Best Printer for Writers 2026

What's the best printer for writers in 2026 — and does it actually matter which one you pick? Absolutely. Writers have specific needs: fast, sharp text output, low running costs, and a machine that doesn't require a PhD to set up. After testing and comparing seven top models, our top pick is the Brother HL-L2460DW — a compact laser printer that nails everything a writer needs at a price that won't slow you down.

Whether you're self-publishing manuscripts, printing drafts for markup, or just firing off query letters and contracts, the right printer saves you time and money. Ink costs, print speed, paper handling — these details add up fast when you're printing hundreds of pages a month. We've rounded up the best options across laser and inkjet, all-in-one and print-only, budget and mid-range, so you can find exactly what fits your workflow. If you write for a living or as a serious hobby, check out our full printer for professionals guide too.

Before you buy, it's worth understanding the difference between dye ink and pigment ink — it matters more than most people realize when it comes to text sharpness and fade resistance on your printed drafts. Now, let's get into the reviews.

Top Rated Picks of 2026

• #
  Preview
  Product
  Rating
• Bestseller No. 1
  
  Brother HL-L2460DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Duplex, Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
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• Bestseller No. 2
  
  Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank with Scan and Copy, The Ideal Basic Home Printer - Black
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• Bestseller No. 3
  
  Brother MFC-L2750DW All-in-One Wireless Monochrome Laser Printer, Black - Print Copy Scan Fax - 36 ppm, 2400 x 600 dpi, Auto Duplex Printing, 50-Sheet ADF, 2.7" Touchscreen LCD, NFC, Ethernet, Tillsiy
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• Bestseller No. 4
  
  Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Home Use with Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Printing and Built-in Fax, Black
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• Bestseller No. 5
  
  HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, scan, copy, fax, ADF, Duplex printing best-for-office, 3 month Instant Ink trial included, AI-enabled (403X0A)
  Rating:

  
  
• Bestseller No. 6
  
  HP LaserJet M110w Wireless Black & White Printer, Print, Fast speeds, Easy Setup, Mobile Printing, Best-for-Small Teams
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• Bestseller No. 7
  
  Epson EcoTank ET-3850 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank with Scanner Copier, ADF and Ethernet – The Perfect Printer Home Office,White
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In-Depth Reviews

1. Brother HL-L2460DW — Best Overall for Writers

If you print a lot of text — and writers do — the Brother HL-L2460DW is the printer you want on your desk. It's a compact monochrome (black and white only) laser printer that punches well above its price point. You get print speeds up to 36 pages per minute, automatic duplex (two-sided) printing, and dual-band wireless that connects reliably at both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. Setup takes under ten minutes, and Brother's mobile app lets you manage toner, monitor usage, and send print jobs from your phone.

For writers, the laser output is a standout advantage. Laser printers use heat and toner powder — not liquid ink — to fuse text onto the page, which means letters are sharper, edges don't bleed, and pages are smudge-proof the second they come out. That matters when you're marking up a draft with a pen. The automatic duplex feature cuts your paper use in half on long manuscripts, and the compact footprint means it fits on even a cramped writing desk. It also works with Alexa and supports Brother's Refresh subscription so you never run out of toner mid-chapter.

The only real limitation is color — this printer is black and white only. If you need to print color charts, cover mockups, or illustrations, you'll want to look at one of the color options below. But for pure text output at high volume, no printer in this price range beats the HL-L2460DW.

Pros:

• Blazing 36ppm print speed — your 300-page manuscript prints in minutes
• Automatic duplex printing saves paper on long drafts
• Dual-band wireless plus Ethernet and USB connectivity options
• Compact enough for a home office or small writing space
• Works with Alexa and Brother Mobile Connect app

Cons:

• Monochrome only — no color printing
• No scan or copy functions (print-only model)

2. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 — Best Budget Color Option

The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 solves the single biggest frustration with budget printers: ink cost. Instead of tiny, expensive cartridges that run out every few weeks, this printer uses large ink tanks (called a "Supertank") that you refill with bottles. One set of ink bottles is equivalent to roughly 80 individual cartridges, and you save up to 90% on replacement ink compared to cartridge-based printers. That's a huge deal if you print color book covers, illustrations, or formatted documents regularly.

