Choosing the best printer for home use can be a bit unnerving. \u00a0Like most tech available these days, there are an endless amount of options, each with their own unique features and selling points and with many of us now working from home, finding one that is reliable and affordable can take some research. \u00a0Jumping on the latest printer deal of the week is understandably enticing, but isn’t the most logical thing to do especially if you’re not sure if that printer truly fits your printing needs and<\/strong><\/em> budget. <\/span><\/p>\r\n In this guide, we will help you focus your search and explore a handful of top-rated picks for 2023, so you can find a machine that fits both your needs and budget.<\/span><\/p>\r\n To start, we will cover a few common pre-purchase questions.\u00a0 If you would rather skip ahead to our list of best home printers, click the jump links below.\u00a0 For further reading, check out our guide on how to decide between an\u00a0inkjet and a laser printer<\/a>\u00a0or our list of the\u00a0best office printers of 2023<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Printing the occasional family photo and daily expense reports obviously require two very different printers. \u00a0To figure out what you are looking for in a printer, make a list of what you plan to print regularly, semi-regularly and not at all. \u00a0When you are researching new printers look for features that meet those printing requirements. For an in-depth guide on what to look for in a new printer, check out our <\/span>\u201cWhat Printer Should I Buy?\u201d<\/span><\/a> guide. \u00a0In our printer recommendations further down the page, we cover some of our latest favorites for a range of uses.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Every printer uses cartridges that offer a specific page yield. The yield determines how many pages a cartridge can print, and subsequently, how often you will need to replace your cartridges. \u00a0Page yield can vary drastically from printer to printer, so you will want to look for a printer that offers an acceptable yield for your needs. Consumers that only print occasionally might be perfectly happy with a cartridge that only prints 200 pages. However, that same cartridge would not be a good fit for someone that prints 1,000 pages a week.<\/span><\/p>\r\n There are consumers who only look at the price of an ink cartridge and think they can save money with a cheap ink cartridge. There are tons of printer cartridges out there that run for $10-$15, which sound like a good deal on the surface. <\/span>Unfortunately, not all printer cartridges are created equal, and while the initial cost of the cartridge is low, the real way to measure the true cost of an ink cartridge is by looking at it’s cost per page which not only looks at cartridge price but also the number of pages you get from the cartridge as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n T<\/span>he real way to measure the true cost of an ink cartridge is by looking at it’s cost per page (CPP)<\/strong> which not only looks at cartridge price but the number of pages you get from the cartridge as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n Determining the cost per page is relatively easy; just divide the printer\u2019s page yield by the cost of the printer cartridge. \u00a0For example, the Brother LC3035 black ink cartridge that we talk more about later in this article offers a yield 6,000 pages and an original Brother brand version sells for $55.99. \u00a0After you do a little math, you\u2019ll find that the cost per page is .93 cents, which is super affordable and why we named it one of our favorite budget friendly printers. <\/span><\/p>\r\n Alternatively, if you look at a cartridge like an HP 63XL black ink cartridge, the cost per page is a completely different story. \u00a0The yield for this cartridge is 480 pages and HP sells the cartridge for $39.99, giving you a cpp of 8.3 cents, or almost eight times more expensive to operate than the Brother cartridge. <\/span><\/p>\r\n The take home lesson is, before buy, calculate the cost per page of the cartridges that come with the printer. If operating costs are high, keep looking! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n To cut back on printing costs even more, consider purchasing compatible cartridges. Compatible<\/a> (and <\/span>remanufactured<\/span><\/a>) printers cartridges offer the same number of prints and the same standard of quality as an original brand cartridge for a fraction of the price, bringing your cost per page down even further.<\/span><\/p>\r\n From single-function printers that only print to all-in-one machines with print, scan, copy and fax capabilities, you will need to decide which features are essential. \u00a0Read up on the specs of your prospective printer before you buy and make sure they line up with your needs. Find the basic specs on the manufacturer\u2019s website!<\/span><\/p>\r\n The Brother MFC-J805DW is a budget friendly all-in-one ink tank printer that offers a low-cost per page and a number of convenient features for everyday use. \u00a0It\u2019s high yield cartridges are priced very reasonably for the generous amount of ink that is included in each one, keeping your print budget low and cartridge replacement something of a rarity.\u00a0 This printer is part of the Brother Inkvestment ink tank series, which blends the familiarity of a conventional inkjet printer with the cost savings of an ink tank printer like the Epson EcoTank.\u00a0 Instead of using ink bottles and an ink tank system like the EcoTank series, it uses regular ink cartridges, but once they are installed, the ink is stored in a tank that’s built into the printer.\u00a0 Storing the ink in a tank inside the printer lets you print longer without worrying about replacing your cartridges.\u00a0 Monitoring your ink levels is easy with the page gauge on the printer display so you know when your ink is running low.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The LC3033 cartridges (black, cyan, magenta and yellow) last between 1500-3000 pages each, depending on the cartridge. For an even better value, high yield LC3035 cartridges are also available, printing 6,000 pages in black and 5,000 pages in color.\u00a0 <\/span>Print, copy and scan capabilities come standard and an automatic duplex function makes it easy to print on both sides of the page. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n On the go, computer-free printing is easy too with built-in wireless functionality. The printer\u2019s paper capacity is a bit small at 150 pages but the tray is designed to accommodate a range of paper sizes, including photo prints.<\/span><\/p>\r\n To bring your printing costs down even further, consider LD brand compatible LC3035 ink cartridges. At just <\/span>$14.99<\/span><\/a> for the black cartridge and <\/span>$10.99<\/span><\/a> for each color cartridge, the savings are tough to beat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nWhat kind of printing will you do?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\r\n
How often do you print?<\/em><\/h4>\r\n
How much do you want to spend on printer cartridges?<\/em><\/h4>\r\n
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What features do you need?<\/em><\/h4>\r\n
\r\nBest Budget Printer<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Brother\u00ae\u00a0<\/sup>MFC-J805DW<\/a> – Buy on Amazon*<\/a><\/h4>\r\n
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\n \n\n \ufeffCartridge Series<\/th> Page Yield<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Brother LC3035 High Yield Black Ink Cartridge<\/td> ~ 6,000 pages<\/td> <\/tr>\n \n Brother LC3035 High Yield Cyan Ink Cartridge<\/td> ~ 5,000 pages<\/td> <\/tr>\n \n Brother LC3035E High Yield Magenta Ink Cartridge<\/td> ~ 5,000 pages<\/td> <\/tr>\n \n Brother LC3035 High Yield Yellow Ink Cartridge<\/td> ~ 5,000 pages<\/td> <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n