A good printer matches your main task: crisp, fast, low-cost documents, or high-resolution color photos.
For the full breakdown, see our best Computer Printers for Home Use guide.
The right printer for you depends on one thing: what you’ll print most. A document-focused household needs sharp text, speed, and cheap ink, while photo printers need high resolution measured in dpi. Before you choose, decide your primary use, then weigh running costs just as heavily as the purchase price.
The Two Big Printers: Inkjet vs. Laser
Your first fork in the road is inkjet versus laser technology, and the choice comes down to how often you print.
Inkjets handle color photos beautifully and have lower upfront prices, but they can clog if left unused for weeks. Lasers excel at fast, sharp black-and-white documents and tolerate long idle periods, which makes them the better pick for occasional printing.
Single-Function or All-In-One? Match the Machine to the Task
Decide whether you need scanning, copying, or faxing built in, because that choice sets your budget range.
A basic single-function printer saves real money if you rarely need to scan or copy. Consumer Reports notes that skipping those extras is a smart way to cut costs. But if multi-page documents cross your desk, an all-in-one with an automatic document feeder (ADF) becomes genuinely useful — it lets you scan or copy a whole stack unattended instead of feeding pages one at a time.
Running Costs Matter as Much as the Sticker Price
Frequent printing makes ongoing ink or toner costs the deciding factor, sometimes within a year of purchase.
Compare the full cost of ownership: standard ink cartridges, high-yield XL cartridges, and subscription plans all change the math. Refillable tank systems like the EcoTank line cut per-page costs dramatically for high-volume households. Just know that some subscription ink plans require you to keep using their specific cartridges while active, which adds a restriction to factor in.
Feature Checklist: What Separates a Good Printer From a Great One
Beyond the basics, four features define daily usability for most homes.
- Wireless and mobile printing — indispensable for printing from laptops, phones, and tablets without cabling.
- Automatic duplex printing — prints both sides of the page automatically, saving paper and money on every job.
- Paper tray capacity — most home printers hold 150 to 250 sheets; bigger trays mean fewer refills during long jobs.
- Maintenance needs — inkjets clog with disuse, while lasers sit idle gracefully; choose based on your print rhythm.
Print speed matters most if you handle high volume. Consumer Reports lists it as a primary feature to evaluate, alongside duty cycle and recommended monthly page volume. For occasional jobs, speed is a vanity metric; reliability and low cost per page matter more.
FAQs
Does higher dpi guarantee better photo prints?
No. Resolution measured in dpi indicates detail, but it does not guarantee good results. Print quality depends on ink technology, paper choice, and color calibration too. A modest-resolution printer using quality photo paper often beats a high-dpi model on plain paper, so look at sample prints rather than spec sheets alone.
Are subscription ink plans worth the monthly fee?
They can be, but read the fine print first. Many plans include ink and let you print a set number of pages monthly for a flat fee, which works well for steady printing. The catch is that some require you to keep using their proprietary cartridges while active, so your ink choices become locked to the subscription.
Why does my inkjet clog when left idle?
Inkjet printheads use microscopic nozzles that dry out when ink sits unused, hardening and blocking the flow. Running a cleaning cycle often clears it, but that wastes ink. If you print only occasionally, a laser printer avoids this problem entirely since toner is a dry powder that doesn’t dry out.
References & Sources
- Consumer Reports. “Printer Buying Guide.” Details the core criteria for evaluating printers, including speed, cost, and features.