- Photo quality: If you want the highest-quality photos, prioritize models with good color accuracy, color range, and fine-detail reproduction.
- Print size and paper support: Some printers only handle standard letter-size photos, while others support larger formats, borderless printing, glossy paper, or even specialty media. Keep this in mind if you plan to print things like posters or gallery-style prints.
- Ink costs and page yields: Photo printing uses up a lot of ink, especially with larger or higher-quality prints. Supertank models usually cost more upfront, but they can be much cheaper in the long run if you print often.
- Everyday versatility: Dedicated photo printer models often have the best image quality, but some lack scanners and typically print more slowly. If this will be your only printer, consider an all-in-one model with a scanner and faster print speeds.
Below are our recommendations for the best photo printers you can buy. For other options, check out our picks for the best home printers, the best inkjet printers, and the best all-in-one 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 Photo Printer
Photo PrintingColor Gamut:Color Accuracy:Small Details:Cost-Per-Print:Color Ink Type:See all our test resultsNumber Of Colors:For enthusiasts who prioritize photo printing quality above all else, the best photo printer we've tested is the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310. It produces extremely detailed, color-accurate, and vibrant photo prints, and supports various media types and paper sizes up to 13" x 70", making it ideal for bigger prints. However, it doesn't have a scanner, it prints slowly, and its 10-cartridge system can get expensive to refill if you print often.
The Epson SureColor P700 is an excellent alternative if you want a wider color range or roll-paper support. Its photos are just as detailed, but it's less color-accurate out of the box than the Canon. It accepts media up to 1.5 mm thick and has a built-in roll-paper holder. Setting up the printer uses much of the included ink; our unit had only about 25% left afterward, so budget for replacement cartridges sooner than you might expect.
If you'd prefer an all-in-one with much lower ink costs, consider the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 below. It gives up some color accuracy but adds a scanner and refillable ink tanks, making it a more economical option for frequent printing.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Photo Printer
Photo PrintingColor Gamut:Color Accuracy:Small Details:Cost-Per-Print:Color Ink Type:See all our test resultsNumber Of Colors:If you want a more versatile option, the best upper mid-range photo printer we recommend is the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500, a variant of the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 we tested. Compared with the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 above, it trades some color accuracy for a scanner and much lower ink costs. We expect the ET-8500 to offer similar printing performance to the ET-8550, with detailed, colorful photos that tend to look oversaturated. The ET-8500 supports borderless photos up to 8.5" x 11", while the ET-8550 that we tested supports wide-format borderless printing up to 13" x 19".
Print quality aside, what makes this printer stand out is its low ownership costs. Its refillable ink tanks yield thousands of document pages, and replacement ink is cheap, making it an excellent choice for frequent photo printing, too. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet, plus you can print directly from a USB flash drive or SD card. Its scanner captures sharp text and fine details, though some color bleeding and boosted contrast and saturation can prevent scans from matching the originals. Keep that in mind if you want to digitize old photos. The ET-8500 features an 8.5" x 11.7" flatbed scanner, while the ET-8550 accommodates sheets up to 8.5" x 14".
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Best Mid-Range Photo Printer
Photo PrintingColor Gamut:Color Accuracy:Small Details:Cost-Per-Print:Color Ink Type:See all our test resultsNumber Of Colors:For a less expensive mid-range option for casual photo printing, consider the Epson EcoTank ET-2410. It produces detailed, vibrant photos, and its refillable tanks make it inexpensive to run if you print regularly. That said, stepping down from the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 above does mean giving up some photo quality and flexibility. The ET-8500 resolves finer details and uses a six-ink system with dedicated photo black and gray inks to render dark and gray tones. The ET-2410 has to produce those tones with its standard four-ink system, but it still makes good-looking everyday prints even if its colors don't always match the original image exactly. It also has settings for matte, semi-gloss, and glossy photo paper. Still, it lacks the ET-8500's dedicated settings for luster and fine-art paper, support for thicker media, and the ability to print on discs.
The ET-2410's tanks yield thousands of document pages, and inexpensive refills keep photo printing costs low, too. It connects via USB or Wi-Fi and supports Apple AirPrint and the Mopria Print Service. It prints slowly, though, and has no display or automatic double-sided printing. If you also print a lot of documents, consider the Epson EcoTank ET-2980: it adds a display and automatic double-sided printing, yields even more pages, and produces photos of similar quality.
