Best Inkjet Printers for 2026

At a Glance

Category	Product	Why We Picked It
Best overall	Epson EcoTank ET-3950	Fast printing with ultra-low ink costs for home offices
Best value	Canon Pixma G3270	Budget-friendly tank printer with excellent photo output
Best for small business	Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850	Workhorse printing with dual paper trays and low per-page cost
Best for photos	Canon Pixma G620	Six-color ink tank system for vivid prints at a low running cost
Best for wide-format	Brother MFC-J6955DW	Tabloid-size printing with single-pass duplex scanning
Also recommended	HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e	Fast all-in-one with great app support
Also recommended	Brother MFC-J4535DW	Reliable inkjet with laser-sharp text
Also recommended	Epson EcoTank ET-4850	Compact tank printer with touchscreen and ADF

How we chose and tested

We evaluated inkjet printers based on print speed, output quality (text, graphics, and photos), paper handling, connectivity, and above all, total cost of ownership. Tank-based models were assessed on ink yield and refill cost, while cartridge models were evaluated on high-yield cartridge availability and per-page expense. We prioritized printers that balance upfront price with long-term affordability, and we looked for features like automatic duplexing, automatic document feeders, and mobile printing support that actually matter in daily use.

The best inkjet printers right now

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 - Best overall

The ET-3950 delivers fast single-sided printing and automatic duplex scanning, making it the most capable all-in-one inkjet for micro and home offices. Its tank system keeps ink costs extremely low while the 250-sheet paper capacity and 30-sheet ADF handle moderate workloads without fuss.

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Key highlights

Prints up to 250 sheets with auto-duplexing for two-sided pages
30-sheet reversing ADF that scans both sides of a document
Legal-size paper support for larger documents
Tank-based ink system with refillable bottles instead of cartridges
Fast simplex printing that beats most competitors in its class

Pros

Very fast print speeds for a sub-$300 inkjet
Exceptionally low cost per page with included ink bottles
Reliable paper handling for moderate to heavy home office use

Cons

Button-operated LCD controls feel basic compared to pricier models
Photo quality is good but not dedicated-photo-printer level

Who it is for: Home office users who print regularly and want the lowest possible long-term ink costs without sacrificing speed.

Skip if

You need wide-format printing (tabloid/A3) or you print mostly photos and want gallery-quality output.

Canon Pixma G3270 - Best value

The G3270 is one of the few tank-based printers that is both affordable upfront and cheap to run. Each set of ink bottles is rated for up to 6,000 black pages and 7,700 color pages, which means most households won't need to buy ink for years.

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Key highlights

Refillable MegaTank system with enough ink in the box for thousands of pages
Wi-Fi and mobile printing support via Canon PRINT app and AirPrint
Flatbed scanner for documents and photos
Prints on a wide range of paper types including photo paper
Compact footprint that fits on a desk or shelf

Pros

Rock-bottom running cost, less than a penny per page for color
Strong photo output for a general-purpose inkjet
Easy wireless setup from phones and tablets

Cons

No auto-duplexing for two-sided printing
Single 100-sheet input tray requires frequent refills
Print speeds are slower than cartridge-based rivals

Who it is for: Families and households that print photos and documents regularly and want to stop worrying about ink cartridge costs.

Skip if

You print double-sided documents often or need to move through large print jobs quickly.

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 - Best for small business

The ET-5850 is built for midsize offices that need a workhorse color AIO. It delivers fast, laser-like performance with two 250-sheet paper drawers, a 50-sheet rear tray, and a 50-sheet auto-duplexing ADF for scanning.

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Key highlights

Dual 250-sheet paper cassettes plus a 50-sheet rear tray for high-volume printing
50-sheet automatic document feeder with duplex scanning
3-inch touchscreen for easy navigation
Auto-duplexing for both printing and scanning
Rated for over 3,000 pages per month

Pros

Print speeds that rival many color laser printers
Extremely low cost per page (around 2 cents for color)
Robust paper handling for shared office environments

Cons

High upfront price compared to cartridge-based alternatives
Large footprint requires dedicated desk or stand space
Setup can be time-consuming with initial ink priming

Who it is for: Small to midsize businesses that print hundreds of pages per month and need a reliable, low-cost color printer for the whole team.

Skip if

You only print occasionally or your office is better served by a monochrome laser for text-heavy workloads.

