Best Printer Under $100 in 2026 — Top Picks for Every Use
A hundred dollars. That’s roughly the price of two decent restaurant dinners, one tank of gas, or — if you shop smart — a genuinely good printer that’ll handle everything you throw at it for the next few years. I’ve spent the better part of the last month testing printers in this price range, and I’ll be honest: there are some real gems here. There’s also plenty of garbage. This guide cuts through both.
Whether you need something for occasional documents, regular photo printing, or an all-in-one that can scan and copy too, there’s a solid option under $100. You don’t need to spend more. What you do need is to pick the right one — because the wrong choice will cost you far more in ink than you saved on the printer itself.
Before we get into the picks, one thing to remember: the sticker price is just the start. Always factor in ink costs. Some printers are cheap upfront and expensive to run. Others (especially tank-based models) flip that equation. I’ll flag ink costs clearly for every pick below.
Best Printers Under $100 — Quick Comparison
| Printer | Type | Best For | Ink Cost/Page | Print Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA TR4720 | Inkjet AIO | Home & students | ~3¢ B&W / ~9¢ color | 8 ppm |
| HP DeskJet 4155e | Inkjet AIO | Casual users | ~4¢ B&W / ~11¢ color | 7.5 ppm |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2800 | Tank Inkjet AIO | High-volume printing | ~1¢ B&W / ~3¢ color | 10 ppm |
| Brother HL-L2350DW | Laser | Text-heavy, no color | ~2.5¢ B&W | 32 ppm |
| Canon PIXMA MG3620 | Inkjet AIO | Budget basics | ~5¢ B&W / ~12¢ color | 8 ppm |
1. Canon PIXMA TR4720 — Best All-Rounder Under $100
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is what I’d hand to someone who asked “just tell me what to buy.” It prints, scans, copies, and even faxes (yes, fax is still a thing in some offices). Setup over Wi-Fi takes about four minutes. Print quality is genuinely good — sharper text than I expected at this price, and photos come out with accurate enough colors that I’d use them for casual social media prints.
The TR4720 connects to both iOS and Android without drama. AirPrint and Google Cloud Print are both supported, so printing from your phone is tap-and-done. It also works with HP’s — wait, no, this is a Canon. It works with Canon’s PRINT Inkjet app, which is actually pretty polished for a printer app.
Specs
- Print/Scan/Copy/Fax: Yes
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth
- Print Speed: 8 ppm (B&W), 4 ppm (color)
- Resolution: 4800 x 1200 dpi
- Paper Capacity: 60 sheets
- Duplex: Manual
- Ink: PG-275XL / CL-276XL cartridges
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Solid print quality for the price
- ✅ Easy wireless setup
- ✅ Compact enough for a desk corner
- ❌ Paper tray only holds 60 sheets — annoying if you print a lot
- ❌ Ink costs add up over time with standard cartridges
→ Check price and availability on Amazon
2. HP DeskJet 4155e — Best for Instant Ink Subscribers
The HP DeskJet 4155e sits comfortably under $100 and comes with six months of HP+ Instant Ink included — which is genuinely useful if you print fewer than 50 pages a month. Once that trial runs out, you’ll need to decide whether to subscribe or switch to buying cartridges. The subscription math works out well for light printers; heavy users might find the per-cartridge costs annoying.
Print quality is fine. Not spectacular, but fine. Text is clear and crisp. Color photos look decent on HP photo paper. I wouldn’t print anything I was planning to frame, but for school projects and everyday documents, it does the job without complaints.
Pro tip: If you go the Instant Ink route with this printer, set a page limit reminder. It’s easy to print more than your tier allows and get hit with overage charges. The app has usage tracking — actually use it.
