Buying Guide
The Best Small Printers for Home Offices: Picks and Trade-offs
We looked at 8 small printers for home offices side by side, with the trade-offs that separate them and who each one suits.
By Jamie Cole, Lead Product Researcher
9 min read8 products evaluated
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A small printer for a home office is really two different products wearing the same marketing label. A small monochrome laser printer is fast and cheap to run per page but prints text only, while a small color inkjet all-in-one can scan and print photos but costs more per page and can dry out between print jobs. Picking the wrong category for your actual workload is the most common mistake home-office buyers make.
99 duplex laser multi-function printer.
Quick Picks
Our 8 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Overall for a Single Home Office
Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
A single person working from home who wants full AIO function in a small body
Our take Check price for Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Inkjet AIO
Canon PIXMA TS4320 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
Budget-conscious single-user home offices with light, occasional printing
Our take Check price for Canon PIXMA TS4320 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best Starter Ink Trial
HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
Buyers who want a low-cost trial period before committing to an ink plan
Our take Check price for HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Occasional Multi-Page Scans
Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer
A home office that occasionally scans or faxes multi-page documents
Our take Check price for Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best Small Laser for a Shared Home Office
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Multi-Function
A home office shared by 2-3 people who need reliable, faster mono output
Our take Check price for Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Multi-Function (opens in a new tab)
Best Print-Only Laser
Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer
A home office that only needs fast, reliable text printing without scanning
Our take Check price for Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Lowest Cost Per Page
Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Color All-in-One Printer
A home office that prints regularly and wants color without high per-page ink cost
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Color All-in-One Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Occasional Fax Needs
Epson Workforce WF-2930 Wireless All-in-One Printer
A single-user home office that wants ADF, duplex, and fax without laser pricing
Our take Check price for Epson Workforce WF-2930 Wireless All-in-One Printer (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Overall for a Single Home Office1 of 8
Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
42-inch OLED screen for quick status checks without opening a phone app.
Best for
- A single person working from home who wants full AIO function in a small body
Why we like it
Its small footprint suits a desk corner rather than a dedicated office nook.
As a cartridge-based inkjet, standby power draw is on the lower end of what small printers use, typically 1-2 watts, and ink levels are visible right on the screen. It's built for one person's workflow rather than a shared office queue, so a busy 2-3 person setup may find its speed limiting.
Full print, scan, copy functionality.
Key dimensions & specs
- Compact color inkjet all-in-one
- 1.42" OLED display
- Auto duplex printing
- Low standby power draw (inkjet)
- Single-user oriented speed and queue handling
Pros
- OLED display for at-a-glance status
- Full print, scan, copy functionality
- Auto duplex printing included
- Lower standby energy draw than laser alternatives
Cons
- Not built for a multi-person print queue
- Ink cartridges can dry out with infrequent use
- Cost per page higher than a laser or ink-tank printer
Best Budget Inkjet AIO2 of 8
Canon PIXMA TS4320 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The PIXMA TS4320 delivers the same core inkjet AIO functions as its pricier sibling, print, copy, scan, and duplex printing, without the OLED display, at the lowest price in this list.
Best for
- Budget-conscious single-user home offices with light, occasional printing
Why we like it
For a light home-office workload of occasional letters, forms, and the odd scanned document, the missing screen is not a real loss.
Ink cartridges for this model are widely available at retail stores, not just online, which matters if you run out unexpectedly and need same-day replacement. Standby draw stays in typical inkjet territory, lower than the laser picks in this list.
Key dimensions & specs
- Compact color inkjet all-in-one
- Auto duplex printing
- No display screen
- Widely available retail ink cartridges
- Low standby power draw
Pros
- Lowest price in this list
- Retail-available ink cartridges, not online-only
- Auto duplex printing built in
- Low standby energy draw
Cons
- No status display screen
- Small paper tray needs frequent refills
- Not suited to a shared multi-person queue
Best Starter Ink Trial3 of 8
HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
HP's DeskJet 4355 bundles a 3-month HP Instant Ink trial with its compact color inkjet AIO body, which softens the cost of the first few months of ownership.
Best for
- Buyers who want a low-cost trial period before committing to an ink plan
Why we like it
After the trial, HP Instant Ink cartridge replacements ship automatically based on usage, though that convenience comes with an ongoing subscription cost worth comparing against buying cartridges outright.
