Our readers keep the lights on and the coffee maker working hard! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
The real cost of a color inkjet printer is the ink, not the hardware. Between cartridge-based workhorses and cartridge-free tank systems, the choice decides whether you’re refilling every few weeks or every few years. This guide ranks the 7 best color inkjet printers by print speed, paper handling, and long-term ink costs.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
If you’re comparing models for your desk, these are the color inkjet printer picks that balance speed, print quality, and long-term ink costs for real households.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Color Inkjet Printer
Choosing a printer means weighing the upfront hardware cost against the ongoing ink supply. Your monthly print volume should drive your choice more than any feature list.
Match the ink system to your print volume
Cartridge printers are cheaper upfront but their starter cartridges run out fast, and replacements add up. Tank-based “supertank” models cost more initially but ship with enough ink for thousands of pages, which flips the math entirely for high-volume households.
Check the paper path before you buy
An automatic document feeder (ADF) lets you scan or copy a stack of pages without feeding them one by one. A generous paper tray (measured in sheets) means fewer refill interruptions during long jobs. Both reduce daily interruptions during long print jobs.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | B&W Speed | Color Speed | Paper Tray | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA TR7120★ Best Overall | Budget-friendly home all-in-one | 14 ppm | 9 ppm | Small | Amazon |
| Epson Workforce Pro WF-3823Speed King | High-volume home offices | 21 ppm | 11 ppm | 250-sheet | Amazon |
| HP Envy 6155 | Families printing homework & photos | 10 ppm | 7 ppm | 100-sheet | Amazon |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 8139 | Home offices needing fax + ADF | 20 ppm | 10 ppm | 225-sheet | Amazon |
| Brother MFC-J1365DW | Cloud printing fans | 16 ppm | 9 ppm | 150-sheet | Amazon |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2980 | High-volume families cutting ink costs | 15 ppm | 8 ppm | — | Amazon |
| Canon MAXIFY GX2020 | Small offices with heavy printing | 15 ppm | 10 ppm | — | Amazon |
In-Depth Reviews
1. Canon PIXMA TR7120
Our pick — over 4★ from 350+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The compact all-in-one that balances price, print quality, and a genuinely easy wireless setup.
The PIXMA TR7120 is the printer most homes actually need: a budget-friendly all-in-one that prints, scans, and copies with an automatic document feeder (ADF) for quick multi-page jobs. Its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system delivers sharp text and vivid colors for both documents and photos up to 8.5″ x 11″.
You’ll be printing within minutes, not hours. Buyers report “I had no problems with the set up and it connected quickly to my wi fi.” The dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz) keeps your connection stable even in a busy home, and the 1.42″ monochrome OLED screen (a small black-and-white display) shows your ink levels at a glance, so you know when to reorder before you run out mid-job.
The main trade-off is the paper tray — owners find it on the small side for big jobs. Owners praise its sharp, clear output and quick 10-minute print times.
What wins people over
- Sharp, clear print quality that punches above its price tier
- low-maintenance setup with fast Wi-Fi connections
- Automatic 2-sided printing saves paper on multi-page docs
The honest caveats
- Paper tray is small — expect frequent refills on long jobs
- Starter ink runs out quickly
- A few owners mention occasional connectivity drops
Reach for this if: you want a reliable, easy-to-use all-in-one for light home or hybrid-work printing without overspending.
Look elsewhere if: you print hundreds of pages weekly — the small tray and starter ink will have you refilling constantly.
2. Epson Workforce Pro WF-3823
The high-volume workhorse that blasts through documents at 21 pages per minute black and 11 color.
If speed is your priority, the WF-3823 is the clear leader here — it prints black documents at 21 ppm and color at 11 ppm, while the Canon PIXMA TR7120 above prints at 14 ppm black and 9 ppm color.
Epson’s PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology keeps the printhead cool, which customers note translates to reliable, professional-quality output. The DURABrite Ultra instant-dry pigment inks mean prints come out crisp without smudging, and the 250-sheet paper tray handles heavy workloads without constant refills.
However, reliability reports are mixed. While many owners get flawless performance, others report it can be fragile — one failed just two weeks after the return window. Setup instructions also drew some grumbles, but the 2.7″ color touchscreen and wireless setup make daily use smooth.
