{"id":5639,"date":"2018-09-25T16:08:23","date_gmt":"2018-09-25T16:08:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/?p=5639"},"modified":"2023-07-12T20:12:26","modified_gmt":"2023-07-12T20:12:26","slug":"best-printers-for-occasional-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/best-printers-for-occasional-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Printers for Occasional Use"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<h4>Find the perfect printer for occasional use and print only when you want to, without worrying about\u00a0 dried out printer cartridges.<\/h4>\r\n<p>It\u2019s no secret that many are printing less these days.\u00a0 Now that everything is just a couple taps away on our smartphones, the need for an everyday printer is rare for most home offices.\u00a0 Printers can be nice to have for printing out one-off documents for work or your kid\u2019s latest homework assignment, but in between prints, they can easily sit untouched for weeks!<\/p>\r\n<p>For inkjet printer owners, a dormant printer can quickly be a problem if you forgo printing for even a short period of time.\u00a0 Printer cartridges can dry out, the printhead can clog, and inevitably, you have to invest in a new set of pricey replacement cartridges.\u00a0 Low cost compatible printer cartridges can alleviate some of that cost (more on that later), but if you want to get the best long-term print value, you need to find a machine that can weather that printer down time.<\/p>\r\n<p>In this quick guide, we break down our four favorite printers for consumers that print occasionally.\u00a0 Whether you just need black and white prints or full color photos, all of these machines can be used infrequently and still produce a quality print when needed.\u00a0 If you are looking for a printer that won&#8217;t dry out, we cover it here!<\/p>\r\n<p>To skip ahead to the printers, click the jump links below.\u00a0 Or keep reading to learn more about what type of printer you should buy and the best way to save on printing costs.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"#section1\"><strong>Best Basic Monochrome Laser Printer:<\/strong> Brother HL-L2350DW<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#section2\"><strong>Best Multi-function Monochrome Laser Printer:<\/strong> Brother MFC-L2750DW<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#section3\"><strong>Best Color Laser Printer:<\/strong> HP Laserjet Pro M254dw<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#section4\"><strong>Best Ink Tank Printer:<\/strong> Canon PIXMA G3260 MegaTank<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/best-home-office-laser-printer?xid=tmd:blog:banner&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=ldblog&amp;utm_campaign=7863:laser-blog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-9114 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/ld_bnr_blog_homeoffice_728x90_v1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" \/><\/a><\/h4>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h4>What Type of Printer Should I Buy?<\/h4>\r\n<p>Two types of printers are preferred for occasional use: laser printers and ink tank printers.\u00a0 Which one you choose all depends on the sort of printing you do.<\/p>\r\n<p>Laser printers have long been a popular option for busy offices and are capable of handling large print volumes and text-based documents.\u00a0 These machines use toner powder to produce a print.\u00a0 A dry, plastic material that won\u2019t dry out like an ink cartridge, toner powder can sit idle in the machine for an extended period of time.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t need to print high-resolution photos, a good laser printer is the way go.<\/p>\r\n<p>Ink tank printers, also known as reservoir printers, are a relatively new addition to the printer industry.\u00a0 Instead of printer cartridges, these machines rely on an ink tank system and ink bottles to produce a print.\u00a0 Ink is delivered from an ink bottle to the printer through an airtight tube, preserving the ink in a sealed tank until it\u2019s ready to be used.\u00a0 Ink tank printers are incredibly cost effective, printing thousands of pages for pennies on the dollar and can print anything a regular inkjet printer can, including high quality photographs. Most are more expensive than the standard inkjet machine, but thousands of prints per ink bottle and low operating costs make them worth considering.\u00a0 Epson was the first major printer manufacturer to offer an ink tank printer option with the Epson EcoTank series but other major manufacturers quickly followed suit.\u00a0 The Brother Inkvestment line, Canon MegaTank line and HP SmartTank line are all popular ink tank printer series that have been introduced in recent years.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>We answer all of the most common questions and include a list of our favorites in our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/best-ink-tank-printers-of-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">best ink tank printer buying guide <\/a><\/strong>but our top printer for this article is the Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3260 we feature below.<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h4>How to Save On Printing Costs<\/h4>\r\n<p>Even if you don\u2019t print a lot, replacing printer cartridges can get expensive.\u00a0 One great way to save is with LD brand compatible ink and toner cartridges.\u00a0 With cartridges available for thousands of printer models, including all of the printers mentioned in this article, you can get comparable print quality and page yield to the original brand at a fraction of the price. Check out the savings for each of our featured printers below!