Like the other cartridge-based inkjets in this list, standby power draw is modest, and setup runs through the HP Smart app. It's a reasonable single-user pick if the ink subscription model appeals to you.
Key dimensions & specs
- Compact color inkjet all-in-one
- 3-month HP Instant Ink trial included
- Subscription-based ink replacement after trial
- HP Smart app setup
- Low standby power draw
Pros
- Free 3-month Instant Ink trial reduces early cost
- Automatic cartridge replacement shipping
- Compact, single-user-friendly footprint
- Full print, scan, copy function
Cons
- Instant Ink subscription cost after the trial
- Small tray typical of compact inkjets
- HP Smart app setup can be an extra step for non-tech users
Best for Occasional Multi-Page Scans4 of 8
Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The PIXMA TR4720 adds an auto document feeder and built-in fax to the standard compact inkjet AIO formula, both useful for a home office that occasionally needs to scan multi-page contracts or send a fax without lifting the scanner lid page by page.
Best for
- A home office that occasionally scans or faxes multi-page documents
Why we like it
It remains a single-user-oriented device rather than a shared-office printer, and its inkjet cartridges carry the same idle-drying risk as other inkjets in this list if print jobs are infrequent. The ADF is the clear reason to choose this over the plainer TS4320 or TS3720.
Key dimensions & specs
- Auto document feeder (ADF)
- Built-in fax
- Compact color inkjet all-in-one
- Canon PRINT app setup
- Single-user oriented
Pros
- ADF handles multi-page scans without manual page flipping
- Built-in fax for occasional home-office needs
- Still a compact footprint despite the added hardware
- Wireless mobile printing supported
Cons
- Fax is rarely used by most 2026 home offices
- Cartridges can dry out with infrequent printing
- Not built for a shared multi-person print queue
Best Small Laser for a Shared Home Office5 of 8
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Multi-Function on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The DCP-L2640DW is the pick in this list built for more than one person relying on the same printer, a mono laser multi-function with duplex printing, copy, and scan that handles a steadier print queue than the inkjet AIOs here.
Best for
- A home office shared by 2-3 people who need reliable, faster mono output
Why we like it
Laser output is also faster page-to-page, which matters when 2-3 people are sending jobs to the same device.
Toner cartridges don't dry out between uses the way ink does, a real advantage for a home office where print jobs come in bursts rather than daily. Standby draw runs higher than the inkjets in this list, typically 3-5 watts versus 1-2 watts, worth factoring in if the printer stays plugged in around the clock.
Toner never dries out from bursty usage patterns.
Key dimensions & specs
- Compact monochrome laser multi-function
- Duplex printing, copy, scan
- Faster page output than inkjet AIOs
- Toner does not dry out between uses
- Higher standby power draw (laser)
Pros
- Handles a multi-person print queue better than inkjet AIOs
- Toner never dries out from bursty usage patterns
- Faster print speed for repeated jobs
- Duplex printing plus scan and copy
Cons
- Highest price in this list
- Monochrome only, no color printing
- Higher standby energy draw than inkjet picks
Best Print-Only Laser6 of 8
Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
If your home office doesn't need scanning or copying, the HL-L2405W delivers small-laser speed and toner economics without paying for a multi-function body.
Best for
- A home office that only needs fast, reliable text printing without scanning
Why we like it
It's smaller than most compact inkjet AIOs since it skips the scanner bed entirely, and it works with Alexa for voice-triggered printing.
Brother toner cartridges for this model are generally available at retail office-supply stores as well as online, which matters if you run low and need same-day replacement rather than waiting on shipping. Standby draw sits in typical small-laser range, higher than the inkjets here but with no idle drying risk.
Key dimensions & specs
- Compact monochrome laser, print-only
- Alexa compatible
- Retail-available toner cartridges
- No scan or copy function
- Toner does not dry out between uses
Pros
- Smaller footprint than most compact inkjet AIOs
- Toner never dries out from infrequent printing
- Retail-available replacement toner
- Faster mono print speed than inkjet
Cons
- No scan or copy capability
- Monochrome only
- Higher standby power draw than inkjet picks
Best for Lowest Cost Per Page7 of 8
Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Color All-in-One Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The EcoTank ET-2400 uses refillable ink tanks instead of cartridges, which meaningfully lowers cost per page for anyone printing regularly rather than occasionally, and tanks hold enough ink to last months without needing refill.
