Buying Guide
The Best Printers for Homeschooling, Compared
We looked at 8 printers for homeschooling side by side, with the trade-offs that separate them and who each one suits.
By Jamie Cole, Lead Product Researcher
10 min read8 products evaluated
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A homeschooling household prints far more than the average home office, worksheets, answer keys, art projects, and reading materials can add up to hundreds of pages a month across even one or two kids, and that volume changes which printer actually makes sense. A printer built around occasional home use quickly turns into a cartridge-replacement treadmill once real homeschool volume hits it.
99 ink-tank model built for sustained daily printing.
Quick Picks
Our 8 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Overall
Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
Homeschools with moderate print volume who want a simple, low-cost starting printer
Our take Check price for Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for High-Volume Worksheets
Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
Homeschools with 1-3 kids generating high monthly worksheet and color volume
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Pick
HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
Budget-conscious homeschools just starting out and testing their real print volume
Our take Check price for HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best with Auto Document Feeder
Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer
Parents who regularly scan stacks of completed worksheets or grading records
Our take Check price for Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Fax and Multi-Page Scanning
Epson Workforce WF-2930 Wireless All-in-One Printer
Homeschools that need fax and multi-page scanning alongside moderate daily printing
Our take Check price for Epson Workforce WF-2930 Wireless All-in-One Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Tablet Printing
Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
Homeschools running curricula primarily through a tablet or iPad
Our take Check price for Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for High-Volume Text Worksheets
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser
Math-heavy or reading-heavy curricula with high-volume black-and-white daily worksheets
Our take Check price for Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser (opens in a new tab)
Best Value Ink Tank
HP Smart Tank 5101 Wireless All-in-One Refillable Printer
Homeschools wanting ink-tank savings on a tighter upfront budget
Our take Check price for HP Smart Tank 5101 Wireless All-in-One Refillable Printer (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Overall1 of 8
Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
42-inch OLED display that makes it simple for a parent to check status or clear an issue without pulling out a phone app mid-lesson.
Best for
- Homeschools with moderate print volume who want a simple, low-cost starting printer
Why we like it
Duplex printing and built-in copy and scan cover the core homeschool workflow of printing worksheets and scanning completed work.
As a cartridge-based inkjet, cost per page will run higher than the ink-tank picks below once volume climbs into the hundreds of pages a month, so this fits a homeschool with lighter or more occasional printing needs best, or a household layering it with a shared printer for high-volume days.
Key dimensions & specs
- Color inkjet, duplex printing
- Built-in copier and scanner
- 1.42-inch OLED display
- Compact design
- Cartridge-based ink system
Pros
- Clear OLED display simplifies daily use
- Compact footprint fits a small homeschool desk
- Duplex printing built in
- Lower upfront price than ink-tank options
Cons
- Cartridge ink costs more per page at high volume
- No automatic document feeder for multi-page scanning
- Ink can dry out during light summer-break use
Best for High-Volume Worksheets2 of 8
Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The EcoTank ET-2400 swaps disposable cartridges for refillable ink tanks, which is exactly the change that makes sense once a homeschool is printing several hundred pages a month across worksheets, coloring pages, and reading material.
Best for
- Homeschools with 1-3 kids generating high monthly worksheet and color volume
Why we like it
Bottle refills cost a fraction of what the equivalent cartridge volume would cost over the same stretch.
With 1 to 3 kids realistically generating 500 to 1,000 color pages a month plus a couple hundred more in black and white, the higher upfront price of an ink-tank printer typically pays itself back well within a homeschool year compared to sticking with cartridges at that volume.
Handles hundreds of worksheet pages a month without cartridge swaps.
Key dimensions & specs
- Cartridge-free EcoTank refillable ink system
- Color print, scan, and copy
- Wireless printing
- Bottled ink refills included
- Built for everyday, high-volume printing
Pros
- Lowest cost per page of any pick in this list at real homeschool volume
- Handles hundreds of worksheet pages a month without cartridge swaps
- Scan and copy included
- No mid-print cartridge failures
Cons
- Higher upfront price than a basic cartridge inkjet
- Larger footprint due to the ink tanks
- No automatic document feeder
Best Budget Pick3 of 8
HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The DeskJet 4355 keeps things simple with print, scan, and copy in a low-cost package, plus a 3-month Instant Ink trial that softens the early cartridge cost for a new homeschool setup still figuring out its actual print volume.
