The best home printer depends on what lands in its tray. A household printing homework, forms and occasional photos needs different features from one scanning stacks of paperwork or printing only black-and-white documents. The Brother MFC-J1360DW leads this list because it combines color printing, automatic two-sided printing, a document feeder and a relatively roomy paper tray. But households that print color pages regularly should also consider a refillable-tank model, while those that rarely need color may prefer a monochrome laser. Start with your monthly printing and scanning habits, then compare supply costs and device compatibility for the exact model you plan to buy.
These picks prioritize useful home-printing combinations: the right output type, scan and copy capability where needed, automatic duplex printing, paper and document handling, and practical connection options. A feeder earns its place when someone routinely scans multipage originals; it matters less for occasional single-page copies. Refillable tanks suit households likely to use their included ink and keep printing, whereas a print-only laser can be the better fit for infrequent black-and-white jobs. Listed speeds and page yields describe manufacturer-rated conditions, not a promise for every document. Because comparable replacement-supply costs are not established here, the recommendations do not treat a high stated yield or an included ink offer as proof of the lowest ownership cost.
Top-rated Comparison
For households juggling color documents and multipage scans; its duplex printing and 150-sheet tray help, but its 20-sheet feeder scans one side at a time.
For families scanning paperwork alongside color printing; its 35-sheet ADF and duplex printing are useful, though the paper cassette holds 100 sheets.
For report-heavy households needing a larger tray and feeder; it brings office-oriented handling but remains a cartridge inkjet with ongoing supply costs to check.
For families printing color pages regularly and willing to refill tanks; it prints, scans and copies, but lacks automatic two-sided printing.
For homework, photos and occasional document stacks; its 35-sheet feeder and touchscreen help, but cartridge and optional subscription terms deserve attention.
For occasional schoolwork and borderless photos in a compact space; it offers duplex printing, but has no listed document feeder for multipage scans.
For households that mainly print forms and text, including infrequent jobs; its 250-sheet tray is useful, but it cannot print color, scan or auto-duplex.
For regular color printing with refillable ink rather than cartridges; it also scans and copies, but printing is single-sided.
For regular home color printing and on-printer navigation; its refillable tanks and 1.44-inch display appeal, but it has no listed ADF.
For a household that still needs fax alongside scanning and color printing; it has an ADF and auto duplex, but its listed document speeds are modest.
For a mixed-use household, the Brother MFC-J1360DW offers the most balanced set of conveniences: color print, scan and copy, automatic duplex printing, a 20-sheet single-sided document feeder, and a 150-sheet tray. The Canon PIXMA TR7120 is another capable document-and-photo option, with a 35-sheet feeder but a smaller 100-sheet paper capacity. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 makes more sense when home-office documents dominate; its 225-sheet tray and 35-sheet feeder give it more paper-handling room.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 and Canon PIXMA G3270 trade automatic duplex convenience for refillable tanks and stated high ink yields. The newer Epson ET-2903 adds a color display to the basic tank-printer proposition. For occasional black-and-white documents, the Brother HL-L2405W avoids color-ink requirements altogether, but it cannot scan or copy. The HP Envy 6555 and Canon PIXMA TS6520 cover lighter mixed use with different priorities: the Envy has a feeder and touchscreen, while the TS6520 is a compact print-scan-copy choice without a listed feeder. The Canon PIXMA TR4720 remains useful when built-in fax is essential.
Size means more than the printer’s closed footprint. Leave room to load paper, open a scanner lid or feeder, and collect output. If you regularly print long homework packets or reports, compare the Brother MFC-J1360DW’s 150-sheet tray and HP OfficeJet Pro 8125’s 225-sheet tray with the 100-sheet trays listed for the HP Envy 6555 and Canon PIXMA TR7120. ADF capacity is a separate measurement: it describes how many originals can be loaded for scanning or copying, not how many blank sheets the printer holds. The TR7120, Envy 6555 and OfficeJet Pro 8125 list 35-sheet feeders; the MFC-J1360DW lists 20 sheets. Check supported paper sizes and media for any regular legal documents, envelopes or photo stock rather than assuming a standard letter-size tray accepts them.
Automatic duplex refers to printing both sides without turning the paper yourself. It does not promise automatic two-sided scanning: Brother identifies the MFC-J1360DW’s 20-sheet ADF as single-sided. The Canon PIXMA TR7120, HP Envy 6555 and HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 pair duplex printing with feeders, making them better fits for recurring paperwork than a flatbed-only choice. The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 and Canon PIXMA G3270 instead emphasize refillable ink; the ET-2800 lacks automatic duplex, and the G3270 lists single-sided printing. If photos matter, check supported borderless sizes and paper rather than treating every color printer as interchangeable. If they never matter, the monochrome Brother HL-L2405W offers simpler output requirements at the cost of all color and scanning functions.