It's a wireless color all-in-one, so you get printing, scanning, and copying in a single unit. Print speeds run up to 10 pages per minute, which is slower than a laser printer but perfectly adequate for occasional to moderate use. Epson's Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology (a method that pushes ink with pressure instead of heat) means the printhead lasts longer and produces detailed, vivid output. The wireless setup is straightforward, and Epson's Smart Panel app handles mobile printing and scanning easily.

Where the ET-2800 falls short is volume and speed. If you're printing 500+ pages a week, this isn't your machine — it's designed for light to moderate home use. But for a writer who needs occasional color prints alongside regular document printing, the long-term ink savings make the higher upfront cost worth every dollar.

Pros:

• Dramatically lower ink costs — up to 90% savings vs. cartridge printers
• Prints up to 4,500 black / 7,500 color pages per ink set
• Color all-in-one: print, scan, copy
• Wireless and mobile printing via Epson Smart Panel app
• No printhead heat damage — longer-lasting components

Cons:

• Slower print speed (10ppm) compared to laser options
• Higher upfront purchase price than basic cartridge printers
• No fax or automatic document feeder

3. Brother MFC-L2750DW — Best All-in-One Laser for Writers

When you need a laser printer that does everything — print, copy, scan, and fax — the Brother MFC-L2750DW is the most complete option on this list. It matches the HL-L2460DW's 36ppm print speed but adds a full suite of office functions, including a 50-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF), a 2.7-inch color touchscreen, and NFC (tap-to-print from compatible phones). The 2400 x 600 dpi resolution (dots per inch — more dots means sharper detail) delivers crisp, professional text output on every page.

The 250-sheet input tray plus a single-sheet bypass tray gives you serious paper capacity, and the 256MB printer memory keeps complex print jobs moving quickly. A 500-page fax memory means missed faxes don't get lost. Writers who handle contracts, publishing agreements, or legal documents will also appreciate the ability to print on envelopes and labels. The monthly duty cycle of 15,000 pages tells you this machine is built for real workloads, not just occasional use. If you need to print legal-size documents for manuscripts or contracts, pair this with our guide to the best printer for legal size paper to make sure your setup is optimized.

The trade-off, same as the HL-L2460DW, is no color printing. But if your writing workflow involves contracts, drafts, query letters, and multi-page documents, the MFC-L2750DW handles every step of the process without breaking a sweat.

Pros:

• Full all-in-one: print, copy, scan, fax — laser speed
• 36ppm print speed with 2400 x 600 dpi sharp output
• 50-sheet ADF for fast multi-page scanning and copying
• 2.7-inch color touchscreen for easy navigation
• 256MB memory handles large and complex documents

Cons:

• Monochrome only — no color printing
• Larger footprint than print-only laser models

4. Canon PIXMA TR4720 — Best Compact All-in-One for Light Use

The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is the right choice if you want a compact, affordable all-in-one that covers the basics without overwhelming you. It handles printing, copying, scanning, and faxing, connects wirelessly, and has an auto document feeder for multi-page jobs. Print speeds come in at 8.8 images per minute (ipm) in color and 4.4 ipm in black, which is on the slower side — but for a writer who prints a handful of pages at a time, that's more than acceptable.

The standby power draw of just 0.8W and an off-power consumption of 0.3W make this one of the most energy-efficient options on the list. Canon's ink cartridge system is simple to swap, with no complicated ink tank refilling. Mobile printing is supported, so you can send jobs straight from your phone or tablet. It's a practical, no-fuss machine that won't intimidate you with settings menus or app requirements.

Where it falls short: print speed and long-term ink costs. If you're printing manuscripts regularly, the slower speeds will frustrate you and cartridge costs will add up. This is the right printer for a writer who prints occasionally, not one who churns through reams every week. For more heavy-duty professional printing needs, browse our full roundup at printer for professionals.

