Home Printers Buying Guide
From homework and shipping labels to family photos, the right home printer makes everyday printing simple. Compare inkjet vs laser, all-in-one features, and running costs—then shop models that match your space and print habits.
Everyday All-In-One Inkjet Printers
Easy printing, scanning, and copying for homework, recipes, and family paperwork—without taking over your desk.
Home Office All-In-One Printers
Built for forms and multi-page scans, with features like ADF, duplex printing, and stronger paper handling for home workflows.
Monochrome Laser Printers for Fast Text
Sharp black text, quick first pages, and strong performance for busy households printing lots of documents.
Wireless Printers for Sharp Graphics
Clean colour output for presentations, flyers, and school projects—plus reliable speed for shared home office use.
Ink Tank Printers for High-Volume Printing
Refillable ink tank designs that are ideal when you print a lot and want fewer supply changes.
Photo Printers for Prints and Crafts
From quick 2 inch x 3 inch snapshots to gallery-ready prints, these printers are made for photo-focused projects.
Portable Wireless Printers for Travel and Small Spaces
Compact printers that can move with you—great for tight work areas, temporary setups, or printing on the go.
Ink, Toner, and Paper Essentials
Stock up on the basics so you’re ready for school deadlines, shipping labels, and everyday printing.
Tips
- Start with what you print most: choose a laser printer for lots of crisp black-and-white documents, or an inkjet printer if you want colour pages and photos.
- Check monthly page volume before you buy. Higher-volume households usually benefit from higher-yield supplies or an ink tank printer.
- If you scan or copy multi-page documents (school forms, receipts, contracts), look for an all-in-one printer with an automatic document feeder (ADF).
- Prioritize automatic two-sided (duplex) printing if you print long documents—it’s a big convenience upgrade for home office use.
- For easy phone printing, look for Wi-Fi plus mobile printing support (like Apple AirPrint or Mopria) and consider Wi-Fi Direct for quick guest printing.
- Pay attention to paper handling: a larger input tray reduces refills, and a rear feed is helpful for thicker media like photo paper or cardstock.
- If you print photos, look for borderless printing and use the right paper size (like 4 inch x 6 inch) for sharper colour and less smearing.
- Before checkout, add the right supplies to your cart: spare ink or toner, plus paper that matches what you print (standard letter paper, glossy photo paper, or specialty paper).
- Measure your setup space. A compact footprint matters on shared desks, while bigger models often add faster printing and larger trays.
- If multiple people will print, consider models with strong Wi-Fi stability and easy app setup so everyone can connect without troubleshooting every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Inkjet printers are great for colour documents, photos, and mixed home use, while laser printers shine for fast, sharp text—especially if you print a lot of black-and-white pages. Your best pick depends on what you print most and how often you print.
An all-in-one printer combines printing with scanning and copying (and sometimes fax). If you regularly scan forms, copy homework pages, or send documents from your phone, an all-in-one model is usually the most practical choice for home.
Duplex printing is automatic two-sided printing. It saves time versus flipping pages manually and is especially useful for longer documents like school assignments and home office paperwork.
An ADF (automatic document feeder) lets you scan or copy multiple pages in a stack, instead of placing pages one at a time on the scanner glass. It’s one of the biggest quality-of-life features for home office and school tasks.
Match supplies to your exact printer model name or number. Many printers use specific ink or toner families, and some have standard vs high-yield options—so confirming compatibility helps you avoid returns and printing downtime.
Yes—most modern home printers support wireless printing through built-in Wi-Fi and popular mobile printing standards or apps. For the smoothest setup, make sure your printer and phone are on the same network, or use Wi-Fi Direct when available.
Some products may be subject to handling fees (EHF) depending on your province. Learn more about EHFs.