If you are hunting for a computer printer scanner, you already know the real pain: finding a machine that prints sharp documents and scans clearly without forcing you to spend a fortune on ink every few months. The secret is picking a model where the upfront price matches your actual printing habits — light users need cheap starter cartridges, heavy users need a supertank that holds a year’s worth of ink, and black-and-white-only offices need a laser that never clogs. This guide walks you through seven machines that solve each of those problems.
I’m Mo Maruf — the co-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.
After reading hundreds of owner experiences and stacking specs side by side, I found the strongest computer printer scanner for most homes and small offices is the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 because it slashes ink refill costs to nearly zero for years on end.
How To Choose The Best Computer Printer Scanner
The wrong pick can cost you more in ink and frustration over a year than the printer itself. Focus on three things: how many pages you print monthly, whether you need color or black-and-white, and how much you hate messing with refills.
Ink vs. Toner — Your Monthly Page Count Decides
Inkjet printers use liquid ink cartridges and excel at color photos and occasional home use, but running them dry or letting them sit idle causes clogs. Laser printers use dry toner powder and a drum, and they handle hundreds of pages per month without a single jam if you keep the paper tray loaded. If you print fewer than 50 pages a month, a cheap inkjet works fine. If you print 200 or more, a monochrome laser or a supertank inkjet saves real money over twelve months.
Ink Yield — The Number Nobody Reads on the Box
Every ink cartridge or toner has a published page yield — the number of pages the manufacturer says you will get before it runs dry. A standard starter cartridge in a budget printer might yield only 100 to 200 pages, which means you replace it after a few weeks of moderate use. Supertank printers like the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 include ink bottles rated for up to 6,600 black pages in the box, which eliminates refill purchases for the first one to three years for most households. Always multiply the per-cartridge cost by the yield to find your real per-page cost before buying.
The ADF Shortcut Nobody Talks About
A scanner that only has a flatbed glass forces you to lift the lid and reposition each page individually — a slow process for multi-page documents or receipts. An Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) lets you stack a pile of pages into a tray and scans them all in one pass. The Epson Workforce WF-2930 and the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw both include an ADF, which is a huge time-saver for anyone scanning contracts, invoices, or school worksheets.
Quick Comparison
On smaller screens, swipe sideways to see the full table.
| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson EcoTank ET-2980 | Supertank Inkjet | Heavy color printing on a budget | Up to 6,600 black pages per ink set | Amazon |
| HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw | Monochrome Laser | Fast black-and-white office printing | Up to 40 pages per minute black | Amazon |
| Brother HL-L2480DW | Monochrome Laser | Compact home office with reliable wireless | Up to 36 pages per minute black | Amazon |
| Brother MFC-L2820DW | Monochrome Laser | Small office needing fax and an ADF | 50-sheet auto document feeder | Amazon |
| Epson Workforce WF-2930 | Inkjet All-in-One | Home office with fax and low price | Auto document feeder + auto duplex | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA TR7120 | Inkjet All-in-One | Budget-friendly duplex color printing | 9 color pages per minute | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA TS7720 | Inkjet All-in-One | Light home color printing and photos | 2.7-inch LCD touchscreen | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Epson EcoTank ET-2980
The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 earns the top spot because the ink bottles in the box let you print up to 6,600 black pages and 5,500 color pages — that is roughly three years of regular home printing without buying a single refill. This is the printer for anyone tired of those “low ink” warnings that appear right in the middle of a school project or a work report.
The refillable ink tanks use a no-mess bottle system with an auto-stop feature, so you cannot overfill. Print speeds hit 15 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 8 ppm in color, and the 7.4-inch height makes it a full 66 percent shorter than the Epson Workforce WF-2930, which means it fits neatly on a small desk shelf. Buyers report setup is “the easiest” they have experienced, and the wireless printing from the Epson Smart Panel app works reliably for scanning documents directly to your phone.
The catch is that the ET-2980 lacks an auto document feeder (ADF), so if you frequently scan stacks of multi-page documents, you have to lift the lid and place each page on the flatbed glass one at a time. If you scan more than a few pages per week, the Brother MFC-L2820DW with its 50-sheet ADF is a better fit. For anyone who rarely needs to scan stacks, this is the top pick.
Why it’s great
- Includes up to 3 years of ink in the box (6,600 black / 5,500 color pages)
- Simple EcoFit bottle refills with auto-stop, no mess
- Wireless mobile printing via Epson Smart Panel app
Good to know
- No auto document feeder for scanning multi-page stacks
- Small color touchscreen has a narrow viewing angle
- Auto output tray requires menu navigation to close
2. HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw beats the top-pick EcoTank ET-2980 on speed by a wide margin — it prints up to 40 black ppm, compared to 15 ppm on the Epson, and it includes a 50-sheet auto document feeder for scanning multi-page contracts in seconds rather than page by page. This is the right pick if you run a small office where your team prints and scans dozens of black-and-white documents daily and cannot wait.
