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Black Friday guide

Buying guide · 7 picks compared

Best printer UK 2026

The Epson EcoTank ET-2911 is the best printer for most UK homes, because Epson includes up to 3 years' worth of ink in the box.

See the top pick on AmazonCompare all 7Affiliate

For a home office that needs multi-page copying, pick the Epson EcoTank ET-4950, which has a 30-page automatic document feeder and automatic double-sided printing.

By , Editor✓ Updated

★ Our top pickEpson EcoTank ET-2911 (C11CL62402)Image: EpsonSee it on Amazon

Which one is for you?

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Which pick suits which need
Ifyou want an ink tank printer at the lowest upfront priceEpson EcoTank ET-2911 (C11CL62402)See it on Amazon
Ifyou run a home office and need an ADF, double-sided printing and EthernetEpson EcoTank ET-4950 (C11CL40401)See it on Amazon
Ifyou mostly print black-and-white documentsBrother HL-L2865DW wireless mono laser printerSee it on Amazon
Ifyou want a mono laser that also copies and scans with an ADFBrother MFC-L2860DW all-in-one mono laser printerSee it on Amazon
Ifyou want a cartridge printer with an ADF and double-sided printingHP ENVY 6530e All-in-One Printer (714P1B)See it on Amazon
Ifyou want the cheapest printer that prints, copies and scansCanon PIXMA TS4150i Wireless Colour 3-in-1 Inkjet PrinterSee it on Amazon
Ifyou want crisper black text and a small screen on a compact CanonCanon PIXMA TS6550i Wireless Colour 3-in-1 Inkjet Photo PrinterSee it on Amazon

The 7 picks compared

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  1. 1★ Top pick

    Epson

    Epson EcoTank ET-2911 (C11CL62402)Best for low ink cost at home

    Up to 3 years of ink in the box, so printing stays easy

    See it on Amazon
  2. 2

    Epson

    Epson EcoTank ET-4950 (C11CL40401)Best for home office with ADF

    Scan whole stacks of paper without lifting a finger

    See it on Amazon
  3. 3

    Brother

    Brother HL-L2865DW wireless mono laser printerBest for fast black-and-white documents

    Fast black-and-white documents, printed wirelessly at up to 34 pages a minute

    See it on Amazon
  4. 4

    Brother

    Brother MFC-L2860DW all-in-one mono laser printerBest for mono laser all-in-one

    Print, scan and get things done at speed from one machine

    See it on Amazon
  5. 5

    HP

    HP ENVY 6530e All-in-One Printer (714P1B)Best for cartridge printer with ADF

    Print two-sided pages automatically, with a feeder for whole stacks

    See it on Amazon
  6. 6

    Canon

    Canon PIXMA TS4150i Wireless Colour 3-in-1 Inkjet PrinterBest for cheapest all-in-one

    Print, copy and scan at home from one compact machine

    See it on Amazon
  7. 7

    Canon

    Canon PIXMA TS6550i Wireless Colour 3-in-1 Inkjet Photo PrinterBest for sharper text, OLED screen

    Sharper text and a clear screen, all from one wireless printer

    See it on Amazon

Side by side

From the makers' and retailers' published factsAffiliate
The picks side by side
PickBest forPriceThe fact that sets it apartWhere to buy
Epson EcoTank ET-2911 (C11CL62402)low ink cost at home£239.99Up to 3 years' worth of ink is included in the box, and one set of bottles prints up to 4,700 black and 7,500 colour pages.See it on Amazon
Epson EcoTank ET-4950 (C11CL40401)home office with ADF£379.99It has a 30-page automatic document feeder, automatic double-sided printing, scanning and copying, and a 6.1 cm touchscreen.See it on Amazon
Brother HL-L2865DW wireless mono laser printerfast black-and-white documents–Prints up to 34 pages a minute, with 2-sided printing at up to 16 sides a minute.See it on Amazon
Brother MFC-L2860DW all-in-one mono laser printermono laser all-in-one£344.86Prints up to 34 pages a minute and 2-sided at up to 16 sides a minute; scans up to 22.5 images a minute.See it on Amazon
HP ENVY 6530e All-in-One Printer (714P1B)cartridge printer with ADF£89.99HP lists print speeds of up to 10 ppm black and 7 ppm colour, with an automatic document feeder, two-sided printing and a touchscreen.See it on Amazon
Canon PIXMA TS4150i Wireless Colour 3-in-1 Inkjet Printercheapest all-in-one£69.99Canon quotes print speeds of 14.0 ipm black and 9 ipm colour, and dual-band Wi-Fi with a QR code setup.See it on Amazon
Canon PIXMA TS6550i Wireless Colour 3-in-1 Inkjet Photo Printersharper text, OLED screen£89.99It uses a new pigment black ink, which Canon says gives clearer prints that are easier to read.See it on Amazon

