When you’re setting up your home office, it’s important to have everything in place. A good printer is an essential part of any setup. However, printers can be expensive, and you need to ensure that you’re getting the right printer for your needs.
It’s important to know what to look for in a printer – do you want an inkjet printer, or should you pay out a little bit more and get a laser printer? Well, firstly I’ll run through some of the best options currently on the market. Then, I’ll give you a few tips to make sure you’re getting the right choice for you.
Best Home Printer for Mac
| Product | Image | DPI | Get More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon TS9550 | No products found. | 4800x1200dpi | Check Price at Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA TS5350 |  | 600x1200dpi | Check Price at Amazon |
| HP OfficeJet Pro |  | 600x1200dpi | Check Price at Amazon |
| HP ENVY 5030 |  | 1200x1200dpi | Check Price at Amazon |
| HP OfficeJet 200 |  | 4800x1200dpi | Check Price at Amazon |
No products found.
No products found.Depending on how much you want to spend on a printer, there will be many different options to suit. If you have a decent enough budget, then I’d recommend looking at the Canon TS9550.
One of the best things about TS9550 is that it has A3 capability as well as A4. So if you have bigger projects and the need for larger printouts, then it’s worth looking at a larger model of printer like this one. You can do this on the touchscreen display, which is really intuitive and simple to use – it’s responsive too. It can print on a variety of different materials, and you can connect it to your computer or laptop wirelessly pretty easily too.
If you need a fast printer that’s super quiet and is really cheap on ink, then this is the perfect model for you. Ink can generally be expensive, so finding a printer that has low running costs can be tough.
Canon PIXMA TS5350
The Canon Pixma is a cheaper, simpler alternative top the TS9550. If you don’t think you will need A3 printing and a responsive touchscreen display, then opting for a Pixma might make more sense financially.
The Pixma is designed to be simple, easy to use but still effective. Although saying this, you’re still getting a printer, scanner and copies all within a small package, so it still has a lot to offer. Setting the printer up with the Canon app makes it really easy to print files directly from your phone, so if you’re someone that needs to print a ton of Google Drive files then this would be great.
One reason that I like to recommend Canon printers is that they’re really good for low ink costs, and the Pixma continues that tradition. It’s a cost effective printer that will last a while whilst delivering quality printing.
HP OfficeJet Pro
Another good option if you’re looking for an all-in-one printer is the OfficeJet series from HP. We all know that HP have produced some of the best technology of the last few decades, even if some of it is a little overpriced.
One good thing about HP is their substantial warranties – this printer comes with a 3 year guarantee, so you don’t need to worry about it packing up on you. The printer has a 225 sheet input limit tray, with a 60 sheet output tray. HP printers also make it pretty easy to scan your documents directly to your computer via the cloud.
One thing to be careful with HP though is that they have a subscription service, or their instant ink service. If you’re going to be printing a lot, then it might make sense to sign up to this. Typically you’ll pay a monthly fee for ink depending on how much you need to print. However for most people, this won’t be necessary and you can just replenish your ink as and when it needs to be replaced.
HP ENVY 5030
For those on a really tight budget, the HP Envy series definitely offers the best value for money. You can find their printers at really cheap prices, and they typically have all the features the more expensive ones do anyway – printing, scanning and copying.
When you consider how cheap the printer is, you’re actually getting a lot for your money. It’s Airprint and Wifi compatible, so you can set it up easily with your iPhone or Android. It also has the capabilities to print on both sides, so if you’re trying to cut costs, then you’ll end up using half the paper you would normally.
Again, with HP you can sign up to their Instant Ink service – their prices start at £2 for 50 pages but most people will need more than this. But for cheap printing, the HP Envy is definitely worth considering.
HP OfficeJet 200
Another final option from HP is the OfficeJet 200, which has been one of their most popular series in recent years. Compared to the rest on the list it’s a little overpriced in my opinion, but that doesn’t mean you should consider it.
The OfficeJet 200 is a colour printer that’s made to be portable. Although it’s not the smallest printer around, it’s quite narrow and thin. This means you can easily pack the printer up into a backpack and carry it with you anywhere you go – most other home office printers are too big and bulky to do this.
You can print wirelessly with this model, and it prints at a speed of around 9 pages per minute even when powered by battery. You can charge the printer up in just an hour and a half, too. So for those looking for a printer you can travel with, the OfficeJet 200 is going to be the perfect companion.
Home Printer Buying Guide – Common FAQs
Which printer brand is most reliable?
The most reliable printer brand is subjective, but for me it’s between Canon and HP. They both make good printers with pretty long warranties, so even if you do have a problem, you should be able to sort it out pretty easily. I’ve had 2 Epson printers before and they both went bust on me, which is why I avoid them now (not sure if I was just unlucky or what!).
What’s the difference between inkjet and laser?
The essential difference that you need to know about these two is that laser printers are more expensive at first, but are cheaper to run with lower printing costs. Inkjets are cheaper, but if you’re printing in volume (100s of sheets of paper a month), then the printing costs will add up.
How much should I spend on a printer?
If you’re only going to use your printer on the odd occasion, don’t spend more than £100 on a cheap inkjet printer. If you’re going to print regularly (daily or at least a few times a week), then spend a bit more on a more expensive laser printer if you don’t need a colour printer. Only those that print a lot, on a very regular basis, will need a more expensive printer than this.
Should I get a wireless printer?
Wireless printers can be great for convenience, but they often carry a higher price tag than your standard printer. If you have the extra cash to spend then definitely go for it, but there’s no real advantage of having a wireless printer aside from the convenience.
Will my printer come with ink?
If you do end up going for an inkjet printer, then the majority of the time they will come with ink included. Sometimes they’ll even come with A4 paper included too. However, you shouldn’t be sweetened by these sorts of deals, because generally ink and paper can be bought for relatively cheap prices.
Conclusion
If you’re going to be printing a lot, then it might be worth opting for a laser printer for your home office. However, generally laser printers are designed for heavy loads of printing work, and they have a higher cost initially. For most people, an inkjet printer will be the better choice, especially if you’re going to be printing in colour. Inkjets are cheaper initially, although printing costs can add up over time.
These are just some of the printers that are currently available on the market in the UK. If you have any suggestions or any comments to add, then just leave a comment down below!
