You don't need to spend a lot to get a capable printer, but the cheapest model isn't always the best value. Some low-cost printers have poor page yields and expensive replacement cartridges, making them more costly over time. Our picks focus on models with low regular prices rather than temporary discounts, while also considering long-term running costs.
When choosing a budget printer, consider:
- Upfront price: We prioritize printers with a low MSRP, so they remain affordable even when they aren't on sale.
- Ink or toner costs: Cheap printers can become expensive if their cartridges run out quickly. We test page yields and cost per print to help you understand long-term value.
- What you print: For documents, prioritize sharp text and reasonable print speeds. For photos and graphics, look for good color accuracy and detail.
- How often you print: Inkjet printers are usually cheaper upfront, but they can clog when left unused. Laser printers are a better option for occasional document printing.
- Features: Depending on your needs, consider scanning, automatic duplex printing, mobile printing, and an automatic document feeder.
Below are our recommendations for the best budget printers you can buy. If you have more to spend upfront but still want to consider recurring costs, you can check out our recommendations for the best printers with cheap ink. Or, if you want to read up on printers with different features and for other uses, look at the best wireless printers and the best black-and-white printers.
We've tested over 170 printers since 2020 with one goal in mind: to give you reliable, unbiased reviews that help you choose the right printer for your needs. To keep things fair, we purchase every product ourselves from major retailers, just like you would. Each printer then goes through a thorough, standardized testing process that evaluates all the key factors you should consider when buying a new model. From build quality and cost per print to color accuracy and overall performance, we provide as much detail as possible to guide your decision.
Want to learn more about our methods? Look at our How We Test Printers article for a deep dive into our testing procedures.
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Best Budget Laser Printer
HomeSet-And-ForgetSmall OfficeArts, Crafts, & StickersPhoto PrintingTypePrinter OnlySuperTankNoColorNoPrint TechnologyLaserSee all our test resultsWirelessYesIf you only need to print black-and-white documents or occasional return labels, get the Brother HL-L2460DW, which is the best budget printer we've tested, especially if you're looking for a laser model. This print-only unit produces detailed documents and prints quickly at up to 34 pages per minute. It supports automatic double-sided printing, and its 250-sheet paper tray reduces the frequency of paper reloads. USB, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connectivity make it easy to connect to a computer or share across your home network. Since it's a laser printer, you don't have to worry about clogged printheads during periods of inactivity.
A standard replacement toner cartridge yields around 1,300 pages in our testing. Higher-yield options are also available: Brother rates the TN830XL at 3,000 pages and the TN830V at 3,300 pages. The drum needs replacing separately, adding to maintenance costs, though Brother estimates it lasts around 15,000 prints. The main drawback is the lack of a scanner, so you'll need another device for scanning and copying. For occasional paperwork, your phone's document-scanning feature may be sufficient.
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Best Budget Inkjet Printer
HomeSet-And-ForgetSmall OfficeArts, Crafts, & StickersPhoto PrintingTypeAll-In-OneSuperTankNoColorYesPrint TechnologyInkjetSee all our test resultsWirelessYesIf you want color printing and scanning at a lower price than the Brother HL-L2460DW above, consider the Brother MFC-J1360DW. This inkjet all-in-one produces sharp text, detailed graphics, and photos suitable for casual snapshots. The tradeoffs are slower printing and much lower page yields, and unlike the laser model, it can clog if left unused for too long. You still get automatic double-sided printing, plus an automatic document feeder for scanning multi-page paperwork. It scans around seven pages per minute and captures fine detail well.
Where it falls short, like most budget printers, is page yield. You'll get around 430 black-and-white and 300 color pages before you need to swap the cartridges, though it's still a good result for a printer in this price segment, and opting for high-yield cartridges roughly doubles that. If you need even more from it, Brother sells the MFC-J1365DW variant as part of its INKvestment line. That version uses LC504 cartridges, which Brother estimates can produce 1,200 black-and-white and 500 color pages. This is definitely a better choice if you plan to print often.
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Best Cheap Printer
HomeSet-And-ForgetSmall OfficeArts, Crafts, & StickersPhoto PrintingTypeAll-In-OneSuperTankNoColorYesPrint TechnologyInkjetSee all our test resultsWirelessYesFor an even lower upfront cost, consider the Epson Expression Home XP-4200. Compared with the Brother MFC-J1360DW, you give up the automatic document feeder, get fewer pages from each set of cartridges, and wait longer for print jobs. However, it still produces high-quality documents and supports automatic double-sided printing, making it a solid choice for short, occasional jobs. You also get USB and Wi-Fi connectivity, a color display for navigating settings, and a flatbed scanner for everyday scanning and copying. It prints around eight black or four color pages per minute, so it's best suited to lighter workloads.