Canon Pixma G620 - Best for photos

The G620 uses a six-color dye-based ink system that produces richer skin tones, smoother gradients, and more vibrant colors than typical four-color inkjets. It's an ink tank model too, so the running cost stays low even when you print lots of photos.

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Key highlights

Six individual ink bottles for wider color gamut and better photo quality
Refillable tank system with low per-print cost for photo paper
Supports a wide range of paper types including glossy, matte, and printable fabric
Borderless printing up to 8.5 x 11 inches
Manual duplex printing for occasional two-sided documents

Pros

Excellent color accuracy and detail for photo printing
Very low ink costs compared to cartridge-based photo printers
Accepts thicker paper stock and specialty media

Cons

No touchscreen display, limited to button controls
No automatic document feeder for scanning
Slower print speeds for text documents

Who it is for: Hobbyist photographers, scrapbookers, and families who print photos at home regularly and want quality without expensive cartridge swaps.

Skip if

You mainly print text documents or need a fast all-in-one for office tasks.

Brother MFC-J6955DW - Best for wide-format

This tabloid-size AIO prints up to 11 x 17 inches and scans both sides of a page in a single pass. It's a strong choice for small offices that need large-format layouts, posters, or spreadsheets.

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Key highlights

Prints and scans up to tabloid (11 x 17 inch) paper
Single-pass duplex scanning for fast two-sided copying
50-sheet ADF that handles large documents
INKvestment Tank cartridge system with low per-page costs
Auto-duplex printing for two-sided pages

Pros

Single-pass duplex scanning saves significant time
Low running cost for a wide-format printer
Fast print speeds for tabloid-size output

Cons

Large and heavy, needs dedicated floor or desk space
Setup can be complex with multiple ink tanks
Photo quality is adequate but not exceptional

Who it is for: Small offices, architects, and designers who regularly print tabloid-size documents and need efficient scanning.

Skip if

You never print larger than letter size or you need a compact printer for a small desk.

Also Good

HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e - fast all-in-one with great app support.
Brother MFC-J4535DW - reliable inkjet with laser-sharp text.
Epson EcoTank ET-4850 - compact tank printer with touchscreen and ADF.

How to Choose

Tank vs. cartridge. Tank printers (EcoTank, MegaTank) cost more upfront but can drop your per-page cost to pennies. If you print more than 50 pages per month, a tank model pays for itself within a year. Cartridge printers are cheaper to buy but expensive to feed.
Print volume and speed. If you print in bursts or only a few pages a week, a slower tank printer is fine. If you regularly print 20-plus pages at a time, look for models with 20+ ppm speeds and larger paper trays (250 sheets or more).
Auto-duplexing and ADF. Two-sided printing saves paper and looks professional. An automatic document feeder lets you scan or copy multi-page documents without standing at the machine. These features add cost but are worth it if you handle documents regularly.
Photo quality. Most inkjets print decent photos, but dedicated photo models use more ink colors (five or six instead of four) for better skin tones and smoother gradients. If photos are a priority, look for printers with extra photo inks.
Connectivity. Wi-Fi, AirPrint, and Mopria support let you print from phones and tablets without a computer. Ethernet is useful for shared office networks. Skip Bluetooth if you have solid Wi-Fi.

FAQ

How long does ink last in a tank printer?

Epson rates its EcoTank bottles for 4,500 to 14,000 pages depending on the model. Canon MegaTank bottles are rated for 6,000 to 7,700 pages. Most households go one to two years before needing a refill.

Are inkjet printers cheaper than laser printers?

Inkjets are cheaper to buy but can be more expensive to run if you use standard cartridges. Tank-based inkjets close that gap, offering per-page costs similar to or lower than monochrome lasers, especially for color printing.

Do I need a printer with an ADF?

If you scan or copy multi-page documents more than once a month, yes. An ADF lets you stack pages and walk away. Without it, you have to lift the lid and place each page manually.

Can I use third-party ink in tank printers?

Most tank printers use proprietary bottled ink, and manufacturers recommend sticking with their brand to avoid clogs. Third-party options exist but carry more risk than with cartridge-based printers.

What's the difference between EcoTank and MegaTank?

Both are refillable tank systems. Epson's EcoTank uses individual ink bottles per color. Canon's MegaTank works the same way. The main difference is print head technology and color science. Canon tends to produce slightly better photo colors, while Epson models often print faster.