Best Printer for Students in 2026 — 5 Picks That Won’t Break the Bank
Every September, millions of students make the same mistake: they buy a cheap printer without thinking, run out of ink within two weeks, and end up paying five times what they expected over the course of the year. I’ve seen it happen to my own flatmates. The printer that looked like a bargain at $40 turned into a money pit.
Here’s the thing — the right student printer doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to be smart. That means low ink costs, compact enough to sit on a desk that’s already crowded with a laptop and a pile of textbooks, and reliable enough that it doesn’t jam the night before a deadline.
After testing five of the most popular student printer options in 2026, here’s what I found — including the one I’d actually recommend to my own family.
Best Student Printers at a Glance
| Printer | Type | Best For | Approx. Price | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP DeskJet 4155e | Inkjet AIO | Casual printing, budget | ~$75 | ~$0.08 |
| Brother HL-L2350DW | Laser | Heavy document printing | ~$100 | ~$0.02 |
| Canon PIXMA TR4720 | Inkjet AIO | Photo + documents | ~$80 | ~$0.07 |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2800 | EcoTank AIO | High-volume, low running cost | ~$180 | ~$0.003 |
| HP LaserJet M234dwe | Laser AIO | Scan + print, dorm office | ~$130 | ~$0.02 |
1. HP DeskJet 4155e — Best Overall Student Printer
If you want one recommendation and nothing else: the HP DeskJet 4155e. It does everything a student needs — prints, scans, copies — connects wirelessly, works with AirPrint for iPhone users, and sits comfortably under $80. Setup takes literally five minutes.
What I like about it: the HP Smart app is genuinely useful for students. You can print directly from your phone, scan documents back to your laptop, and even share the printer with a roommate over Wi-Fi. For dorm life, that matters.
What I don’t like: the standard cartridges are small and pricey per page (~$0.08/page for color). You can cut this significantly by signing up for HP Instant Ink — the $0.99/month plan covers 10 pages, and the $3.99/month plan covers 50. For light student use, that’s often enough.
- Print/Scan/Copy: ✅ All three
- Speed: ~8 ppm (fine for documents)
- Wireless: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth + AirPrint
- Duplex: Manual only (you flip the pages yourself)
- Size: Compact — fits on a standard desk
Pro tip: Sign up for HP Instant Ink when you buy it. The subscription is cheaper per page than buying cartridges individually, and HP ships new ink before you run out — which means you’ll never run dry the night before a paper is due.
→ Check the HP DeskJet 4155e price on Amazon
2. Brother HL-L2350DW — Best for Students Who Print a Lot
Law students. Pre-med. Anything with heavy reading packs and weekly assignments. If you’re printing more than 100 pages a month, skip inkjet entirely and go laser. The Brother HL-L2350DW costs about $100 upfront and then practically nothing to run — we’re talking 2 cents per page with high-yield toner.
It’s print-only (no scanner), which is the main downside. But it prints at 32 pages per minute, never jams, and toner cartridges last for thousands of pages. I’ve seen students go an entire semester on one toner replacement.
The laser output is crisp and smear-proof — it looks properly professional, which matters for assignments you’re handing in physically. And it’s wireless, so printing from a laptop or phone is no problem.
- Functions: Print only (no scan/copy)
- Speed: 32 ppm — significantly faster than inkjet
- Cost per page: ~$0.02 with high-yield toner
- Toner life: Up to 3,000 pages per cartridge
- Wireless: Wi-Fi + AirPrint
According to Wikipedia’s overview of laser printing, the laser process was originally developed by Xerox in the 1970s — and after 50 years of refinement, it’s still the gold standard for text documents.
→ Check the Brother HL-L2350DW price on Amazon
3. Canon PIXMA TR4720 — Best for Students Who Also Print Photos
Not everyone prints only essays. Art students, photography students, anyone who wants to print event photos, project mockups, or visual presentations — the Canon PIXMA TR4720 handles it all well. It’s an inkjet all-in-one that produces noticeably better color output than the HP DeskJet, though it costs slightly more to run.
