The 5 Best Printers of 2024, recommended by experts

Canon ImageCLASS MF455dw

What we like

Scott Bordman, owner of Cartridge World of Wayne, praises the Canon MF455dw laser printer as "outstanding value for the price." He recommends it for home offices with high printing volumes, highlighting its 40 ppm speed and 900-page capacity. The printer features a mobile app, a 5-inch touchscreen, and a scanner for copying, uploading, and faxing documents.

Best All-in-One Printers

Brother MFC-L3720CDW

What we like

Bordman calls the Brother MFC-L3720CDW a “very good option” for diverse home office needs. This multi-function model includes a printer, scanner, copier, and fax machine, offering two-sided and full-color printing with a resolution of 2400 x 600 dpi. However, copies are produced at 600 x 600 dpi.

Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw

Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw

What we like

This Canon printer is another MFC model recommended by Bordman, featuring a laser printer, scanner, fax, and copier. It offers a print speed of 22 ppm and is slightly more affordable than the Brother MFC-L3720CDW. Its maximum resolution for prints is 1200 x 1200 dpi, and copies maintain the same image quality.

Best Printers for Large Photographs

Epson SureColor P900

Epson SureColor P900

What we like

Professional photographer Keith Cooper recommends the Epson P900 for color photography and prints. It can handle 11 x 17 inch sheets, holds 120 sheets in its tray, and offers an impressive resolution of 5760 x 1440 pixels. While it includes a dedicated app for Windows, MacOS, and iOS, it's best suited for photo printing rather than everyday documents due to its focus on image quality over speed.

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500

Epson Eco Tank Photo ET-8500

What we like

For the "best all-around value" in quality photo and art printing, Cooper recommends the Epson EcoTank ET-8500. It uses low-cost ink bottles instead of expensive cartridges, making it budget-friendly over time. If you ever need to switch to another model, learning how to change Epson ink cartridge can come in handy. Additionally, its high-resolution scanner enhances its versatility for home office use.

How to Shop for the Best Printers

When shopping for a home printer, start by identifying your needs. Gregory Carafello, printer hardware expert and President of Cartridge World, suggests asking yourself key questions: Do you need a feeder, scanner, or copier? Will you be printing in color or just black and white? How much printing do you expect to do? Answering these questions can help guide your purchase.

• Size and Speed: Ensure the printer fits your space and has wireless capability for easy printing from any room. Carafello also recommends looking for printers with fast print speeds (5-6 seconds per page) to avoid delays, especially for high-volume printing.

• Paper Tray: Check that the paper tray fits the size of paper you’ll use. A tray holding at least 500 sheets is ideal for larger print jobs.

• Cost per Sheet: Finally, Carafello advises calculating the cost per sheet by dividing the cartridge price by its yield. This helps ensure cost-efficiency over time.

(Source: NBC News - How to shop for the best printers)

Meet Our Experts

NBC Select works with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. They also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Gregory Carafello is a former Canon employee and current President of Cartridge World, where he has worked since 2003. He has 41 years of experience in printer hardware, fax, toner and large format printing.

• Keith Cooper is the chief photographer for Northlight Images, a commercial photography business, runs a YouTube channel where he reviews cameras and printing equipment.

• Scott Bordman is the owner of Cartridge World in Wayne, New Jersey. He’s a printer specialist with years of experience servicing the home printer market.

I have worked as a gadget reporter since 2017, covering the latest developments in consumer hardware, from TVs and headphones to smart speakers and VR headsets. I previously worked as the News & Features Editor at TechRadar and now freelance for NBC Select, Healthline and The Independent. — Henry St. Lege

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