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A printer is useful for churning out pages upon pages of a college class essay, scanning receipts, creating graphics for a scrapbook, or making copies of a business contract. Even if your printing needs are limited, many printers today can do more than just print, and they are relatively compact and operate wirelessly, so they can be tucked away in a closet or cabinet.
And don't let a small budget hold you back: For a low price, you can get a high-quality printer that produces crisp text and colorful photos. You'll also find that many affordable printers are multifunction units that can scan, copy, and even fax, and include useful features like an automatic document feeder, auto-duplexing (two-sided), and wireless connectivity. With these extras, a printer is a great tool for digitizing hard-copy documents, even if you never print a single page.
Budget models tend to use inkjet technology, but there are also a few good laser options. Affordable laser printers are generally barebones and print in only black and white, but our recommendation is fast and reliable, and makes great-quality prints.
Do keep in mind that while these printers aren't expensive to buy, they can be expensive to maintain, particularly inkjet models. This is the case if you print often, or you make a lot of high-quality color prints like photos or scrapbook printables. Heavy-duty users should look at the cost of ink replacement and the page yields before investing in a unit. Also, while we tried to pick products from reliable brands, printers are mechanical — with many moving parts, they can fail.
Many of our recommendations aren't the latest models, however, they are still in their respective manufacturers' lineups and perform just as well as newer options. In fact, while printer makers often announce new models each year, they usually aren't too different from previous years' printers.
As a tech journalist who has covered printers and other computing peripherals for nearly 15 years, I have tested a variety of models, from single-function inkjet devices to wide-format photo printers and high-end, multifunction laser units. Considering pricing, features, ease of use, and reliability, these are the best budget printers.
Here are the best budget printers you can buy:
Best overall: Canon Pixma TR4520 - See at Amazon
With its low price, plenty of functions and features, and great print quality, the Canon Pixma TR4520 is the best choice for any budget-conscious home or small office.
Best for photos: Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 - See at Amazon
The Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 is a great multifunction printer that's adept at printing beautiful photos.
Best compact: HP DeskJet 3755 - See at Amazon
HP's DeskJet 3755 packs several functions into a compact printer that's highly portable and great looking.
Best laser printer: Brother HLL2320D - See at Best Buy
The Brother HLL2320D is a low-cost monochrome laser printer for anyone who needs to output a lot of documents quickly.
Best color laser alternative: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3730 - See at Amazon
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3730 offers fast, laser-quality prints, and it has a large-capacity paper tray.