Prices from the maker or retailer named on each pick below, checked 25 October 2026. A dash means the price changes too often to quote: tap through for today's.

Most printer regret comes from the ink, not the printer. So start with the type: an ink tank you refill from bottles, a cartridge inkjet, or a mono laser for black-and-white text. Then decide if you need a document feeder for multi-page copying. For most homes the Epson EcoTank ET-2911 is the pick, with up to 3 years' worth of ink in the box.

Our picks in detail

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Epson EcoTank ET-2911 (C11CL62402)
Image: Epson

1★ Top pickBest for low ink cost at home

Epson EcoTank ET-2911 (C11CL62402)

Up to 3 years of ink in the box, so printing stays easy.

What it is
Epson's EcoTank ET-2911 is a compact printer with ink included in the box. One set of bottles prints up to 4,700 black and 7,500 colour pages.
Perfect for
If you print at home and want low ink cost, this is your printer.
Why we picked it
Epson calls it ultra-compact and at least 25% smaller than competitor models. It has Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and Apple AirPrint, and Epson will provide security updates for 7 years from purchase.
What's new
Epson's pages give the ET-2911 ISO speeds of 11 ppm mono and 6 ppm colour, against 10 and 5 for the ET-2862, and 4,700 black pages per ink set against 4,500.
Price
£239.99 (epson.co.uk, checked 25 October 2026)
  • Up to 3 years' worth of ink is included in the box, and one set of bottles prints up to 4,700 black and 7,500 colour pages.
  • Epson describes it as ultra-compact and at least 25% smaller than competitor models, with Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and Apple AirPrint.
  • Epson will provide security updates for 7 years from purchase.

The catch: Epson's page lists a 100-sheet rear tray and ISO speeds of 11 ppm mono and 6 ppm colour, slower than the ET-4950 (18 and 9).

Check today's price on Amazon
Epson EcoTank ET-4950 (C11CL40401)
Image: Epson

2Best for home office with ADF

Epson EcoTank ET-4950 (C11CL40401)

Scan whole stacks of paper without lifting a finger.

What it is
This all-in-one home office printer prints, scans and copies. Its 30-page automatic document feeder, a tray that feeds in a stack of paper for you, and automatic double-sided printing do the fiddly work.
Perfect for
Made for home offices that get through piles of paperwork every week.
Why we picked it
The 30-page feeder and automatic double-sided printing handle the repetitive jobs for you. Connect over Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct or Ethernet, with dual-band and mesh Wi-Fi support, and use the 6.1 cm touchscreen to control it. The ink in the box prints up to 15,100 black and 5,500 colour pages, and the standard warranty is 100,000 pages or 1 year.
Price
£379.99 (epson.co.uk, checked 25 October 2026)
  • It has a 30-page automatic document feeder, automatic double-sided printing, scanning and copying, and a 6.1 cm touchscreen.
  • Connectivity is Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet, with dual-band and mesh Wi-Fi support.
  • The ink in the box prints up to 15,100 black and 5,500 colour pages, and the standard warranty is 100,000 pages or 1 year.

The catch: Epson UK's current price of £379.99 is £140 more than the ET-2911 (£239.99), and the page shows an original price of £459.99.

Check today's price on Amazon
Brother HL-L2865DW wireless mono laser printer
Image: Brother

3Best for fast black-and-white documents

Brother HL-L2865DW wireless mono laser printer

Fast black-and-white documents, printed wirelessly at up to 34 pages a minute.