Specs
- Print/Scan/Copy: Yes (no fax)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth LE
- Print Speed: 7.5 ppm (B&W), 5.5 ppm (color)
- Resolution: 1200 x 1200 dpi
- Paper Capacity: 60 sheets
- Duplex: Manual
- Ink: HP 67 / 67XL cartridges
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Includes 6 months of Instant Ink
- ✅ Simple, clean HP Smart app
- ✅ Good wireless reliability
- ❌ Ink costs are above average if not on subscription
- ❌ HP+ lock-in means you must use HP cartridges permanently
→ Check price and availability on Amazon
3. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 — Best Value If You Print a Lot
Here’s the thing about the Epson EcoTank ET-2800: it sometimes dips under $100 (or just barely over), and when it does, it’s the smartest buy on this entire list. Tank-based printers use refillable ink bottles instead of cartridges. The ink that comes in the box is worth roughly $40 at cartridge equivalent prices — and it’ll last you over a year of normal printing.
Honestly, the upfront cost feels like a lot until you realize you’re paying maybe $1-3 per bottle refill later. If you print regularly — weekly school projects, home office documents, anything beyond occasional — the EcoTank pays for itself within a few months. I’ve seen people save $80-100 in a single year just switching from a cartridge printer.
The tradeoff? Setup takes a bit longer (filling the tanks takes a couple of minutes) and the ET-2800 is a basic model — no fax, no Ethernet, and scanning is slower than premium models. But for a home user who prints a few times a week? It’s hard to argue against it. See our full comparison of cheapest printers to run if you want to dig deeper into running costs.
Specs
- Print/Scan/Copy: Yes
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
- Print Speed: 10 ppm (B&W), 5 ppm (color)
- Resolution: 5760 x 1440 dpi
- Paper Capacity: 100 sheets
- Duplex: Manual
- Ink: Refillable tanks (502 bottles)
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Ultra-low cost per page — among the lowest available
- ✅ Includes 2 years’ worth of ink in the box
- ✅ 100-sheet paper tray — actually useful capacity
- ❌ Slightly slower print speeds than cartridge models
- ❌ Price fluctuates — occasionally goes above $100
→ Check price and availability on Amazon
4. Brother HL-L2350DW — Best Laser Printer Under $100
If you only print text — and don’t need color — the Brother HL-L2350DW is a revelation. Thirty-two pages per minute. Sharp, laser-crisp text. Toner that lasts thousands of pages. No smearing, no waiting for ink to dry, no “is this dry yet?” before stuffing it into an envelope.
Laser printers work differently from inkjets — they use heat and toner powder rather than liquid ink. This makes them faster and more reliable for text documents. The cost per page on this Brother is around 2.5 cents — far cheaper than most inkjets, and the toner cartridges don’t dry out if you don’t print for a few weeks. That’s a genuine quality-of-life improvement if you’re a sporadic printer.
The catch: no color, no scanning, no copying. This is a print-only device. If you also need to scan or copy, you’d need to step up to the Brother MFC-L2750DW (over $100) or look at one of the inkjet all-in-ones above. Also worth noting: the standard toner cartridge that ships in the box is a “starter” cartridge rated for about 700 pages. The full-size replacement cartridge handles 3,000+ pages. Budget for that replacement if you print a lot right away.
Specs
- Print Only (no scan/copy)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
- Print Speed: 32 ppm (B&W only)
- Resolution: 2400 x 600 dpi
- Paper Capacity: 250 sheets
- Duplex: Automatic
- Toner: TN-730 / TN-760
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Blazing fast — 32 ppm is genuinely impressive
- ✅ Auto duplex printing standard
- ✅ 250-sheet tray — no constant reloading
- ✅ Toner doesn’t dry out between print sessions
- ❌ No color — at all
- ❌ No scanning or copying
- ❌ Starter toner in box runs out quickly
→ Check price and availability on Amazon
5. Canon PIXMA MG3620 — Best Budget Pick for Basics
The Canon PIXMA MG3620 is the “just get something that works” option. It prints, scans, copies, connects to Wi-Fi, and usually comes in well under $50. If you print maybe once a week for school or occasional household stuff, this covers the basics without requiring much thought.
