Best Printers Under $100 in 2026: Ranked by True Cost of Ownership

The cheapest printer isn't the one with the lowest sticker price — it's the one that costs least after 2 years of ink. A $49 printer that demands $35 cartridges every two months will cost you $470 over two years. A $79 printer with efficient ink might cost just $250 total for the same period. We tested 8 budget models and ranked them by what they'll actually cost you to own and operate.

Quick Picks

What to Look For in a Sub-$100 Printer

Before diving into the rankings, here are the most important factors to evaluate when buying a budget printer:

• Cost per page: This is the single most important metric. Multiply the cartridge price by the number of times you'll need to replace it per year. A printer with $35 cartridges every 3 months costs $140/year in ink alone — for a budget inkjet, that's absurd. Look for printers with XL cartridge options (always cheaper per page) or subscription compatibility.
• Print, scan, copy (all-in-one): For home use, an all-in-one is almost always better value than a print-only model. The cost difference is minimal, but the scan and copy functionality adds real utility. Students, remote workers, and parents all benefit.
• Wireless connectivity: Every printer on this list supports WiFi, but make sure it works with your phone via the manufacturer app (Canon PRINT, HP Smart, Brother iPrint&Scan). Mobile printing from your phone is increasingly essential.
• Cartridge availability: Stick to printers where ink is available at major retailers (Amazon, Walmart, Target). Niche cartridges get discontinued, leaving you stuck.
• Print speed: Budget inkjets typically print 8–15 pages per minute for black. If you regularly print multi-page documents, speed matters. For occasional use, it doesn't.

#1 — Canon PIXMA TR4720: Best Overall Budget All-in-One

The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is our top pick because it offers genuine all-in-one functionality — including a 20-sheet ADF and fax — at a price point that should cost much more. The print quality is noticeably better than HP's budget lineup at the same price. Canon's XL cartridge options (PG-275XL, CL-276XL) are more affordable per page than HP's equivalent cartridges. For families and home offices who need reliable, quality printing without a subscription, the TR4720 is the sweet spot.

#2 — HP DeskJet 2755e: Best for Instant Ink Subscribers

The DeskJet 2755e earns its spot as a light-user pick specifically when paired with HP Instant Ink. At $59 with a $0.99–$4.99/month Instant Ink plan, total cost of ownership for very light users (under 50 pages/month) is genuinely competitive. Without Instant Ink, the HP 67 cartridges are among the most expensive per-page in the budget segment — avoid this printer as a cartridge buyer.

#3 — Canon PIXMA MG3620: Best Sub-$50 Pick

The Canon MG3620 has been around for years and remains in the lineup for good reason: it's a no-nonsense all-in-one that uses widely available PG-245XL / CL-246XL cartridges, prints decently, and doesn't lock you into a subscription. It's not fast and it lacks an ADF, but for basic home printing at the lowest possible upfront cost, it delivers solid value.

#4 — Brother HL-L2350DW: Best Budget Laser Printer

If you primarily print text documents and want the most reliable, fastest, cheapest-per-page option under $100 — the Brother HL-L2350DW is it. Laser printers never clog, never need "warm-up" prints to unclog dried heads, and toner yields thousands of pages per cartridge. The trade-offs: no color, no scan, no copy. For a document-heavy home office where color isn't required, this is the best long-term investment in the budget segment.

#5 — HP DeskJet 4155e: Best for Students

True 2-Year Cost of Ownership Comparison

Here's the real metric: total cost including ink at 100 pages/month for 24 months. Using XL cartridges or lowest-cost options available for each model:

The Brother laser printer wins on 2-year total cost for document-heavy users — even though it's the most expensive upfront. The Canon models are best for color printing on a budget. HP printers only compete cost-effectively when paired with Instant Ink subscription.

Budget Printers to Avoid

Not all cheap printers are good deals. These models have extremely expensive ink that makes the low sticker price a trap:

• HP DeskJet 3755 (standard cartridges): Uses HP 65/65XL cartridges. Without Instant Ink, the XL black cartridge yields only ~300 pages at $18 — that's $0.06/page black. For 100 pages/month, you're spending $72/year just on black ink. This printer essentially requires Instant Ink to make financial sense.
• Kodak ESP Office 2170: Kodak discontinued support for many consumer printers and ink availability is spotty. Avoid any printer where the manufacturer has pulled back from the consumer market — you'll eventually be stranded without ink.
• No-name or ultra-cheap inkjets under $30: Any printer under $30 is a loss-leader designed to sell you extremely expensive proprietary cartridges. The cartridges often yield fewer than 100 pages and cost $25+ each. Total cost of ownership is brutal.