Best for
- A home office that prints regularly and wants color without high per-page ink cost
Why we like it
It supports color printing, scan, and copy, unlike the mono laser picks in this list.
Standby energy draw for ink-tank printers runs closer to typical inkjet levels than laser, but the tank housing adds bulk to the printer body. This is the pick if your home office wants color capability alongside laser-like resistance to ink drying out.
Ink tanks resist drying out better than cartridges.
Key dimensions & specs
- Cartridge-free ink supertank system
- Color print, scan, copy
- Larger body than cartridge-based inkjets
- Tanks last months without refill
- Low ongoing cost per page
Pros
- Lowest cost per page among the color picks here
- Ink tanks resist drying out better than cartridges
- Full color print, scan, copy
- Tanks last months between refills
Cons
- Higher upfront price than cartridge-based inkjets
- Larger footprint due to tank housing
- Refilling tanks takes longer than a cartridge swap
Best for Occasional Fax Needs8 of 8
Epson Workforce WF-2930 Wireless All-in-One Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
4-inch color display for quick status checks.
Best for
- A single-user home office that wants ADF, duplex, and fax without laser pricing
Why we like it
It's positioned as a workhorse for a home office that still occasionally needs to send or receive a fax, a shrinking but not extinct requirement.
As a cartridge-based inkjet, it carries the same standby draw and idle-drying considerations as the other inkjets in this list. The combination of ADF, duplex, and fax makes it a reasonable single-device pick if you want most home-office document features without stepping up to laser pricing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Auto document feeder, duplex printing
- Fax, scan, copy
- 1.4" color display
- Cartridge-based color inkjet
- Mid-range price for feature set
Pros
- ADF plus duplex plus fax in one mid-priced device
- Color display for status checks
- Full scan, copy, fax feature set
- Reasonable price for the included features
Cons
- Ink cartridges can dry out with infrequent use
- Not built for a busy multi-person queue
- Fax capability goes unused by many buyers
How We Chose These Small Printers for Home Offices
Each pick was assessed across 5 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Inkjet fit for the workload
- Weighed whether each printer's technology, fast/cheap-toner mono laser versus color/scan-capable inkjet, actually matches typical home-office printing needs rather than treating all small printers as equivalent.
- Considered print speed and queue handling for a home office used by one person versus 2-3 people sharing the same device.
- Checked whether ink or toner for each model is available at retail office-supply stores or requires online-only ordering with shipping delays.
- Standby and active energy draw
- Compared typical standby power draw by technology, roughly 1-2 watts for inkjet versus 3-5 watts for laser, relevant for a printer left plugged in throughout the workday.
- Weighed upfront cost against included features like ADF, duplex, fax, and display screen to judge which picks earn their price premium.
What to Look for in a Small Printer for Home Offices
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Understand duty cycle as a maximum ceiling, not a healthy day-to-day volume
A printer's rated duty cycle is the absolute maximum number of pages it can print in a month before risking premature wear, not a figure representing comfortable, sustained daily use, printing consistently near that ceiling month after month accelerates wear on the print mechanism well beyond what the same printer would experience at a more moderate, realistic volume.
This matters because buying a printer rated just barely above your expected monthly volume often means running it closer to its stress limit than its comfortable operating range.
Check the listed duty cycle figure, and target a printer rated at 3 to 5 times your actual expected monthly volume for comfortable long-term use, not a printer rated just above what you think you'll print.
Match multi-user wifi sharing to how many people will actually print from it
A printer's wireless sharing capability varies in real-world reliability between models, some handle multiple simultaneous connection requests from different devices smoothly, while others can drop connections or queue print jobs unreliably when more than one person tries to print around the same time.
This matters directly for a shared home office or household with multiple people printing throughout the day, less for a single dedicated user.
Check reviews specifically for mentions of multi-device wifi reliability, not just whether wireless printing is listed as a supported feature, since the feature existing and working reliably under real multi-user load aren't the same thing.
Check scan resolution against what you're actually digitizing, not just print quality
Print quality specs get most of the attention in printer listings, but scan resolution, measured in DPI, determines whether a scanned document stays readable when zoomed in or printed again later, and this spec is often buried or only briefly mentioned compared to print specs.
This matters more if you regularly scan contracts, receipts, or other documents where legibility of fine print matters, less if scanning is an occasional, low-stakes task.
Check the listed optical scan resolution in DPI specifically, not just the printer's overall feature list, if document scanning is a real part of your workflow.
