As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon links on this page are affiliate links. Learn more.
Product images on this page are illustrative scenes, not photos of the exact item. Check the Amazon listing for real product photos.
Wirecutter names it the top pick for home printers. It's a mono laser all-in-one, so it prints, scans and copies, and it suits homes that mostly print text.
View on Amazon| Type | Generally good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Laser (mono) | Lots of text documents | No color on mono models |
| Inkjet | Occasional color and photos | Ink cartridge costs |
| Ink tank | Frequent color printing | Usually costs more up front |
| Laser (color) | Busy offices that need color | Bigger and pricier |
Shipping orders? A thermal label printer is cheaper per label than printing on paper. See our label printer guide.
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Notable | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother DCP-L2640DW | Black-and-white documents, plus scanning and copying | Mono laser all-in-one | Wirecutter top pick | View on Amazon |
| Brother MFC-J4355DW | Occasional color printing at home | Color inkjet all-in-one | Wirecutter inkjet pick | View on Amazon |
| Brother MFC-T780DW | Frequent color printing | Ink-tank all-in-one | Wirecutter ink-tank pick | View on Amazon |
| Brother MFC-L3780CDW | Busy home offices that need color | Color laser all-in-one | Wirecutter color-laser pick | View on Amazon |
Best for: Black-and-white documents, plus scanning and copying
✅ Buy if you mostly print text and want a scanner too.
❌ Skip if you need color prints.
View on Amazon
Best for: Occasional color printing at home
✅ Buy if you want color and a scanner in one box.
❌ Skip if you print mostly black text in volume.
View on Amazon
Best for: Frequent color printing
✅ Buy if you print color often and want refillable tanks.
❌ Skip if you rarely print.
View on Amazon
Best for: Busy home offices that need color
✅ Buy if you want laser speed with color.
❌ Skip if you're short on desk space or budget.
View on AmazonIf ink costs are what you're trying to cut, look at an ink-tank printer. You refill it from bottles instead of buying cartridges.
Page yields are the manufacturer's ratings, so real costs depend on what you print.
If you mostly print text, a mono laser like the Brother DCP-L2640DW. For occasional color and photos, an inkjet like the Brother MFC-J4355DW.
A printer with refillable tanks, made for frequent color printing. The Brother MFC-T780DW is Wirecutter's ink-tank pick. Ink tanks usually cost more up front.
Yes. All four are all-in-ones, so they print, scan and copy.
A thermal label printer is cheaper per label than printing on paper. See our label printer guide.
Each one is a pick from Wirecutter's home printer guide, and all four happen to be Brother models.
Of our picks, the Brother MFC-T780DW ink tank. Brother says it comes with up to 3 years of ink, and Tom's Guide worked out about 0.3¢ per black page.
For home offices that print anything from the occasional boarding pass to weekly stacks of documents. These picks are our team's curated selection, checked against listing details. We haven't tested them hands-on.
Inkjet, ink tank or mono laser, matched to how much and what you print.
Ink tanks and lasers usually cost less per page. We point to reviews that discuss it.
Do you need scanning and copying, or just printing?
These picks lean on the published reviews linked below.
