A cheap printer is not always a budget printer. The purchase price is only the beginning: replacement ink or toner, paper handling, scanning features, duplex printing, and compatibility with your laptop or phone can matter more over an entire school year.
For most students, the right choice comes down to one question: Do you mainly print black-and-white text, or do you need color? A monochrome laser printer is usually the more practical choice for essays, reading packets, forms, and lecture notes. Color inkjets make more sense for charts, presentations, diagrams, and occasional photos.
Below are the best budget printers for students, organized by the type of work they handle best. Prices change frequently, so treat current pricing as a street-price consideration and compare the cost of replacement supplies before buying.
Best budget printers for students at a glance
- Best for text-heavy printing: Brother HL-L2460DW
- Best monochrome all-in-one: Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Best inexpensive color all-in-one: Canon PIXMA TR4720
- Best cartridge-free color printer: Epson EcoTank ET-2800
- Best color all-in-one for lower refill frequency: Brother MFC-J4335DW
- Best basic HP option: HP DeskJet 4255e
- Best compact mono laser all-in-one: HP LaserJet MFP M234sdw
Brother HL-L2460DW: Best budget printer for text-heavy students
The Brother HL-L2460DW is the most straightforward recommendation for students who mostly print essays, PDFs, forms, and class notes. It is a monochrome laser printer, so it does not print color or scan documents, but it focuses on the jobs many students perform most often.
It prints at speeds of up to 36 pages per minute, includes automatic duplex printing, and has a 250-sheet paper tray. Automatic duplexing is particularly useful for long readings and drafts because the printer can print both sides of the page without requiring you to manually reload the paper.
The HL-L2460DW supports Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and USB connections. That combination is useful in a dorm or apartment where regular campus Wi-Fi may not allow personal printers to communicate normally. Wi-Fi Direct can create a direct connection between a device and the printer, while USB provides a dependable fallback when wireless setup becomes complicated.
The printer uses Brother TN830-series toner, including standard and high-yield options. Check the current price and stated page yield for the specific cartridge before buying. A laser printer can be a better fit than an inkjet for infrequent text printing because liquid ink is more vulnerable to drying and nozzle problems during long periods of inactivity.
Choose it if: You want fast, automatic two-sided black-and-white printing and do not need a scanner.
Skip it if: Your coursework requires color or you regularly scan and copy documents.
Brother DCP-L2640DW: Best monochrome all-in-one for students
The Brother DCP-L2640DW adds scanning and copying without giving up the main advantages of a monochrome laser printer. It is a strong fit for students who print a lot of text but also need to scan forms, copy notes, or digitize multi-page documents.
It offers print, copy, and scan functions, automatic duplex printing, a 50-sheet automatic document feeder, and a 250-sheet paper tray. The ADF lets you place a stack of pages into the printer instead of putting each original on the scanner glass individually. That can save considerable time when handling scholarship paperwork, signed documents, or multi-page class materials.
Print speeds reach up to 36 pages per minute. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, and Wi-Fi Direct, giving you several ways to connect it at home or in shared housing.
The DCP-L2640DW uses Brother TN830-series toner, with a high-yield TN830XL option available. As with any printer, compare the current toner price with its official yield rather than judging supplies by cartridge price alone.
One limitation deserves attention: the 50-sheet ADF should not be confused with automatic duplex scanning. The printer can feed multiple pages, but the supplied specifications do not establish that it can scan both sides of a two-sided original in a single pass.
Choose it if: You need an all-in-one printer for frequent black-and-white printing, scanning, and copying.
Skip it if: You need color output or rarely print enough to benefit from a larger laser all-in-one.
Canon PIXMA TR4720: Best cheap color all-in-one for occasional assignments
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is designed for students who want a low initial purchase price and basic color functionality. It prints, copies, scans, and faxes, and it includes a 35-sheet ADF for multi-page documents.
Automatic two-sided printing is a useful feature at this price level. The printer also supports Wi-Fi, Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, Canon's PRINT app, and Wireless Direct. That makes it a flexible choice for printing from a laptop, iPhone, iPad, or compatible Android device.
Its 100-sheet rear paper tray is adequate for occasional assignments but less convenient than the larger front trays found on some laser models. The TR4720 is best suited to moderate or light workloads rather than a semester's worth of daily reading packets.
The printer uses Canon PG-275 black and CL-276 color cartridges, with XL versions available. The low hardware price can be misleading if you print frequently, particularly in color. Before buying, compare the current cartridge prices and official yields. The basic calculation is:
cartridge price ÷ stated page yield = estimated supply cost per page
That estimate excludes paper, electricity, shipping, taxes, and the effect of printing pages with more graphics or color coverage than the standardized test pages used for cartridge ratings.
