10 Best Compact Printers 2025 in the United States

The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is a compact all-in-one printer designed primarily for home use, offering printing, scanning, and copying functions. It delivers sharp print quality with a high resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi, which means photos and documents come out detailed and vibrant. The print speed is moderate—about 10 pages per minute for black and white and 5 pages per minute in color—so it’s best for everyday tasks rather than heavy office use. Connectivity is convenient with both USB and Wi-Fi options, allowing easy wireless printing from your phone or computer.

A standout feature is its refillable ink tank system. Instead of traditional cartridges, the EcoTank uses bottles that can print thousands of pages, significantly reducing the cost and hassle of frequent ink replacements. This approach also cuts down on plastic waste, making it more environmentally friendly. The printer handles common paper types including plain paper, glossy photo paper, and envelopes, with a 100-sheet input capacity.

The printer does not support automatic double-sided printing, so you’ll need to manually flip pages if you want duplex prints. Its scanning resolution is sufficient for basic documents but not high-end photo scanning. Also, while the printer is relatively compact for a supertank model, it’s still somewhat bulky compared to smaller portable printers, weighing over 11 pounds. The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is a solid choice if you want an easy-to-use, cost-effective printer for light home use with a focus on saving money and reducing waste, but it is less suited for users needing fast printing speeds or advanced features like automatic duplexing.

The Brother DCP-L2640DW is a compact monochrome multi-function laser printer designed for small businesses. It combines printing, scanning, and copying capabilities within a relatively small footprint, making it an efficient choice for limited office space. One of its standout features is the high print speed of up to 36 pages per minute (ppm), which is excellent for fast-paced environments. The print quality is reliable for standard black and white documents, but as a monochrome printer, it limits users to only black and white printing.

The scanning speed is also commendable, with up to 23.6 images per minute (ipm) for black and white and 7.9 ipm for color, supported by a 50-page auto document feeder that enhances productivity for multi-page scanning and copying tasks. Connectivity is a strong point with options for Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet, allowing for flexible and secure connections. The Brother Mobile Connect app further adds convenience by enabling mobile printing and management.

On the downside, the printer's monochrome limitation may not suit those needing color prints. At 25 pounds, it's relatively heavy for a 'compact' printer, which might be a consideration for users prioritizing portability. Additionally, while the printer supports auto-duplexing (double-sided printing) and is energy-efficient (Energy Star and EPEAT Qualified), the reliance on Brother Genuine TN830 or TN830XL toner can be a drawback due to potential higher costs, although the Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service could mitigate this with cost savings. This printer is ideal for small businesses needing fast, efficient black and white printing with robust connectivity and additional scanning and copying functionalities.

The HP DeskJet 2827e is a compact, all-in-one inkjet printer designed primarily for home use, handling basic printing, scanning, and copying tasks. It offers decent print quality with up to 1200 x 1200 dpi for black-and-white and 4800 x 1200 dpi for color prints on select photo papers, which is good for everyday documents and occasional color projects. The print speed is modest, at 7.5 pages per minute (ppm) for black and 5.5 ppm for color, suitable if you don’t need large volumes quickly but might feel slow for heavier tasks. Connectivity is strong for this size, with wireless Wi-Fi, USB, Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, and direct wireless printing, making it convenient to print from smartphones, laptops, or tablets.

It includes a 60-sheet input tray, which is enough for light to moderate use but will require frequent refills in busier settings. The printer uses dye-based ink cartridges, which deliver good color vibrancy but may run out faster compared to toner-based printers, plus it only supports genuine HP cartridges, which could add to ongoing costs. Its compact design and lightweight (around 7.6 pounds) make it easy to place anywhere in the home, and it features an easy-to-use LED control panel. Additional perks include three months of free instant ink subscription and sustainability credentials like recycled plastic parts and energy certifications.

A limitation to consider is that duplex printing is only manual, meaning you have to flip pages yourself to print on both sides, and the print speed and paper capacity limit its use mostly to casual or home office users rather than heavy workloads. This makes the HP DeskJet 2827e a reliable, user-friendly compact printer ideal for home users who want simple wireless printing and decent image quality without needing fast or high-volume output.