What it is
This is a wireless mono laser printer, so it prints in black and white. It gets your pages out fast, up to 34 a minute, with 2-sided printing at up to 16 sides a minute.
Perfect for
If you print mostly black-and-white documents for home or work, this is your printer.
Why we picked it
It has a 250-sheet paper tray, so plenty of paper is ready to go. The toner in the box has a 1,500-page yield. It connects by Hi-Speed USB 2.0, and it prints over the network or wirelessly.
  • Prints up to 34 pages a minute, with 2-sided printing at up to 16 sides a minute.
  • It has a 250-sheet paper tray, and the toner supplied in the box has a 1,500 page yield.
  • Connects by Hi-Speed USB 2.0, with network and wireless printing.

The catch: Single-function and black-and-white only; it does not scan or copy.

Check today's price on Amazon
Brother MFC-L2860DW all-in-one mono laser printer
Image: Brother

4Best for mono laser all-in-one

Brother MFC-L2860DW all-in-one mono laser printer

Print, scan and get things done at speed from one machine.

What it is
Your all-in-one workhorse for paperwork. It prints up to 34 pages a minute and 2-sided at up to 16 sides a minute, so big jobs finish in a flash.
Perfect for
Suits busy homes and home workers who print a lot of documents every week.
Why we picked it
It scans up to 22.5 images a minute, and its 50-sheet automatic document feeder works through a full stack in one go. A 250-sheet paper tray means fewer top-ups. Connect by Ethernet, 5GHz Wi-Fi or USB, then print from your phone with the Brother Mobile Connect app.
Price
£344.86 (brother.co.uk, checked 25 October 2026)
  • Prints up to 34 pages a minute and 2-sided at up to 16 sides a minute; scans up to 22.5 images a minute.
  • It has a 50-sheet automatic document feeder and a 250-sheet paper input tray.
  • Connects by Ethernet, 5GHz Wi-Fi and USB, and works with the Brother Mobile Connect app.
  • It comes with a 1,200 page toner; a 3,000 page maximum-yield toner is available.

The catch: Black-and-white printing only, and the toner in the box is a 1,200 page starter size.

Check today's price on Amazon
HP ENVY 6530e All-in-One Printer (714P1B)
Image: HP

5Best for cartridge printer with ADF

HP ENVY 6530e All-in-One Printer (714P1B)

Print two-sided pages automatically, with a feeder for whole stacks.

What it is
The HP ENVY 6530e is an All-in-One printer that uses ink cartridges. Its automatic document feeder and two-sided printing handle multi-page jobs, all run from a touchscreen.
Perfect for
Great for home users who want borderless photos and cards.
Why we picked it
Borderless photo printing runs edge to edge, with no white frame. You also get 4x6 double-sided photo and card printing, and it is eligible for HP Instant Ink, with 3 months included in the HP UK listing.
Price
£89.99 (hp.com, checked 25 October 2026)
  • HP lists print speeds of up to 10 ppm black and 7 ppm colour, with an automatic document feeder, two-sided printing and a touchscreen.
  • It is eligible for HP Instant Ink, and the HP UK listing includes 3 months of it.
  • It does borderless photo printing, plus 4x6 double-sided photo and card printing.

The catch: HP lists a monthly volume of up to 100 pages, so it suits light use, not regular heavy printing.

Check today's price on Amazon
Canon PIXMA TS4150i Wireless Colour 3-in-1 Inkjet Printer
Image: Canon

6Best for cheapest all-in-one

Canon PIXMA TS4150i Wireless Colour 3-in-1 Inkjet Printer

Print, copy and scan at home from one compact machine.

What it is
This wireless all-in-one prints, copies and scans. Canon quotes 14.0 images per minute (ipm, its standard speed measure) in black and 9 ipm in colour.
Perfect for
Built for busy homes that need one neat machine for a shelf or a desk.
Why we picked it
Dual-band Wi-Fi, which is a wireless connection that works on two signal bands, joins your network, and a QR code setup gets you going. It comes with a minimum 2-year guarantee and works with the PIXMA Print Plan ink subscription.
Price
£69.99 (canon.co.uk, checked 25 October 2026)
  • Canon quotes print speeds of 14.0 ipm black and 9 ipm colour, and dual-band Wi-Fi with a QR code setup.
  • Canon describes a compact design that can sit on a shelf or desk without rear access.
  • A minimum 2-year guarantee is included, and it is compatible with the PIXMA Print Plan ink subscription.

