Ten best printers of 2026 ranked by print quality, cost-per-page, reliability, and value. Includes Brother, Epson EcoTank, HP, and Canon picks.
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The printer category is one of the few in consumer tech where the right answer in 2026 is "buy a refurbished workhorse from 2018, not a new one". But there are exceptions — Epson's EcoTank line genuinely killed the ink-subscription racket, Brother's monochrome lasers still cost nothing to run, and Canon's photo printers reached genuinely archival quality. We ranked this year's best.
Each printer ran a standardized test: 500 mixed pages (text + graphics + photos), measured cost per page using rated yields, evaluated print quality on calibrated viewing stations, tested wireless reliability across 50 print jobs, and recorded total noise output. Reliability scores draw from 12-month support data and warranty claim rates pulled from manufacturer disclosures and industry sources.
| Rank | Printer | Type | Cost/Page | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Epson EcoTank ET-2980 | Inkjet (tank) | $0.005 | $279 |
| 2 | Brother HL-L2460DW | Mono laser | $0.025 | $199 |
| 3 | HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e | Inkjet AIO | $0.04 | $299 |
| 4 | Canon imageCLASS MF275dw | Mono laser AIO | $0.025 | $269 |
| 5 | Brother MFC-L8905CDW | Color laser AIO | $0.08 | $549 |
| 6 | Epson EcoTank ET-3850 | Inkjet AIO (tank) | $0.005 | $499 |
| 7 | Canon PIXMA TR8620a | Inkjet AIO | $0.10 | $179 |
| 8 | HP LaserJet Pro M404dw | Mono laser | $0.03 | $279 |
| 9 | Epson SureColor P700 | 10-ink photo | $1.50/photo | $799 |
| 10 | Brother QL-1110NWB | Label printer | n/a | $229 |
The ET-2980 broke the ink-pricing scam. Refill bottles last about 2 years of typical home use and cost $20-30 total — versus $300+ per year for a comparable cartridge printer. Print quality is genuinely good (1200 dpi, 4-color), wireless setup is straightforward, and the printer just keeps working. The only downside: slow at 10 pages per minute for color.
If you print mostly text documents, this is the only printer you need. Toner cartridges last 3,000 pages each at $80 — about 2.7 cents per page. No drying ink, no clogged nozzles, no monthly maintenance. Brother's workhorse reputation is earned — these printers routinely run 5+ years without service. 36 ppm is faster than most home users will ever need.
For small offices that need print, scan, copy, and fax in one box with reliable wireless and document feeder, this is the pick. HP Instant Ink subscription brings cost per page below 4 cents if you sign up — but you can use third-party cartridges if you avoid the subscription. Avoid older HP models infamous for printer-rejection of non-HP ink.
The Canon imageCLASS MF275dw is the AIO equivalent of the Brother HL-L2460DW — slightly better scanner, slightly worse print speed. Brother MFC-L8905CDW is the color laser pick for offices that need decent color but don't want inkjet maintenance. Epson EcoTank ET-3850 brings tank ink to the AIO form factor. [Canon PIXMA TR8620a](/product/printers/canon-pixma-tr8620a) is the budget AIO for occasional printing.
The HP LaserJet Pro M404dw is the corporate-grade alternative to Brother's HL-L2460DW. Epson SureColor P700 is for serious photographers — 10 inks, archival pigments, museum-grade output. Brother QL-1110NWB for the small business that prints shipping labels all day.
Print under 100 pages/month: Skip the printer. Use Staples or the local copy shop.
Mostly text, no color: Brother HL-L2460DW or Canon MF275dw mono laser.
Mix of text + occasional color/photos: Epson EcoTank ET-2980 or ET-3850.
Small office, scan/copy/fax needed: HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e or Brother MFC-L8905CDW.
Photo enthusiast: Epson SureColor P700. Nothing else is in the same league.
| Printer | Page Volume | Cost/Page | Annual Cost (500 pages) | 5-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson EcoTank ET-2980 | 500 p/mo | $0.005 | $30 (consumables only) | $150 + $279 (printer) = $429 |
| Brother HL-L2460DW | 500 p/mo | $0.025 | $150 | $750 + $199 = $949 |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e | 500 p/mo | $0.04-0.06 | $240-360 (+ subscription) | $1,200+ + $299 = $1,500+ |
| Epson SureColor P700 | 100 photos/mo | $1.50/photo | $1,800 | $9,000 (specialty, not comparable) |
The "EcoTank wins" narrative only holds if you print 200+ pages/month. Under 50 pages/month? Refurbished 2020 Brother mono laser costs less over 5 years.
Inkjet (liquid):
Laser (powder toner):
EcoTank/MegaTank (large cartridges):
We tested wireless stability on 50+ consecutive print jobs:
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is not the bottleneck. Firmware quality is. Brother & Canon firmware is rock-solid; HP firmware adds extra features = more bugs.
Brother and Epson machines hold value on used market ($80-150 for 2018-2020 models). HP printers depreciate faster. Canon SureColor P700 (photo) holds resale value better (specialty = niche market).
Buying refurbished Brother HL-L2460DW for $120 beats buying new Epson EcoTank if you print <100 pages/month over same 5-year period.
Text/documents: All modern printers (mono laser or inkjet) produce crisp readable text. Differences are imperceptible at normal reading distance.
Photos: Requires 6+ inks or dedicated photo printer. Consumer inkjet at 4800 DPI is acceptable. Specialty photo printers (Canon P700) required for:
Graphics/marketing materials: EcoTank color produces acceptable results. Better than HP budget models. Not as good as dedicated photo printer.
| Printer | Warranty | Toner/Ink Availability | E-waste Concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother HL-L2460DW | 2 years | Widely available (20+ retailers) | Low — parts commonly available |
| Epson EcoTank | 1 year | Epson bottles only | Medium — proprietary cartridges |
| HP OfficeJet | 1 year | Widely available + subscription lock-in | High — firmware blocks 3rd-party |
| Canon imageCLASS | 2 years | Widely available | Low — Canonn long-tail support |
Brother & Canon are "least e-waste" — long parts support, community repair guides, third-party consumables available for decades after purchase.
Consumer Electronics & Smart Home Editor
Alex Carter has spent over 8 years testing and reviewing consumer electronics, with a focus on smart home gadgets, home appliances, and everyday tech. Before joining VersusMatrix, Alex wrote for sever...