While so much of the world has moved entirely online, sometimes you need something decidedly analog to hold in your hand or give to others. Which is to say, most people still need a printer at home. This article is meant to give an overview of the different types of printers.
Types of printers
There’s a printer for just about every budget for the home, home office, or actual office. From low-cost inkjet photo printers to high-quality full-color laser printers to multifunctional all-in-ones, there’s a model that’s right for you.
Before we dive into the various differences and uses for each popular type of printer, from common and affordable inkjet printers to all-in-one-printing and scanning devices, it’s important to ask what you want your printer to do for you.
Are you hoping to print archival photographs in a large format or do you use a printer more frequently for printing shipping labels and boarding passes? Do you want to create detailed 3D objects at home, or print purchase orders and receipts in a warehouse?
While many of the printers we’ll discuss can multitask for a range of common print jobs, others are much more specialized.
Here are the different types of printers to help you narrow down your search based on your needs.
1. Inkjet printers
Inkjet printers are the de-facto standard for consumer/home-use printers. They’re inexpensive and use liquid ink that is relatively inexpensive to replace. They can produce high-quality color printing or fairly fast monochrome (aka B&W) prints. Inkjet printers are good if you only print occasionally, or don’t need the highest-quality printings.
The ink may be less expensive than a laser printer’s toner, but it doesn’t last as long between uses. As anyone who has owned an inkjet printer will tell you, the ink can be a source of consternation. Some models won’t print anything if they’re out of a certain color, even if you don’t need that color. Others won’t print unless you replace the ink with that company’s own cartridges.
Inkjets are the most common type of home printer for a reason, though, as they tend to offer a good balance of quality, speed, and price.
What are inkjet printers used for?
Inkjet printers offer the largest range of printing capabilities compared to any other type of printer. An inkjet printer can print photographs in high resolution on photo paper, pages of text on traditional paper, or labels and iron-on transfers on specialty stickers and paper.
When it comes to photo printing, it’s tough to beat a high-quality inkjet printer. By investing in an inkjet printer with archival ink and a pack of glossy photo paper, you can make beautiful, full-color photo prints at home.
WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity are useful features in an inkjet printer because they allow you to print from any nearby computer, phone, or tablet.
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If you’re in the market for a new printer, here are the top inkjet printer models to consider.
Best for Photo Printing
Canon leads the industry for full-color, high-quality prints. The PROGRAF PRO-300 is an impressive inkjet printer thanks to a 9-color ink system and the ability to print on a range of archival papers. Print directly from Lightroom and use any color profile you want to get perfect prints.
Best for Simplicity
When you want to quickly print documents for work or school with minimal fuss, the HP OfficeJet Pro 6230 fits the bill. Pages print quickly, on one or two sides, and connect wirelessly with ease.
2. Laser printers
Laser printers, as their name suggests, use a laser beam to heat a toner material that embeds itself onto the paper. Most business-oriented models are monochrome, but there are color laser printers as well. Toner cartridges are typically more expensive than ink, but also usually last longer.
Laser printers, on average, have a faster print speed than inkjet printers, and usually have a higher print quality. The most affordable models are more expensive than even budget inkjet models, but many people who print a lot find their strengths worth that premium.
While laser printers are less common in the home and more common in an office, the prices have fallen in recent years so that they’re not that much more than inkjet printers. For that difference in price, laser printers will usually give you less hassle with toner than inkjet printers do with ink. Plus they’ll print faster and produce a better-quality result.
What are laser printers used for?
Laser printers are ideal for higher-volume print jobs thanks to ultra-fast printing technology. When you need to submit a 50-page term paper or update charts or files in an office, laser printers offer the perfect combination of speed, efficiency, and ease of use.
Changing out toner can be trickier than swapping inkjet ink cartridges, but you won’t ever have to deal with clogged print nozzles. Plus, if you go a few days or even weeks between print jobs, you don’t have to worry about your printer ink drying up and going to waste.
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For your home or office, these machines offer modern printer technology and useful features to make your life easier.
Best Color Laser Printer
When you want to print in full color but prefer the efficiency of a laser printer, the Brother HL-L8360CDW is a terrific choice. With its consistently high user reviews, this model offers reliable printing, long-lasting toner cartridges, and simple setup and connection to home or office networks.