<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h3 id=\"section1\"><strong>Best Basic Monochrome Laser Printer<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<h4>Brother HL-L2350DW &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3tJsQaU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Buy on Amazon*<\/a><\/h4>\r\n<p>The Brother HL-L2350DW\u2019s high yield printer cartridges and compact size make it an ideal candidate for consumers working with a limited a budget and a tight workspace. For an affordable price, you\u2019ll get fast print speeds, easy to use wireless printing options and a handy automatic duplexer for efficient dual-sided printing.<\/p>\r\n<p>Monochrome laser printers only print in black, so if you are looking to add some color to your prints, skip down to our color printer recommendations further down the page.<\/p>\r\n<p>The printer works with two different cartridges sizes, the TN-730 standard yield and the high yield TN-760.\u00a0 High yield toner cartridges are better option if you print regularly but occasional users are probably fine going with the standard cartridge. An original TN-730 toner cartridge from Staples prints 1,200 pages and sells for $41.99.\u00a0 The high yield option prints 3,000 pages and sells for $74.99.<\/p>\r\n<p>You can save up to 52% when you purchase the LD compatible version of the TN-760 cartridge, available for <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/compatible-brother-tn760-black-toner-cartridge-tn760cts?xid=tmd:blog:&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=ldblog&amp;utm_campaign=5639:tn-760\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$34.99<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 LD compatibles offer the same number of high quality pages as the original and are a much cheaper way to print.\u00a0 The LD-brand drum unit is <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/compatible-brother-dr730-black-imaging-drum?xid=tmd:blog:&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=ldblog&amp;utm_campaign=5639:dr-730\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$31.99<\/a>. <\/strong><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\namzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"ldproducts-occasional-printers-20\";\r\namzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\";\r\namzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\";\r\namzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\";\r\namzn_assoc_region = \"US\";\r\namzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\";\r\namzn_assoc_asins = \"B0763WDSYZ\";\r\namzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\";\r\namzn_assoc_linkid = \"6943ec10914a5b4c2ef8bc78b7467e2f\";\r\n<\/script> <script src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h3 id=\"section2\"><strong>Best Multi-function Monochrome Laser Printer<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<h4>Brother MFC-L2750DW &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3p9bqAV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Buy on Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\r\n<p>Printer users desiring a bit more versatility will want to look at the MFC-L2750DW, a multifunction machine with convenient print, scan and fax capabilities.\u00a0 Featuring print speeds of up to 36 ppm and a 50-sheet automatic document feeder for scanning multi-page documents, your office will stay productive, no matter how seldomly you might print.\u00a0 Wireless printing options let you easily print from your smart phone, tablet or laptop.<\/p>\r\n<p>Just like the previously mentioned HL-L2350DW, two cartridges are available for this machine; an original TN-730 standard yield cartridge prints 1,200 pages and sells for $65.49 and the TN-760 prints 3,000 pages and sells for $106.99.\u00a0 LD brand compatible TN-760 cartridges are available for just <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/compatible-brother-tn760-black-toner-cartridge-tn760cts?xid=tmd:blog:&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=ldblog&amp;utm_campaign=5639:tn-760\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$34.99<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 A replacement DR-730 drum is <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/compatible-brother-dr730-black-imaging-drum?xid=tmd:blog:&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=ldblog&amp;utm_campaign=5639:dr-730\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$31.99<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com?xid=tmd:blog:banner&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=ldblog&amp;utm_campaign=5639:bannerv2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6419 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/ld_banr_txt_smallbusiness_2019_728x90_v1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h3 id=\"section3\"><strong>Best Color Laser Printer<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<h4>HP Laserjet Pro M254dw &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3rGYt3h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Buy on Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\r\n<p>With print speeds of up to 17 ppm, HP\u2019s LaserJet Pro M254dw is a speedy laser printer that is perfect for small offices with basic color printing needs. Offering reliable, sharp text and vibrant color prints at a great value, this is a solid choice for consumers that need to print the occasional color document.\u00a0 Mobile printing technology connects seamlessly to you smartphone and a duplexer lets you print on both sides of the page.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the duplexer isn\u2019t automatic, but that shouldn\u2019t be a deal breaker for users with lighter printing jobs.<\/p>\r\n<p>The printer works with four color HP cartridges that are available in a standard (HP 202A) and high yield (HP 202X) cartridge size.\u00a0 Original replacement cartridges can get pricey, ranging from $64.99-$102.99, depending on the cartridge type.