Owners mention that after two months of heavy use the printer stays reliable, with quiet operation and stable Wi-Fi that survived a power outage without losing the connection. The auto duplex printing flips pages automatically to save paper, and the 250-sheet input tray holds a full ream. The starter toner cartridge yields about 1,000 pages, and while HP locks out non-HP cartridges via firmware updates, customers note you can decline the updates to keep using generic toner.
The downside is no color printing at all — this is strictly monochrome (black and white). If you ever need to print a color chart, a photo, or a colored logo, you will need a second printer. Choose this over the top pick if your office prints mostly text invoices and reports and needs maximum monochrome speed and a document feeder for batch scanning.
Where it shines
- Blazing 40 black pages per minute, fastest in this lineup
- 50-sheet auto document feeder for effortless multi-page scanning
- Reliable Wi-Fi with automatic best-connection selection
Worth noting
- Black-and-white only; no color printing capability
- HP firmware updates can block third-party toner cartridges
- Starter toner yields only about 1,000 pages
3. Brother HL-L2480DW
If you work from home and need a monochrome laser that prints fast, sits on a corner desk, and connects wirelessly without drama, the Brother HL-L2480DW fits that scenario perfectly. It prints up to 36 ppm in black and white — slightly slower than the HP 3101sdw but still fast enough to rip through a 30-page document in under a minute — and it includes a 2.7-inch touchscreen for navigating settings and scanning to cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox.
Reviewers point out the setup is straightforward with Apple and Android devices, and the touchscreen shows toner cartridge life at a glance. The built-in dual-band wireless (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) plus Ethernet gives you flexibility, and the manual feed slot handles envelopes and specialty paper without emptying the main 250-sheet tray. Reviewers also note the printer is quiet and has given them zero wireless connectivity issues — a common headache with other brands.
The one limit is that this machine has a flatbed scanner but no auto document feeder, so scanning a stack of pages means lifting the lid for each sheet. If your scanning volume is low to moderate, the HL-L2480DW delivers the best reliability-per-dollar.
What stands out
- Fast 36 black pages per minute, reliable dual-band wireless
- Intuitive 2.7-inch touchscreen with cloud scan-to features
- Low cost per page with Brother Genuine TN830 toner
The trade-offs
- No auto document feeder for scanning or copying stacks
- Monochrome only; no color printing or scanning
- No fax function (use MFC-L2820DW if fax needed)
4. Brother MFC-L2820DW
The single number that matters most in this category for a small office is the auto document feeder (ADF) tray size — the Brother MFC-L2820DW holds 50 sheets, which means you can load a full contract or a stack of invoices and let the machine scan, copy, or fax them automatically. At 34 black ppm, it is only two pages slower than the HL-L2480DW, but it adds fax capability and a faster scan speed of 23.6 images per minute (ipm) in black.
The trade-off you accept is a slightly narrower print speed and a bulkier footprint than the HL-L2480DW, but you gain the ability to fax directly and scan multi-page documents without standing at the machine. Buyers describe it as “a good solid machine” and “a workhorse” that handles daily use with very few paper jams. The 2.7-inch touchscreen is the same intuitive interface found on the HL-L2480DW, letting you scan to cloud apps like Evernote and OneNote directly.
If your office runs on black-and-white documents, needs a fax line for client or government communication, and must scan 50-page packets regularly, the MFC-L2820DW gives you that functionality at a price that is competitive with other entry-level office lasers.
The upsides
- 50-sheet auto document feeder for scanning, copying, and faxing stacks
- Print speed of 34 black pages per minute, fast enough for a busy office
- Includes fax + scan-to-cloud features via a 2.7-inch touchscreen
Keep in mind
- Monochrome only; no color at all
- Setup instructions are sparse per some buyer feedback
- Slightly slower print speed than the HL-L2480DW
5. Epson Workforce WF-2930
For a very low upfront cost, the Epson Workforce WF-2930 gives you a full all-in-one inkjet with an auto document feeder and automatic duplex (two-sided) printing — features usually found on printers that cost significantly more. You get print, scan, copy, and fax in one machine, plus wireless connectivity via the Epson Smart Panel app so you can print from your phone.
What you give up is print speed and ink economy: it prints black pages at 10 ppm and color at just 5 ppm, which is slow compared to any laser. The individual cartridges let you replace only the empty color, which helps a little, but shoppers say that the ink cost is the real ongoing expense — one reviewer warned that firmware updates can block third-party cartridges, forcing you to buy expensive Epson brand ink. “The Epson Workforce printer is top notch,” wrote one buyer, praising its reliability, but another cautioned about getting locked into the ink subscription program.
The perfect buyer for the WF-2930 is someone who needs a fax line alongside a scanner and duplex printing, prints only a few dozen pages a month, and is willing to pay for genuine cartridges in exchange for the lowest entry price. If your monthly page count is higher, the EcoTank ET-2980 will save you money within a year.