Print quality is solid for documents and good enough for casual photos. It’s slower than the other picks here (8 ppm for black, 4 ppm for color) and the ink cartridges are on the pricier side per page. But at the low price point, it’s hard to complain too loudly. Consider it the entry-level ticket — good for light use, likely to feel limiting if you print regularly.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Very affordable upfront
- ✅ Does the basics well
- ✅ Mobile printing support (AirPrint, Google Cloud Print)
- ❌ Higher ink cost per page than other picks
- ❌ Slower print speed
- ❌ Smaller paper tray (100 sheets)
→ Check price and availability on Amazon
How to Choose the Right Printer Under $100
The biggest mistake people make is choosing based on price alone. Two printers can both be $79 and have completely different running costs — one might cost you $30/year in ink, the other $120/year. So here’s how to actually decide:
How Much Do You Print?
If you print less than 30 pages a month, almost any of these will do. If you’re printing 100+ pages a month, go for the EcoTank ET-2800 or the Brother HL-L2350DW. The ink savings will offset any price difference quickly.
Do You Need Color?
If it’s text-only (reports, homework, contracts, forms), a laser printer like the Brother HL-L2350DW is objectively better: faster, cheaper per page, more reliable. If you need color — even occasionally — you need an inkjet.
Do You Need to Scan or Copy?
Three of the five picks here are all-in-ones with scan and copy functions. The Brother laser-only does not. If you ever need to digitize documents or make copies, get one of the AIO options. Check out the best all-in-one printers if you want a deeper comparison of AIO models across all price ranges.
What About Wireless Printing?
All five picks here support Wi-Fi. If you’re printing from an iPhone or iPad, look for AirPrint compatibility — the Canon and Epson picks both support it. For more detail, see our guide to the best AirPrint printers. Android users can usually use Google Cloud Print or the manufacturer’s own app, both of which work fine.
What to Watch Out For: Ink Costs
This deserves its own section because it catches a lot of people off guard. Printer manufacturers often sell printers at low margins (or even a loss) and make their money on ink cartridges. Some of the cheapest printers have the most expensive ink. Always look up the cost per page for a printer before you buy — it’s usually listed on the manufacturer’s spec sheet.
For reference, here’s a rough guide to what’s reasonable in 2026:
- Under 3¢/page B&W: Good — that’s EcoTank/laser territory
- 3-5¢/page B&W: Average for an inkjet
- Over 6¢/page B&W: Expensive — watch out
Our full breakdown of the cheapest printers to run goes into a lot more detail on this if you want the full picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a $100 printer worth buying, or should I spend more?
For most home users, a printer under $100 is absolutely sufficient. The main thing you give up in this price range is speed (slower than premium models) and paper capacity (smaller trays). For a home or student user printing a few times a week, none of that matters much. If you’re running a small office printing hundreds of pages a day, yes — spend more.
What’s the cheapest printer to run overall?
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 wins on running costs — around 1 cent per black page and 3 cents per color page. The Brother HL-L2350DW is similarly cheap for black-only printing. Both are in or around the $100 range. See the best home office printer guide for options suited to heavier workloads.
Do printers under $100 work with iPhones?
Yes — most modern printers in this range support AirPrint, which lets you print directly from an iPhone or iPad without installing any app. The Canon PIXMA TR4720 and Epson EcoTank ET-2800 both support AirPrint. The HP DeskJet 4155e works via the HP Smart app. Check our list of the best AirPrint printers for more options.
Should I get an inkjet or a laser printer for home use?
For most homes: inkjet. You get color printing, scanning, and copying in one device, usually under $100. Laser printers are better if you print a lot of text-only documents and want lower cost-per-page and faster speeds — but they’re black-only in this price range. For a full breakdown, see our best wireless printers comparison.
Are generic ink cartridges safe to use in budget printers?
They can be, but results vary. Third-party cartridges work fine in some printers and cause issues in others. HP in particular has been known to push firmware updates that block non-HP cartridges — especially on HP+ enrolled printers. If you’re buying a printer specifically to use cheaper third-party ink, the Epson EcoTank is a safer bet since you refill with bottles rather than cartridges.
There you have it — five solid printers that won’t drain your wallet upfront, and won’t punish you too badly on running costs either. My personal pick for most people is the Canon PIXMA TR4720: it hits the sweet spot of quality, features, and price. If you print a lot, seriously consider the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 — you’ll thank yourself in six months when you haven’t bought a single cartridge. And if you only ever print text? The Brother HL-L2350DW is in a league of its own for speed and reliability.
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