Best for
- Budget-conscious homeschools just starting out and testing their real print volume
Why we like it
It is one of the most affordable full all-in-ones in this list.
Once the Instant Ink trial ends, standard cartridge economics apply, so families printing more than light-to-moderate volume should plan to reassess after the trial period or budget for more frequent cartridge purchases.
Key dimensions & specs
- Color inkjet all-in-one: print, scan, copy
- 3-month Instant Ink trial included
- Wireless printing
- AI-capable printing features
- Compact, low-cost design
Pros
- Very low upfront price
- Instant Ink trial softens early ink costs
- Scan and copy included
- Simple setup for a first-time homeschool printer
Cons
- Standard cartridge costs return after the trial period
- Not built for sustained high-volume printing
- No automatic document feeder
Best with Auto Document Feeder4 of 8
Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The PIXMA TR4720 stands out among the budget picks in this list for including an automatic document feeder, useful for a homeschool parent scanning a stack of completed worksheets or grading records in one pass instead of feeding pages one at a time.
Best for
- Parents who regularly scan stacks of completed worksheets or grading records
Why we like it
Built-in fax is a legacy feature most households won't use, but it doesn't add meaningful cost.
Mobile printing lets a parent send a worksheet from a phone or tablet without walking to a desktop computer, a small convenience that matters during a busy lesson block.
Low price for the included feature set.
Key dimensions & specs
- Color inkjet all-in-one with auto document feeder
- Mobile printing support
- Built-in fax (legacy feature)
- Wireless connectivity
- Compact home printer design
Pros
- Auto document feeder speeds up scanning multi-page work
- Low price for the included feature set
- Mobile printing from phone or tablet
- Simple setup
Cons
- Cartridge-based ink costs more at high volume
- Fax feature is unnecessary for most households
- Not built for sustained daily high-volume printing
Best for Fax and Multi-Page Scanning5 of 8
Epson Workforce WF-2930 Wireless All-in-One Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Workforce WF-2930 packs an automatic document feeder, fax, duplex printing, and a small color display into a low-cost all-in-one, a fuller feature set than most printers at this price.
Best for
- Homeschools that need fax and multi-page scanning alongside moderate daily printing
Why we like it
Duplex printing helps cut paper use on longer reading assignments or multi-page lesson packets.
Like the other cartridge-based picks in this list, cost per page will run higher than an ink-tank printer once volume climbs, making this best suited to a homeschool with moderate rather than heavy daily printing needs.
Duplex printing saves paper on long assignments.
Key dimensions & specs
- Color inkjet all-in-one: print, scan, copy, fax
- Automatic document feeder
- Automatic 2-sided printing
- 1.4-inch color display
- Cartridge-based ink system
Pros
- Full feature set for the price: ADF, fax, duplex
- Duplex printing saves paper on long assignments
- Simple color display for status checks
- Compact enough for a shared homeschool desk
Cons
- Cartridge ink costs more per page at high volume
- Not ideal for a homeschool with heavy daily printing
- Ink can dry out over slow weeks like summer break
Best for Tablet Printing6 of 8
Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The PIXMA MG3620 emphasizes mobile and tablet printing, a useful trait for homeschool curricula delivered as PDFs or apps on an iPad, letting a parent send a worksheet straight from the tablet a kid is already using for lessons.
Best for
- Homeschools running curricula primarily through a tablet or iPad
Why we like it
Wireless setup covers the basics for a shared home network.
It is a print, scan, copy all-in-one without an automatic document feeder or fax, which keeps the design simple but limits it for anyone needing to scan multi-page stacks regularly.
Key dimensions & specs
- Color inkjet all-in-one: print, scan, copy
- Mobile and tablet printing emphasis
- Wireless connectivity
- No automatic document feeder
- Cartridge-based ink system
Pros
- Strong tablet and mobile printing support
- Simple print, scan, copy feature set
- Reliable wireless setup
- Works well with iPad-based curricula
Cons
- No automatic document feeder for multi-page scans
- No fax
- Cartridge ink costs more at high volume than an ink tank
Best for High-Volume Text Worksheets7 of 8
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
For a homeschool leaning heavily on black-and-white daily worksheets, math drills, spelling lists, reading comprehension pages, a monochrome laser like the DCP-L2640DW brings cost per page down further than even an ink-tank inkjet can manage for pure text.
