Listen, we honor the paperless route for sharing documents and spreadsheets (thanks, Google Drive). But, in many instances, you just need to print that thing.
Long story short, having an at-home printer in your office is the versatile best friend you should consider investing in.
And we’re not just talking about printing important files for work (though they’re important for a reason). The home office essential is your go-to for printing family portraits, curating DIY art projects and even making homemade birthday cards (we’ve done it, and we love it).
What’s more, we rounded up the best 3D printers, photo printers, and even shipping label printers for you to shop.
There are many models on the market with assorted ink cartridges that’ll turn your blank white sheets into professional papers and creative canvases. But, don’t fret — they won’t take up much space near your office desk.
In order to help narrow down your search, The New York Post consulted Nick Lucido, a printing expert at HP, to answer common FAQs.
Below, find the best printers across all different models, budgets and styles. There’s sure to be at least one you’re ready to welcome into your space for sweet, at-home convenience.
Click to jump to our FAQ with the expert.
Best At-Home Printers
1. HP Smart Tank Wireless All-in-One Printer, $420
- Dimensions: 16 (W) x 9 (D) x 14 (H) inches
For an at-home printer that’s worth the splurge, consider the HP Smart Tank Wireless All-in-One Printer from Office Depot. Not only does it come with two years of ink included, but it’s the heavy duty printer that can copy and scan — all wireless.
2. Canon Pixma Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, $59, original price: $79
- Dimensions: 12 (W) x 17.7 (D) x 6 (H) inches
Enter one of Amazon’s favorite printers (labeled a “Choice” item): the Canon Pixma. Just shy of $60, this compact model doesn’t have many frills, but the fact that it’s WiFi-enabled and does the job is certainly a thrill.
3. HP OfficeJet Pro 8210 Printer, $130, original price: $180
- Dimensions: 19.5 (W) x 16.5 (D) x 8 (H) inches
You can’t beat HP’s OfficeJet Pro with two-sided printing and a fast print job. It’s essentially a “do-it-all” machine, as its print quality and speed are reliable for the price. Plus, its sleek makeup makes it standout from others on the market.
4. HP LaserJet M209dwe Printer, $89, original price: $149
- Dimensions: 14 (W) x 11 (D) x 8 (H) inches
Especially fitting for a home office setting, HP’s LaserJet Printer is a well-priced option. Not only does it print at remarkable speed, according to the model’s reviews, but it also conveniently houses a self-contained output tray behind the touchscreen, making it difficult for papers to fall every which way in your space.
5.Brother HL-L2300D Monochrome Laser Printer with Duplex Printing, $120
- Dimensions: 14 (W) x 14 (D) x 7 (H) inches
The Brother HL-L2300D is a showstopping home office essential if all you need is a professional-grade printer. Close to 10K reviewers love how quiet it is and its ability to produce quick print jobs — and make them double-sided if you so choose.
6. Canon Wireless InkJet Printer, $69
- Dimensions: 17 (W) x 11.1 (D) x 5.7 (H) inches
You can’t go wrong with a Canon printer (especially a model that’s one of the most affordable on this list and is compact to suit any space). Not only that, but it’s a sharp, all-you-can-ask-for item that also pairs with Alexa for all your printing needs.
7. Brother HL-L3210CW Compact Digital Color Printer, $250, original price: $300
- Dimensions: 16.1 (W) x 18.1 (D) x 9.9 (H) inches
We love Brother’s HL Laser Printer for many reasons, one being that it’s excellent for once-in-a-while print jobs. Why? Because it’s a laser printer, it can sit at your desk for weeks or even months without a tech issue.
This less-than-$400 model has a generous 250-sheet paper tray, WiFi capability and many layout features to choose from. For a trusty option, this one’s a solid printer.
8. Epson SureColor P900 17-Inch Printer, $1,249, original price: $1,349
- Dimensions: 29.3 (W) x 18.6 (D) x 14.7 (H) inches
Yes, spending more on $1,000 for a printer may be a bit steep — but hear us out. Not only is the Epson SureColor’s picture quality a far cry above the others in this list (just look at the printer’s name), but its 10-channel MicroPiezo AMC printhead delivers prints with exceptional speed and clarity.
If you’re keen on printing more often than not, you may want to splurge on this machine that’ll likely last you a lifetime.
9. Epson WorkForce Pro All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, $170
- Dimensions: 16.7 (W) x 19.8 (D) x 13 (H) inches
First, Epson’s WorkForce Pro is honored by a Target review: “Epson fan for 30 years! A+.” Second, the features on this printer affirm that review tenfold.
With a fast first-page print (and quick speed after that), this model is especially great for heavy workloads; the innovative heat-free technology helps prevent technical mishaps.
10. HP Deskjet 2755e All-in-One Printer, $60, original price: $85
- Dimensions: 16.7 (W) x 12 (D) x 6 (H) inches
As its name suggests, the HP Deskjet is an attractive option for your productive work sessions. It’s a swift option for printing recipes, forms and travel documents and doesn’t take up too much room in your space.
