Best Home Office Printers — Top Picks For 2025

10/11/2025 by tonermaroc

Best home office printers — top picks for reliability & low running costs

Best home office printers — what to buy right now

Best home office printers are the models that balance reliability, speed, and total cost of ownership—not just the sticker price. Below is a clear, no-fluff guide based on what Americans regularly use and recommend for home and small-office setups. You’ll find concise reasons to pick each device, who it’s for, and key considerations so you don’t overpay for features you won’t use.

Best overall: HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e (all-in-one inkjet)

If you need one printer that does everything well—print, scan, copy, fax—the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is a versatile choice. It’s fast for an inkjet, handles mixed workloads, and includes modern conveniences (ADF, duplex printing, mobile printing).
Why pick it

Strong all-around speed and text quality for home offices
Smart features and good paper handling for its class
Works well for mixed color/black workloads
Consider first
Ink costs depend on your cartridge strategy; choose high-yield supplies to keep CPP low

Best color laser for busy teams: Brother MFC-L3780CDW

For offices that need durable color laser output without the price of enterprise gear, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW hits the sweet spot.
Why pick it

Fast color and mono output with laser-sharp text
Solid duty cycle; built for higher monthly volumes
All-in-one conveniences with reliable ADF and duplexing
Consider first
Toner/drum are separate; plan for periodic drum replacements in heavier use

Best value inkjet: Brother INKvestment MFC-J995DW

If you print frequently but want very low ink costs, the MFC-J995DW is excellent value.
Why pick it

Exceptionally low cost per page with high-yield INKvestment tanks
Good print quality for documents and casual color
Compact footprint; easy upkeep
Consider first
Not built for heavy photo enthusiasts; it’s tuned for office docs

Best midrange mono laser: HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw

Need fast, crisp black-and-white with scanning? The 3101sdw is a strong midrange pick for home and small offices that don’t need color.
Why pick it

Sharp mono text, reliable duplexing, and solid ADF
Compact, business-ready feature set
Consider first
Mono-only; add a separate color device if you seldom print color but still need it

Best mono workhorse without fax: Brother DCP-L2640DW

If you don’t need fax, the DCP-L2640DW delivers crisp text and fast performance at a friendly price.
Why pick it

Quick first page and dependable throughput
Low operating costs with high-yield toner options
Consider first
Scanner is fine for documents, but not for photo archiving

Great budget pick: HP Envy 6555e

For light home use (schoolwork, household docs), HP Envy 6555e is a budget-friendly all-in-one.
Why pick it

Easy setup, good basic quality, small footprint
Consider first
Best for low-to-moderate volumes; ink costs go up if you print a lot

Cartridge-free pro option: Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850

Prefer to avoid cartridges entirely? EcoTank Pro ET-5850 uses refillable bottles to slash per-page costs, great for high-volume color documents.
Why pick it

Ultra-low CPP with bottle refills, business-class features
Fast office-grade speeds for an inkjet
Consider first
Higher upfront cost; pays off if you print a lot every month

Frequently Asked Questions

Best home office printers — inkjet or laser for me?

If you print mostly text and want crisp output with minimal fuss, go laser. If you need color regularly (charts, schoolwork, light graphics) and want lower upfront cost, a modern inkjet or EcoTank/INKvestment model makes sense.

Which model has the lowest running costs?

Among the picks, Brother INKvestment MFC-J995DW and Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 offer very low cost per page. For mono, Brother DCP-L2640DW with high-yield toner is inexpensive to run.

I print rarely—what should I buy?

Go for a budget AIO like HP Envy 6555e or a compact mono laser if you mostly print text. Infrequent inkjet users should print a test page weekly to avoid nozzle drying.

I need high-quality color but not photos—is laser color overkill?

If you want smudge-resistant color charts and lots of office graphics, a color laser like Brother MFC-L3780CDW is ideal. If color is occasional, an inkjet like HP 9125e or Brother J995DW is more economical.

Can I keep costs predictable?

Yes—use high-yield supplies, enable duplex to save paper, and stick to draft/standard quality for everyday prints. For inkjets, print a small page weekly to keep heads healthy.

Best home office printers — quick chooser (who should buy what)

Mostly documents, want one device to do it all: HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e
Heavier color workloads, laser durability: Brother MFC-L3780CDW
Frequent printing, lowest ink spend: Brother MFC-J995DW
Monochrome focus with scanning: HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw
Mono speed on a budget (no fax): Brother DCP-L2640DW
Light, occasional home printing: HP Envy 6555e
High-volume color with cartridge-free refills: Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850

Buying tips that actually matter

Calculate true cost per page (CPP)

High-yield cartridges or bottle systems can cut ongoing costs dramatically. If you print weekly, prioritize CPP over purchase price.

Match duty cycle to your habits

Look at recommended monthly volume, not just “max.” Choose a model whose sweet spot is a bit above your real usage for headroom.

Paper handling and ADF

If you scan multipage documents, pick a model with an Automatic Document Feeder and duplex scanning/printing to save time.

Connectivity and apps

Wi-Fi, AirPrint/Mopria, and robust mobile apps make sharing and on-the-go printing easier—especially in households with multiple devices.