Best: Overall

• Print/scan/copy: All
• Dimensions: 375mm x 347mm x 179mm
• App printing: Epson Connect, Google Cloud Print
• Print speed: 14 to 35ppm
• Paper capacity: 100 sheets
• Paper size: Up to A4
• Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi

For a more eco-friendly approach to printing, Epson has a great range of ecotank printers that use cartridge-free ink tanks, leading to a more efficient printing process that’s not only better for the planet, but also your wallet.

Like the other Epson printers on this list, the et 2710 is easy to setup, with the clean “Epson Connect” app doing most of the work for you. The print quality and speed is at least on a par with any other printer on the list, and colour prints are especially vibrant. With no quality sacrificed for a more efficient and eco-friendly ink usage, more printers should be moving in this direction.

Read the full Epson ecotank et 2710 review

Best: Black and white printer

• Print/scan/copy: Print
• Dimensions: 438mm x 283mm x 519mm
• App printing: AirPrint, Cortado Cloud Print, Google Cloud Print 2.0, iPrint&Scan;, Brother Print Service Plugin, Mopria
• Print speed: Up to 30ppm
• Paper capacity: 250 sheets
• Paper size: Up to A4
• Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi

The mono in the printer’s name refers to the fact that it’s a one-stop monochrome shop. If you need a printer that can rapidly whack out page after page of important black and white documents or your latest coming-of-age novel without breaking a sweat, this effort from Brother is one of the best out there.

Despite the large 250-sheet paper input, it’s a handy size for most tables, or to put under your desk. It’s also surprisingly quiet: Brother says that all the models within the HL range print at less than 50dB. We tested it late at night and felt more than comfortable doing so.

Read the full Brother HL-L2350DW mono laser printer review

Best: Portable printer for smartphones

• Print/scan/copy: Print photos
• Dimensions: 102mm x 143mm x 31mm
• App printing: Selphy photo layout
• Paper speed: 43 seconds per photo
• Paper capacity: 20
• Paper size: Polaroid size
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi

This is a very fun bit of kit. Almost a modern polaroid camera, simply pick a photo from your phone via the Canon app, frame how you like, and watch your square photo print in seconds. While it looks quite pricey on the surface, it’s a sophisticated machine: Canon claims that the high-quality prints will stay that way for 100 years (tested using an accelerated ageing method), so choose your photos wisely.

The portable mini-printer has a decent battery life, and feels sturdy enough to take with you on holiday. There are also options for filters and photo editing on the app for any last-minute airbrushing you need to do (don’t bother, you look great).

Read the full Canon selphy square QX10 review

Best: For professional printing at home

• Print/scan/copy: All
• Dimensions: 584.9mm x 444.8mm x 306.4mm
• App printing: HP Smart, Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopria
• Print speed: 18-34ppm
• Paper capacity: 250 sheets
• Paper size: Up to A3
• Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi

Don’t let the “office” in its name fool you: the 7720 is a strong choice for a home wireless printer. It looks good, the HP Smart app is straightforward – the best app on the list – and print quality is high. Thanks to its wide format, the 7720 can print up to A3, with scan and copy up to legal size (slightly larger than A4).

The cartridges are quite expensive, but you do get great quality from them, and the optional high-yield cartridges let you print up to three times as many black-text and two times as many colour pages. The 7720 is also the perfect choice for professional-quality brochures and flyers at a decent price and in the comfort of your own home, producing water, smear, and fade-resistant prints.

Read the full HP officejet pro 7720 A3 review

Best: Compact printer

• Print/scan/copy: All
• Dimensions: 349mm x 340mm x 142mm
• App printing: Epson Connect, Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print
• Print speed: 11-15ppm
• Paper capacity: 100 sheets
• Paper size: A4
• Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi

Epson’s XP-6100 proves that a good printer doesn’t need to cost the earth. Another all-in-one unit, it’s compact and stylish enough to fit in most settings, as a professional printer or something for the family. Once again, the app is easy to navigate, and printing, scanning and copying are straightforward.

The dual front-loading paper trays hold A4 and photo paper respectively, and there’s an option for double-sided printing. There’s no touchscreen, but that’s no issue when you have your phone or the computer, and the buttons work well enough. It also serves to keep the cost down. All in all, a well-performing printer at a good price. The printer is currently out of stock but you can sign up to be notified when it’s available.

Read the full Epson expression premium XP-6100 review

Best: For the home office

• Print/scan/copy: All
• Dimensions: 437mm x 396.3mm x 318.3mm
• App printing: HP Smart, Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopria 
• Print speed: 20-39ppm
• Paper capacity: 250 sheets
• Paper size: A4
• Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi

The 9020 is a bit of a beast and is much bigger than the other printers in this list. What that comes with is a 35-page automatic page loader for hands-free copying, two 250-sheet paper trays that fit a full ream of paper, and the ability to scan both sides of a page at once.

