Printers

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Sort our Ratings based on features, brands and other factors.

What's behind our printer Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 129 models in printers to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score is based on speed and quality of print, scan, and copy functions, plus ease of use. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
Ink and paper/month
Estimated cost (in dollars) for ink and photo paper in a month of typical use, based on our tests and how our readers told us they print.
For inkjets: 23 text pages, 9 graphics pages, 2.4 large photos, 3.6 small photos, and 3.5 photos on plain paper.
For lasers: 62 text pages, 24 graphics pages, 1.7 large photos, 1.9 small photos, and 2.3 photos on plain paper.
Photos cost the most, text documents the least, so your results may vary from these figures, but they are useful for comparing models.
Photo quality
This is our assessment of the appearance of each photo. Models with higher scores produce more natural looking photos, with smoother changes in shading and fewer problems with banding.
4x6 photo time
This score reflects how quickly the model can print one 4x6 photo on photo-quality paper. 1 minute or less is excellent; 1 to 2 minutes is very good; 2 to 4 minutes is good; 4 to 6 minutes is fair; and longer than 6 minutes is poor.
8x10 photo time
This score reflects how quickly the model can print one 8x10 photo on photo-quality paper. 2 minutes or less is excellent; 2 to 4 minutes is very good; 4 to 6 minutes is good; 6 to 8 minutes is fair; and longer than 8 minutes is poor.
Text quality
This indicates how crisply and clearly a printer produced black text in a variety of faces, sizes, and styles. Models with higher scores produce more uniform type, with sharper edges and smoother curves.
Text speed
This score reflects how quickly the model can print text on five pages of plain, letter-sized pages. 30 seconds or less is excellent; 31 to 60 seconds is very good; 61 to 90 seconds is good; 91 to 120 seconds is fair; and longer than 120 seconds is poor.
Graphics quality
Our assessment of the appearance of color graphics produced by the printer. Black and white lasers were judged on black and white graphics.
Convenience
Measures the ease of carrying out a series of common activities with the printer.
Scan quality
Scan quality is for color photos, graphics, and text scanned at each model's default settings.
Copy quality
Copy quality is for graphics and text.
Versatility
Versatility indicates features that increase a printer's utility or capabilities.
Power saving
This indicates how well the printer conserves power between uses.

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Recommended printers

Recommended printers are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended printers

Printer buying guide

To find the printer that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Why shop here?

In addition to finding Ratings for the latest models, you can now shop online using an ad-free interface where you can buy printers in a safe-shopping environment.

Learn more about our Price & Shop program

Inkjet and laser printers have become more affordable and increasingly full featured. Inkjet printers have become the standard for home-computer use. If you're looking for information about printers, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ printer reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our printer buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and printer reviews to help you choose the best printer for your needs.

Ratings & recommended printers

All in one printers (88)

Recommended models are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices among models, weigh performance, features, price, and attributes that matter to you, such as color, size, or style.

Regular printers (37)

Snapshot printers (4)

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Epson PictureMate Charm PM225 (Tested)

A snapshot photo printer from Epson with no networking. Works with both Windows and Mac OS.

Epson PictureMate Charm PM225

Polaroid Grey Label GL10

Canon Selphy CP800

Brother MFC-J430W

Printer buying guide

Inkjet printers have become the standard for home-computer use. They can turn out color photos nearly indistinguishable from lab-processed photos, along with stickers, transparencies, T-shirt transfers, and greeting cards. Many produce excellent black-and-white text. With some very good models selling for less than $200, it's no surprise that inkjets account for the vast majority of printers sold for home use.

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