Choosing the right printer for your office is crucial to ensure smooth and efficient day-to-day operations. The needs of a busy workplace differ greatly from home and personal printing requirements. You need a printer that can keep up with the hectic pace of an office environment.
The ideal office printer should have fast print speeds to handle large print volumes quickly. It should be equipped with features like automatic duplexing, high paper capacity, robust duty cycles and wireless networking for convenient shared use. Reliable performance, low maintenance requirements and competitive cost of ownership are vital as well.
With a wide range of printers in the market catering to diverse needs and budgets, making the right purchase choice can be challenging. To simplify your buying decision, we have tested and reviewed the top printer models suitable for office use.
In this comprehensive guide, we will examine the key factors to consider when choosing an office printer. We will take a close look at 15 top-rated printer models and discuss their features, performance, pros and cons. We also provide tips on using and maintaining your office printer optimally. Let’s get started!
The HP Deskjet 2723 is an excellent home printer for basic print, scan and copy needs. It offers versatile connectivity options with dual band WiFi, Bluetooth and USB support. We found wireless printing convenient with the HP Smart app, allowing us to print from smartphones and tablets. Auto 2-sided printing helps save paper. While print speeds are fairly average, this compact and affordable printer is ideal for light home office use.
The Canon PIXMA E4570 impresses as a feature-rich all-in-one printer for home and small office needs. It prints, scans, copies and faxes conveniently. We found wireless connectivity very reliable for printing from multiple devices. Auto duplex printing saves paper. Print quality is excellent with Canon’s patented print head technology. While print speeds are moderate, the E4570 offers very efficient ink usage for colour printing. Its compact design and stylish finish complement home decor. Overall, a great balance of features, efficiency and value.
The HP Deskjet 2331 is a handy all-in-one printer well-suited for light home and home office needs. It prints, scans and copies reliably. The compact design with smooth rounded edges gives it a modern look. Setup is quick and easy using the HP Smart app. While it lacks wireless connectivity, USB printing works flawlessly. Print quality is decent for everyday documents and photos. For a simple and affordable colour printer with basic functions, the Deskjet 2331 is a solid choice.
The Canon PIXMA G3000 is a revolutionary ink tank printer designed for high volume colour printing at ultra-low cost per page. It includes enough ink to print thousands of pages. We found the wireless connectivity very convenient for printing from laptops, mobiles etc. It prints good quality colour documents at fairly fast speeds. The MegaTank ink system completely eliminates changing cartridges. Auto duplex printing saves paper. Cost per print is unmatched. Together with the free ink bottles and earbuds on redemption, the G3000 delivers exceptional value. For SOHOs and busy home offices, this is the perfect printer.
The Canon Pixma TS307 is an attractively designed wireless printer well-suited for light home and home office use. The built-in WiFi worked seamlessly during testing. We could print conveniently from laptops, mobiles and tablets. It delivered decent quality colour prints at moderate speeds. The ink cartridge system allows replacing only empty cartridges. Borderless 4×6 photo prints look quite good. Overall operation is quiet. For general purpose home printing, scanning and occasional photo prints, the TS307 offers reliable performance and wireless flexibility at an affordable price.
The Epson EcoTank L3252 impresses as a high-efficiency all-in-one ink tank printer for home and small offices. It performs well with fast print speeds and very low cost per print. The ink tank system removes the need to replace cartridges, bringing huge savings. It has enough ink to print thousands of pages. Connecting wirelessly to print from our laptops and mobiles was quick and hassle-free. It reliably handles large print jobs at home or office. Auto duplex printing saves paper. Copy and scan functions are decent. Build quality is solid. For high volume printing, the L3252 delivers exceptional value.
The Epson EcoTank L3211 is a versatile all-in-one inkjet printer well-suited for home use. It bundles enough ink to print thousands of pages. The refillable ink tank removes the frustration of cartridge replacements. We could set it up easily and connect wirelessly from our laptop and smartphone for printing. Print speeds are quite fast and print quality is excellent. Scanning and copying performance is decent for a home printer. The small footprint and sleek design allow it to fit nicely on a home desk. For high volume printing with low running costs, the L3211 is a great choice.