Choose it if: You need an inexpensive color printer with an ADF and automatic duplex printing for occasional use.
Skip it if: You print hundreds of pages regularly or want the lowest long-term color printing cost.
Epson EcoTank ET-2800: Best cartridge-free printer for regular color printing
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is a better match for students who print color regularly and want to avoid frequent cartridge replacement. Instead of conventional cartridges, it uses refillable ink tanks. That can reduce the frequency of ink purchases, although the printer's higher initial cost means it is not automatically the cheapest choice for light users.
The ET-2800 prints, scans, and copies. Epson lists ISO print speeds of up to 10 pages per minute in black and 5 pages per minute in color. It has a 100-sheet rear paper feed, wireless connectivity, Wi-Fi Direct, USB, Epson Smart Panel support, and mobile-print compatibility.
Its biggest weaknesses are paper-handling features. The ET-2800 has no automatic duplex printing, so double-sided jobs require manually reinserting pages. It also has no ADF, meaning multi-page scans must be completed one sheet at a time on the flatbed scanner.
Epson says the printer includes enough ink to print thousands of pages, but included-ink claims depend on the company's stated methodology and your actual print patterns. Color coverage, cleaning cycles, print quality settings, and maintenance can all affect real-world consumption. Like other inkjets, the ET-2800 benefits from periodic use and proper maintenance.
Choose it if: You print color often enough to justify a tank printer and do not need an ADF or automatic duplexing.
Skip it if: You print only a few pages every several months or frequently scan multi-page documents.
Brother MFC-J4335DW: Best color all-in-one for lower refill frequency
The Brother MFC-J4335DW is a capable color inkjet all-in-one for students who need charts, handouts, presentation materials, and routine document scanning. It prints, copies, scans, and faxes, and includes automatic duplex printing and a 20-sheet ADF.
Brother lists print speeds of up to 20 pages per minute in black and 19 pages per minute in color. Its INKvestment Tank system uses high-capacity cartridges and internal ink storage. Brother markets the model with up to one year of ink in the box, but that should be treated as a manufacturer estimate rather than a universal promise. Actual ink life depends on page coverage, color use, print frequency, and cleaning cycles.
The MFC-J4335DW is a better option than a basic cartridge printer for a shared apartment or household that prints color with some regularity. It may also reduce the inconvenience of frequent cartridge changes. However, it is larger and may cost more initially than an entry-level color all-in-one.
The fax feature is unlikely to matter to most students, so it should not be the main reason to buy this model. The more relevant features are automatic duplex printing, the ADF, and the higher-capacity ink system.
Choose it if: You want a capable color all-in-one with automatic duplexing and less frequent ink replacement.
Skip it if: You print very rarely or want the smallest, lowest-cost printer available.
HP DeskJet 4255e: Best basic printer for occasional use
The HP DeskJet 4255e is aimed at students who print lightly and want a compact color all-in-one with scanning and copying. It includes a 35-sheet ADF, a 60-sheet input tray, wireless connectivity, and HP app support.
HP lists print speeds of up to 8.5 pages per minute in black and 5.5 pages per minute in color. It supports manual two-sided printing, which means the printer prints one side and then asks you to reload the pages. That saves paper but adds time and creates more opportunities for pages to be inserted in the wrong orientation.
The DeskJet 4255e is most appropriate for occasional assignments, forms, and basic color documents. Its small input tray and slow print speeds make it less suitable for large reading packets or shared, high-volume use.
Pay close attention to HP+ and Instant Ink terms before purchasing. HP+ enrollment can involve an HP account, an internet connection, and Original HP ink requirements for the life of the printer. Instant Ink may be convenient, but a subscription is not automatically cheaper for every student. Your value depends on printing volume, rollover rules, plan changes, and cancellation terms.
Choose it if: You print occasionally and want an inexpensive color all-in-one with an ADF.
Skip it if: You print frequently, need automatic duplexing, or prefer not to manage account and subscription considerations.
HP LaserJet MFP M234sdw: Best compact mono laser all-in-one alternative
The HP LaserJet MFP M234sdw combines monochrome laser printing with scanning and copying. It prints at speeds of up to 30 pages per minute, includes automatic two-sided printing, and has a 40-sheet ADF and 150-sheet input tray.
It supports Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, HP's app ecosystem, and Apple AirPrint. For a student who mostly prints text but needs to scan forms or copy documents, it offers a useful balance of speed and functionality in a compact laser all-in-one.
