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Finding a budget printer that doesn’t quietly bankrupt you in ink costs later is the real challenge. Most cheap printers are loss leaders — they lure you in with a low sticker price, then sting you every time you replace a cartridge. This guide cuts through that marketing trap and points you to the models that balance a low upfront cost with reasonable running expenses, so you get real value over the life of the machine.
I’m Mo Maruf — the founder and writer behind The Tools Trunk. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
You need a printer that handles homework, light home-office work, or the occasional photo print while staying affordable. These five picks are the honest-to-goodness best buying options in the budget printer category today.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Budget Printer
A budget printer can mean very different things depending on whether you print four pages a month or forty. The real trick is matching the machine’s strengths to your actual workload. Here are the three things to get right before you click buy.
Ink Costs vs. Sticker Price
The true cost of a printer is the sum of its purchase price plus the ink or toner you will buy over the first year. A machine that chews through expensive cartridges every few weeks becomes far more costly than a printer whose cartridges last much longer. Pay attention to the cartridge yield — the Canon TS4320, for example, uses PG-295 and CL-286 cartridges, and owners note that the XL versions cost about combined. Factor that into your budget from day one.
Speed: The First Page Test
The pages-per-minute (ppm) number you see on the box is measured after the printer is already warmed up — it tells you how fast it churns through a long document. The spec that actually affects your daily sanity is the initial page print time. That is the wait between hitting “print” and the first page landing in the output tray. The HP DeskJet 4327 takes 20 seconds to get that first page out, while the Canon TS4320 does it in 9.5 seconds. If you print one or two pages at a time (the way most home users do), that first-page speed matters far more than the ppm rating.
All-in-One Features: What You Actually Need
Most budget printers bundle a scanner and copier, but the real differentiator is the auto document feeder (ADF). An ADF lets you stack several pages into the top tray and scan or copy them all without standing there feeding each sheet by hand. The Canon TR4720 includes an ADF, making it the better pick if you regularly handle multi-page documents. The Canon TS4320 does not include an ADF — you will lift the lid for each page individually. The HP DeskJet 4327 includes a 35-sheet ADF.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Print Speed (B&W) | First Page Out | Auto Duplex | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA TS4320★ Best Overall | Best Overall Value | 14 ppm | 9.5 seconds | Yes | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA TR4720Best Features | Best for Multi-Page Jobs | 8.8 ppm | — | Yes | Amazon |
| HP DeskJet 4327 | Basic Home Use | 8.5 ppm | 20 seconds | Manual | Amazon |
| Brother MFC-J1170DW | Fastest All-in-One | 17 ppm | 6.9 seconds | Yes | Amazon |
| Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w | Lowest Running Cost | 19 ppm | — | No | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Canon PIXMA TS4320 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
Spits out your first page in 9.5 seconds and prints on both sides without you flipping a single sheet.
This is the printer that gets the buying math right — a low entry cost combined with genuinely useful features you will use every week. The automatic duplex (two-sided) printing means you cut paper waste without any manual effort, something the HP below cannot do without your help. The 2-cartridge hybrid ink system (PG-295 black, CL-286 color) delivers crisp text at 14 pages per minute in black-and-white and 9 pages per minute in color. That print speed advantage is real: it prints at 14 ppm black-and-white versus the HP DeskJet 4327’s 8.5 ppm, and 9 ppm color versus the Canon TR4720’s 4.4 ppm.
The crowd favorite — backed by over 1,800 ratings — praises the easy setup and sharp print quality for both documents and photos. As owners put it: “This printer was bargain priced and is working well, both with color and black and white.” The dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz) keeps the connection stable whether your router is in the same room or down the hall. The compact white body fits neatly on a desk shelf without dominating the space.
The honest trade-off is the ink cost long-term. The XL cartridges run about for a full set, which stings if you print heavily. For light to moderate household use — school projects, forms, occasional photos — the running cost is perfectly manageable.
Why it wins
- Fast 9.5-second first-page-out time means less waiting for one-off prints
- True automatic duplex printing saves paper without manual flipping
- Dual-band Wi-Fi gives you a reliable connection at 2.4GHz or 5GHz
The catch
- High-capacity XL cartridges cost roughly a set, so heavy users should budget accordingly
For the light-to-moderate home user: This is the budget printer that does the most things well — speed, duplex, wireless, photo quality — without pushing you into a subscription.
skip it if you print reams every week: The per-page ink cost adds up fast; a laser printer or a higher-yield cartridge model would serve you better.
2. Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer
The four-in-one that brings an auto document feeder and fax to the budget table.
Where most budget printers give you print, scan, and copy, the TR4720 adds a fax machine and an auto document feeder (ADF) into the same compact black chassis. The ADF is the real standout for home offices or anyone who deals with multi-page contracts or forms — you stack the pages in the tray, press go, and walk away instead of feeding each sheet by hand. The 100-sheet input tray is generous for the price class, and the automatic duplex (two-sided) printing is standard.
