10 Best Printer For Occasional Use 2026 in the United States
#1
Winner
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank with Scan and Copy, The Ideal Basic Home Printer - White
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is designed as a versatile and cost-effective option for occasional home printing needs. One of its standout features is the cartridge-free system, which uses high-capacity ink tanks instead of traditional cartridges. This setup can result in significant savings on ink costs, allowing for the printing of thousands of pages before needing a refill. The included ink supply is enough for up to two years, which is great for users who don’t print frequently and want to avoid the hassle of running out of ink unexpectedly.
Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,127
Print Quality (Resolution)
Connectivity Options
Ink/Toner Cost and Availability
Most important from
19729 reviews
#2
HP Smart Tank Plus 651 Wireless All-in-One Printer, Ink Tank Printer-for-Home Use, 2 Years of Ink Included Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Print, Scan, Copy, Fax, an EcoTank Alternative (7XV38A)
The HP Smart Tank Plus 651 is an all-in-one ink tank printer designed mainly for home and small office use, making it a solid choice for occasional printing. It uses HP's thermal inkjet technology and offers good print quality, especially for photos and color documents, with a sharp resolution up to 4800 x 1200 dpi for color and 600 x 1200 dpi for black-and-white prints. The print speed is moderate, around 11 pages per minute in black and 5 pages per minute in color, which is adequate for light to medium use but may feel slow if you print large volumes quickly.
Rating
8.8
Print Quality (Resolution)
Print Speed
Connectivity Options
Most important from
2186 reviews
#3
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw Wireless All-in-One Color Laser Printer, Office Printer, Scanner, Copier, ADF, Duplex, Best-for-Office (499Q3F)
The HP Color Laserjet Pro MFP 3301sdw is designed for small teams needing to print, scan, and copy professional-quality color documents. It uses advanced laser technology, which ensures sharp and vibrant prints. With a print speed of up to 26 pages per minute for both black and color, it handles tasks relatively quickly, making it suitable for occasional use in a small office environment.
Rating
7.9
Print Technology
Print Quality (Resolution)
Print Speed
Most important from
1054 reviews
Top 10 Best Printer For Occasional Use 2026 in the United States
#1
Winner
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank with Scan and Copy, The Ideal Basic Home Printer - White
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank with Scan and Copy, The Ideal Basic Home Printer - White
Print Technology: Inkjet
Print Quality (Resolution): 5760 x 1440 dpi
Print Speed: 10 ppm (black), 5 ppm (color)
Connectivity Options: wired, wireless
Ink/Toner Cost and Availability: High-capacity ink tanks, 2 years supply
Size and Design: 14.8"D x 22.8"W x 10"H, 8.8 lbs
Additional Features: Refillable Ink Tank, Mobile Printing
Chosen by 1127 this week
HP Smart Tank Plus 651 Wireless All-in-One Printer, Ink Tank Printer-for-Home Use, 2 Years of Ink Included Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Print, Scan, Copy, Fax, an EcoTank Alternative (7XV38A)
HP Smart Tank Plus 651 Wireless All-in-One Printer, Ink Tank Printer-for-Home Use, 2 Years of Ink Included Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Print, Scan, Copy, Fax, an EcoTank Alternative (7XV38A)
Print Technology: HP Thermal Inkjet
Print Quality (Resolution): 4800x1200 dpi color, 600x1200 dpi B/W
Print Speed: 11 ppm black, 5 ppm color
Connectivity Options: Wireless, USB
Ink/Toner Cost and Availability: Two years ink, refillable tanks
Size and Design: 14.7x17.7x7.8 in, white, touchscreen
Additional Features: Copy, Fax, Scan, 35-page feeder
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw Wireless All-in-One Color Laser Printer, Office Printer, Scanner, Copier, ADF, Duplex, Best-for-Office (499Q3F)
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw Wireless All-in-One Color Laser Printer, Office Printer, Scanner, Copier, ADF, Duplex, Best-for-Office (499Q3F)
Print Technology: Laser
Print Speed: 26 pages per minute
Connectivity Options: dual-band Wi-Fi, USB, wireless printing
Ink/Toner Cost and Availability: HP toner cartridges (218A, 218X)
Size and Design: 37.7 Pounds, White
Additional Features: Auto-Duplex, HP Wolf Pro Security
Brother MFC-L2820DW Wireless Compact Monochrome All-in-One Laser Printer with Copy, Scan and Fax, Duplex, Black & White | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
Brother MFC-L2820DW Wireless Compact Monochrome All-in-One Laser Printer with Copy, Scan and Fax, Duplex, Black & White | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
Print Technology: Laser
Print Quality (Resolution): high-resolution
Print Speed: 36 pages per minute
Connectivity Options: Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet
Ink/Toner Cost and Availability: subscription service available
Size and Design: 15.7"D x 16.1"W x 12.5"H
Additional Features: Auto-Duplex, Network-Ready, Energy Star
Canon Megatank G3290 All-in-One Wireless Supertank [Megatank] Printer | Print, Copy Scan | Mobile Printing |2.7" LCD Color Touchscreen | Auto Duplex
Canon Megatank G3290 All-in-One Wireless Supertank [Megatank] Printer | Print, Copy Scan | Mobile Printing |2.7" LCD Color Touchscreen | Auto Duplex
Print Technology: Inkjet
Print Quality (Resolution): 4800 x 1200 dpi
Print Speed: 11 ppm black, 6 ppm color
Connectivity Options: USB, Wi-Fi
Ink/Toner Cost and Availability: Refillable tanks, low cost
Size and Design: 14.3"D x 16.4"W x 7"H
Additional Features: 2.7" touchscreen, duplex, all-in-one
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Brother HL-L2460DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Duplex, Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
Brother HL-L2460DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Duplex, Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
Print Technology: Laser
Print Quality (Resolution): 1200 x 1200 dpi
Print Speed: 36 ppm
Connectivity Options: Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet
Ink/Toner Cost and Availability: Brother subscription service
Size and Design: 14.2 x 14 x 7.2 inches
Additional Features: Auto-Duplex, Network-Ready, Energy Star
HP Smart Tank Plus 570 Wireless All-in-One Ink Tank Printer with up to 2 Years of Ink Included (5HX14A)
HP Smart Tank Plus 570 Wireless All-in-One Ink Tank Printer with up to 2 Years of Ink Included (5HX14A)
Print Technology: HP Thermal Inkjet
Print Quality (Resolution): 4800 x 1200 dpi
Print Speed: 11 ppm black, 5 ppm color
Connectivity Options: Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, 3.0, Type C, Ethernet
Ink/Toner Cost and Availability: Refillable tank with HP ink bottles
Size and Design: 14.7"D x 17.7"W x 7.8"H, 13.6 lbs
Additional Features: All In One, borderless, no duplex
Canon MegaTank G3270 All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer. for Home Use, Print, Scan and Copy,White
Canon MegaTank G3270 All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer. for Home Use, Print, Scan and Copy,White
Print Technology: Inkjet
Print Quality (Resolution): 600x600 dpi black, 4800x1200 dpi color
Print Speed: 11 ppm black, 6 ppm color
Connectivity Options: USB, Wi-Fi
Ink/Toner Cost and Availability: Refillable tanks, ink lasts 2 years
Size and Design: 21.9x16.4x10.6 inches, 13.2 lbs, white
Additional Features: Borderless, Display, Energy Star, Copy, Scan
Brother Color Laser Printer with Wireless Printing Fast 19 PPM Output, Duplex Feature, Mobile Device Compatible, 250-Sheet Paper Tray for Professional Home Office Printing (HL-L3220CDW)
Brother Color Laser Printer with Wireless Printing Fast 19 PPM Output, Duplex Feature, Mobile Device Compatible, 250-Sheet Paper Tray for Professional Home Office Printing (HL-L3220CDW)
Print Technology: Laser
Print Speed: 19 ppm color and mono
Connectivity Options: Wi-Fi, USB
Size and Design: White, 24.7 lbs
Additional Features: Auto-Duplex, Network, 250-sheet tray
#10
HP Envy 6155e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Portobello, Print, scan, copy, Duplex printing Best-for-home, 3 month Instant Ink trial included, AI-enabled (714L5A)
HP Envy 6155e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Portobello, Print, scan, copy, Duplex printing Best-for-home, 3 month Instant Ink trial included, AI-enabled (714L5A)
Print Technology: Inkjet
Print Quality (Resolution): Up to 4800x1200 dpi color
Print Speed: 7 ppm color; 10 ppm black
Connectivity Options: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; USB
Ink/Toner Cost and Availability: HP cartridges; 3-month Instant Ink
Size and Design: 14.21x17.05x5.35 inches; White
Additional Features: Auto duplex; 2.4" touchscreen; wireless
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Buying Guide for the Best Printer For Occasional Use
When choosing a printer for occasional use, it's important to consider factors that will ensure you get the best value and functionality for your needs. Since you won't be using the printer frequently, you should focus on aspects like ease of use, maintenance, and cost-effectiveness. Here are some key specifications to consider and how to navigate them to find the best fit for you.Print TechnologyPrint technology refers to the method a printer uses to produce text and images on paper. The two main types are inkjet and laser. Inkjet printers are generally more affordable and better for color printing and photos, while laser printers are faster and more cost-effective for high-volume black-and-white printing. For occasional use, an inkjet printer might be more suitable if you need color prints, while a laser printer is a good choice if you mostly print documents.
Print Quality (Resolution)Print quality is measured in dots per inch (DPI). Higher DPI means better print quality. For occasional use, a printer with a resolution of 600 DPI is usually sufficient for text documents. If you plan to print photos or high-quality images, look for a printer with at least 1200 DPI. Consider what you will be printing most often to determine the right resolution for your needs.
Print SpeedPrint speed is measured in pages per minute (PPM). For occasional use, print speed may not be a critical factor, but it's still worth considering. A speed of 10-20 PPM is adequate for most home users. If you occasionally need to print large documents, a higher PPM can save you time. Think about how often you print and how much time you are willing to wait for your documents.
Connectivity OptionsConnectivity options determine how you can connect your printer to your devices. Common options include USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. For occasional use, Wi-Fi connectivity is very convenient as it allows you to print from multiple devices without needing to connect cables. If you prefer a simple setup, a USB connection might be sufficient. Consider your home setup and how you prefer to connect your devices to choose the best option.
Ink/Toner Cost and AvailabilityThe cost and availability of ink or toner can significantly impact the long-term cost of owning a printer. Inkjet printers use ink cartridges, which can be expensive and may dry out if not used regularly. Laser printers use toner, which generally lasts longer and is more cost-effective for infrequent use. Check the prices and availability of replacement cartridges or toner for the models you are considering to ensure they fit your budget and usage patterns.
Size and DesignThe size and design of a printer can affect where you can place it in your home. For occasional use, a compact and lightweight printer is often more convenient, especially if you need to store it away when not in use. Consider the space you have available and whether you need a portable option. Choose a design that fits your aesthetic preferences and practical needs.
Additional FeaturesAdditional features like scanning, copying, and faxing can add versatility to your printer. For occasional use, a multifunction printer (MFP) can be a good investment if you occasionally need these functions. However, if you only need to print, a basic printer without these extra features might be more cost-effective. Think about your occasional needs and whether these additional features would be useful to you.