The main limitation is color: this printer cannot handle color-dependent assignments, charts, or presentation graphics. It is also part of HP's HP+ lineup, so review the current HP+ terms before purchase. Requirements related to internet access, an HP account, and Original HP ink can apply when HP+ is activated.
Choose it if: You want a compact black-and-white all-in-one with automatic duplex printing and an ADF.
Skip it if: You need color or do not want HP+ requirements to influence your printer choice.
See the HP LaserJet MFP M234sdw
How to choose the right student printer
Pick monochrome laser for text-heavy coursework
A monochrome laser printer is usually the strongest choice for essays, lecture notes, forms, drafts, and reading assignments. Laser models also avoid the liquid-ink drying concerns that can affect inkjets during long periods of nonuse.
The Brother HL-L2460DW is the simplest option if you do not need to scan. The Brother DCP-L2640DW and HP LaserJet MFP M234sdw are better if scanning and copying are part of your routine.
Choose color inkjet for charts and presentations
Color is useful for diagrams, maps, graphs, presentation handouts, and some lab or design assignments. A conventional cartridge printer such as the Canon PIXMA TR4720 can make sense for occasional color printing, but its ongoing supply costs may be high at larger volumes.
For regular color printing, consider a tank-based model such as the Epson EcoTank ET-2800. Just remember that the higher initial cost, lack of automatic duplexing, and absence of an ADF may outweigh its ink advantages for some students.
Treat duplex printing as a major convenience feature
Automatic duplex printing is not the same as manual duplex printing. An automatic system turns or re-feeds the paper itself. With manual duplexing, you must reload the pages after the first side prints.
Automatic duplexing is especially valuable for students who print long documents. It reduces paper use without requiring you to supervise every page.
Look for an ADF if you scan often
An automatic document feeder is useful for multi-page forms, notes, and paperwork. It is different from a flatbed scanner, where each page must be placed on the glass individually.
Also check whether the ADF supports duplex scanning. A standard ADF may feed multiple pages but still require you to turn over two-sided originals manually.
Check device and network compatibility
Before buying, verify current support for Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, iPhone, iPad, and Android. AirPrint is useful for Apple devices, while Android users may rely on Mopria, a manufacturer app, or the device's default print service.
Chromebook printing is handled through current ChromeOS printer setup rather than the discontinued Google Cloud Print service. Check the manufacturer's current support documentation rather than relying on an old product listing.
Campus Wi-Fi can create another obstacle. University networks may use device isolation, enterprise authentication, or registration systems that prevent a printer from appearing normally. Ask campus IT whether personal printers are supported. USB and Wi-Fi Direct can provide alternatives, but housing and network rules vary.
How to compare ink and toner costs
Do not compare cartridges by sticker price alone. A cheaper cartridge may have a much lower page yield than a more expensive high-yield option.
Use this basic estimate:
supply price ÷ stated page yield = estimated supply cost per page
The result is only an estimate. Real-world costs vary with page coverage, print quality settings, color usage, cleaning cycles, paper, shipping, and taxes. Manufacturer yields are generally based on standardized testing, while student assignments may contain substantially more graphics or color than a test page.
For current figures, check the manufacturer's supply page for the exact printer and compare standard and high-yield options. Avoid presenting an exact cost per page unless the cartridge price and yield are dated and clearly identified.
Common student printer mistakes
- Buying only on sale price: A low-cost inkjet can become expensive if you print frequently.
- Assuming wireless works everywhere: Campus networks may block or complicate printer discovery.
- Assuming every all-in-one has an ADF: Some models, including the Epson ET-2800, use a flatbed scanner only.
- Confusing automatic and manual duplexing: Manual two-sided printing requires page reloading.
- Ignoring physical space: Measure the printer with paper trays extended, not just with the machine closed.
- Choosing an inkjet for extreme infrequency: Long idle periods can contribute to nozzle or print-quality problems.
- Assuming an ink subscription is cheaper: Subscription value depends on usage, plan terms, and cancellation rules.
- Overlooking supplies: Check current toner or ink availability before committing to a printer.
Bottom line
For most students who print primarily text, the Brother HL-L2460DW is the strongest budget choice if scanning is not required. The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the better all-in-one for heavier black-and-white workloads.
For occasional color assignments, the Canon PIXMA TR4720 keeps the initial commitment low, while the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is more appropriate for students who print color often enough to justify a tank system. The Brother MFC-J4335DW offers a more capable color all-in-one with automatic duplexing and higher-capacity ink.
Before buying, compare the printer's current street price, replacement supply yield, duplex method, scanner features, and compatibility with your school network. Those details determine whether a printer is genuinely affordable over the school year.
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