Whether you travel a lot for work or want to print photos on the go, there's a portable printer for you. These printers come in a wide range of sizes and are often designed for specific tasks, so it's important to choose one that matches how you'll use it.
When choosing a portable printer, consider:
- What you print: Portable inkjet printers are best for documents, forms, and receipts, while portable photo printers are designed for quick, high-quality photo prints.
- Size and portability: Some portable printers easily fit in a backpack or purse, while others are closer to compact desktop printers with built-in batteries.
- Print quality: If you're printing photos, look for good color accuracy, fine detail, and support for borderless printing.
- Battery life and connectivity: Long battery life and reliable Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity make it easier to print wherever you are.
- Running costs: Portable printers often use proprietary paper and cartridges, so media costs can vary significantly by model.
Below are our recommendations for the top portable printers and best portable photo printers. If you're after desktop models without a large footprint, check out our recommendations for the best small printers. Or, consider our picks for the best iPhone printers and the best photo 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 Portable Printer
HomeSmall OfficeSet-And-ForgetAdvertised Battery Life~ printsTested Charging TimeminPrint TechnologyInkjetSee all our test resultsWeightlbs ( kg)The best portable printer we've tested is the HP OfficeJet 250. This all-in-one inkjet printer is a one-stop shop for your on-the-go printing and scanning needs. It produces sharp documents, and its sheetfed scanner produces good-quality text scans, though it's not as good for scanning photos. You can connect to the printer via Wi-Fi or USB, and it supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, making it easy to print from your smartphone or tablet. This printer is also compatible with an app, letting you start print jobs, use your device's camera to scan, and access pre-made content such as birthday cards and worksheets.
This model's downside is that it's slow, even for a portable printer, printing only three black or six color pages per minute. Also, its ink cartridges run out quickly, so you might need to carry a few extra cartridges. The cost per print is decent because the cartridges are relatively cheap, though color printing can still get expensive if you print a lot. You can get XL cartridges that'll last longer, and the printer also accepts third-party ink, which can help save some money. Finally, while this printer is smaller than most desktop models, it's still the largest on our list.
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Best Mid-Range Portable Printer
HomeSmall OfficeSet-And-ForgetAdvertised Battery LifeN/ATested Charging TimeminPrint TechnologyInkjetSee all our test resultsWeightlbs ( kg)If you're willing to trade scanning for a lower price tag, consider the HP OfficeJet 200. This inkjet model is the smaller sibling to our top pick, the HP OfficeJet 250. The 200 is often on sale, and its best value is at or below $300 USD to offset its lack of scanning capabilities. It produces documents comparable to its bigger brother and prints much faster in black and white. Its color ink yield is also better, though it's still lower than that of desktop models, so consider getting XL cartridges if you print a lot.
Beyond this, connectivity is the same; you can connect to the printer via Wi-Fi or USB, and it supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. One area this printer struggles with is photo printing. While photos look detailed, they're noticeably different from their originals due to the printer's subpar color accuracy and narrow color gamut. If you need a portable inkjet printer that produces great photos, check out our next pick, the Canon PIXMA TR160, for that usage.
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Best Budget Portable Printer
HomeSmall OfficeSet-And-ForgetAdvertised Battery LifeN/ATested Charging TimeN/APrint TechnologyInkjetSee all our test resultsWeightlbs ( kg)If you need a printer for printing photos while on the move, the Canon PIXMA TR160 might be just what you're looking for. Replacing the Canon PIXMA TR150, it offers the same great performance. It performs similarly to the HP OfficeJet 200 overall, with some trade-offs in print speed and document quality. This compact, print-only inkjet model offers USB and Wi-Fi connectivity and is compatible with Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. It's also available with an optional rechargeable battery, making it a great travel companion. This is also the ideal choice if you're looking for a portable photo printer. Photo prints are sharp, though they can show some graininess, and colors aren't super accurate. Keep in mind that frequent or high-volume printing will require regular ink cartridge replacements, as the yield is only about 217 color prints per cartridge.
Still, the cartridges are affordable, making the TR160 the lowest-cost-per-print model among our featured models. The optional battery is also impressive, advertising up to 330 prints per charge. If you're looking for something even more compact to toss in a bag or purse, consider our next recommendation, the Polaroid Hi-Print Generation 2.
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Best Compact Photo Printer
HomeSmall OfficeSet-And-ForgetAdvertised Battery Life~ printsTested Charging TimeminPrint TechnologyDye-Sublimation/ThermalSee all our test resultsWeightlbs ( kg)The Polaroid Hi-Print Generation 2 is our recommendation if you're looking for the best portable photo printer with a compact size. Right off the bat, adjusting your expectations is important: this printer produces nicely detailed photos, but it can't match portable inkjet printers like the Canon PIXMA TR160 above for color or photo quality. However, if you want to let guests print photos during a special occasion or capture the moment for a night out on the town, this printer is the best choice. It produces 2" x 3" portraits using proprietary photo paper.
Plus, thanks to its small size and light weight, it easily fits in a bag or purse. Regarding connectivity, this printer works only with Android and iOS smartphones or Chrome OS devices via Bluetooth and only with a mobile app. You can get the printer on its own or as part of a bundle with photo paper packs. Unfortunately, its photo paper is very expensive, so be aware that recurring costs can add up quickly if you print a lot. Also, its battery life lasts just 20 prints, so you'll want to keep the charging cable close.
Another great option for 2" x 3" portraits is the Canon SELPHY QX20. It produces a slightly wider color range, particularly brighter tones, while the Polaroid is better at reproducing fine details. These printers produce slightly different-looking photos at different sizes, so you may prefer one over the other depending on your needs. Just know the Canon is usually more expensive.
Notable Mentions
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Fujifilm instax Link WIDE:
If you want a compact photo printer that gets closer to a vintage aesthetic, then the Fujifilm instax Link WIDE is the perfect choice. It offers a wider color range and superior accuracy to the Polaroid Hi-Print Generation 2, and its battery lasts longer; however, photos aren't as detailed, and it can't print borderless.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 07, 2026:
We clarified a few details in the text and confirmed that all picks are still available.
Jul 17, 2026:
We've updated this article's introduction to make it easier to make a buying decision. We've also verified that all of our picks are still available and relevant, but haven't made any other changes.
May 06, 2026:
We verified and confirmed that current picks are still the best options we've tested and are still available for sale.
Feb 17, 2026:
We changed the Canon PIXMA TR160's category from our photo pick to our budget pick to better reflect its market position. We also moved the Canon SELPHY QX20 text from a Notable Mention to a mention in the 'Best Compact Photo Printer' pick, since it's a good, viable option for many people. Some minor text adjustments have also been made throughout the list for clarity.
Jun 09, 2025:
Replaced the now-discontinued Canon PIXMA TR150 with its successor, the Canon PIXMA TR160, in the 'Best Photo' category.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best printers for on-the-go use for most people. In addition to the test results, we factor in price, visitor feedback, and availability.
If you'd 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.