Buying Guide
The Best Printers for Remote Workers, Compared
We looked at 8 printers for remote workers 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
A home office printer for remote work has a smaller job than an office printer, most remote workers print somewhere in the 30-80 page per month range for contracts, onboarding paperwork, and reports, nowhere close to the 500-plus pages a shared office machine handles. That lighter volume changes which features actually matter, and it raises a concern office printers don't have: printing confidential work documents on a machine your family or roommates also use.
99 duplex laser suited to daily home-office use.
Quick Picks
Our 8 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Overall for WFH
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer
Remote workers with steady daily printing who want the lowest running cost
Our take Check price for Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best Display for Quick Setup
Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
Remote workers with lighter, occasional-color printing needs
Our take Check price for Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Full Office Function
HP OfficeJet Pro 8139 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
Remote workers who need scan, fax, and full office functionality in one printer
Our take Check price for HP OfficeJet Pro 8139 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Laser
Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer
Remote workers who mainly need reliable, quiet text printing without scanning
Our take Check price for Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Steady Ink Costs
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
Remote workers who need occasional color output alongside routine printing
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget All-in-One
Epson Workforce WF-2930 Wireless All-in-One Printer
Remote workers on a budget who still want full print, scan, and fax function
Our take Check price for Epson Workforce WF-2930 Wireless All-in-One Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best Value Supertank
Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
Remote workers who want low ink cost at a slightly lower price than the ET-2800
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best Long-Term Ink Value
HP Smart Tank 5101 Wireless All-in-One Refillable Printer
Remote workers who want to avoid thinking about ink cost for the first two years
Our take Check price for HP Smart Tank 5101 Wireless All-in-One Refillable Printer (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Overall for WFH1 of 8
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer
The DCP-L2640DW is built for a genuine daily home-office workload, with duplex printing, copy and scan built in, and laser toner that handles contracts and reports at a lower cost-per-page than any inkjet in this list.
Best for
- Remote workers with steady daily printing who want the lowest running cost
Why we like it
For a remote worker printing in the 30-80 page monthly range, toner also means no dried-out cartridges after a slow week. It's the pricier pick here, but if your employer covers home office equipment, many companies approve printers as an expensable cost, which is worth checking before you pay out of pocket for a laser printer at this tier.
Key specs
- Wireless compact monochrome laser printer
- Duplex printing, copy, and scan
- Includes Refresh Subscription trial
- Works with Alexa
- Mobile printing support
Pros
- Low cost-per-page for regular contract and report printing
- Duplex printing built in
- Toner doesn't dry out during slow printing weeks
- Often qualifies for employer equipment reimbursement
Cons
- Highest price in this list
- Black and white output only
- No physical locking tray for shared-household confidentiality
Best Display for Quick Setup2 of 8
Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
The PIXMA TS6520's OLED display makes wireless setup and everyday operation straightforward, useful for a remote worker who wants the printer running before a first video call rather than fighting a driver install.
Best for
- Remote workers with lighter, occasional-color printing needs
Why we like it
Duplex printing and a full print, copy, scan set cover typical WFH paperwork.
As a color inkjet, it's better suited to lighter, mixed-document printing than the high daily volume a busy contract or reporting job generates, where the ongoing ink cost adds up faster than toner would.
Duplex printing for double-sided documents.
Key specs
- Wireless color inkjet all-in-one
- 1.42" OLED display
- Duplex printing
- Print, copy, scan
- Compact design
Pros
- Easy setup with a clear OLED display
- Duplex printing for double-sided documents
- Compact footprint for a home office desk
- Lower upfront price than the laser picks
Cons
- Higher cost-per-page than laser at real WFH volume
- Color inkjet ink can dry out during slow weeks
- No confidentiality-specific features
Best for Full Office Function3 of 8
HP OfficeJet Pro 8139 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
The OfficeJet Pro 8139 covers print, scan, copy, and fax with an automatic document feeder and duplex printing, the fullest feature set in this list for a remote worker whose job still occasionally requires faxing signed documents.
Best for
- Remote workers who need scan, fax, and full office functionality in one printer
Why we like it
A 1-year Instant Ink trial is included to offset early ink cost.
This is a business-oriented machine, which makes it a strong candidate for employer equipment reimbursement, many companies approve printers in this price range as a home office expense, worth confirming with your employer before purchase.
Key specs
- Wireless color inkjet all-in-one
- Print, scan, copy, fax
- Auto document feeder, duplex printing
- 1-year Instant Ink trial included
- AI-capable
Pros
- Most complete feature set for business-style documents
- Auto document feeder for multi-page scans
- Fax support for jobs that still require it
- Strong candidate for employer expense reimbursement
Cons
- Pricier than most inkjet picks in this list
- Color inkjet running cost is higher than laser at volume
- Larger footprint than compact laser or basic inkjet picks
Best Budget Laser4 of 8
Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer
The HL-L2405W delivers the same laser cost-per-page advantage as the pricier DCP-L2640DW but drops the copy and scan functions, a reasonable tradeoff if you already have a scanning solution elsewhere and mainly need reliable, low-cost text printing for contracts and reports.