The HP Smart app is a winner again here, helping you quickly access the files you want from Google Drive, Dropbox, the cloud or email – scanned pages can go the other way. It’s a big printer for big tasks, and the closest on this list to a proper office printer.

You can now sign up to be notified once this one is back in stock.

Read the full HP officeJet pro 9020 review

Best: Eco-friendly home business printer

Rating: 8/10

• Print/scan/copy: All
• Dimensions: 399mm x 410mm x 314mm trays retracted, 399mm x 645mm x 387mm trays extended
• App printing: Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY. Easy-PhotoPrint Editor
• Print speed: 24 ipm mono, 15.5 ipm colour
• Paper capacity: 100 sheets rear tray, 250 sheets cassette 1, 250 sheets cassette 2
• Paper size: Up to A4
• Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi

This pricy maxify printer from Canon might demand a second look at the bank balance, but the maxify line offers a higher yield of colour pages, prints faster, and produces an impressively accurate range of colours, when up against Canon’s Pixma products (which are in themselves not something to be sniffed at).

The GX7050 is a refillable ink tank printer marketed at the business user, but would certainly be a useful bit of kit at home, especially for those who need professional-quality prints for their home office/kitchen table. There’s a stonking 600-sheet capacity, and the refillable element adds bonus green points. It’s more expensive, but in this instance, you get what you pay for.

Best: Mid-range eco-friendly home business printer

Rating: 8/10

• Print/scan/copy: All
• Dimensions: 375mm x 347mm x 231mm
• App printing: Apple AirPrint, Epson Smart Panel App, Epson Connect
• Print speed: 33 pages/min mono, 20 pages/min colour
• Paper capacity: 250 sheets
• Paper size: Up to A4
• Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi

For high-speed, business quality printing at an ultra-low cost, Epson has the goods. While the ET-3850 doesn’t have a touchscreen (something you might expect at this price) and is a pretty standard mid-range printer, the real advantage is the fantastic value ink. The ink that comes with the printer already has capacity to print 14,000 black and white pages (or over 5,000 colour), and any refill bottles cost – according to Epson – about 90 per cent less than traditional cartridges.

Besides the great value, this 3-in-1 does its jobs with minimal fuss, producing quality prints with impressive consistency. If you’re looking for a new printer for a small office or busy home (coursework won’t print itself), you won’t go far wrong with the ET-3850. Your bank balance will thank you.

Best: Low-budget eco printer

Rating: 7/10

• Print/scan/copy: Print
• Dimensions: 375mm x 347mm x 169mm
• App printing: Epson Smart Panel App, Epson Connect
• Print speed: 33 pages/min mono, 15 pages/min colour, 27 Seconds per 10 x 15 cm photo
• Paper capacity: 100 sheets
• Paper size: Up to A4
• Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi

This is a printer that offers Epson’s top-class eco credentials with an even lower initial price. Prints from the more budget of the Ecotanks still offer good quality, an easy set-up and consistent wireless connection.

The price drop comes from the ET-1810 being a pure printing machine – no scan or copy capabilities here. However, for most users, this won’t be a huge problem. It’s a sound choice for a small household that needs a solid printer for the odd task without breaking the bank.

Best: Value ink subscription system

Rating: 8/10

• Print/scan/copy: All
• Dimensions: 460mm x 383mm x 191mm
• App printing: Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, Chrome OS, HP Smart app
• Print speed: 15 pages/min mono, 10 ppm colour
• Paper capacity: 125 sheets
• Paper size: Up to A4
• Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi

The envy inspire 7220e is a great value 3-in-1 machine that offers pretty much everything you need from a home printer for a lower price than many rivals. It performs admirably, with solid printing speeds and impressive quality prints. However, HP’s secret weapon takes its inspiration from the era of Netflix.

HP’s relatively new HP+ system makes it easy to see how much ink you have left, and Instant Ink, HP’s subscription model, can work out as a long-term boon to your finances (with an up to 70 per cent saving). It also means that you don’t need to worry about traipsing out to a shop to find the right cartridges or refill bottles, as HP will send replacement ink directly to your door.

Best: HP envy with automatic document feeder

Rating: 8/10

• Print/scan/copy: All
• Dimensions: 460mm x 511.25mm x 233 mm
• App printing: Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, Chrome OS, HP Smart app
• Print speed: 15 pages/min mono, 10 pages/min colour
• Paper capacity: 125 sheets
• Paper size: Up to A4
• Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi

For an extra £20, the HP envy inspire 7920e offers all the benefits of the 7220e (£109.99, Hp.com), but with the added bonus of an automatic document feeder. This might not seem important to most users, but for those who regularly scan or print multiple-page documents, ADF can save years of your life. Again, with the right HP Instant Ink subscription, ink refills are good value and hassle-free. If you prefer the hands-off approach to printing, this is the machine for you.