The Tool Desk
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The seven picks below cover heavy-duty color, compact color, monochrome, print-only, wide-format, conventional inkjet and low-running-cost ink-tank use cases. Prices and U.S. availability can change, so verify the current listing and supplies before buying.
Quick comparison
| Model | Type | Best for | Published speed | ADF and duplex notes | Price evidence | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother MFC-L8930CDW | Color laser all-in-one | Busy shared offices | Approximately 34 ppm (RTINGS) | Verify exact duplex-scanning behavior | Not stated | Large, expensive and excessive for light use |
| Canon Color imageCLASS MF665Cdw | Color laser all-in-one | Upper-midrange color documents | Up to approximately 26 ppm | ADF; verify duplex scanning by regional model | Not stated | Slower than the Brother and potentially costly color toner |
| Brother MFC-L2820DW | Monochrome laser all-in-one | Black-text offices needing scan/copy | Approximately 33 ppm | ADF, but no duplex scanning; duplex printing is separate | $250 guide price snapshot | Slow, single-sided batch scanning |
| Brother HL-L2460DW | Monochrome laser printer | Low-cost print-only stations | Not stated | No scanner or ADF | Verify current price | Cannot scan or copy |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e | Wide-format inkjet all-in-one | 11-by-17-inch output | Approximately 20 black/14 color ppm | Verify ADF duplex-scanning method | $290 guide price snapshot | Ink maintenance and larger footprint |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9135/9135e | Business inkjet all-in-one | Faster color inkjet work | Faster than MF665Cdw in RTINGS testing; exact figure not stated | ADF; verify current model specification | $300 guide price snapshot | Lower yields than the Canon and possible subscription restrictions |
| Epson EcoTank ET-4950 | Refillable ink-tank all-in-one | Regular color at low refill cost | Slower than MF665Cdw | ADF and duplex printing; duplex scanning must be confirmed | Not stated | Higher upfront cost and inkjet maintenance |
Category selections and performance comparisons are based on RTINGS’ 2026 small-business guide: RTINGS small-business printer picks.
How to choose the right printer technology
Monochrome laser
Choose mono laser for invoices, contracts, shipping documents and other black-text work. Toner does not dry out during inactivity, text is sharp and sustained jobs are usually faster than comparable inkjet output. You give up color and generally get less flexibility for photos and polished marketing material.
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#1 Best Overall
- BEST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES – Engineered for extraordinary productivity, the Brother DCP-L2640DW Monochrome (Black & White) 3-in-1 combines laser printer, scanner, copier in one compact footprint and delivers high-quality black & white prints
- FAST PRINTER WITH EFFICIENT SCANNING – Produces documents quickly with print speeds up to 36 ppm(2) and scan speeds up to 23.6/7.9 ipm(3) (black/color). A 50-page auto document feeder(4) allows for convenient, time saving multi-page scanning and copying
- FLEXIBLE CONNECTION OPTIONS – Easily navigate the changing demands of your business with secure multi-device connectivity via built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz / 5GHz) and Ethernet. Or connect locally to a single computer via USB interface
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Print, scan, and manage your wireless printer anytime, from almost anywhere from your mobile device. Order Brother Genuine Supplies, track toner usage, and complete more work on-the-go(5)
- CHOOSE BROTHER GENUINE TONER – When it’s time to replace your toner, be sure to choose Brother Genuine TN830 or TN830XL replacement toner. And with Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service, you’ll never worry about running out of toner again and you’ll enjoy savings of up to 50%(6) on Brother Genuine Toner. Get started with Refresh today with a Free Trial(1)
Color laser
Color laser suits client documents, charts and forms shared by several people. It delivers consistent, crisp office output without inkjet printhead-clogging concerns, but the purchase price and color-toner cost are higher and photo quality is usually weaker than a good inkjet’s.
Cartridge inkjet
Cartridge inkjet printers often cost less initially and can produce attractive graphics and photos. They are a reasonable fit for low-to-moderate mixed-color workloads, but ink can become expensive, printheads can clog after long idle periods and some models promote replenishment subscriptions.
Refillable ink tank
Ink tanks make sense when you print substantial color volume and will use the printer regularly. Bottled ink can reduce refill cost dramatically, although the printer usually costs more upfront, runs slower than a laser and still needs inkjet maintenance. Laser-versus-inkjet trade-offs are summarized by Tom’s Guide.