Best for
- Remote workers who mainly need reliable, quiet text printing without scanning
Why we like it
Laser printers also tend to run quieter and more consistently than inkjets during a print job, which matters if your desk sits near where video calls happen and a printer firing up mid-meeting risks being picked up by the mic.
Low cost-per-page for regular text printing.
Key specs
- Wireless compact monochrome laser printer
- Mobile printing support
- Black and white output
- Includes Refresh Subscription trial
- Works with Alexa
Pros
- Lower price than the full-featured DCP-L2640DW
- Low cost-per-page for regular text printing
- Laser mechanism tends to run quieter than inkjet
- Toner doesn't dry out over slow weeks
Cons
- No copy or scan function
- Black and white output only
- No dedicated confidentiality features
Best for Steady Ink Costs5 of 8
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
The EcoTank ET-2800 replaces disposable ink cartridges with refillable ink tanks, which keeps per-page cost low without switching to monochrome-only laser output, a useful middle ground for a remote worker who occasionally needs color charts or presentation printouts alongside routine paperwork.
Best for
- Remote workers who need occasional color output alongside routine printing
Why we like it
The supertank design does give it a larger footprint than typical compact inkjets, so measure your desk space honestly before buying rather than assuming it matches a standard printer's size.
Key specs
- Wireless color all-in-one supertank printer
- Cartridge-free refillable ink tanks
- Print, scan, copy
- Larger footprint due to ink tanks
- For everyday home printing
Pros
- Low per-page cost without giving up color
- No disposable cartridges to replace
- Print, scan, and copy in one unit
- Ink tanks don't dry out as easily as small cartridges
Cons
- Larger physical footprint than compact inkjets
- Higher upfront price than basic inkjet picks
- Not as fast as a laser for high daily text volume
Best Budget All-in-One6 of 8
Epson Workforce WF-2930 Wireless All-in-One Printer
The Workforce WF-2930 covers print, scan, copy, and fax with an auto document feeder and duplex printing at the lowest price point among the full-featured picks in this list, a solid fit for a remote worker whose WFH print volume sits at the lower end of the typical 30-80 page monthly range.
Best for
- Remote workers on a budget who still want full print, scan, and fax function
Why we like it
4-inch color display keeps day-to-day operation simple, and its compact size fits easily into a home office desk setup without dominating the space.
Key specs
- Wireless all-in-one inkjet printer
- Print, scan, copy, fax
- Auto document feeder, duplex printing
- 1.4" color display
- Compact design
Pros
- Full feature set at the lowest price among comparable picks
- Auto document feeder included
- Compact footprint for a home office desk
- Duplex printing built in
Cons
- Inkjet cost-per-page is higher than laser at volume
- Ink can dry out during slow printing weeks
- No dedicated confidentiality features
Best Value Supertank7 of 8
Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
The EcoTank ET-2400 offers the same cartridge-free refillable ink advantage as the pricier ET-2800 for everyday home printing, slightly undercutting it on price while keeping the same low per-page cost benefit for a remote worker who prints steadily but not at office-level volume.
Best for
- Remote workers who want low ink cost at a slightly lower price than the ET-2800
Why we like it
Like the ET-2800, its ink tank design adds bulk compared to a compact inkjet, so it suits a dedicated home office desk better than a tight shared workspace.
Slightly cheaper than the ET-2800 with the same core benefit.
Key specs
- Wireless color all-in-one supertank printer
- Cartridge-free refillable ink tanks
- Print, scan, copy
- For everyday home printing
- Larger footprint due to ink tanks
Pros
- Low per-page cost without disposable cartridges
- Slightly cheaper than the ET-2800 with the same core benefit
- Print, scan, and copy in one unit
- Good fit for steady, moderate WFH print volume
Cons
- Larger footprint than compact inkjets
- No auto document feeder
- No dedicated confidentiality features
Best Long-Term Ink Value8 of 8
HP Smart Tank 5101 Wireless All-in-One Refillable Printer
The Smart Tank 5101 ships with 2 years of ink included, which removes ink-buying decisions almost entirely for a remote worker's first two years of ownership, a meaningful convenience for anyone who would rather not think about consumables at all.
Best for
- Remote workers who want to avoid thinking about ink cost for the first two years
Why we like it
It covers print, scan, and copy in a refillable tank design similar to the Epson EcoTank line.
After the included ink period ends, refills are typically inexpensive compared to cartridge-based printers, keeping long-term cost low for steady WFH printing.
4GHz-only wireless can be slower to pair on dual-band routers.