It also has a dedicated rear tray for photo paper, which is useful if you’re printing borderless 4×6 photos. The scan resolution is 600 dpi — fine for most student needs like digitizing notes or forms.
- Print/Scan/Copy: ✅ All three
- Photo printing: Dedicated photo paper tray
- Wireless: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth + AirPrint
- Speed: ~8 ppm black, ~4 ppm color
→ Check the Canon PIXMA TR4720 price on Amazon
4. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 — Best Long-Term Investment
Here’s the unconventional pick. The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 costs around $180 — almost double the others. So why is it on a student budget list?
Because the ink costs almost nothing. Instead of cartridges, you fill the tanks directly from bottles. The ink included in the box is worth roughly $70 in equivalent cartridge cost — and it’ll last you hundreds, possibly thousands of pages. Replacement bottles run about $15 and print another 4,500 black pages. If you’re in a four-year program, this printer could cost you less than any other option over time.
There’s a catch: it’s the slowest printer on this list (about 10 ppm for text). And the upfront cost stings. If you’re only at university for one year or you print rarely, it doesn’t make financial sense. But for a four-year student who prints regularly? The math is pretty compelling.
For a deeper look at ink costs across different printer types, see our article on the cheapest printers to run in 2026.
→ Check the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 price on Amazon
5. HP LaserJet MFP M234dwe — Best All-in-One Laser for Students
What if you want laser efficiency but also need to scan? The HP LaserJet M234dwe bridges that gap. It’s a laser all-in-one at around $130 — fast, crisp document output, built-in scanner for digitizing forms and lecture notes, and low cost per page.
It’s not for photo printing (laser can’t do that well anyway), but for the student who lives in a world of PDFs, forms, and text documents, it’s an excellent all-rounder. HP also supports it with the HP Smart app for mobile printing.
→ Check the HP LaserJet M234dwe price on Amazon
What to Look For in a Student Printer
Running Cost Matters More Than Sticker Price
A $40 printer with expensive cartridges will cost you more over two years than a $130 laser printer with cheap toner. Do the math before you buy. Our full breakdown of printer ownership costs runs through exactly this calculation.
Wireless Is Non-Negotiable
You’ll be printing from a laptop one minute and your phone the next. Every printer on this list has Wi-Fi and AirPrint support — but double-check if you’re considering something not listed here. Bluetooth alone isn’t enough.
Size and Noise
Dorm rooms are small. All five printers above are compact enough to sit on a desk. Laser printers are slightly larger but also faster. Most modern printers are quiet enough not to disturb a roommate — though laser printers do have a brief warm-up cycle that makes a bit of noise when they first wake up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cheap printer for college students?
The HP DeskJet 4155e is the best value option under $80 for students who print occasionally. For heavy document printing, the Brother HL-L2350DW is a better long-term value despite being print-only.
Is a laser printer or inkjet better for students?
It depends on how much you print and what you print. If you mainly print text documents and lecture notes (100+ pages/month), a laser printer will be cheaper and faster. If you print occasionally and want to occasionally print photos, inkjet is more flexible. See our full inkjet vs laser comparison guide for a detailed breakdown.
Do I really need a printer in college?
Honestly? It depends on your subject. Engineering, law, and medical students typically print a lot. Arts and computer science students often print rarely. Campus printing labs are always an option for occasional use — but if you print more than twice a week, having your own makes life significantly easier.
Which printers work with iPhone?
All five printers on this list support Apple AirPrint — you can print directly from any iPhone or iPad app without installing anything. For a full guide on wireless iPhone printing, see our how to print from iPhone walkthrough.
What printer is best for a student on a tight budget?
The HP DeskJet 4155e at around $75 paired with an HP Instant Ink subscription is the most budget-friendly way to get a fully capable wireless all-in-one. If you print nothing but black text, the Brother HL-L2350DW at ~$100 will cost less over a full academic year.
Whatever you choose, make sure you check the best home office printers and best wireless printers pages too — there’s often crossover between what works well for students and what works for WFH adults.
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