All-in-one, duplex and workflow requirements
An all-in-one is normally worthwhile when you need at least two of printing, scanning, copying and faxing. A print-only model is cheaper and simpler when another scanner already serves the office.
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- Automatic duplex printing puts content on both sides of a sheet.
- Duplex scanning captures both sides of a two-sided original.
- Single-pass duplex scanning scans both sides in one ADF pass and is generally the least labor-intensive.
The MFC-L2820DW has an ADF but lacks duplex scanning; the MFC-L2880DW is a model-specific alternative identified with that capability. Confirm the exact regional specification before purchase.
Rank #2
- BEST FOR HOMES & HOME OFFICES – Engineered for consistent, premium print quality, the Brother HL-L2405W Monochrome (Black & White) Laser Printer delivers sharp, crisp prints at an affordable price. Prints one-sided documents at speeds up to 30ppm(2)
- COMPACT, CONNECTED PRINTER – Flexible connection options make this an ideal printer for home use and at-home offices. Securely connect to multiple devices with built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz/5GHz) or locally to a single computer via USB interface
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Manage your printer remotely and print from your mobile device anytime, from almost anywhere. Order Brother Genuine Supplies, track toner usage, and complete more work on-the-go(3)
- VERSATILE PAPER HANDLING – Enjoy seamless, reliable everyday printing with the 250-sheet paper tray(4) and a manual feed slot that enables printing on envelopes and specialty pape
- BROTHER IS AT YOUR SIDE – Backed by Brother with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call, or live chat support for the life of your printer
The seven best printers
1. Brother MFC-L8930CDW — best overall for a busy color office
RTINGS names this its overall small-business pick. It is a higher-capacity color laser multifunction printer for offices that need substantial color printing plus scanning, copying and faxing. Its approximately 34-ppm reported speed is better suited to a shared device than an entry-level model.
Choose it when: several users share the printer and color documents are routine.
Skip it when: you print only a few dozen pages monthly, have little physical space or need the lowest possible color cost; compare an ink tank instead.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchCheck before ordering: current toner prices and yields, warranty, paper capacity and duplex-ADF behavior at Brother’s printer store.
2. Canon Color imageCLASS MF665Cdw — best upper-midrange color laser
RTINGS positions the MF665Cdw as an upper-midrange choice. It combines crisp documents, a capable ADF and approximately 26-ppm maximum print speed for invoices, proposals and reports without moving to a larger departmental device.
Rank #3
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Perfect for small teams printing, scanning and copying professional-quality color documents and reports. Print speeds up to 26 ppm black/color.
- PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIVITY – Proficiency with every print—next-generation TerraJet toner brings your business to life with more vivid colors.
- ORIGINAL HP TONER CARTRIDGES – This HP printer uses Original HP 218A standard and 218X high yield LaserJet toner cartridges.
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, auto 2-sided printing, auto document feeder, and a 250-sheet input tray.
- AWARD-WINNING RELIABILITY – Performance you can count on page after page, and always ready for the high demands of business.
Its reported scan speed is approximately 14 ppm. It is slower than the Brother, and similarly named Canon models can differ in duplex scanning, so verify the exact U.S. specification. A color ink tank may cost less to operate at high color volume.
See Canon’s printer store for the current model and supplies.
3. Brother MFC-L2820DW — best monochrome all-in-one
This is the practical choice when nearly everything is black text but the office still needs copying, scanning and an ADF. RTINGS reports approximately 33 ppm, quick warm-up and high-quality monochrome output; a standard toner cartridge is reported at about 1,300 prints.
The ADF is reported at approximately seven pages per minute and does not scan both sides automatically. Choose a duplex-scanning variant such as the MFC-L2880DW if contracts or two-sided forms are routine. Current listings are available through Brother.
4. Brother HL-L2460DW — best budget print-only printer
The HL-L2460DW removes the scanner to reduce cost and complexity while retaining USB, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, according to RTINGS. It fits a shipping desk, invoice station or back office that prints black documents and already has scanning covered.
Rank #4
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Perfect for small teams printing professional-quality black-and-white documents and reports. Print speeds up to 35 ppm black.
- PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIVITY – Proficiency with every print—bring your business to life with toner designed for sharp, professional-quality prints
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast printing, scanning and copying, auto 2-sided printing, a 250-sheet input tray and 50-sheet auto document feeder
- AWARD-WINNING RELIABILITY – Performance you can count on page after page, and always ready for the high demands of business
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most dependable Wi-Fi, which looks for the best connection to stay online
Before choosing it, ask whether the office ever digitizes receipts, signed documents, identification or forms. If the answer is yes, the missing scanner can create more friction than the initial saving. Verify the live price and consumables at Brother’s official store.
5. HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e — best wide-format option
The 9730e supports output up to 11 by 17 inches, making it useful for spreadsheets, posters, diagrams, menus and signage. RTINGS reports approximately 20 black ppm and 14 color ppm.
It is versatile but not among the fastest choices. The larger footprint and inkjet maintenance make it a poor fit for an office that never needs tabloid-size paper. Confirm ADF duplex behavior and current ink costs at HP’s business printer store.
6. HP OfficeJet Pro 9135/9135e — best conventional business inkjet
RTINGS describes the 9135e as a faster color-inkjet alternative to the MF665Cdw, while noting lower page yields. HP’s 2026 listing uses the OfficeJet Pro 9135 naming, while the supplied product URL still identifies the 9135e: current HP product page.
RTINGS reports a three-month free-ink offer through HP’s replenishment service and warns that enrollment blocks third-party cartridges. Treat the subscription as optional only after checking the current HP terms, what happens when it ends and whether unrestricted supplies matter to you.
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Best Value
- BEST FOR HOME OFFICES & SMALL TEAMS – Engineered for consistent, premium print quality, the Brother HL-L2460DW Monochrome (Black & White) Laser Printer produces documents that are clear, crisp, and easy to review and share, all at an affordable price
- COMPACT, CONNECTED, EXCEPTIONALLY EFFICIENT– Connect with built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz/5GHz), Ethernet, or to a single computer via USB interface. Prints at speeds up to 36ppm(2), plus automatic duplex printing saves time and reduces paper waste
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Manage your wireless printer remotely and print from your mobile device anytime, from almost anywhere. Order Brother Genuine Supplies, track toner usage, and complete more work on-the-go(3)
- VERSATILE PAPER HANDLING – Tackle high-volume black & white printing with the 250-sheet capacity paper tray.(4) The manual feed slot enables printing on envelopes and specialty paper
- BROTHER IS AT YOUR SIDE – Backed by Brother with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call, or live chat support for the life of your printer
7. Epson EcoTank ET-4950 — best low-running-cost ink tank
The ET-4950 is aimed at businesses printing color regularly and prioritizing refill cost over maximum speed. RTINGS calls it a strong color and cost-per-page alternative to the Canon; it is slower but offers a full-featured ADF, duplex printing and strong overall output.
Ink tanks are not automatically best: very light users may never recover the higher purchase price, and regular use helps reduce clogging risk. Confirm whether the specific ADF scans both sides or only prints duplex at Epson’s Work printers store.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Running cost and ownership checks
Compare at least one year of supplies rather than relying on the purchase price. Include standard and high-yield toner or ink, drum and maintenance-unit replacements, waste-toner or maintenance-box costs, and any subscription.
Cost per page changes with page coverage, cartridge size, street price, bundled supplies, manufacturer yield methodology and genuine versus third-party consumables. Tom’s Guide measured the Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW at about 0.3 cents per text page and under 1 cent per color page in its specific test; that result does not generalize to every Brother or ink-tank printer. Consumer Reports’ 2026 guide provides comparative cost, capacity, reliability and owner-satisfaction data, but its prices and scores are dated snapshots: Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2026.
Small-business printer buying checklist
- Estimate monthly pages and the percentage printed in color.
- Decide whether you need printing only or also scanning, copying and faxing.
- Count how many two-sided originals you process; verify duplex scanning separately from duplex printing.
- Check letter, legal, envelopes, labels and 11-by-17 requirements.
- Compare simplex and duplex ppm, first-page time, ADF capacity and scan speed.
- Prefer Ethernet when a stable shared-office connection matters.
- Price replacement supplies, drums, maintenance boxes and subscriptions using current U.S. listings.
- Check security controls, firmware support, warranty and local service.
- Measure desk depth, height, clearance, noise and paper-tray access.
- Review firmware and cartridge policies before assuming third-party supplies will remain compatible.
Bottom line
Choose the Brother MFC-L8930CDW for a busy color-heavy office, the Canon MF665Cdw for balanced midrange color, the Brother MFC-L2820DW for black-text multifunction work and the HL-L2460DW when print-only is genuinely enough. Pick HP’s 9730e for 11-by-17 output, the 9135/9135e for a business inkjet workflow, or Epson’s ET-4950 when regular color volume makes refill economics more important than laser speed.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