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Best Budget Photo Printer
Photo PrintingColor Gamut:Color Accuracy:Small Details:Cost-Per-Print:Color Ink Type:See all our test resultsNumber Of Colors:Our best budget pick is the Canon PIXMA TS7720, a cheaper variant of the Canon PIXMA TR7820 we've tested that lacks its automatic document feeder. It has better out-of-the-box color accuracy than the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2410 above, though photos aren't quite as detailed as on the ET-8500. It supports borderless photos up to 8.5" x 11". The main drawback is its low page yield. That's manageable if you only print once in a while, but frequent printing will mean spending more on replacement ink than with the Epson models above. Its color ink comes in a single tri-color cartridge, so you'll have to replace it even if only one color runs out.
Compare prices before buying, as discounts can change which model offers the best value. If you find it at a similar or cheaper price, the Canon PIXMA TR7120 produces photos of similar quality and adds an automatic document feeder for scanning multiple pages. Its smaller monochrome display is less convenient than the TS7720's touchscreen, though. Both use the same CL-286 color cartridge; the TR7120's higher black document yield is mainly a benefit if you also print a lot of paperwork.
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Best Cheap Photo Printer
Photo PrintingColor Gamut:Color Accuracy:Small Details:Cost-Per-Print:Color Ink Type:See all our test resultsNumber Of Colors:If you want to spend as little as possible on occasional photos, the best cheap photo printer we recommend is the Canon PIXMA TS4320, a simpler variant of the Canon PIXMA TR7120 we tested. We expect similar photo quality, with good detail and decent color accuracy, although bright colors can look darker and less vibrant than the originals. It supports borderless photos from 4" x 6" to 8.5" x 11" and connects via USB or Wi-Fi, with support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service.
Compared with the Canon PIXMA TS7720 above, you give up the touchscreen, as the TS4320 has no display. It also lacks the TR7120's automatic document feeder, though you still get a flatbed scanner and automatic double-sided document printing. Its low-yield cartridges make it best suited to occasional use, and you must replace the entire tri-color cartridge when any one color runs out. If you print photos regularly, one of the Epson EcoTank models above will cost less to run. Like other inkjet printers, it also needs regular use to help prevent clogs.
Notable Mentions
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Canon PIXMA PRO-200S:
The Canon PIXMA PRO-200S is an alternative to the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 if you want more accurate colors and borderless prints up to 13" x 19". However, we encountered Wi-Fi printing problems during testing, and the Epson is more versatile, with a scanner, finer detail reproduction, and much lower running costs.
See our review -
Canon PIXMA TR8620a:
If you want a printer with better color accuracy, more connectivity options, and an ADF-equipped scanner, the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is a good, similarly priced alternative to the Epson EcoTank ET-2410. However, its color range is slightly more limited, so photos don't pop as much, and it doesn't yield nearly as many prints.
See our review -
Epson Expression Photo XP-980:
The Epson Expression Photo XP-980 is a pricier but still mid-range alternative to the Epson EcoTank ET-2410 if you want better photos and wide-format printing. It also has a better scanner, but it prints very slowly and has a much lower page yield, so the ET-2410 is still better for lower long-term ink costs.
See our review
Recent Updates
Nov 03, 2026:
We replaced the discontinued Canon PIXMA MG3620 with the Canon PIXMA TS4320 as our 'Best Cheap Photo Printer.' We also clarified the differences between our picks, including photo quality, paper support, and running costs, and updated the Notable Mentions.
Sep 28, 2026:
We replaced the Epson EcoTank ET-2400 with its successor, the Epson EcoTank ET-2410, as our 'Best Mid-Range Photo Printer.' It offers similar photo quality and page yields while adding a few features. We also clarified the differences between our picks and updated the Notable Mentions.
Aug 20, 2026:
We modified the ribbon above each pick to emphasize elements that are important for photo and color printing. We also verified that all picks are still available for purchase.
Jul 30, 2026:
We verified that all picks are still valid and available. We also reworked the table, as it showed categories that no longer worked with the recent TBUs.
Jul 09, 2026:
We've added a short guide to the introduction with suggestions to help you choose the right photo printer for your needs. We've also added the Epson Expression Photo XP-980 to our Notable Mentions list.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best printers for pictures. In addition to test results, we factor in price, visitor feedback, and availability.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all our printer reviews. 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.