Weigh whether legacy features like fax are worth paying for in a 2026 home office
Many home-office printers still bundle a fax feature as a holdover from an earlier era, adding to the printer's cost and complexity even though most home offices in 2026 will never use it, having largely moved to email and digital document sharing entirely.
This matters for value, paying for a feature you'll never touch is a real, if often overlooked, inefficiency when a fax-free model at a lower price covers the same core printing and scanning needs.
Check whether fax is a genuine requirement for your specific situation before treating its presence as a meaningful selling point, and consider a fax-free model if it isn't.
Consider ink versus toner cost per page for your actual print volume, not just the printer's price
An inkjet printer is typically cheaper to buy upfront but has a meaningfully higher cost per printed page than a laser printer using toner, a gap that adds up significantly over months of real use at moderate to high volume, while a laser printer costs more initially but can work out cheaper in total ownership cost if you print regularly.
This matters directly based on your actual expected volume, a low-volume occasional printer may never recoup a laser printer's higher upfront cost, while a high-volume home office likely will.
Check the manufacturer's stated or estimated cost-per-page for both ink and toner options, and weigh that against your realistic monthly print volume, not just the printer's sticker price.
How to Choose a Small Printer for Home Offices
By Rating Confidence: Highest Rated vs Most Reviewed
| Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer | |
| Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer |
| Canon PIXMA TS4320 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer | |
- Prints both sides automatically, saves paper and time for double-sided documents. In this comparison: Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer, Canon PIXMA TS4320 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer, Brother DCP, Epson Workforce WF.
- Usually cheaper, fine if you rarely need double-sided printing. In this comparison: HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All, Canon PIXMA TR4720 All, Brother HL, Epson EcoTank ET.
Default to duplex unless you're confident your printing is mostly single-sided.
Check each pick's listed optical scan resolution in DPI against how you'll actually use scanning before buying, not just print specs.
For Scanning Contracts or Receipts Specifically
- A disclosed optical scan resolution in DPI high enough to keep fine print legible, not just the printer's overall feature list.
- You print regularly at moderate to high volume, where Brother DCP's duty cycle and cost-per-page give real headroom over the cheaper picks.
- You only print occasionally at low volume, where Canon PIXMA TS4320 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer covers the same job at a lower price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy a small laser or a small inkjet printer for my home office?
It depends on whether you need color and scanning. A small mono laser printer is faster and cheaper per page for text-only printing, while a small color inkjet all-in-one adds scanning, copying, and color output at a higher cost per page. If your home office mostly prints text documents, a laser printer like the Brother HL-L2405W is the more economical long-term choice.
Can one small printer handle a home office shared by multiple people?
A single-user-oriented inkjet AIO can become a bottleneck if 2-3 people are sending print jobs throughout the day. A small laser multi-function printer like the Brother DCP-L2640DW handles a shared queue more reliably thanks to faster page output and no ink-drying risk between bursts of use.
Is it hard to find replacement toner or ink for a small printer?
It varies by brand and model. Canon ink cartridges and Brother toner cartridges are generally available at retail office-supply stores for same-day replacement, while some budget or subscription-based supplies are online-only and can mean a 2-3 day wait. Check availability for your specific model before you're in a bind.
Do laser printers really use more standby power than inkjet printers?
Laser printers draw roughly 3-5 watts on standby compared to about 1-2 watts for inkjet printers, a difference that adds up if the printer stays plugged in for 8 or more hours a day. It's a minor factor individually but worth knowing if you're deciding between two otherwise similar picks.
Are ink-tank printers worth it for a home office?
Ink-tank printers like the Epson EcoTank ET-2400 lower cost per page significantly and resist drying out better than cartridges, but the higher upfront price only pays off with regular printing. For occasional home-office use, a cartridge-based inkjet or small laser printer is usually the more sensible upfront choice.
Do I need a printer with fax for my home office in 2026?
Most home offices no longer need fax, it remains a marketed feature on several all-in-ones despite very limited real-world use. If you haven't sent a fax in the past year, skip the fax-inclusive models and put that budget toward faster printing or a larger paper tray instead.
Bottom Line
Best overall: Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer — best overall for a single home office pick in this roundup. See the full verdicts above for every pick, with pros, cons and who each one suits.
Browse all small printers for home offices on Amazon — Prime-eligible options with current pricing.