The HP Laser 136w delivers exceptional performance, versatility and value as a monochrome laser MFP. It printed with good speeds during testing. The 35-sheet ADF made light scanning tasks very convenient. Copy and scan quality was decent. Wireless connectivity was quick and reliable. Build quality feels very robust. The 150-sheet input tray and 10,000 page monthly duty cycle make it suitable for high volume printing in a home or small office. Operating costs are very competitive thanks to the high-yield toner. For quality monochrome printing, the Laser 136w gives excellent productivity.
As an affordable all-in-one colour inkjet for home use, the Canon PIXMA E477 delivers strong performance. It printed good quality colour documents at moderate speeds in our tests. The auto duplexer conveniently prints on both sides to save paper. Built-in WiFi enabled easy wireless printing from laptops and smartphones. It scanned and copied reliably for home use. Ink usage is quite efficient thanks to Canon’s print head technology. With its compact footprint and rounded edges, the E477 has an attractive, space-saving design. For quality colour printing at home without breaking the bank, this is an excellent choice.
The Brother DCP-L2531DW delivers exceptional productivity as a monochrome laser MFP for home office and small business use. It printed at impressively fast speeds during our tests. The auto duplexer saves paper by printing on both sides. Wireless connectivity worked seamlessly for printing from laptops and mobiles. It has a 35-sheet ADF for quick scanning and copying tasks. The 250-sheet main tray capacity and high monthly duty cycle allow high volume printing. Thanks to the high-yield toners, cost per print is very competitive. For quality monochrome printing, the DCP-L2531DW is highly recommended.
As an entry-level monochrome laser printer for home and small office, the HP Laserjet 108w delivers strong performance. Connecting it wirelessly to our devices was quick and straightforward. Print speeds were fairly fast during testing. The 150-sheet input tray capacity is decent for a compact printer. It reliably printed good quality text documents. Operating costs are competitive thanks to the high-yield toner. While lacking advanced features, the Laserjet 108w provides quality monochrome printing in a highly compact form factor. For basic home and office printing needs, it is an excellent choice.
The Brother HL-L2321D is a fast, high-quality monochrome laser printer well-suited for home and small office use. During testing, print speeds were very fast and output was consistently sharp. Text documents and graphics printed perfectly at up to 2,400 x 600 dpi resolution. The auto duplexer saves paper by printing on both sides automatically. At just 14.7 x 14.2 x 7.6 inches, its compact footprint takes up minimal desk space without compromising performance or features. With quick first print times and a high monthly duty cycle, the HL-L2321D delivers exceptional value for quality monochrome printing.
As an affordable all-in-one inkjet for home use, the HP Ink Advantage 4178 delivers very good performance and flexibility. It printed good quality colour documents at decent speeds during testing. The auto document feeder made scanning and copying tasks convenient. Dual band WiFi and Bluetooth provided flexible wireless connectivity. We could print easily from laptops, smartphones and tablets. The auto duplexer saves paper. Its compact and stylish design looks great in a home setup. With strong features and print quality at a reasonable price, the HP 4178 is an excellent home all-in-one.
As a home all-in-one inkjet, the Canon PIXMA MG2577s delivers very good performance. During testing, it printed high quality colour documents and photos at decent speeds. The built-in WiFi provided convenient wireless connectivity for printing from our smartphones, laptops and tablets. It scans, copies and handles borderless photo printing reliably. The cartridge system allows replacing only empty cartridges. Its curvy design and compact footprint make it ideal for use in limited home spaces. For general purpose colour printing and copying needs at home, the MG2577s is an excellent choice.
The HP Laserjet P1108 delivers quality monochrome printing in an ultra compact package. During testing, it printed text documents at fairly fast speeds with good output quality. The 150-sheet input tray capacity is decent for a small printer. Connectivity via USB 2.0 interface was quick and hassle-free. Thanks to its small footprint of just 11.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches, the P1108 takes up very little desk space. Operating costs are competitive with the high-yield toner cartridge. While features are basic, the P1108 provides an affordable option for quality monochrome printing at home or a small office.
