Originally published: Jun 12, 2025. Last updated: Oct 13, 2026.
A business printer is one of those purchases where the sticker price lies. The machine on the shelf is usually the cheapest part of the deal; the ink or toner you feed it over three to five years often costs several times more. This guide names the ten small-business printers that earned their place in 2026: monochrome laser all-in-ones for text-heavy offices, refillable ink tank models for high-volume color, and business inkjets for mixed workloads. Scope note: this list contains no all-in-one color laser printers; those have their own dedicated ranking of the best all-in-one color laser printers for small business. Start with the list, then use the buying guide below to match a model to your volume.
How we selected these printers
We did not test these printers ourselves, and this list makes no such claim. Our process works like this: we reviewed the leading 2026 printer roundups from independent review sites including RTINGS, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, Consumer Reports, and kept only the models recommended by more than one of them. We then checked buyer feedback for each shortlisted model on Amazon, looking at star ratings, review counts, and the praise and complaints that come up again and again. Finally, we confirmed every model below is still sold new as of October 2026, either by the manufacturer or through major retailers. Anything discontinued was dropped from the list. Prices below are approximate and change often, so treat them as a guide and check the current price before buying. Product names link to the manufacturer’s own product page.
The 10 best printers for small businesses in 2026
1. Brother DCP-L2640DW
Best for: Small offices that print mostly black-and-white documents and want a compact all-in-one.
The DCP-L2640DW is the consensus budget pick for mono laser all-in-ones across 2026 roundups: it prints, copies, and scans at up to 34 pages per minute, prints double-sided automatically, and connects over dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or USB. Buyers consistently praise its fast warm-up, small footprint, and low running costs with Brother’s high-yield TN830XL toner. It skips fax, which most small offices no longer need.
Key specs: Monochrome laser, print/copy/scan, up to 34 ppm, automatic duplex printing, dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, 250-sheet tray.
Price: Check current pricing; it varies by retailer.
2. Brother HL-L2460DW
Best for: Businesses that only need fast black-and-white printing and want the lowest upfront cost.
If nobody in the office scans or copies, a single-function printer is cheaper to buy and simpler to run. The HL-L2460DW appears across budget roundups for exactly that reason: 34 ppm mono printing, automatic duplex, and the same economical Brother toner platform as its bigger siblings. Customer reviews highlight reliable wireless setup and consistently crisp text output.
Key specs: Monochrome laser printer only, up to 34 ppm, automatic duplex printing, dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, 250-sheet tray.
Price: Check current pricing; it varies by retailer.
3. Brother MFC-L2900DW
Best for: Offices that still fax or need a full-featured mono workhorse.
The MFC-L2900DW is the step-up sibling of the DCP-L2640DW, adding fax and a faster 36 ppm engine, and it shows up repeatedly in small-business roundups as the do-everything mono pick. Its 50-sheet automatic document feeder and single-pass duplex scanning make multi-page jobs painless. Buyers rate it highly for reliability and for Brother’s straightforward driver and mobile app experience.
Key specs: Monochrome laser, print/copy/scan/fax, up to 36 ppm, 50-sheet ADF, automatic duplex printing and scanning, dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB.
Price: Check current pricing; it varies by retailer.
4. HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw
Best for: Teams that want HP’s ecosystem, faster speeds, and AI-assisted scanning features.
HP’s 3101sdw is a fixture of 2026 best-printer lists, printing black-and-white at up to 35 ppm with auto duplex and a 50-sheet ADF. It carries HP Wolf Pro security, dual-band Wi-Fi with self-healing connectivity, and HP’s newer AI features that auto-generate scan file names and summaries. On the HP store it holds around 4.3 out of 5 from dozens of owner reviews, with speed and print quality the most cited strengths.
Key specs: Monochrome laser, print/copy/scan, up to 35 ppm, automatic duplex, 50-sheet ADF, dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, HP Wolf Pro security.
Price: Around $215 to $350 depending on the retailer. Prices change frequently, so check the current price before buying.
5. Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850
Best for: Offices with heavy color volume that want laser-like speed without laser running costs.
The ET-5850 is Epson’s business-grade EcoTank: a true office machine with two 250-sheet trays, print/copy/scan/fax, and 25 ppm black printing, but with refillable tanks that push color costs down to a fraction of laser toner. It is a repeat pick in business ink tank roundups for teams printing hundreds of color pages a month. Buyers praise the ultra-low cost per page and strong paper handling, while noting the upfront price is the tradeoff.
