Tech Roundup
Best home printers in 2026: 10 that won't drain your ink
What are the best home printers in 2026?
Epson EcoTank wins most homes that print regularly — refillable tanks make cartridge economics stop hurting. Brother mono laser wins households that print text occasionally, because idle inkjet heads dry out. Avoid anything that pushes a cartridge subscription unless you genuinely want a monthly plan. Check today's price on the tank or laser model before the tempting cheap-cartridge one.
Top 3 at a glance
Compare the options- #1Best overall
Epson EcoTank ET-2850
Find model on Amazon* - #2Best for occasional printing
Brother HL-L2400DW mono laser
Find model on Amazon* - #3Best for home offices
Epson EcoTank ET-4850
Find model on Amazon*
Epson EcoTank ET-2850
Amazon UK
The refillable all-in-one most UK homes should buy — bottles instead of cartridges, so the running cost stops being the story.
Check before buying: Slower than laser on text
Why it's a good thing: Refill bottles are sold openly, no chip lock, and Epson supports drivers for years.
- Bottle refills, no cartridges
- Duplex printing
- Scans and copies well
- Slower than laser on text
- Higher upfront outlay
Brother HL-L2400DW mono laser
Amazon UK
The print-once-a-month answer — toner does not dry out, so it works on the day you actually need a form.
Check before buying: Mono only
Why it's a good thing: Third-party and OEM toner both widely available; Brother drivers stay supported unusually long.
- No dried heads after idle weeks
- Crisp text documents
- Cheap toner supply
- Mono only
- No scanner
Epson EcoTank ET-4850
Amazon UK
EcoTank with a document feeder — the one to buy if you scan multi-page paperwork rather than the odd photo.
Check before buying: Bulky on a small desk
Why it's a good thing: Same open refill system as the ET-2850 with a longer-lived office feature set.
- Automatic document feeder
- Ethernet as well as Wi-Fi
- Very low ink cost per page
- Bulky on a small desk
- Photo output beaten by dedicated units
Brother MFC-L2860DW mono laser
Amazon UK
Laser text plus a proper feeder and scanner — the sensible choice for a household drowning in forms, not photographs.
Check before buying: No colour
Why it's a good thing: Separate drum and toner mean you replace only the worn part; both are easy to source.
- Duplex print and scan
- Drum and toner sold separately
- Reliable network setup
- No colour
- Larger footprint
Canon PIXMA G3571 MegaTank
Amazon UK
Canon's answer to EcoTank, and the pick if you want refillable running costs with Canon's friendlier colour rendering.
Check before buying: No duplex on this tier
Why it's a good thing: Refill bottles are stocked widely and Canon publishes maintenance guidance rather than pushing replacement.
- Refill bottles, no cartridges
- Pleasing colour output
- Simple app setup
- No duplex on this tier
- Slower first page
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500
Amazon UK
A refillable photo printer for people who actually print pictures — six inks in bottles instead of a cartridge tax per print.
Check before buying: Serious upfront outlay
Why it's a good thing: Photo printing without cartridge waste; individual bottles replaced only as each colour empties.
- Six-colour photo output
- Handles thicker photo media
- Low cost per print
- Serious upfront outlay
- Overkill for text only
HP Smart Tank 7305
Amazon UK
HP's refillable range, and the only HP line we would put in a home that prints often — the cartridge models are the ones owners regret.
Check before buying: Persistent account prompts
Why it's a good thing: Tank refills sidestep HP's cartridge subscription entirely; energy use is modest for an all-in-one.
- Refillable tanks
- Good app and mobile printing
- Feeder for multi-page scans
- Persistent account prompts
- Firmware history warrants caution
Lexmark MB2236adwe mono laser
Amazon UK
A small-business laser sold to homes — dull to look at, but parts and toner stay orderable for years after launch.
Check before buying: Utilitarian design
Why it's a good thing: Lexmark publishes service parts and long driver support, which is the whole tech values filter in one box.
- Long parts availability
- Solid duplex and scanning
- Business-grade drivers
- Utilitarian design
- Mono only
Xerox B235 mono laser MFP
Amazon UK
A tidy mono laser multifunction for a cupboard or alcove, with the flat, predictable toner costs laser buyers come for.
Check before buying: Basic scanner software
Why it's a good thing: Straightforward toner supply and no subscription nagging built into setup.