| Profile | Recommended Product | Why It Fits | Avoid If |
|---|---|---|---|
| A family printing assignments and scanning occasional document stacks | Brother MFC-J1360DW | The Brother MFC-J1360DW combines color output, duplex printing, a 150-sheet tray and a 20-sheet ADF. | You need automatic two-sided scanning or prefer refillable ink tanks. |
| A home-office user printing reports and handling paperwork frequently | HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 | The HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 has a 225-sheet tray, 35-sheet feeder and automatic duplex printing. | A smaller home printer or a refillable-tank supply system is your priority. |
| A household expecting regular color printing | Epson EcoTank ET-2800 | The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 provides refillable tanks plus print, scan and copy functions. | Automatic two-sided printing or a document feeder is essential. |
| Someone who prints mostly black-and-white forms, sometimes after long gaps | Brother HL-L2405W | The Brother HL-L2405W uses toner, has a 250-sheet tray and is rated up to 30 ppm. | You need color, scanning, copying or automatic duplex printing. |
| A household requiring a printer with built-in fax | Canon PIXMA TR4720 | The Canon PIXMA TR4720 combines fax with an ADF, color printing and automatic duplex. | Faster document printing or a larger paper capacity matters more than fax. |
Put the exact model’s replacement-supply price, stated yield and your likely monthly volume on the same page before judging running costs. The ET-2800 listing describes up to 4,500 black and 7,500 color pages for an ink-bottle set, while Epson’s published figures specify those yields for replacement bottles; confirm which set and test conditions apply to your purchase. The Canon G3270 listing states up to 6,000 black-and-white and 7,700 color pages per ink set, also subject to its conditions. Neither figure tells you what your own photo-heavy mix will cost. Compare rated print speeds within the same type of measurement: Brother lists up to 16 ppm black for the MFC-J1360DW, and HP lists up to 20 ppm black for the OfficeJet Pro 8125. Those are specifications, not guaranteed speeds for every file.
Check the devices you will actually print from before choosing a wireless model. The Brother MFC-J1360DW offers wireless and USB connections; the Canon PIXMA TR7120 lists dual-band Wi-Fi and compatible mobile-printing options. Verify current operating-system support, app requirements and your network setup for the exact printer. USB can be valuable for a nearby computer even when the household also uses Wi-Fi. For scanning, decide whether you can place originals individually on a flatbed or need an ADF for regular stacks. If you move between ordinary paper and photos, check how the model loads each medium and the space needed with its trays open.
An inkjet that sits unused for long stretches can develop nozzle problems, so infrequent black-and-white printing is a good reason to consider the toner-based Brother HL-L2405W instead. Its limitation is equally clear: it is print-only and monochrome. Refillable tanks reduce cartridge changes, but owners still need to use the correct ink bottles and follow the model’s refill instructions; a large included-ink claim is not a maintenance-free promise. Epson recommends genuine ink for the ET-2800 and warns that damage associated with non-genuine ink may fall outside its limited warranty. For any inkjet, consult its own maintenance guidance if output shows gaps before running repeated cleaning cycles, which can consume ink.
Favor model-specific documentation and clear supply availability over broad claims about dependable printing. Brother specifies the MFC-J1360DW’s feeder as single-sided and identifies its starter cartridges, details that make planning more useful than a general all-in-one label. Two Canon details warrant a check at purchase: Canon’s direct store marks the PIXMA TR7120 unavailable, so confirm retailer stock, and the PIXMA TS6520 listing states a three-year manufacturer warranty while Canon’s own product information states a one-year limited warranty. Confirm the coverage attached to the exact unit rather than assuming the longer term. A stated warranty or duty specification is not evidence that a printer will last a particular number of years.
When reading owner accounts, match the exact model, supply setup and job to yours. A complaint about feeding a long scan is more relevant to the Brother MFC-J1360DW’s 20-sheet single-sided ADF than to the flatbed-focused Epson EcoTank ET-2800. For a Canon PIXMA G3270, look for experiences involving refill bottles and regular color printing, not an unrelated PIXMA cartridge model. For the HP Envy 6555, separate comments about its hardware from comments about an optional Instant Ink subscription. Pay particular attention to whether a report identifies the device and connection used, the paper or photo medium, and whether the printer had been idle for a long time.
Do not buy a tank printer solely because its box promises years of ink: that estimate depends on usage, and a light-printing household may value duplex printing or a feeder more. Do not mistake an ADF for automatic two-sided scanning, or a print-only laser for an all-in-one. Avoid assuming the HP Envy 6555’s included Instant Ink trial is a permanent supply arrangement; its monthly fee applies after the trial unless canceled. Likewise, a mobile app’s fax option is not the same purchasing reason as the Canon PIXMA TR4720’s listed built-in fax. Finally, check replacement cartridges, bottles or toner for the exact model before committing to a printer based on its initial features.
Is a refillable-tank printer automatically cheaper to own?
No. A tank model such as the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 or Canon PIXMA G3270 is most compelling when you expect to use its included ink and continue printing. Compare the exact replacement-bottle costs and stated yields with your expected volume and with cartridge alternatives; the listed yields alone do not establish your cost per page.
Which picks handle multipage scanning?
The Brother MFC-J1360DW, Canon PIXMA TR7120, HP Envy 6555, HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 and Canon PIXMA TR4720 list automatic document feeders. Feeder capacities differ, and the MFC-J1360DW’s is specifically single-sided. If your originals have printing on both sides, verify the exact model’s scanning procedure.
What should I choose if I print only a few black-and-white pages occasionally?
Consider the Brother HL-L2405W if you do not need color or scan and copy functions. Its toner-based, print-only design avoids the inkjet nozzle concern associated with long idle periods, but it does not print both sides automatically.
Does an included ink subscription trial mean I have to subscribe?
The HP Envy 6555 and OfficeJet Pro 8125 listings include three-month Instant Ink trials. Treat the trial separately from the printer: check enrollment, cancellation and cartridge terms before accepting it. A monthly fee applies after the trial unless the subscription is canceled.
Choose the Brother MFC-J1360DW for the most useful balance of everyday color printing, automatic duplex, scanning and copying, and multipage handling in this group. If regular color volume matters more than duplex printing or a feeder, choose the refillable-tank Epson EcoTank ET-2800 instead. If your household needs only black-and-white documents and prints infrequently, the Brother HL-L2405W is the more fitting specialist.
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