Key specs: Refillable ink tank, print/copy/scan/fax, up to 25 ppm black, 2 x 250-sheet trays, automatic duplex, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB.
Price: Around $650 to $850 depending on sales. Prices change frequently, so check the current price before buying.
6. Epson EcoTank ET-4950
Best for: Home offices and small teams that want the best-reviewed tank printer of 2026.
The ET-4950 replaced the popular ET-4850 and quickly became the most recommended mid-range EcoTank: TechRadar’s printer editor named it the number one cartridge-free pick in October 2026, and it appears across tank-printer roundups for its 250-sheet tray, ADF, fax, and auto duplex at a mid-range price. Owners report dramatically lower ink spending versus their old cartridge printers. It prints up to 18 ppm black and 9 ppm color.
Key specs: Refillable ink tank, print/copy/scan/fax, up to 18 ppm black / 9 ppm color, 250-sheet tray, ADF, automatic duplex, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB.
Price: Around $370 to $500; it frequently drops to around $370 at major retailers. Prices change frequently, so check the current price before buying.
7. Epson EcoTank ET-3950
Best for: Budget-conscious home offices that want tank-printer economics at a lower entry price.
The ET-3950 is the value play in Epson’s current EcoTank line and is lab-tested by RTINGS, which keeps it on recommendation lists for affordable high-yield printing. It includes up to three years of ink in the box, a 250-sheet tray, ADF, and auto duplex, printing 18 ppm black and 9 ppm color. European Amazon buyers rate it around 4.3 out of 5, with ink savings the dominant theme.
Key specs: Refillable ink tank, print/copy/scan, up to 18 ppm black / 9 ppm color, 250-sheet tray, ADF, automatic duplex, Wi-Fi, USB.
Price: Around $300 to $330 at major retailers. Prices change frequently, so check the current price before buying.
8. Canon PIXMA G3290 MegaTank
Best for: Small and home offices that want Canon’s tank system with strong photo and document versatility.
Canon’s MegaTank G3290 is the Canon answer to the EcoTank: refillable tanks rated for up to 6,000 black and 7,700 color pages per bottle set, a 2.7-inch touchscreen, ADF, and auto duplex. It is in stock direct from Canon as of October 2026 and appears in tank-printer roundups as the best Canon alternative to Epson. Buyers like the print quality on mixed documents and the low ink costs, while noting color speeds are modest.
Key specs: Refillable ink tank, print/copy/scan, up to 11 ipm black / 6 ipm color, 100-sheet rear tray, 35-sheet ADF, automatic duplex, Wi-Fi, USB.
Price: Around $200 to $270 depending on sales. Prices change frequently, so check the current price before buying.
9. Brother MFC-J4355DW
Best for: Offices that want color inkjet versatility with predictable cartridge costs.
Not every office suits a tank system, and the MFC-J4355DW is the consensus cartridge-inkjet pick for business: Brother’s INKvestment Tank cartridges deliver up to a year of ink in-box, and the machine prints, copies, scans, and faxes with a 150-sheet tray and 20-sheet ADF. Roundups recommend it for mixed document and occasional photo printing where laser color would be overkill. Owners praise its compact size and straightforward operation.
Key specs: Color inkjet, print/copy/scan/fax, INKvestment Tank cartridges, 150-sheet tray, 20-sheet ADF, automatic duplex, dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB.
Price: Check current pricing; it varies by retailer.
10. Canon imageCLASS MF462dw II
Best for: Offices that want a fast Canon monochrome all-in-one with room to grow.
The MF462dw II is Canon’s current-generation mono laser workhorse: 37 ppm black-and-white printing, a 50-sheet two-sided ADF, a 5-inch color touchscreen, and paper capacity expandable to 900 sheets. It is a repeat recommendation in office printer roundups as the Canon alternative to Brother’s mono lineup. On Amazon it holds around 4.4 out of 5 from hundreds of ratings with hundreds bought monthly, buyers citing speed and Canon’s service network. It is sold new through Amazon, Best Buy, Staples, and other major retailers as of October 2026.
Key specs: Monochrome laser, print/copy/scan/fax, up to 37 ppm, 50-sheet duplex ADF, automatic duplex, 5-inch touchscreen, 250-sheet cassette plus 100-sheet multipurpose tray (expandable to 900 sheets), Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, USB, 3-year warranty.