The standout strengths
- Fastest print speeds in this lineup at 21/11 ppm
- Large 250-sheet tray perfect for heavy workloads
- Instant-dry pigment inks for professional-quality prints
Where it stumbles
- Mixed reliability reports — an occasional unit fails early
- Setup instructions are not the clearest
- Starter ink consumption is a common gripe
Best suited for: home offices and small businesses that print high volumes daily and need speed plus a big paper capacity.
Think twice if: you’re a light user — this printer is built for throughput, not occasional homework printouts.
3. HP Envy 6155
The friendly family printer that keeps colors vibrant on homework and borderless photos alike.
The Envy 6155 is built for homes printing everyday color documents and photos. It manages up to 10 ppm black and 7 ppm color — not the fastest here, but plenty for school projects and family snapshots. HP’s P3 technology is designed to make prints look as vibrant as they do on screen.
What makes this one interesting is the 3-month Instant Ink trial, which delivers ink to your door before you run out and can save up to 50% on ink. The 2.4″ touchscreen is intuitive, and dual-band Wi-Fi auto-detects and resolves connection issues — a feature owners with Wi-Fi headaches specifically recommend.
The HP app is the main drawback. A few buyers found the HP app frustrating, with connection drops and scan-to-computer failures. But the hardware itself gets consistent praise for color quality and easy setup, and the 100-sheet input tray suits typical family use.
Why families like it
- Vibrant color output great for homework and photos
- 3-month Instant Ink trial cuts upfront ink costs
- Compact footprint fits small desks and counters
What to watch
- HP software can be finicky with connection drops
- Slower than office-focused models at 10/7 ppm
- Printer only works with cartridges using original HP chips
Perfect for: families who print homework, photos, and the occasional form and want simple wireless printing.
Not for: anyone printing high volumes — the slower speeds and cartridge system add up.
4. HP OfficeJet Pro 8139
The home-office all-in-one that adds fax, a document feeder, and professional-grade color to your desk.
The OfficeJet Pro 8139 is the step-up choice for home offices printing business documents, reports, and presentations. It hits 20 ppm black and 10 ppm color, with a 225-sheet input tray and an auto document feeder (ADF) that handle multi-page stacks without babysitting.
The headline here is the 1-year Instant Ink trial included in the box — a full year of ink delivery before any monthly fee kicks in. The 2.7-inch touchscreen with a phone-like interface makes navigation feel modern, and HP Wolf Essential Security adds network protection.
The recurring issue is connectivity. While many owners find setup “a breeze” and praise the fast, high-quality prints, others hit Bluetooth pairing problems or computers that won’t connect at all. The first-page print time of 18 seconds is note if you print many short jobs.
The pro-office edge
- Fast professional color printing at 20/10 ppm
- Full year of Instant Ink included
- ADF + fax + duplex cover every office task
The friction points
- Connectivity is hit-or-miss for some owners
- Setup ink cartridges are tough to open
- 18-second first-page time for short jobs
Ideal for: home offices that need fax capability, a document feeder, and professional-quality color documents.
skip it if: you’re not tech-savvy and worry about wireless setup — connectivity is the most common complaint.
5. Brother MFC-J1365DW
The cloud-savvy compact that prints straight from Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
The Brother MFC-J1365DW is the pick for cloud-heavy workflows. Its 1.8″ color display lets you print from and scan to popular cloud apps like Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive without touching a computer. Print speeds reach 16 ppm black and 9 ppm color.
The INKvestment name points to its real strength: it ships with a 1,200-page yield black cartridge and 500-page yield cartridges for each color — a substantial starter supply that keeps you printing for months. The 150-sheet tray and 20-page automatic document feeder (ADF) handle everyday tasks cleanly.
The consensus is split on ink consumption, though. While some owners love the compact size and reliable duplex printing, others report the ink goes far faster than expected — even calling it an “ink black hole” compared to older Brother models. Setup also gets mixed marks for being less intuitive than rivals.
The cloud advantage
- Print/scan to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive
- Generous 1,200-page starter black cartridge
- Compact size with front-loading cartridge access
Honest concerns
- Ink consumption is a real complaint for some owners
- Setup is less intuitive than competitors
- Colors are bright but lack intensity for photos
Grab this if: you live in cloud apps and want a compact printer that prints directly from your online storage.
