costs.

Forbes adds, it’s “a superb home printer that combines stylish looks with fast, high-quality printing. In a perfect world, it would support a second paper source and do better at printing photos, but otherwise it’s easy to recommend as a standout in a sea of printer choices.”

2. Epson Workforce Pro WF-4820

Another great printer option is this model from Epson. TechRadar suggests, “it can print faster than some laser printers in its fastest monochrome mode, but being an inkjet, it can also print decent quality photos onto glossy paper.”

Epson Workforce Pro WF-4820
Epson Workforce Pro WF-4820

Tech Junkie notes, “it can print 12 color/25 black ISO pages per minute. The Workforce Pro WF-4820 can print documents and photos with a maximum size of 8.5 x 14 inches, and you can save time with its auto 2-sided printing feature. It has a 35-page automatic document feeder and a 250-sheet paper capacity.” 

A possible drawback? Tech Gear Lab points out, “the most pressing issue with the WF-4820 comes from a recent update that only allows Epson ink cartridges. These cartridges are more cost-effective when printing documents with color photos and text but not when printing large volumes of solely black-and-white text.”

3. Brother MFC-J4335DW

The New York Times lists this printer as its budget pick, noting “if you don’t print often, or if you need a basic color printer that can also scan, this inkjet printer is a relatively inexpensive model that gets a variety of print jobs done.”

Brother MFC-J4335DW
Brother MFC-J4335DW

“Thanks to its hybrid ink tank/cartridge system, a single set of four ink cartridges can last up to a full year. Brother’s INKvestment high-yield ink cartridges output up to 6,000 (black) or 5,000 (color) pages per refill, much more than you’d get with a standard cartridge design,” according to Forbes.

PCMag suggests, “you won’t use its fax capability often, but you never know when you might need it, and its competent paper handling joins its more-than-adequate text and better-than-adequate graphics quality.” One potential downside? This printer’s automatic document feeder doesn’t handle double-sided pages.

4. Canon PIXMA TR8620a

Here’s a wireless inkjet Canon printer that scores high marks for versatility. It features “a big 4.3-inch color touchscreen makes it easy to control, and the printer supports smart home integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant,” according to Tom’s Guide

Canon PIXMA TR8620a
Canon PIXMA TR8620a

The Spruce adds “this all-in-one model offers excellent print quality, impressive print speeds, an automatic document feeder and flatbed scanner, and two paper trays so you can load up two different kinds of paper at once. It’s also rated for a 1,000 page per month duty cycle, which is great for most home office settings.”

“The Canon PIXMA TR8620a is a good alternative to the Brother MFC-J4335DW to print photos. It produces more colorful pictures with less grain but doesn’t yield as many pages, so you’ll have to pay more for ink,” notes RTINGS.com.

5. Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850    

Rounding out our top five, is the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850. It features cartridge-free printing by utilizing refillable ink tanks. This printer is ideal if you’re printing in high volumes. “With capacity to handle up to 3,300 pages per month, the ET-5850 will be able to service all but the most demanding of offices,” suggests SlashGear.

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850    
Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850

Tom’s Guide points out, “the Epson ET-5850 delivered some of the fastest printing we’ve seen, and produced crisp, clear text that nearly rivals laser printer quality. That same quick, high-quality performance was also seen in copying and scanning, making it the printer of choice for offices that need a full featured multifunction printer.”

“The printer comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, but it lacks Bluetooth. Along with the printer, you get two free bottles of 542 black ink and complimentary bottles of 542 Yellow, Magenta, and Cyan,” according to Tech Junkie. Keep in mind, this printer is the most expensive on our list. So consider it to be a splurge purchase.

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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.  

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About the Author

Melissa Kraus

Melissa is a freelance writer, based out of New Jersey. She has over two-decades of writing, editing, and producing experience for Radio, TV, and Digital Media.

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