Price: Around $220 to $300 at major retailers. Prices change frequently, so check the current price before buying.
Small business printer buying guide
Start with total cost of ownership, not the sticker price. The number that matters is purchase price plus consumables, paper, energy, and maintenance over three to five years. A cheap cartridge inkjet printing 500 pages a month can burn through thousands in ink over three years, while a laser or tank printer at a few cents per page costs a fraction of that in consumables. The key input is cost per page: refillable ink tank systems run roughly 0.3 to 2 cents per page, monochrome lasers about 2 to 5 cents, color lasers about 4 to 15 cents depending on coverage, and standard cartridge inkjets 10 to 20 cents. Multiply your monthly volume by the per-page cost and by 36 months before comparing any two machines.
Match the category to your monthly volume. Under about 200 pages a month, almost any reliable machine works and upfront price matters most. From 200 to 800 pages, monochrome lasers and ink tanks pull ahead on running costs. Above that, duty cycle and paper capacity become the deciding factors: buy a printer whose recommended monthly volume comfortably covers yours, not one whose maximum duty cycle merely touches it. If roughly 80 percent or more of your printing is black-and-white documents, a monochrome laser wins on total cost within the first year or two.
Check the specifications that actually matter. Automatic duplex (two-sided) printing saves paper and is standard on every pick above. A 50-sheet automatic document feeder changes how painless scanning and copying multi-page documents feels. For connectivity, Wi-Fi plus Ethernet covers offices where the printer sits away from the router, and mobile printing support (AirPrint, Mopria, manufacturer apps) matters more each year. For background on the machine types, see our explainer on the different types of multifunction printers.
Do not forget security and maintenance. A networked printer is a networked computer: change default passwords, keep firmware updated, and use the manufacturer’s security features (HP Wolf Pro, Brother and Canon equivalents) if the printer handles sensitive documents. Toner never dries out, so lasers suit intermittent use; inkjets and tanks prefer regular printing to keep nozzles clear. On lease versus buy: leasing bundles hardware, toner, and service into one monthly payment and suits offices that want predictable costs and no maintenance headaches, while buying wins for stable, moderate volumes once you have done the cost-per-page math.
Frequently asked questions
Laser or inkjet: which is better for a small business?
For text-heavy offices, a monochrome laser is usually better: faster printing, crisper text, toner that never dries out, and 2 to 5 cents per page. For high-volume color on a budget, a refillable ink tank printer beats both on running costs at under 2 cents per color page. Standard cartridge inkjets are the most expensive to run and suit only very light use.
What is cost per page and why does it matter more than the printer price?
Cost per page is what one printed page costs in ink or toner. Over three to five years, consumables usually cost several times the printer’s purchase price, so a $99 printer at 15 cents per page is far more expensive than a $300 printer at 3 cents per page for any office with real volume. Always multiply your monthly page count by the per-page cost before comparing machines.
How many pages per month should a business printer handle?
Buy for your recommended monthly volume, not the maximum duty cycle. As a rough guide: under 200 pages a month suits any reliable home-office model; 200 to 800 pages calls for a business-grade laser or tank printer; above 800 pages needs larger paper trays, higher-yield consumables, and a duty cycle with comfortable headroom. Every model above lists its class honestly.
Are ink tank printers good for business use?
Yes, for offices with steady color volume. Ink tank printers print color at roughly 0.5 to 2 cents per page versus 8 to 15 cents for color lasers, and the included ink bottles often cover a year or more. They are slower than lasers and less ideal for very high monthly volumes, but for proposals, marketing materials, and everyday office color they are the cheapest way to print in color.
What does ENERGY STAR certification mean for printers?
ENERGY STAR certification means the printer meets energy-efficiency standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency, using less power in sleep and standby modes. For a printer that sits on all day, that trims electricity costs and heat output. Most current business printers from Brother, HP, Canon, and Epson carry the certification.
Should a small business lease or buy its printer?
Buying wins for stable, moderate print volumes once the cost-per-page math is done: you own the asset and pay only for consumables. Leasing suits offices that want predictable monthly costs with toner and service bundled, or that refresh hardware every few years. High-volume offices should get quotes both ways and compare the three-year totals, not the monthly figure alone.
