The best cheap printers for everyday home or office tasks

The world has digitized really fast, moving traditionally manual processes and tasks online. Today, you can complete every aspect of document creation online, including signing and sharing, using software solutions and email.

Yet, amidst this rapid digitization, the printer — as an everyday tech gadget — still stands tall, delivering hard copies and prints whenever you need them. Whether recipes, art projects, lecture notes, or business documents, you can simply print them out from your phone or computer at home.

The point is, there will likely always be a time when you need to print things out, so having a printer at hand is vital. That doesn’t mean a feature-packed color laser model — a basic model under $100 will do. We’ve sifted through different options and identified the best cheap printer options for you.

Read more: Want to upgrade your entertainment experience? Browse 65-inch TVs here

Explore our picks for the best cheap printers

Best budget all-in-one printer

Canon PIXMA MG2522 Wired All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer

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$39 at Walmart

Best cheap wireless printer

Canon PIXMA TS3522 All-In-One Wireless InkJet Printer

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$39 at Walmart

Best affordable compact printer

Epson Expression Home XP-446 Small-in-One Printer

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$49.48 at Walmart

Best cheap printer for phone printing

HP DeskJet 4152e All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer

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$79.00 at Walmart

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Best budget all-in-one printer

Canon PIXMA MG2522 Wired All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer

$39

$39 at Walmart

Specifications

• Scanner: Yes

• Copier: Yes

• Bluetooth: No

• Windows and Mac compatible: Yes

Pros & Cons

• High paper capacity

• Supports auto-scanning

• Supports high-capacity ink cartridges

• Wired connection

• Not compatible with Chromebook

Get a simple printer for everyday printing at home with the Canon PIXMA MG2522 Wired All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer. This color inkjet wired printer supports the XL high-capacity ink cartridges, so you can print more and replace ink less often. It has a lightweight design for effortless movement around your home.

The PIXMA MG2522 has a large paper tray capacity, holding up to 60 sheets of paper for convenient printing, and it supports Mac and Windows computers for simple printing using your laptop or desktop. The auto scan mode automatically detects documents for seamless scanning every time.

Best cheap wireless printer

Canon PIXMA TS3522 All-In-One Wireless InkJet Printer

$39

$39 at Walmart

Specifications

• Scanner: Yes

• Copier: Yes

• Bluetooth: No

• Windows and Mac compatible: Yes

Pros & Cons

• Wireless connection

• Compact design

• All-in-one solution

• Connection issues

• Average printing quality

Print, copy, and scan effortlessly with the Canon PIXMA TS3522 All-In-One Wireless InkJet Printer. This Wi-Fi-capable printer prints 7.7 pages per minute (ppm) for monochrome printing and 4 ppm for color printing at up to 4800 x 1200 dpi, delivering crisp copies and prints for documents, color images, and photos.

The Canon Pixma TS3522 can also connect easily to your computer using a USB or HDMI cable, a great alternative when there’s no internet connection. Its hybrid ink system offers colorful prints and sharp black text, and it features a 1.5-inch LCD screen for adjusting your settings conveniently.

Best affordable compact printer

Epson Expression Home XP-446 Small-in-One Printer

$49.48

$49.48 at Walmart

Specifications

• Scanner: Yes

• Copier: Yes

• Bluetooth: No

• Windows and Mac compatible: Yes

Pros & Cons

• Individual ink cartridge replacement

• Wireless printing

• Memory card slot

• Average speed

• High ink consumption

Packed with convenient features, the Expression Home XP-446 Small-in-One Printer makes an excellent pick for everyday printing needs. This compact wireless printer takes up minimal space on your desk, and it features a 2.7-inch color LCD for simple navigation and setting adjustments.

The XP-446 is completely wireless, allowing you to print from your iPhone, iPad, and Android smartphones with or without a network, while the built-in card slot lets you get borderless photos PC-free. It also offers tools for photo restoration and red-eye removal for quality photos.

Plus, you only need to replace ink cartridges that have run out, saving you money.

Best cheap printer for phone printing

HP DeskJet 4152e All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer

$79

$79.00 at Walmart

Specifications

• Scanner: Yes

• Copier: Yes

• Bluetooth: No

• Windows and Mac compatible: Yes

Pros & Cons

• Free ink for three months

• Great value

• Remote printing

• Connection issues

• Average printing performance

Mobile printing simplifies your work, and the HP DeskJet 4152e All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer makes the best pick for that. This wireless printer allows you to complete your tasks via the HP Smart app for efficient printing, and its dual-band Wi-Fi functionality automatically detects and connects with your phone; it also resets to fix connectivity issues.