Best Monochrome Laser Printer
For impressive monochrome printing at an ultra-affordable price, don’t miss the Brother HL-L2390DW. This printer starts up quickly and prints up to 32 pages per minute (ppm). You’ll also love the economical toner saver mode, and its two-sided printing capabilities.
3. All-in-one printers
An all-in-one multifunction printer combines the functionality of a printer, a scanner, and usually a fax. They can copy documents, send and receive documents, save them on your computer, and of course, print them out. All-in-one printers can be inkjet or laser.
All-in-ones are larger than many regular printers, but they’re ideal for a small office or small business, as they take up less space and cost less than a separate printer, fax, and scanner. They’re also a great tool to have on-hand in any home office.
What are all-in-one printers used for?
All-in-one printers are perfect for just about every printing use, including document printing, photo printing, scanning, and copying. You can even use an all-in-one to replace your office fax machine.
When you’re short on physical space, or you prefer a single multi-function printing device, an all-in-one is the right choice. All-in-one printers are available with either inkjet or laser printing technology, so when you’re choosing the best printer for you, it’s helpful to review the benefits of each type of printing tech.
As you shop for the ideal all-in-one machine, pay attention to printing and scanning resolution capabilities to ensure high-quality prints and scans.
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Whether you’re shopping for a home device or an all-in-one to keep the office running, brands like HP and Epson have fantastic options to explore.
Best for Home Use
The HP DeskJet 3755 All-In-One Wireless Inkjet Printer is a compact, multi-use printer and scanner. It will streamline homework assignments, make photo digitizing a breeze, and simplify other applications. As the smallest all-in-one from HP, it’s perfect for dorm rooms and small home offices.
Best for the Office
Epson’s WorkForce Pro WF-7840 is a step above other all-in-ones thanks to added print-size versatility. It accommodates paper up to 13”x19”, so you can print photographs, posters, and even two-sided flyers.
4. Supertank printers
Supertank printers are more a subcategory of inkjet and all-in-ones. They feature large, refillable ink tanks instead of replaceable ink cartridges. If your printing needs are high-volume, or you don’t like the environmental impact caused by countless disposable cartridges, a supertank printer may be a better option for you.
What are supertank printers used for?
Supertank printers fit well with virtually any printing application. If you’re frustrated by how frequently you need to change out black-and-white or color-inkjet cartridges then you’ll love a supertank model. Supertank printhead nozzles are permanent rather than disposable like traditional inkjet cartridges, so they’re built to last. As a result, they cut down on clogged nozzles and the need to perform diagnostics.
Because supertank printers use bottles of liquid pigment ink with permanent print heads, the cost per sheet of printing is much lower than traditional disposable ink cartridges or even laser toner, too.
Though the initial investment is a bit higher, you can reduce the waste involved in home or office printing while simplifying your experience with a well-designed supertank printer.
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These top-of-the-line supertank printers are ideal for most printing applications and will save you money over time.
Best for High Use Environments
The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 is an impressive supertank printer that complements busy environments. Refilling the internal ink tanks is fast, simple, and mess-free. For print jobs using only black ink, you can print up to 25 ppm, so even the busiest schools and offices can avoid a printer queue backup.
Best Home Supertank
With an approachable price point and an impressive page yield of 6,000 monochrome pages and 7,700 color pages per tank, the Canon Pixma G7020 is the perfect candidate for home use and budget minded offices.
5. Dye-sublimation printers
Dye-sublimation, or dye-sub, printers are designed to print on specific surfaces, like plastic. If you need to print ID cards in color for example, a dye-sub printer can run off a high volume of them quickly.
What are dye-sublimation printers used for?
Dye-sublimation printers are the ideal type of printer for non-traditional printing substrates. Whether you manufacture clothing, print on mugs and water bottles for brand usage or retail, or need to create banners and signs, dye-sublimation printers produce long-lasting, high-quality print results.
Dye-sublimation technology embeds the ink into the printed object, so you don’t have to worry about fading, running, or smearing ink. The thermal printer technology found in dye-sublimation printers yields professional and reliable products every time.
Some photographers prefer dye-sublimation printing over inkjet printing for its longevity and durability.