When it comes to photos, it captures fine detail and has a fairly wide color range, but colors aren't very accurate, and prints can look a bit grainy. Page yield is another drawback: you'll get roughly 185 black and 130 color pages per ink set, so it's not built for heavy use, as you'll be swapping cartridges often. The upside is that those cartridges are inexpensive, so long-term costs stay relatively low. All colors are sold separately, so you won't have to replace them all even if a single color runs out, unlike tri-color cartridges commonly found in this segment. As with any inkjet printer, expect a risk of clogging if you don't use it regularly, so printing a page about once a week can be a good idea.
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Best Cheap Printer For Photos
HomeSet-And-ForgetSmall OfficeArts, Crafts, & StickersPhoto PrintingTypeAll-In-OneSuperTankNoColorYesPrint TechnologyInkjetSee all our test resultsWirelessYesIf cheap photo printing is your priority, consider the Canon PIXMA TR7120. It's usually sold for a bit more than the Epson Expression Home XP-4200, and they both produce detailed photos, but the Canon's more accurate colors help prints look closer to the originals. The difference isn't dramatic, and bright, saturated colors can still appear darker and less vibrant than intended, but its output looks pleasing for family snapshots and casual photo projects. It supports borderless printing up to 8.5" x 11" and produces sharp documents with automatic double-sided printing.
Its flatbed scanner and automatic document feeder are useful for everyday copying and scanning, though scan quality varies depending on the settings and whether you use the flatbed or the feeder. Running costs are the main tradeoff: page yields are low, and you must replace the tri-color cartridge when any one color runs out. Higher-yield cartridges help, but frequent users should consider a model with lower ink costs. If you don't need the automatic document feeder or display, consider the cheaper Canon PIXMA TS4320. It's a variant of the TR7120 we tested, offering the same ink system and similar expected print performance with fewer features.
Notable Mentions
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Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw:
The Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw is a good alternative to the Brother HL-L2460DW. While it's usually more expensive, it goes on sale fairly often and can be cheaper than the Brother. The downside is that its print quality isn't as good, and our unit produces crooked prints.
See our review -
Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w:
The Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w is an alternative to the Brother HL-L2460DW if you want the lowest possible long-term printing costs, as its cost per print is slightly lower. However, it produces worse-looking documents, prints much more slowly, and lacks automatic duplex printing.
See our review -
Epson EcoTank ET-2410:
The Epson EcoTank ET-2410 is a great alternative to the Brother HL-L2460DW if you're willing to pay a bit more upfront, as it adds color printing and a flatbed scanner, with very low running costs. However, it prints much more slowly, lacks automatic duplex printing, and can clog if left unused for long periods.
See our review -
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830:
The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 is a good alternative to the Epson Expression Home XP-4200. While it's much larger and more expensive, it has a better control panel, an ADF-equipped scanner with duplex scanning, and faster printing speeds.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 15, 2026:
We replaced the discontinued Canon PIXMA MG3620 with the Canon PIXMA TR7120 as our 'Best Cheap Printer For Photos' and replaced the Epson EcoTank ET-2400 with the Epson EcoTank ET-2410 in the Notable Mentions. We also clarified the trade-offs between picks.
Aug 07, 2026:
The newly reviewed Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w is now in the Notable Mentions as a cheaper black-and-white alternative to the Brother HL-L2460DW. We also updated our table for increased clarity.
Jul 17, 2026:
We've reworked this article's introduction to make buying decisions easier. We've also verified that all of our picks are relevant and readily available, but haven't made any additional changes.
May 07, 2026:
We removed the now-discontinued Brother MFC-J1205W, which is almost impossible to find. We added the Brother MFC-J1360DW as our new budget pick, with the Canon PIXMA MG3620 now taking the 'Best Cheap Printer For Photos' spot. We also added the Epson Expression Home XP-4200 as the 'Best Cheap Printer.'
Mar 06, 2026:
We've chosen the Brother HL-L2460DW laser printer as our main pick because we believe it's the best choice for most people. We added the Epson EcoTank ET-2400 as a Notable Mention, comparing it to the Brother MFC-J1205W.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best affordable printers for most people. In addition to the test results, we also factor in price, visitor feedback, and availability.
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, below is a list of our cheap printer reviews, sorted by price from lowest to highest. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no printer is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.