Why we’d pick it
- Auto document feeder and automatic duplex printing at a low entry cost
- Individual ink cartridges let you replace only the color that runs out
- Supports Alexa and Siri voice-activated printing
A few caveats
- Slow print speeds: 10 black ppm, 5 color ppm
- Firmware updates may block third-party ink cartridges
- At 22.7 inches deep, it is the bulkiest unit in this lineup
6. Canon PIXMA TR7120
The Canon PIXMA TR7120 is built for someone who needs color printing plus the time-saving convenience of an auto document feeder (ADF) without jumping up to a premium price bracket. It handles color at 9 ppm — 12 percent faster than the Epson EcoTank ET-2980’s 8 color ppm — and it prints black documents at 14 ppm, which is competitive with budget inkjet models.
Buyers report that they have printed over 500 pages without a single paper jam, calling it a reliable replacement for older HP machines. The 1.42-inch monochrome OLED display keeps you informed about ink levels and printer status at a glance, and the dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 or 5 GHz) keeps the wireless connection stable even when you print from a different room. One reviewer noted that the starter ink runs out quickly, but the ongoing cost is reasonable compared to some competitors.
Standout spec: the hybrid 2-cartridge system (one black pigment, one color) that delivers vibrant documents and borderless photos up to 8.5 by 11 inches, making this one of the most versatile color all-in-ones at its tier. Just keep in mind that the starter ink runs out quickly, so factor that into your initial setup costs.
Strong points
- Auto document feeder for scanning and copying multi-page documents
- 9 color ppm (12% faster than the EcoTank ET-2980)
- Compact, stylish design with a monochrome OLED status screen
Before you buy
- Starter ink cartridges run out relatively quickly
- Small paper tray holds only 50-100 sheets
- Off-brand ink options are very limited
7. Canon PIXMA TS7720
For the price of a single dinner out, the Canon PIXMA TS7720 delivers a color inkjet with a massive 2.7-inch LCD touchscreen and print speeds of 15 ppm in black and 10 ppm in color — the fastest color speed in the budget tier. This is the entry-level model that still feels modern, with a clean white design and an auto-duplex function for two-sided printing.
What you get for that low entry price is a straightforward home machine that prints documents, scans to your phone via the Canon PRINT app, and handles borderless 4-by-6-inch photos fairly well. Owners mention that setup is quick (under 25 minutes via USB) and that the print quality for text is sharp. One buyer mentioned “slow startup but fast printing” once the machine wakes up. The two-cartridge system (one black, one color) makes replacement simple.
The honest trade-off is that the TS7720 lacks an auto document feeder — you must scan or copy multipage documents one sheet at a time on the flatbed glass. If you only scan a page or two per week, this limitation is easy to live with. For the sheer value of its touchscreen interface and print speed at this price point, the TS7720 is the best budget-friendly entry into color printing.
What we like
- Fast 15 black ppm and 10 color ppm for the price
- Large 2.7-inch LCD touchscreen for easy navigation
- Simple two-cartridge refill system and auto duplex printing
The downsides
- No auto document feeder for scanning or copying stacks
- Color print quality is less vivid than Canon’s 5-ink models
- Default auto power-off after 4 hours, must enable Auto Power On
Understanding the Specs
Print Speed (ppm)
This spec — pages per minute (ppm) — tells you how fast the machine produces black-and-white or color pages. A rating of 15 black ppm means the printer can drop fifteen single-sided text pages onto the output tray in sixty seconds. If you print a 30-page report once a week, a 36 ppm laser finishes in under a minute; a 10 ppm budget inkjet takes three minutes. Color ppm is almost always slower because the print head lays down multiple ink layers.
Auto Document Feeder (ADF)
An ADF is a tray on top of the scanner that holds a stack of paper and feeds each sheet automatically through the scan head. A 50-sheet ADF lets you load a full contract or a set of invoices and walk away while it scans all 50 pages in sequence. Machines without an ADF require you to lift the scanner lid and place each page on the glass manually — tedious for any stack larger than two or three pages.
Duplex (Automatic Two-Sided Printing)
Duplex printing means the printer flips the paper automatically and prints on the second side. It cuts your paper usage by half for any document longer than one page. Every model in this list supports automatic duplex, but cheap printers sometimes only offer manual duplex, which forces you to flip and re-feed the paper yourself.
Ink Yield vs. Toner Yield
Ink yield is the number of pages a cartridge or bottle prints before it runs empty. A standard starter ink cartridge might yield 150 pages, while an EcoTank ink bottle produces thousands. Toner yield works the same way for laser printers — the starter cartridge in the HP 3101sdw yields about 1,000 black pages. Always find the yield number (published in the specs) and divide the cartridge cost by it to get your true cost per page.
FAQ
How do I stop a printer from going offline randomly?
Should I use third-party ink or genuine brand cartridges?
Can I print from my phone without a computer?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
When it comes down to it, the computer printer scanner winner is the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 because its included ink lasts for up to three years and eliminates the constant expense and hassle of cartridge replacements. If you need speed and black-and-white laser reliability for a busy office, grab the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw. And for the best budget-friendly entry into color printing with a large touchscreen, the Canon PIXMA TS7720 delivers impressive speed at a minimal entry cost.