Pros:

• 4-in-1 functionality: print, copy, scan, fax
• Ultra-low energy use — great for a home office
• Auto document feeder for multi-page jobs
• Simple ink cartridge installation
• Mobile printing supported

Cons:

• Slow print speeds (8.8ipm color / 4.4ipm black)
• Cartridge-based ink system — ongoing costs add up
• Not ideal for high-volume printing

5. HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e — Best for Color Document Printing

If you need professional-quality color output alongside strong black-and-white text performance, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is the most capable color inkjet on this list. It prints at up to 22ppm in black and 18ppm in color — fast enough for real office workloads. You get a full all-in-one setup: print, scan, copy, and fax, with auto two-sided printing and scanning, a 250-sheet input tray, and an auto document feeder. It's designed for offices printing presentations, brochures, and formatted documents — exactly what a writer promoting their own work or managing a small publishing operation needs.

The AI-powered print feature is genuinely useful. HP's AI can strip unnecessary content when printing from web pages and emails so you get clean, correctly formatted pages without wasted margins or broken layouts. That alone saves paper and frustration. A three-month Instant Ink trial is included, which automatically ships ink before you run out based on your actual usage. After the trial, costs depend on your print volume and plan choice.

The trade-off is ink cost at high volumes — inkjet running costs are higher than laser over the long term, especially for black-and-white text. If most of what you print is color-heavy content, like book covers, marketing materials, or formatted publishing documents, the 9125e justifies the cost. For pure text printing, a laser printer is still more economical.

Pros:

• Fast color printing at 18ppm — best color speed on this list
• HP AI removes unwanted content for clean, properly formatted prints
• Full all-in-one with ADF, duplex print and scan
• 250-sheet tray handles long batch jobs
• 3-month Instant Ink trial included

Cons:

• Higher long-term ink cost vs. laser at high black-and-white volumes
• Larger and heavier than compact options

6. HP LaserJet M110w — Best Ultra-Compact Laser Printer

The HP LaserJet M110w earns its title as the world's smallest laser printer in its class, and for a writer working in a tight space — a studio apartment, a corner desk, a travel setup — that matters enormously. Despite its tiny footprint, it delivers real laser print quality with speeds up to 21 black-and-white pages per minute. HP positions it for teams of one to three people, which is perfect for a solo writer or a small writing partnership.

Setup is fast and wireless-first. The HP Smart app guides you through the process in minutes and handles mobile printing, so you can print from your phone or laptop without touching a USB cable. It's designed around simplicity — no touchscreen, no complex menus, just connect and print. Laser printing technology fuses toner to the page using heat, producing sharp, smudge-free text output every time — a significant upgrade from inkjet for text-heavy documents.

Where this printer is limited: it's print-only, black-and-white only, and lacks an Ethernet port. If you need to scan, copy, or fax, this isn't your machine. But if your workflow is pure drafts, manuscripts, and text documents and you want the smallest possible laser printer that just works, the M110w is a clear, confident choice. Writers who also deal with technical documents may also want to check out our best printer for notary signing agents guide for additional professional use options.

Pros:

• World's smallest laser printer in its class — fits anywhere
• 21ppm print speed — fast for a compact unit
• Easy wireless setup with HP Smart app
• Mobile printing supported
• Sharp, smudge-free laser text output

Cons:

• Print-only — no scan, copy, or fax
• Black and white only
• No Ethernet connection option

7. Epson EcoTank ET-3850 — Best High-Volume Color Inkjet

The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is the premium step up from the ET-2800, adding Ethernet connectivity, an auto document feeder, and higher output quality in a color all-in-one package. It prints at 15.5ppm in black and 8.5ppm in color, with a 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution that produces strikingly sharp text and vivid image output. For writers who need beautiful color alongside serious document functionality, this is the top inkjet option on the list.