You get print speeds of up to 7.5 ppm in black or 5.5 ppm in color, and it comes with free HP+ Smart features, including automatic updates, security, and mobile printing from virtually anywhere. This printer is best for printing color documents, such as travel documents, recipes and forms.

Best affordable inkjet printer

Canon - PIXMA TS202 Inkjet Printer

You save $5 (10%)

$44.99$49.99

$44.99 at Best Buy

Specifications

• Scanner: No

• Copier: No

• Bluetooth: No

• Windows and Mac compatible: Yes

Pros & Cons

• Low-cost performer

• Good quality prints

• Compact design

• Incompatibility with some OS versions

• Average speed

If you’re looking for a simple and affordable inkjet printer, the Canon PIXMA Color Inkjet Printer delivers the power you need for detailed documents and photos. It features the FINE hybrid ink system for stunning resulting prints, and the rear paper tray holds up to 60 sheets of plain paper for productive printing.

The Pixma TS202 has a compact design to fit almost anywhere, and it’s compatible with XL ink cartridges to allow you to print more between ink cartridge replacements. With up to 4800 x 1200 dpi, this printer offers stunning documents and photos, and the high-speed 2.0 USB port connects seamlessly with your PC and other devices like cameras and USB drives.

Best cheap Bluetooth printer

HP DeskJet 2755 All-in-One Printer

$74.99

$74.99 at Best Buy

Specifications

• Scanner: Yes

• Copier: Yes

• Bluetooth: Yes

• Windows and Mac compatible: Yes

Pros & Cons

• Bluetooth connectivity

• Value for money

• Vibrant color copies

• Average printing speeds

• Only supports cartridges with HP chips

If you’re looking for a cost-friendly Bluetooth printer, the HP DeskJet 2755 All-in-One Printer should definitely suit you. It’s easy to set it up using the HP Smart app, which guides you through every step. The dual-band Wi-Fi with self-reset functionality offers a better range and reliable connections.

This HP printer offers a resolution of up to 1200 x 1200 dpi for quality prints, and you get nine months of free ink, so you never run out. It supports mobile and wireless printing for convenient use, and the ICON LCD display lets you adjust the settings conveniently. The input tray has a capacity of 60 sheets to support all your home or school printing needs.

Best cheap printer — FAQs

Still not sure which printer is right for you — or if it’s even a worthy investment? Given the convenience a cheap at-home printer can offer, we think purchasing one is a savvy idea. But to help simplify your decision, here are our responses to your commonly asked questions.

How much does the average printer cost?

The average printer costs anywhere from  $100 to $500, and they boast larger paper trays with more advanced capabilities. However, they make great options for small businesses or people with more than average printing needs.

For everyday home or school printing, you can find the best cheap home printer in the range of $30 to $100, with great features and performance to meet your needs. Most have essential features like Wi-Fi connectivity, a scanner and a copier for efficient basic printing.

Is it cheaper to pay for printing or buy a printer?

Buying a printer is actually a cheaper option for standard-sized printing, especially when you opt for good but cheap printers. With just $30 to $100, you can get a wireless printer to print documents, forms, recipes and photos at home.

However, in some cases, replacing your printer ink cartridges can be costly, depending on your usage and the type of printer you have. Ink cartridges cost between $15 to $60, and if you need about three replacements in a year, you’re likely to spend $60 to $120.

When using printing services, you will usually pay .15 to .25 cents for each 4x6 print of basic printing. While some services offer discounts, getting your prints or hard copies delivered to your home or office can cost more, especially when you need expedited delivery.

Still, it’s vital to weigh your options to determine the best solution for your printing needs.

Our verdict

Having a simple printer at home or school can be a time and cost saver. Whether you need a physical copy of a recipe, a business document, or a research paper, you can get it in seconds. But what’s the best budget printer to buy?

This depends on your budget and the features you want. If you want a printer that supports Bluetooth, we believe the HP DeskJet 2734e Wireless All-In-One Inkjet Printer delivers great speeds and features for worry-free wireless printing.

Still, there are wireless options like the Canon PIXMA TS3522 All-In-One Wireless InkJet Printer, which lets you use your Wi-Fi connection to print. Or, opt for the Canon PIXMA MG2522 Wired All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer for the best cheap printer.

We hope this list inspires your choice and helps you find the best affordable printer for home printing.

Prices updated on 08/09/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.