The speed is where this model shows its budget roots. Black-and-white documents come out at 8.8 pages per minute, and color prints at 4.4 ppm — noticeably slower than the Canon TS4320 above, which delivers 9 ppm in color. That said, one owner summed up the experience neatly: “it arrived in good shape, works well.” The wireless setup is straightforward for many, though a few find the phone connection relies on two separate apps, which adds a step. The 1-year limited warranty and ENERGY STAR rating (a government-backed label for energy efficiency) provide some confidence.
The picture quality for photographs leans toward the washed-out side according to several owners. If glossy photo prints are a priority, the TS4320 delivers deeper color. And the print speed — particularly in color — is the clear compromise for getting that ADF and fax capability at this price point.
ADF makes it a productivity pick: That auto document feeder and built-in fax earn this machine a spot in any small home office where multi-page scanning happens daily.
Photo quality is the weak link: Colors come out pastel rather than punchy; this is a document-first machine.
Reach for this if you scan or fax multi-page documents regularly: The ADF alone justifies the purchase over cheaper, simpler models.
Look elsewhere if photo quality matters: The TS4320 or a dedicated photo printer will give you richer, more vibrant prints.
3. HP DeskJet 4327 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
A simple, quiet desk mate that prints labels and forms without fuss — but be ready to wait for that first page.
The HP DeskJet 4327 strips away complexity and focuses on the basics: print, scan, copy, and a 35-sheet auto document feeder. Its defining trait is the quiet, reliable operation that owners highlight for label printing and everyday documents. The print speed, however, is the slowest of this group at 8.5 ppm black and 5.5 ppm color. What really hurts daily use is the 20-second initial page print time — more than double the 9.5-second wait of the Canon TS4320. If your pattern is one or two pages at a time, you will feel that delay every single time you print.
The upside is the 6-month free trial of HP Instant Ink, which ships you new cartridges automatically before you run dry. After the trial, you pay a monthly fee based on page count. That subscription model can save heavy users money but adds a recurring cost the Canon models do not require. The HP AI formatting feature cleans up web pages and emails before printing, removing ads and extra blank pages — a genuinely useful trick for recipe printing or travel itineraries. Owners rate the print quality and setup most highly, with 24 positive mentions each. The sustainable design uses at least 70% recycled plastics and holds ENERGY STAR and EPEAT certifications.
The lack of automatic duplex is the biggest miss here — you have to manually flip pages to print on both sides. The connectivity experience earns mixed feedback, with some owners finding the wireless link straightforward and others hitting snags. At this entry-level price, you trade speed and convenience features for a low barrier to entry and the Instant Ink safety net.
Print quality and simplicity are its strengths: Owners praise the print quality and setup above all else — 24 positive mentions each — and the quiet operation earns high marks.
The slow first page and missing auto duplex are the real compromises: That 20-second wait and manual flipping make this a “print occasionally” machine, not a daily workhorse.
Best for the lightest of users: If you print a few pages a month and want the lowest upfront cost plus the Instant Ink safety net, this fits.
Not for anyone who prints both sides regularly: The manual duplex is a chore; the Canon TS4320 or TR4720 does it for you automatically.
4. Brother MFC-J1170DW Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer (Renewed Premium)
Blasts out black-and-white at 17 pages per minute — the fastest budget all-in-one on this list.
If speed is your priority, the Brother MFC-J1170DW is the clear leader. It delivers black-and-white documents at 17 ppm and color at 16.5 ppm — compared to the Canon TS4320’s 9 ppm color and the HP DeskJet 4327’s 8.5 ppm black-and-white. The first page lands in just 6.9 seconds, making it the quickest off the mark here. It also includes an auto document feeder, automatic duplex printing, and NFC tap-to-print for mobile devices, plus Ethernet and USB 2.0 connections for a more stable wired setup.
The catch is that this is a “Renewed Premium” unit — refurbished rather than brand new. A small number of owners received units that did not work from the start, which is the risk with refurbished electronics. The majority, however, report an easy setup via the printer’s touchscreen, fast print speeds, and a stable Wi-Fi connection that plays well with generic ink. The photo quality draws mixed comments; buyers report white dots in dark areas and occasional black lines, so this is not a photo printer. The price is higher than the new Canon and HP options, reflecting the spec advantage, but the speed and feature set make it compelling for a small office that prints a mix of documents throughout the day.
The overall sentiment is strong: the unit is compact, quiet, and the app integration works smoothly. The Brother brand reputation for longevity — one owner replaced an older HP that “lasted us a lot of years” — adds confidence, though the refurbished nature means you should confirm the return policy before purchasing.
class-leading speed in this price tier: At 17 ppm black and 16.5 ppm color with a 6.9-second first-page-out, it outruns everything else here.
Mixed photo quality and refurbished variability are the trade-offs: Photo prints show artifacts, and a small minority of units arrive defective.
Best for the small-office user who values speed above all else: If multi-page document runs are your daily reality, this machine keeps up.
Not for photo enthusiasts or anyone who wants a brand-new warranty: Photo quality disappoints, and the refurbished nature means checking the return window.
5. Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w Wireless Compact Laser Printer
A pure monochrome laser that prints 19 pages per minute and sips just 2 watts in standby mode.
This is the one to pick when ink costs have burned you before. The Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w is a single-function monochrome laser printer — it prints black text only, no color, no scanner, no copier. The Canon Genuine Toner 125 cartridge yields 1,600 pages, so you replace it much less often than any inkjet cartridge. The print speed of 19 ppm is the fastest of any printer on this list, making it ideal for high-volume text document printing. The compact white body fits on a shelf, and the Energy Saver mode uses less than 2 watts, so it costs almost nothing to keep plugged in.
The laser technology means text comes out razor-sharp with no smudging, and the prints are instantly dry. This is a printer built for reliability — owners call it “a reliable workhorse that saves money on ink and prints perfectly every time.” The wireless connectivity, however, is the main point of frustration. The setup manual is notoriously poor (mostly pictures with minimal text), and the included CD is obsolete for modern laptops that lack a disc drive. The most common advice from owners is to download the driver directly from Canon’s website and watch a YouTube setup video first. The wireless setup works well once configured, but it is not the plug-and-play experience many expect.
The biggest limitation is what it cannot do. There is no color printing, no scanning, no copying, no fax, and no duplex (two-sided printing) — you flip pages by hand. If you only ever print black-and-white documents like forms, shipping labels, or draft reports, this is the most cost-effective long-term choice on the list. If you need any color at all, stick with one of the inkjets above.
Why laser makes sense
- Fast 19 ppm speed and 1,600-page toner yield mean fewer interruptions
- Sharp, smudge-free text that stays dry instantly — no waiting for ink to dry
- Energy Saver mode draws under 2 watts, keeping the electric bill negligible
The biggest compromises
- No color, no scan, no copy, no duplex — it is black text only, single-sided
- Wireless setup is fiddly; most owners recommend downloading drivers from the web and skipping the included CD
Reach for this if you print black text documents in volume: The laser running cost is dramatically lower than any inkjet over a year of moderate-heavy use.
Never choose this if you need color or scanning: It does one thing — print black text — and does it well, but that is all it does.
Understanding the Specs
Initial Page Print Time
Unlike the pages-per-minute number, which measures speed during a long run, the initial page print time tells you how many seconds you wait for the very first page to land in the tray after you press print. This spec matters more for home users who typically print one or two pages at a time rather than a 50-page report. A difference of 10 seconds — like the 9.5-second Canon TS4320 versus the 20-second HP DeskJet 4327 — becomes the entire daily experience of using the printer.
Auto Duplex (Two-Sided Printing)
Auto duplex means the printer flips the page internally and prints on both sides without you touching anything. Manual duplex means you have to take the printed pages, flip them over, and feed them back in yourself. On a budget printer, the presence of auto duplex is a strong indicator that the manufacturer designed it for at least moderate daily use. The HP DeskJet 4327 lacks auto duplex; the Canon TS4320 and TR4720 include it.
Auto Document Feeder (ADF)
An ADF is a tray on top of the scanner lid that holds multiple pages and feeds them through the scanner one at a time automatically. Without an ADF, you have to lift the lid, place each page on the glass, press scan, and repeat for every single page. If you scan or copy multi-page documents even semi-regularly, an ADF transforms the machine from a chore into a tool. The Canon TR4720 and HP DeskJet 4327 include an ADF; the Canon TS4320 does not.
Cartridge Yield and Running Cost
The cartridge yield tells you how many pages a single cartridge can print before it runs dry (standard cartridges are often “starter” cartridges with a lower yield than the retail replacements). Comparing the yield and the cost of the replacement cartridge gives you the true cost per page. For heavy text printing, a laser printer like the Canon LBP6030w with its 1,600-page toner yield can be cheaper per page than any inkjet, even though the upfront cost is higher.
FAQ
Will a budget printer work with my Chromebook or Linux computer?
How do I print from my phone without a computer?
Is it worth paying more for a laser printer over an inkjet?
Can I use third-party generic ink cartridges to save money?
How do I set up wireless printing if my printer does not connect to Wi-Fi?
What does “remanufactured” or “renewed” mean for a printer?
Which budget printer has the best print quality for photos?
How long do budget inkjet printers typically last?
Does a budget printer work with Amazon Dash Replenishment or similar services?
What should I look for if I need to print legal-size (8.5×14) documents?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most buyers, the budget printer winner is the Canon PIXMA TS4320 because it combines a fast 9.5-second first-page print time, automatic duplex printing (printing on both sides of the page), and strong print quality for both documents and photos at a genuinely low entry price. If you regularly scan or copy multi-page stacks, the Canon PIXMA TR4720 brings the auto document feeder and fax that the TS4320 lacks. And if you only ever print black-and-white text and want the lowest long-term running cost, the Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w laser printer delivers sharp, smudge-free pages at 19 ppm with a 1,600-page toner yield.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of July 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, The Tools Trunk earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.