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Dye-sublimation printers fall into two categories: personal and professional. Here are two standout options for each.
Best for Home Photo Printing
Canon’s SELPHY CP1300 is a compact and affordable home dye-sublimation printer for photographs. This model prints up to 4”x6” sized photos and offers wireless connectivity. Thanks to the dye-sublimation technology, every print comes out dry and ready to handle, plus the prints can last for up to 100 years.
Best for High Volume Commercial Use
Whether you run event photo booths, self-service kiosks, or a full service photo lab, the HiTi P525L is a fantastic high-volume dye-sublimation photo printer. Make 4”x6”, 5”x7”, or 6”x8” prints in record time to keep your clients happy.
6. Dot matrix printers
The oldest of old-school computer printers, dot matrix printers use a pin or wire print head to press an ink ribbon against a piece of paper. If you remember the reams of paper with tear-off perforated holes on the side, that’s a dot matrix printer.
What are dot matrix printers used for?
Far less common today, dot matrix printers are typically quite robust and reliable. They’re better suited for situations where there’s a significant amount of printing required, but the quality isn’t important. They’re also known to survive in harsher, commercial environments where more consumer-level printers wouldn’t last.
7. 3D printers
The technology behind 3D printers can get pretty complicated, but it’s one that’s become incredibly popular with DIYers and hobbyists looking to go hands-on with their own creations. Essentially, they use layering and slicing to produce 3D objects, typically in plastic, based on digital models created in your choice of software. We have an in-depth article on how 3D printing works if you’d like to learn more.
What are 3D printers used for?
3D printers offer exciting options for artists, engineers, designers, and creatives. These printers let you explore new ways of tinkering, inventing, and expanding your design capabilities. With the right 3D printer, you can create prototypes, manufacture toys, and replace hard-to-find components of everyday items. Some home 3D printing enthusiasts even make simple machines with articulating parts.
If you’re looking for a way to create three-dimensional objects with precision, then a 3D printer is the ideal tool for you. Select from resin, filament, or multi-material options to start designing and printing any object you can imagine!
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Whether you’re a beginner, tinkerer, or a design expert, here are some impressive 3D printers to explore.
Best for Beginners and Families
3D Doodling pens bring your imagination to life. If you’re new to 3D printing, check out the 3Doodler Pika3D Wireless Junior Printing Pen Set and practice constructing small 3D models without needing to spend time learning to use 3D design computer software.
Best for Serious Tinkerers
Creality’s CR-200B is a fully enclosed 3D printer, so you don’t have to worry about physical interference while you print. If you’ve ever run out of filament mid-print and lost time and material to printer errors, you’ll love the CR-200B’s smart filament runout sensor.
Printing photos? Check out these helpful resources:
Photo lab vs printing at home
Even in the digital age, it’s important to print your favorite photographs. Whether you’re assembling a photo album of family photos or creating frame-worthy prints of your fine-art photography, there’s something special about holding a beautiful, archival photo print in your hands.
If you plan to do a lot of photo printing, purchasing your own photo printer may be a worthy investment. But if you’re not sure if a home photo printer makes sense for you, you may want to consider the pros and cons of printing at a lab vs at home.
We’ve created a video to help guide your decision:
Understanding Image Resolution – PPI and DPI
In photography and printing, there are plenty of abbreviations to keep track of. For many of us, the distinction between PPI and DPI can cause a fair amount of confusion and consternation.
PPI, or pixels per inch, refers to the resolution of a digital image on a display screen like a television, computer monitor, tablet, or cell phone. DPI, or dots per inch, references the quantity of printed dots per square inch of paper.
For more information about what to look for in the printed resolution of your photographs, take a look at this helpful video:
Aspect Ratios for Printing
Unless you use a free crop tool in your favorite post-processing photography software, the aspect ratio of your photos will often match the ratio of your camera’s sensor. The most common aspect ratios for mirrorless cameras and DSLRs are 3:2 and 5:4.
3:2 photographs are printable at popular sizes like 4×6, 8×12, 16×24 and 20×30. Meanwhile, you can print 5:4 photographs at 4×5, 8×10, and 16×20.
Before you purchase stock frames or lose portions of your photographs to cropping, take a look at this video about aspect ratio in printing:
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