\u00a0 Alternatively, high yield LD compatible cartridges are great deal at <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/ink-and-toner\/hp\/hp-color-laserjet\/color-laserjet-m254dw?xid=tmd:blog:&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=ldblog&amp;utm_campaign=5639:202x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$46.99<\/a><\/strong> each! <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\namzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"ldproducts-occasional-printers-20\";\r\namzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\";\r\namzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\";\r\namzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\";\r\namzn_assoc_region = \"US\";\r\namzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\";\r\namzn_assoc_asins = \"B073R2WVKB\";\r\namzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\";\r\namzn_assoc_linkid = \"1961bb00f282021a8e127664e61743e8\";\r\n<\/script> <script src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h3 id=\"section4\"><strong>Best Ink Tank Printer<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<h4>Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3260 &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3aQYH0K\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Buy on Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\r\n<p>Ink tank printers have slowly grown in popularity over the last couple of years, with the Epson EcoTank, Canon MegaTank, Brother Inkvestment Tank and HP Smart Tank all competing for your printing dollars.\u00a0 The Canon PIXMA G3260 MegaTank is our number one pick because it offers the most bang for your buck at a price lower than most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/best-ink-tank-printers-of-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ink tank printers<\/a>.\u00a0 You get all of the multifunction features you need, plus wireless printing functionality that lets you easily print from a smartphone or tablet.<\/p>\r\n<p>Thanks to the printer\u2019s high volume GI-21 ink bottles, you\u2019ll be able to print thousands of pages at an incredibly low cost per page, with the black bottle printing up to 6,000 pages and each color bottle printing 7,000 pages.\u00a0 On top of that, Canon includes two additional black ink bottles with a new machine, offering a total yield of up to 18,000 pages.\u00a0 That is <em>a lot<\/em> of ink.<\/p>\r\n<p>Since this is a new printer, LD-brand compatible versions of the GI-21 ink bottles are not available quite yet but we will keep this article updated!\u00a0 In the meantime, you can check out thousands of other great cartridges and office supplies on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/?xid=tmd:blog:&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=ldblog&amp;utm_campaign=5639:homepage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LDProducts.com<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Read Next:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n<li class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/pros-cons-of-inkjet-and-laser-printers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Inkjet vs Laser: Which Printer Should You Get?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/best-hp-printers-with-long-lasting-ink\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Best HP\u00ae Printers with Long Lasting Ink<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/best-ink-tank-printers-of-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Best Ink Tank Printers of 2022<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/best-cheap-printers-with-affordable-printer-cartridges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Best Cheap Printers with Affordable Printer Cartridges<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\namzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"ldproducts-occasional-printers-20\";\r\namzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\";\r\namzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\";\r\namzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\";\r\namzn_assoc_region = \"US\";\r\namzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\";\r\namzn_assoc_asins = \"B08P3ZKLPH\";\r\namzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\";\r\namzn_assoc_linkid = \"8e6ea6bc02431c6092932db56bd53261\";\r\n<\/script> <script src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/?xid=tmd:blog:&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=ldblog&amp;utm_campaign=11024:lowprices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-9287 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ld_banr_txt_customers_2020_728x90-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" \/><\/a><\/h3>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<p><sup>*Savings based on price comparison between remanufactured\/compatible cartridge prices on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/\">www.LDProducts.com<\/a><\/sup><sup> and OEM cartridge and printer prices from the listed retailers: Amazon and Staples. All products are reviewed independently. As an Amazon associate, LD Products earns from qualifying purchases through links on this page. All prices effective as of July 12, 2023.\u00a0 OEM names are registered trademarks of their respective owners and are not affiliated with, and do not endorse LD Products.<\/sup><\/p>\r\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Find the perfect printer for occasional use and print only when you want to, without worrying about\u00a0 dried out printer cartridges. It\u2019s no secret that many are printing less these&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[28],"tags":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5639"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5639"}],"version-history":[{"count":80,"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5639\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13432,"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5639\/revisions\/13432"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}