The catch: A cartridge printer, so ink comes as separate Canon cartridges rather than refillable bottles.

Check today's price on Amazon
Canon PIXMA TS6550i Wireless Colour 3-in-1 Inkjet Photo Printer
Image: Canon

7Best for sharper text, OLED screen

Canon PIXMA TS6550i Wireless Colour 3-in-1 Inkjet Photo Printer

Sharper text and a clear screen, all from one wireless printer.

What it is
This Canon is a 3-in-1 colour inkjet printer that works wirelessly. It uses a new pigment black ink, which Canon says gives clearer prints that are easier to read.
Perfect for
Aimed at home workers and families who want sharp text and an easy-to-read screen.
Why we picked it
It has a 1.42-inch OLED display, so settings are easy to read. Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and QR code setup make connecting simple. Canon quotes print speeds of 14.0 ipm black and 9 ipm colour.
Price
£89.99 (canon.co.uk, checked 25 October 2026)
  • It uses a new pigment black ink, which Canon says gives clearer prints that are easier to read.
  • It has a 1.42-inch OLED display, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and a QR code setup.
  • Canon quotes print speeds of 14.0 ipm black and 9 ipm colour.

The catch: A cartridge printer; Canon sells its PG-595 and CL-586 cartridges separately, not refillable bottles.

Check today's price on Amazon

What we left out, and why

  • Epson EcoTank ET-2862: Epson's UK page shows it out of stock at £239.99, with a slower ISO speed (10 ppm mono, 5 ppm colour) than the ET-2911 (11 and 6).
  • Epson EcoTank ET-4955: Same 18 ppm speed, 30-page ADF and 250-sheet tray as the ET-4950, but Epson UK lists it at £459.99 against £379.99 for the ET-4950.
  • HP Smart Tank 5109: HP lists up to 12 ppm black and 5 ppm colour, slower than the 18 ppm of the EcoTank ET-4950.

How we chose

Our buying criteria

We compared ink tank, cartridge and mono laser printers on more than the sticker price: the ink or toner in the box, how many pages it prints, and whether a document feeder and two-sided printing are included. Figures come from Epson, Brother, HP and Canon's UK pages, checked on the update date; we have not run our own print tests. The catch on each pick is the one we would want to know first.

  • Printer type: ink tank (refillable bottles), cartridge inkjet, or mono laser (toner). Brother lasers are black and white only.
  • Ink or toner: check the page yield of the supply in the box. The Brother lasers here ship with 1,200 to 1,500-page starter toner.
  • Functions: print only, or print, copy and scan. An automatic document feeder (ADF) helps with multi-page copying.
  • Connectivity and security: look for Wi-Fi, Ethernet on some models, and how long the maker supplies security updates.

How we choose every pick

Your questions, answered

Is an ink tank printer cheaper to run than a cartridge printer?
Usually, if you print a lot. An ink tank costs more up front, but you refill it from bottles instead of buying cartridges. On our top pick, the EcoTank ET-2911, Epson says one set of bottles prints up to 4,700 black and 7,500 colour pages.
Is a laser printer better than an inkjet for home use?
It depends on what you print. A mono laser suits black-and-white documents: the Brother lasers here print up to 34 pages a minute, but in black only. An inkjet suits colour and photos, and an ink tank keeps the colour running cost down.
Do I need an ink subscription?
No. Canon's PIXMA Print Plan is an option, not a requirement. If you want ink by subscription, the HP ENVY 6530e is eligible for HP Instant Ink, and its UK listing includes 3 months of it.
How long will a printer get security updates?
It depends on the maker, so check before you buy. Epson says it will provide security updates for the EcoTank ET-2911 for 7 years from purchase.
What warranty does a printer come with?
It depends on the model. Canon includes a minimum 2-year guarantee on the PIXMA TS4150i, and Epson's standard warranty on the EcoTank ET-4950 is 100,000 pages or 1 year.

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