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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The cheapest office printer to buy is not always the cheapest to own. For mostly black-and-white documents, a compact monochrome laser such as the Brother HL-L2460DW is a sensible starting point; for regular color printing with scanning and copying, a refillable tank all-in-one such as the Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 can keep ink costs low. Compare supplies, expected print volume and the features you will actually use before deciding.
How to choose a cheap printer for office use
Estimate how many pages you print in a typical month, how often you need color, and whether you need scanning, copying or duplex scanning. Then compare the purchase price with the cost and yield of replacement supplies. A low-cost printer can become expensive if its cartridges do not last long or cost a lot to replace.
- Mostly black text: A monochrome laser avoids paying for color supplies and is suited to occasional document printing.
- Frequent color: A refillable ink-tank printer can offer lower ink costs per page than cartridge models, though it usually asks for a higher initial outlay.
- Long idle periods: RTINGS notes that inkjet printers can clog when left unused, while laser printers are a better fit for occasional document jobs. This is a general technology caveat, not a guarantee about any individual printer. RTINGS explains the trade-offs between inkjet and laser printers.
Check whether you need automatic duplex printing, an automatic document feeder (ADF), more than one paper tray, and Wi-Fi or USB connectivity. Paying for features that do not match your workflow can undermine the savings from buying a budget model.
Which budget office printer fits your workload?
| Office need | Candidate | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly black-and-white documents; no scanner needed | Brother HL-L2460DW monochrome laser | RTINGS’ budget office pick; reports more than 33 pages per minute. Standard TN830 toner is estimated to yield about 1,300 pages; high-yield toner about 3,000. Budget separately for a drum replacement over the printer’s life. See RTINGS’ Brother HL-L2460DW review. |
| Regular color, occasional photos, scanning and copying | Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 refillable ink-tank all-in-one | Tom’s Guide’s budget all-in-one pick, with duplex printing and an estimated color cost of about 0.9 cents per page under its testing methodology. It has no ADF, one paper tray, and average print and copy speeds. See Tom’s Guide’s printer recommendations. |
| More involved color office workflow and duplex scanning | HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e | IT Pro describes a four-in-one with duplex printing and a 35-sheet duplex ADF; its review measured 22.1 pages per minute for black text. Its listed £161 price excluding VAT is a review-time UK figure, not a current global price. See IT Pro’s HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e review. |
| Higher-volume color business use where upfront cost is acceptable | Canon MAXIFY GX7150 | IT Pro reports a review-market cost above £400, low ongoing ink costs and substantial included bottle yield. Those are review-era GBP estimates, not current universal prices. See IT Pro’s Canon MAXIFY GX7150 review. |
These are workload-based options rather than a universal ranking. Prices, availability and model variants can differ by country, so verify the price and replacement-supply SKUs for the exact model sold in your market before buying.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- UPC: 198828789662
- Weight: 10.450 lbs
Best cheap printer for mostly black-and-white documents
The Brother HL-L2460DW is the clearest fit if the office mainly prints text and does not need a scanner or color output. RTINGS reports a print speed above 33 pages per minute and estimates that its standard TN830 toner yields about 1,300 pages, compared with about 3,000 pages for the high-yield cartridge. These are RTINGS’ reported figures, not a promise of the yield you will get: actual results depend on what you print.
Include the drum in your ownership-cost estimate as well as toner. The HL-L2460DW is a text-only printer, so do not choose it if the workflow requires color printing, scanning or copying. Compare the cost of standard and high-yield toner against your expected volume rather than assuming the larger cartridge is automatically the better value.
Rank #2
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The Envy 6155 is perfect for homes printing everyday high-quality color documents like homework and borderless photos. Print speeds up to 10 ppm black, 7 ppm color.
- 3 MONTH TRIAL OF INSTANT INK – Subscribe to the Instant Ink delivery service to get ink delivered directly to your door before you run out, and you save up to 50% on ink. After 3 months, a monthly fee applies unless cancelled.
- KEY FEATURES – Color print, copy and scan, plus auto 2-sided printing and a 100-sheet input tray
- HP'S MOST INTUITIVE COLOR TOUCHSCREEN – Smoothly navigate your printer with the easy-to-use 2.4" touchscreen
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues
Best low-ink-cost choice for regular color
The Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 is worth considering when the office prints color regularly and also needs scanning and copying. Tom’s Guide estimates a color cost of about 0.9 cents per page from its testing and methodology, compared with a 1.9-cent category average in that same assessment. The estimate is source-specific, not a universal price for every page or market.
There are workflow trade-offs: the G3290 has no ADF, just one paper tray, and average print and copy speeds. Tom’s Guide reports duplex text printing at 7.2 pages per minute. If staff often scan multi-page documents, need a second tray, or print in a hurry, those limitations may matter more than its estimated ink cost.
Rank #3
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Seamless Multi-Page Handling - Tackle multi-page documents with ease using the Auto Document Feeder (ADF) for quick scanning and copying
When a more capable office all-in-one is worth considering
HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e for duplex scanning
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e is an option for offices that need a more involved color workflow. IT Pro describes it as a four-in-one with duplex printing and a 35-sheet duplex ADF; its review measured 22.1 pages per minute for black text. IT Pro’s £161 excluding VAT figure is the review-time UK price, not a current offer or a price that can be compared directly with US estimates.
Canon MAXIFY GX7150 for higher-volume color
The Canon MAXIFY GX7150 is aimed at higher-volume color business use where a larger initial outlay is acceptable. IT Pro says it cost more than £400 in its market context, while reporting low ongoing ink costs and substantial included bottle yield. Treat these as review-era GBP estimates; they do not establish today’s price or running cost in another market.
Rank #4
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Scan & Copy Handling - Utilize the device’s integrated scanner for efficient scanning and copying operations
Calculate the real cost before you buy
Use the same assumptions when comparing printers: your expected monthly pages, the share printed in color, the relevant cartridge or bottle yield, and the replacement price in your market. Cost-per-page figures from different reviewers are not necessarily comparable because they may use different methods, coverage assumptions, regions and review dates.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Scan & Copy Handling - Utilize the device’s integrated scanner for efficient scanning and copying operations
- Estimate your workload. Separate black-only pages from color pages and account for any occasional photo printing.
- Check replacement supplies. Look up the exact compatible toner, drum or ink bottles for the regional model you are considering, and check both price and stated yield.
- Account for the whole supply system. For the Brother HL-L2460DW, include the separate drum; for an ink tank, account for compatible refill bottles as well as paper.
- Price the features that save staff time. An ADF, duplex scanning, additional trays or faster output can be worthwhile when they match a real office task; otherwise they may not justify a higher purchase price.
- Verify the live offer. Check current price, stock and model-region differences before ordering. Review prices and test estimates in this comparison are not a live-price snapshot.
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.
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