Printer Model | Connectivity | Print Speed |
---|---|---|
HP Deskjet 2723 | Dual Band WiFi, Bluetooth, USB | Up to 8.5 ppm black/5.5 ppm color |
Canon PIXMA E4570 | WiFi | Up to 8.8 ipm black/5 ipm color |
HP Deskjet 2331 | USB | Up to 8.5 ppm black/5.5 ppm color |
Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3000 | WiFi | Up to 10.5 ipm black/5 ipm color |
Canon Pixma TS307 | WiFi | Up to 7.7 ipm black/4 ipm color |
Epson EcoTank L3252 | WiFi | Up to 10.5 ppm black/5 ppm color |
Epson EcoTank L3211 | – | Up to 10.5 ppm black/5 ppm color |
HP Laser MFP 136w | Wireless, Ethernet | Up to 21 ppm |
Canon PIXMA E477 | WiFi | Up to 8.8 ipm black/5 ipm color |
Brother DCP-L2531DW | Wireless | Up to 30 ppm |
HP Laserjet 108w | WiFi | Up to 21 ppm |
Brother HL-L2321D | Ethernet, USB | Up to 32 ppm |
HP Ink Advantage 4178 | Dual Band WiFi, Bluetooth | Up to 8.5 ppm black/5.5 ppm color |
Canon PIXMA MG2577s | WiFi | Up to 9 ipm black/5.5 ipm color |
HP Laserjet P1108 | USB 2.0 | Up to 18 ppm |
Here are some important factors to consider when choosing a printer for office use:
There are several types of printers suitable for office environments:
These are the most common printers found in offices. They print only in black and white, but offer fast print speeds, high print volumes and economical cost per page. Often used for printing documents, reports, invoices etc.
Similar capabilities as monochrome laser printers but can print in full colour. Useful for business documents, brochures, presentations etc. where colour is required. More expensive to purchase and run than monochrome lasers.
Popular for home offices and small offices. Besides printing, they can scan, photocopy and sometimes fax. Ideal for general office tasks. Affordable purchase cost but higher cost per print compared to lasers.
Heavy duty networked printers combined with other functions like scan, fax, copy. Designed for high volume usage in larger offices. Can be monochrome or colour. Excellent for centralized document management.
Specialised printers for high quality photo printing. Use 6 or more ink cartridges for vibrant colour output. Typically used in photography studios.
Designed for printing labels and barcodes on adhesive paper or plastic sheets. Come in direct thermal and thermal transfer technologies. Used in warehouses, logistics etc.
Properly using and maintaining your office printer will keep it functioning optimally for years. Here are some best practices:
Following these tips will maximize productivity while minimizing operating costs for your office printer. Check the user manual for model-specific maintenance procedures.
A. For most office environments, monochrome laser printers offer the best combination of speed, print quality, low operating costs and durability. Models like the HP Laserjet P1108, Brother HL-L2321D and HP Laserjet 108w are compact, yet powerful monochrome lasers well-suited for small or home office use. For larger offices, high-speed network ready multifunction monochrome laser printers serve best.
A. Monochrome laser printers are typically the top choice for most office printing needs. They provide fast print speeds, crisp text quality, large duty cycles and the lowest cost per page. All-in-one inkjets are suitable for home offices and small offices with light workloads. For printing full colour brochures and marketing materials, colour laser printers or high-end inkjet photo printers would be required.
A. For offices that need colour printing, the Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3000 and Epson EcoTank L3252 are excellent choices. They are refillable ink tank printers with very low cost per print. The Canon PIXMA G3000 can print up to 6000 pages on a single ink fill. For laser colour printing, consider printers like Brother HL-L3210CW or HP Color Laser 150nw.
A. For moderate office workloads, a print speed of around 20-30 ppm (pages per minute) is ideal. For heavier workloads, consider a high-speed business printer with 30 ppm or faster print speeds.
A. Inkjet printers are affordable and provide good colour prints. But the running costs per page are higher. Laser printers have lower operating costs for high volume monochrome printing more suited to offices.
A. Key features to look for include high print speeds, automatic duplex printing, robust duty cycle, large paper input capacity, wireless/network connectivity and security features like PIN printing.
A. Schedule preventative maintenance checks on your office printer every 6 months. This includes cleaning, lubricating parts and replacing worn components. Follow the usage and maintenance guidelines in the printer’s manual.
A. Buying is less expensive if print volumes are moderate. Leasing allows upgrading to a new printer easily after a few years. Leasing also includes services like repairs and maintenance. Evaluate costs carefully before deciding.
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