Best for
- Math-heavy or reading-heavy curricula with high-volume black-and-white daily worksheets
Why we like it
Duplex printing, copy, and scan are all built in.
The trade-off is no color output at all, so pair it with a color-capable printer if art or science visuals are a regular part of your curriculum.
Toner survives summer break without drying out.
Key dimensions & specs
- Monochrome laser engine
- Automatic duplex (2-sided) printing
- Copy and scan built in
- Wireless and mobile printing
- Compact footprint for a homeschool desk
Pros
- Lowest cost per page for high-volume black-and-white worksheets
- Toner survives summer break without drying out
- Duplex printing saves paper automatically
- Built to last multiple school years
Cons
- No color output at all
- Highest upfront cost in this list
- Overkill for a homeschool with light or mostly color printing needs
Best Value Ink Tank8 of 8
HP Smart Tank 5101 Wireless All-in-One Refillable Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Smart Tank 5101 brings ink-tank economics to a lower price than the EcoTank ET-2400, with 2 years of ink included, a meaningful head start for a homeschool budgeting print costs over an entire school year or more.
Best for
- Homeschools wanting ink-tank savings on a tighter upfront budget
Why we like it
Print, scan, and copy cover the essentials without extra bulk.
4GHz guest band enabled for this printer to join.
4GHz-only wireless can complicate setup on some routers.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refillable ink tank system with 2 years of ink included
- Print, scan, and copy
- Wireless printing (2.4GHz only)
- Compact footprint versus larger ink-tank models
- No automatic document feeder
Pros
- 2 years of ink included offsets a full homeschool budget cycle
- Ink-tank economics for high-volume printing
- More compact than some other ink-tank models
- Lower upfront price than the EcoTank ET-2400
Cons
- 2.4GHz-only wireless can complicate setup on some routers
- No automatic document feeder
- No automatic duplex printing listed
How We Chose These Printers for Homeschooling
Each pick was assessed across 5 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Cost per page at real homeschool volume
- Weighed cartridge versus ink-tank economics specifically against homeschool print volume, which runs far higher than typical occasional home use.
- Kid-durability and ease of use
- Considered button layout simplicity and how forgiving each printer is of a curious kid pressing the wrong button or yanking paper mid-print.
- Checked for automatic document feeders and duplex printing, both of which matter for scanning completed worksheets and printing long reading assignments efficiently.
- Evaluated wireless and app-based printing support, since many homeschool curricula are delivered as PDFs or apps on a shared family tablet.
- Value across a full school year
- Weighed upfront price against ink cost projected across a 9 to 10 month school year rather than a single month, which changes which pick is actually cheaper.
What to Look for in a Printer for Homeschooling
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Match actual size and capacity to your real need, not the category label alone
Listings for a printer often use a size or capacity label ("compact," "large," "heavy-duty") that isn't standardized across brands, so the same label can mean meaningfully different actual dimensions or capacity from one product to the next.
This matters because buying based on the category label rather than the specific listed dimensions or capacity is a common way to end up with something that doesn't actually fit your space or handle your real load.
Check the listing for exact measurements or a stated capacity figure, and compare that directly against your actual space or need, not just the marketing size category.
Verify build material and construction quality from reviews, not just spec-sheet claims
A product description can describe material or construction in flattering terms that don't always hold up under real, sustained use, and the gap between a listing's claimed quality and its actual durability only shows up in how the product performs after weeks or months of real use, not in day-one photos.
This matters more for anything you'll use daily or under real load, less for occasional light use where durability matters less.
Check reviews specifically for mentions of how the printer holds up over time, not just unboxing-day impressions, and treat a listing's own quality claims as a starting point to verify, not a guarantee.
Confirm any headline feature actually works as advertised, not just that it's listed
A feature appearing in a product's bullet points doesn't guarantee it performs well in practice, some features are functional but limited, and a few are closer to a marketing checkbox than a useful capability.