Like the ET-2800, it uses the EcoTank supertank system — no cartridges, just large ink bottles with dramatically lower running costs. The addition of an ADF (auto document feeder) means you can load a stack of pages and scan or copy them hands-free, which is a major productivity upgrade over the basic ET-2800. The Ethernet port lets you connect it directly to a router or network switch (a device that connects multiple devices to a network) for rock-solid, wired connectivity in a shared home office or small studio.

The ET-3850 is the right pick if you want EcoTank savings with office-grade features. The 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution is especially useful if you're printing formatted documents, cover designs, or portfolio pages where image quality matters. It's a bigger investment upfront, but the combination of ultra-low ink costs and premium output quality makes it one of the strongest long-term values for a productive writer's desk in 2026.

Pros:

• 4800 x 1200 dpi — sharpest color output on the inkjet list
• EcoTank system: dramatically lower ink costs over time
• Ethernet port for wired network connection
• Auto document feeder for hands-free scanning and copying
• 15.5ppm black print speed for an inkjet

Cons:

• Higher upfront cost than the ET-2800
• Slower color print speed (8.5ppm) vs. laser alternatives

Choosing the Right Printer for Writers: A Buying Guide

Laser vs. Inkjet — Which Is Better for Writers?

This is the first question you need to answer, and the answer is usually laser. Laser printers use toner powder fused by heat, producing sharp, smudge-proof text that dries instantly. They're faster, cheaper per page on high-volume black-and-white printing, and the toner cartridges last much longer than ink cartridges. If you print mostly manuscript drafts, query letters, contracts, or research documents, a laser printer will serve you better and cost you less over time.

Inkjet printers make more sense when you need color. If you print book covers, formatted publishing documents, illustrations, or anything where color accuracy matters, an inkjet — especially an EcoTank model — is the smarter choice. The EcoTank system removes the biggest downside of inkjet (cartridge cost) and makes color printing genuinely affordable at high volumes.

Print Speed: How Much Does It Actually Matter?

For casual writers printing a few pages here and there, print speed is nearly irrelevant. But if you're printing 100+ pages of manuscript at a time, the difference between 10ppm and 36ppm is the difference between waiting three minutes and waiting fifteen. Writers who regularly print full drafts should prioritize print speed above almost everything else. Laser printers dominate here — the Brother HL-L2460DW and MFC-L2750DW both hit 36ppm, which is genuinely fast for any class of printer.

All-in-One vs. Print-Only: What Functionality Do You Actually Need?

All-in-one printers add scanning, copying, and sometimes faxing to the basic print function. For writers, scanning is often underrated — being able to scan handwritten notes, signed contracts, or physical reference materials directly into your workflow is genuinely useful. If you send contracts, author agreements, or freelance invoices, fax capability can still be relevant. That said, if your workflow is purely printing drafts and documents, a print-only laser like the HL-L2460DW or M110w will serve you well at a lower price and smaller footprint.

Running Costs: Toner, Ink, and Long-Term Value

The sticker price is only part of the real cost of owning a printer. Ink and toner are where printers make their money back. Standard cartridge-based inkjets are the most expensive per-page option. Laser printers and EcoTank inkjets are both dramatically cheaper to run long-term. A laser toner cartridge typically yields 1,000–3,000 pages. An EcoTank ink bottle set yields 4,500–7,500 pages. If you're printing manuscripts, research documents, or professional materials regularly, those savings compound fast. Factor in your monthly print volume before deciding — a higher upfront cost on an EcoTank or a laser model pays for itself within months for active writers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways

• The Brother HL-L2460DW is the best overall printer for writers in 2026 — 36ppm laser speed, automatic duplex, and reliable wireless in a compact, affordable package.
• For color printing on a long-term budget, the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 or ET-3850 eliminate cartridge costs and deliver genuine savings over hundreds of print jobs.
• Writers who need to scan, copy, and fax should choose an all-in-one like the Brother MFC-L2750DW or the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e for color work.
• For tight spaces or ultra-simple setups, the HP LaserJet M110w delivers real laser quality in the smallest footprint available — perfect for writers who just need to print fast and clean.