11. Rollo Shipping Label Printer, $179, original price: $200
- Dimensions: 7.7 (W) x 3.3 (D) x 3 (H) inches
You’ve seen the traditional printer. But a shipping label printer? Now that’s something snazzy to have in your arsenal.
Not only does Rollo’s model save you hundreds of dollars on label costs, but the brand’s Advanced Thermal Direct technology prints without ever needing toner or ink. The size is super compact, too.
12. Kodak Dock Plus Portable Instant Photo Printer, $138, original price: $168
- Dimensions: 7 (W) x 4 (D) x 3 (H) inches
Need to develop photos but don’t want to pay a pretty coin for printing (plus printing costs)? No problem, especially with Kodak’s Dock Plus Portable Instant Photo Printer.
Simply use Bluetooth from your smartphone — both iOS and Android — and you’ll instantly have snapshots ready to frame.
13. Memoking Mini Printer and Sticker Maker, $30, original price: $60
- Dimensions: 3.54 (W) x 1.57 (D) x 3.43 inches (H)
Printing onto paper is one thing, but printing stickers? We can hardly believe Amazon is offering this bestselling Memoking Mini Printer and Sticker Maker for half off. Scrapbook to your heart’s content with this adorable printer, perfect for kids and whimsical adults alike.
14. Brother MFC L275 Series All-in-One Wireless Monochrome Laser Printer, $314
- Dimensions: 16.1 (W) x 15.7 (D) x 12.5 (H) inches
With an attached USB printer cable and touchscreen LCD, Brother’s Monochrome Laser Printer is a trusty splurge that offers impressive speed and two-sided printing.
This model is also WiFi-enabled with scanning features for at-home convenience.
15. KODAK Step Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Color Printer, $70, original price: $100
- Dimensions: 3 (W) x 5 (D) x 1 (H) inches
Keep things compact with this photo printer that’ll take pictures from your phone and convert them into a printed pic for you to hang on your wall or add to a scrapbook.
16. Brother Desktop QL-800 Label Printer, $119
- Dimensions: 4.9 (W) x 8.4 (D) x 5.6 (H) inches
You won’t need to wait long for your labels as this lil number can produce up to 93 a minute. Just customize your label and watch as it prints out in a matter of seconds.
17. Epson WorkForce WF-2950 All-in-One Wireless Color Printer with Scanner, $79, original price: $89
- Dimensions: 14.8 (W) x 22.8 (D) x 9.5 (H) inches
Whether you need to print, scan or fax, this machine does it all and features a display screen to personalize to your needs. Just use the individual ink cartridges to print in color or black and white.
18. Canon – PIXMA MegaTank G5020 Wireless Inkjet Printer, $150, original price: $250
- Dimensions: 15.9 (W) x 6.6 (H) inches
This printer boasts the ability to create solid quality projects without needing ink cartridges. In fact, the tank system holds up to 6,000 black and 7,700 color prints.
19. Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 Wireless Color Photo Printer, $210, original price: $240
- Dimensions: 17.2 (W) x 23.5 (D) x 8.1 (H) inches
With this Epson printer, you can print borderless photos up to 8 x 10 inches. Not only that, but the device will print, copy and scan documents for you, and has a 30 page auto document feeder for quicker results.
20. Rollo Wireless Shipping Label Printer, $280, original price: $300
- Dimensions: 7 (W) x 3 (D) x 3.5 (H) inches
All you need is wifi and you’ll be ready to print all the labels your heart desires. Thanks to its small, compact size you can even bring it with you on the go.
FAQ with the expert
Characteristics to look for in a printer
Whether it’s your first printer or a replacement, Lucido suggests first determining how often you’ll be printing and what the main purposes are for.
“That answer will help narrow down the list quite a bit and from there, comparing specific features and/or functionality should ultimately lead to the best option based on the print need,” Lucido told The Post.
No matter what purpose or how often you print though, there are two factors you should always consider: security and sustainability.
“Having peace of mind when it comes to your printer’s security system is crucial, so ensure you are looking for devices with the latest and greatest security capabilities,” he said.
What to avoid in a printer
While you may not need all the bells and whistles that a printer comes with, one of the most stressful parts of purchasing a new printer, according to Lucido, is the setup.
“A huge pain point is the difficulty many associate with setting up a new printer, which is why it’s crucial to avoid these types of frustrations and consider a printer that offers a seamless set-up experience,” he said.
Printer models that include an in-app feature can help alleviate this stress by completing setup in just a click of a button.
How to properly care for a printer
Just like any appliance, keeping it clean will help extend its lifetime and ensure it produces high quality results every time. To keep you printer in tip-top shape, Lucido advises to “clean the printhead now and again.”
“The printhead is a component in a printer that houses ink cartridges,” he told. “It’s typically located under the cover of your printer, and it can become clogged with ink over time.”
A printhead cleaning kit can help you easily achieve this and provide all the necessary tools to do so.
And if you want to avoid paper jams, then he also said to “use paper that meets the printer’s specifications.”
“Before you buy paper, review the paper-handling specifications for your printer and then make sure that you purchase paper that matches those specifications,” he said.
Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.