- Small for a laser MFP
- No subscription pressure
- Quick wake from idle
- Basic scanner software
- Fewer UK service options
Pantum P2500W mono laser
Amazon UK
The cheap-laser gamble that mostly pays off — buy it as a text workhorse, not as a long-term family printer.
Check before buying: Patchier support
Why it's a good thing: Toner is inexpensive and unlocked, though support depth does not match the established brands.
- Very cheap toner
- Small and light
- Fine for plain documents
- Patchier support
- No duplex or scanner
What actually decides this purchase?
Spare parts, a warranty you can actually use in the UK, and a job the product is built for beat a search-page bestseller. Our top-rated pick here is Epson EcoTank ET-2850 (9.1/10) — The refillable all-in-one most UK homes should buy — bottles instead of cartridges, so the running cost stops being the story. That is a research ranking locked before affiliate links, not a lab week.
Which job are you actually hiring it for?
Match the badge to the weekly job, not the Amazon carousel.
| Job | Start here | Why this list says so |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Epson EcoTank ET-2850 | The refillable all-in-one most UK homes should buy — bottles instead of cartridges, so the running cost stops being the story. |
| Best for occasional printing | Brother HL-L2400DW mono laser | The print-once-a-month answer — toner does not dry out, so it works on the day you actually need a form. |
| Best for home offices | Epson EcoTank ET-4850 | EcoTank with a document feeder — the one to buy if you scan multi-page paperwork rather than the odd photo. |
| Best mono all-in-one | Brother MFC-L2860DW mono laser | Laser text plus a proper feeder and scanner — the sensible choice for a household drowning in forms, not photographs. |
| Best Canon refillable | Canon PIXMA G3571 MegaTank | Canon’s answer to EcoTank, and the pick if you want refillable running costs with Canon’s friendlier colour rendering. |
| Best for photos | Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 | A refillable photo printer for people who actually print pictures — six inks in bottles instead of a cartridge tax per print. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Buying on a spec sheet instead of the job you will do weekly.
- Skipping whether a wearing part is sold on its own.
- Treating a search-page URL as a guarantee of today’s stock or price.
- Ignoring a known trade-off on this list: slower than laser on text.
- Ignoring a known trade-off on this list: higher upfront outlay.
- Treating a search-page URL as a guarantee of today’s stock or price.
How do you make the purchase last?
Confirm the wearing part is on sale, keep the receipt and model number, and maintain it as the maker specifies. Refill bottles are sold openly, no chip lock, and Epson supports drivers for years. We do not invent a price on this page — check the retailer on the day you buy.
When is the cheaper option the right buy?
Pantum P2500W mono laser is the value line to look at first if the expensive extras would sit unused. Buy it when the job is real. Skip it when the missing feature is the job — then spend on the badge that names that job, or skip the category.
The bottom line
Epson EcoTank wins most homes that print regularly — refillable tanks make cartridge economics stop hurting. Brother mono laser wins households that print text occasionally, because idle inkjet heads dry out. Avoid anything that pushes a cartridge subscription unless you genuinely want a monthly plan. Check today’s price on the tank or laser model before the tempting cheap-cartridge one. Start with Epson EcoTank ET-2850 unless a badge further down matches your job more closely. If none of these survive the values filter for your household, skip the category rather than buying a disposable extra.
How we choose
Research-based review (July 2026): we weighted Amazon owner complaints about firmware updates blocking third-party cartridges, dried-out print heads after weeks idle, and subscription prompts, plus refill and drum availability, spare-part supply and warranty behaviour. We favour refillable tanks and long-supported models over cheap boxes with expensive consumables. This is a research-based review, not a hands-on lab test.
Our values filter: We favour repairable design, long software support, refurbished options, and energy efficiency over launch-day hype.
Prices change — check the retailer for today's price.
Common questions
- What is this guide based on?
- Research-based review (July 2026): we weighted Amazon owner complaints about firmware updates blocking third-party cartridges, dried-out print heads after weeks idle, and subscription prompts, plus refill and drum availability, spare-part supply and warranty behaviour. We favour refillable tanks and long-supported models over cheap boxes with expensive consumables.
- Does Small Good Things earn commission from this guide?
- Links marked * are affiliate links. Qualifying purchases may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. A shopping link is not a guarantee of stock, seller authenticity or suitability for your needs.
