4 Best Epson Tank Printers of 2026, Tested by Our Experts

Why? Because you purchase it in low-cost bottles of ink. (Think $10 to $12.)

That difference really adds up after a few years. For example, the Brother MFC-J1410DW cartridge inkjet printer currently costs around $140. However, according to the formula we use for estimating annual ink costs, the printer would go through $65 worth of ink in a year, which translates to a substantial five-year cost of ownership of $465.

By comparison, the Epson Eco Tank ET-3958, which costs around $350 up front, uses an estimated $4 worth of ink a year. That means its five-year cost of ownership is actually just $370.

In early models, filling the tank from bottles of ink could be a messy process. However, better design now locks the bottle in place during refills, solving the problem, says Rich Sulin, who leads CR’s printer testing program.

CR’s printer ratings, available to members, include dozens of tank models from product lines such as Epson EcoTank, HP Smart Tank, and Canon MegaTank. Here are a few of the top-rated options from Epson. Like many of today’s printers, they include WiFi networking for wireless printing. To learn more about the different types of printers, check out our printer buying guide.