This matters directly if a specific feature is the main reason you're choosing this printer over a simpler, cheaper alternative, since a feature that underperforms in practice undermines the whole reason for paying more.
Check reviews specifically for real-world experiences with the exact feature that matters most to you, not just whether the feature is listed at all.
Weigh review count alongside rating, not rating alone
This matters more for a purchase you're relying on to perform consistently over time, less for a low-stakes, easily replaceable item.
Check both the star rating and the review count together for any printer you're considering, and treat a high rating on a very small review count as a promising but less-proven signal.
Check compatibility and fit with your existing setup before ordering
A printer that looks like a straightforward fit in photos can still have a compatibility detail, a connector type, a mounting requirement, a size threshold, that doesn't match your existing setup, and this kind of mismatch is one of the most common and avoidable reasons for a return.
This matters directly if the product needs to physically connect to, mount on, or otherwise integrate with something you already own.
Check the listing's specific compatibility details against your exact existing setup, not just the general product category, before ordering.
How to Choose a Printer for Homeschooling
By Rating Confidence: Highest Rated vs Most Reviewed
| Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer | |
| Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer |
| HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All | |
HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All vs Brother DCP
- HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All
- The lower-priced option in this comparison, worth checking its actual specs and review history against your specific need before assuming it's enough.
- The higher-priced option, worth it if it offers real, checkable headroom in build quality, capacity, or features over the cheaper pick.
Default to HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All unless your specific need calls for the pricier pick's extra headroom.
| Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer |
For a First-Time Buyer Specifically
- Clear, specific dimensions or capacity and a real, established review history, not just marketing language.
- You need real durability and feature depth for regular use, where Brother DCP's build gives real headroom over the cheaper picks.
- You only need this for light or occasional use, where HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All covers the same job at a lower price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do homeschool families actually print each month?
It's higher than most people expect. 1 to 3 kids can realistically generate 500 to 1,000 color pages a month from worksheets, art projects, and reading material, plus another 200 to 400 black-and-white pages. That volume is high compared to typical occasional home printing, which is why an ink-tank printer often makes more financial sense for homeschooling than it would for a household that prints rarely.
Is an ink-tank printer worth the extra upfront cost for homeschooling?
Usually, yes, if your monthly volume is in the hundreds of pages. The Epson EcoTank ET-2400 and HP Smart Tank 5101 cost more upfront than a basic cartridge inkjet, but bottle refills at $15 to $20 typically last months even at high volume, versus $30 to $60 a month in cartridges at that same volume. Most homeschool households recover the price difference within a single school year.
What should I do about wall charts, posters, or maps my curriculum requires?
None of the compact printers built for a homeschool desk handle A3 or 11x17 large-format printing. For occasional large-format needs, using a local print shop is typically cheaper and more practical than buying a dedicated large-format printer that would otherwise sit unused most of the year.
Will my printer's ink dry out over summer break?
It can, for cartridge-based printers. Cartridges left idle for a few weeks or months can dry out, leading to wasted ink on auto-cleaning cycles when you resume printing in the fall. Ink-tank printers like the EcoTank ET-2400 or Smart Tank 5101 largely avoid this cost since bottle-fed ink doesn't dry out inside the printhead the way small cartridges do.
Which printer is best for scanning completed worksheets in bulk?
Look for an automatic document feeder, which lets you scan a stack of pages in one pass instead of feeding them one at a time. The Canon PIXMA TR4720 and Epson Workforce WF-2930 both include one, making them the better picks in this list for parents who regularly scan multi-page assignments or grading records.
Do I need a printer with fax for homeschooling?
Fax is a legacy feature that shows up on a few all-in-ones in this list, including the PIXMA TR4720 and Workforce WF-2930, but it rarely gets used in a homeschool context. Don't let fax sway your decision, focus on cost per page, automatic document feeder support, and color needs instead.
Bottom Line
Best overall: Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer — best overall pick in this roundup. See the full verdicts above for every pick, with pros, cons and who each one suits.
Browse all printers for homeschooling on Amazon — Prime-eligible options with current pricing.