Key specs
- Wireless all-in-one refillable printer
- 2 years of ink included
- Print, scan, copy
- 2.4GHz wireless only
- Cartridge-free tank design
Pros
- 2 years of included ink removes near-term ink cost
- Refillable tank design keeps long-term cost low
- Print, scan, and copy in one unit
- Good fit for steady daily WFH printing
Cons
- 2.4GHz-only wireless can be slower to pair on dual-band routers
- No auto document feeder
- No dedicated confidentiality features
How We Chose These Printers for Remote Workers
Each pick was assessed across 5 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Fit for realistic WFH print volume
- Weighed each printer against a typical remote-work volume of 30-80 pages a month, well below office-level use, rather than scoring for capacity most remote workers will never need.
- Cost-per-page over time
- Compared laser toner, standard inkjet cartridges, and refillable ink tank systems at realistic WFH volume, since the cheapest printer to buy isn't always the cheapest to run month to month.
- Noise during video calls
- Weighed laser vs inkjet mechanisms for print-time noise, since a printer firing up mid-call risks being picked up by a work laptop's microphone.
- Confidentiality-friendly features
- Checked for features relevant to printing HR files, contracts, or financial reports on a printer a family or roommate might also use, including any locking tray or dedicated-use design.
- Home office feature completeness
- Compared scan, copy, fax, and duplex printing support against what a genuine WFH workload, not a general household printer, actually needs.
What to Look for in a Printer for Remote Workers
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.
Pocket-size cylindrical mobile printer sitting on a sheet of paper 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.
Printed "Dog" label with an icon stuck on a spaniel's forehead 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 Remote Workers
By Rating Confidence: Highest Rated vs Most Reviewed
| Your priority | Recommended pick |
|---|---|
| Highest average rating | Brother DCP |
| Largest review base, strongest reliability signal | Brother DCP |
By Budget
| Budget | Recommended pick |
|---|---|
| Under $74 | Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer |
| Up to $210 | Brother DCP |
Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer vs Brother DCP
- Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
- The lower-priced option in this comparison, worth checking its actual specs and review history against your specific need before assuming it's enough.
- Brother DCP
- The higher-priced option, worth it if it offers real, checkable headroom in build quality, capacity, or features over the cheaper pick.
Default to Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer unless your specific need calls for the pricier pick's extra headroom.
By Review Base Confidence
| Your priority | Recommended pick |
|---|---|
| Largest, most-established review base | Brother DCP |
For a First-Time Buyer Specifically
- Look for
- Clear, specific dimensions or capacity and a real, established review history, not just marketing language.
- In this comparison
- Brother DCP is worth checking against its listed specs before buying, given its strong review base.
When to Spend More
- Spend more if
- You need real durability and feature depth for regular use, where Brother DCP's build gives real headroom over the cheaper picks.
- Save if
- You only need this for light or occasional use, where Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer covers the same job at a lower price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do remote workers actually print per month?
Realistic WFH print volume runs about 30-80 pages a month for contracts, onboarding documents, and reports, far below the 500-plus pages a shared office printer typically handles. Sizing your printer to this lower volume avoids overpaying for office-grade capacity you won't use.
Can my employer pay for my home office printer?
Many employers approve home office equipment, including printers under $200, as an expensable cost under standard remote-work policies, but this is rarely offered automatically. Check your company's reimbursement policy before buying, since most picks in this list fall under a typical $200 cap.
How do I keep confidential work documents private on a shared home printer?
None of the printers in this list include a true locking paper tray, so the practical approach is placement and habit, dedicate the printer to a room only you access if possible, and retrieve sensitive prints like HR files or contracts immediately after the job finishes rather than leaving them in an open tray.
Will my printer be too loud during a video call?
Laser printers like the Brother HL-L2405W and DCP-L2640DW tend to run quieter and more predictably than inkjets. Regardless of printer type, it's safest to schedule print jobs before or after meetings rather than during a call, since a printer firing up can get picked up by your laptop's microphone.
Is VPN printing to a company network printer worth setting up?
For occasional use, it's usually simpler to work in PDF and only print locally on your own printer, or request a PDF export from IT for one-off needs. VPN printer redirection is worth the setup effort only if you regularly need to print directly to a company printer, and even then it depends on whether your VPN client supports printer redirection.
Is a refillable ink tank printer worth it for a remote worker?
If you print steadily at the 30-80 page monthly range and occasionally need color output, a tank printer like the Epson EcoTank ET-2400 or HP Smart Tank 5101 brings per-page cost close to laser levels while keeping color capability. For mostly black-and-white printing, a compact monochrome laser like the Brother HL-L2405W is still the cheaper option to run.
Bottom Line
Best overall: Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer — best overall for wfh pick in this roundup. See the full verdicts above for every pick, with pros, cons and who each one suits.
Browse all printers for remote workers on Amazon — Prime-eligible options with current pricing.