Pass if: you print heavy volumes — the ink consumption reports make it a risky long-term bet.
6. Epson EcoTank ET-2980
The cartridge-free supertank that ships with up to 3 years of ink already in the box.
The EcoTank ET-2980 is the answer for households tired of cartridge costs. This refillable tank printer comes with enough ink to print up to 6,600 pages black and 5,500 color — each replacement ink bottle set is equivalent to about 90 individual cartridges. For most families, that’s years of printing covered.
Refilling is genuinely simple with the supersized ink tanks and EcoFit bottles that lock in place without spilling. Setup earns some of the most consistent praise in this lineup, with owners calling the directions “clearly written and easy to understand.” The 15 ppm black / 8 ppm color speeds are solid for a home unit.
The trade-offs are real but fair. The screen is small, which makes navigation less pleasant, and some reviewers point out clogging if the printer idles for days. Wireless connectivity is mixed, but the ink cost savings are the thing everyone raves about — the deep low ongoing cost is the whole point.
The cost-saving core
- Up to 6,600 pages black / 5,500 color included
- Simple EcoFit bottle refilling without spills
- Easy, well-documented setup experience
What you give up
- Small screen is less pleasant to navigate
- Can clog if left idle for days
- Slow processing on heavier jobs
Choose this for: families that print a lot and want to stop buying cartridges every month.
Reconsider if: you print rarely — the higher upfront cost is wasted if your printer sits idle.
7. Canon MAXIFY GX2020
The refillable tank workhorse for small offices that print up to 3,000 pages per ink set.
The MAXIFY GX2020 brings the tank concept to a small-office scale, printing up to 3,000 black & white and 3,000 color pages from a single set of GI-25 ink bottles. That’s a serious volume proposition, backed by a 35-sheet auto document feeder (ADF) and automatic 2-sided printing.
Print quality is the most praised aspect here, with owners calling it “very good” for office work and noting it handles #10 envelopes without fuss. The 2.7″ LCD color touchscreen makes copying easy without menu-diving, and the gravity-fed ink bottles with visible level windows make refills straightforward.
Where it divides opinion is photos — several owners found color images blurry and dull, so this is an office machine, not a photo printer. Wireless connectivity gets mixed reviews, and some find the paper settings confusing. But for plain office documents, the ink cost per page is tough to beat.
The office strengths
- 3,000-page ink yield per color set
- 35-sheet ADF handles multi-page jobs
- Very good quality for office documents
The limits
- Photos come out blurry and dull for some owners
- Connectivity issues reported by a chunk of buyers
- Paper settings can be confusing with non-US sizes
Built for: small offices printing heavy volumes of plain documents that need low per-page ink costs.
Avoid if: you want photo quality or print only occasionally — this is a volume machine.
Understanding the Specs
Pages Per Minute (ppm)
This is the boldest number on the box, and it tells you how many pages the printer can produce in one minute. A 21 ppm black speed blasts through a 100-page document in about five minutes; a 10 ppm model takes twice as long. The number that matters more for short jobs is first-page-out time — how long you wait for that first sheet.
Cartridge vs. Tank Systems
Cartridge printers are cheaper to buy but the ink is pricey and starter cartridges run out fast. Tank printers (called supertank or MegaTank) cost more upfront but ship with bottles of ink that last thousands of pages. If you print more than a few hundred pages a month, the tank pays off quickly; if you print rarely, a cartridge model is kinder to your wallet.
FAQ
How long does a color inkjet printer last?
Is a tank printer cheaper than a cartridge printer?
What does automatic duplex printing do?
Can I print wirelessly from my phone?
What is an auto document feeder (ADF) used for?
Is a 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi band better for printers?
Do I have to use the brand’s own ink cartridges?
Is a color inkjet printer good for photos?
What paper tray size do I need?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
Across the board, the best color inkjet printer is the Canon PIXMA TR7120 because it nails the essentials — sharp print quality, easy wireless setup, and automatic duplex — at a price that fits a typical home budget. If you print high volumes and want to kill cartridge costs for good, grab the Epson EcoTank ET-2980. And for a home office that needs fax, a document feeder, and professional color, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8139 is the one to reach for. The crowd favorite among these seven is the Epson EcoTank — the most-reviewed of the group — which says a lot about how many households are fed up with cartridge bills.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of August 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, Gardening Beyond earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.