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10 Best Small Color Printer 2026 in the United States

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Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

Brother MFC-L3780CDW Wireless Digital Color All-in-One Printer

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,354
Print Quality (DPI)
Print Speed (PPM)
Connectivity Options

Most important from
887 reviews

Print Quality (DPI)
Color prints are vibrant and perfectly suitable for documents, though not designed for high-detail photo quality.
Print Speed (PPM)
Printing is impressively fast and quiet, eliminating the common frustrations of jams and long wait times.
Connectivity Options
Setup is incredibly straightforward, with wireless connectivity working instantly and no complicated steps needed.
Paper Handling
The single-pass duplex function speeds up double-sided scanning, copying, and printing, saving valuable time.
Ink/Toner Cost and Yield
Toner cartridges are cost-effective, and the printer handles regular office workloads smoothly without frequent refills.
Size and Design
Its robust construction and dependable performance make it a trusted workhorse for those who need consistent results.

The Brother MFC-L3780CDW is a solid choice for small businesses or home offices looking for a reliable all-in-one color laser printer. It delivers sharp, professional-looking prints with a maximum resolution of 2400 x 600 dpi, ensuring your documents and color images will look clear and crisp. It prints quickly too, at speeds of up to 31 pages per minute in both color and black and white, helping you finish tasks faster. This model handles paper well with a 250-sheet input capacity and supports automatic double-sided printing, saving you time and paper. Connectivity is flexible, allowing you to print via Wi-Fi (including dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Ethernet, USB, and even NFC, so you can easily connect with smartphones, tablets, or computers. Brother’s toner cartridges come in multiple yield options, and their Refresh subscription service can help keep toner costs manageable by automatically sending replacements before you run out.

The printer is relatively heavy (nearly 48 pounds) and larger than many home printers, so it needs a dedicated space. While the print resolution is excellent for business documents, it may not match the finest photo printers if you want very high-detail photos. Also, the initial color print resolution is somewhat lower than the max spec, which might affect very detailed color images. The MFC-L3780CDW’s scan and copy functions are efficient, including single-pass duplex scanning, which saves time for double-sided documents. This printer is designed to handle regular office tasks smoothly with good speed and connectivity options, making it a practical and dependable printer for users who want quality color printing without needing complex photo features.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,354
Print Quality (DPI)
Print Speed (PPM)
Connectivity Options

Most important from
887 reviews

Print Quality (DPI)
Color prints are vibrant and perfectly suitable for documents, though not designed for high-detail photo quality.
Print Speed (PPM)
Printing is impressively fast and quiet, eliminating the common frustrations of jams and long wait times.
Connectivity Options
Setup is incredibly straightforward, with wireless connectivity working instantly and no complicated steps needed.
Paper Handling
The single-pass duplex function speeds up double-sided scanning, copying, and printing, saving valuable time.
Ink/Toner Cost and Yield
Toner cartridges are cost-effective, and the printer handles regular office workloads smoothly without frequent refills.
Size and Design
Its robust construction and dependable performance make it a trusted workhorse for those who need consistent results.
#2

Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer

Rating
10.0
Ink/Toner Cost and Yield
Print Quality (DPI)
Connectivity Options

Most important from
6385 reviews

Ink/Toner Cost and Yield
The massive refillable ink tanks eliminate the frustration of overpriced cartridges and ink subscriptions, offering straightforward printing without hidden fees.
Print Quality (DPI)
Print quality is sharp for documents and good enough for everyday color prints, even if it's not suited for professional photo printing.
Connectivity Options
Connectivity options including Wi-Fi and a user-friendly app make printing from phones and PCs seamless and convenient.
Paper Handling
The automatic document feeder adds valuable convenience for scanning multiple pages efficiently.
Size and Design
The printer's small, non-touchscreen LCD and the lack of a flat paper tray are minor drawbacks in usability and design.
Print Speed (PPM)
It’s not the fastest printer, and automatic duplex printing is missing, which might be inconvenient for some users.

The Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is a compact all-in-one printer that fits well in a small home office setting. One of its biggest strengths is the cartridge-free EcoTank system, using large refillable ink tanks that save money and reduce waste compared to traditional cartridges. This makes ink costs much lower over time, which is great if you print regularly. The print quality is solid, delivering sharp text and good color photos, thanks to Epson’s Micro Piezo technology.

It prints about 10 pages per minute in black and 5 pages per minute in color, which is adequate for everyday tasks but not very fast if you have heavy printing needs. Connectivity is versatile, offering Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB options, so you can easily connect from various devices including laptops and even voice control. The printer also features automatic duplex printing and a 100-sheet paper capacity, useful for saving paper and handling moderate print jobs without constant refills. However, it’s a bit heavier and takes up more desk space than some compact printers, so consider your available room.

The built-in scanner, copier, fax, and an automatic document feeder add convenience if you need multifunction features. To sum up, the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is an excellent choice if you want low running ink costs and solid print quality with wireless convenience, but if you need very fast printing or a smaller footprint, you might want to explore other options.

Rating
10.0
Ink/Toner Cost and Yield
Print Quality (DPI)
Connectivity Options

Most important from
6385 reviews

Ink/Toner Cost and Yield
The massive refillable ink tanks eliminate the frustration of overpriced cartridges and ink subscriptions, offering straightforward printing without hidden fees.
Print Quality (DPI)
Print quality is sharp for documents and good enough for everyday color prints, even if it's not suited for professional photo printing.
Connectivity Options
Connectivity options including Wi-Fi and a user-friendly app make printing from phones and PCs seamless and convenient.
Paper Handling
The automatic document feeder adds valuable convenience for scanning multiple pages efficiently.
Size and Design
The printer's small, non-touchscreen LCD and the lack of a flat paper tray are minor drawbacks in usability and design.
Print Speed (PPM)
It’s not the fastest printer, and automatic duplex printing is missing, which might be inconvenient for some users.

Buying Guide for the Best Small Color Printer

When choosing a small color printer, it's important to consider your specific needs and how the printer's features align with them. Whether you need it for home use, a small office, or for printing photos, understanding the key specifications will help you make an informed decision. Here are the main specs to consider and how to navigate them.
Print Quality (DPI)Print quality is measured in dots per inch (DPI). This spec indicates how many dots of ink the printer can place on a square inch of paper. Higher DPI means better print quality, which is important for printing detailed images and sharp text. For general home or office use, a DPI of 600x600 is usually sufficient. For high-quality photo printing, look for a printer with at least 1200x1200 DPI. Consider what you will be printing most often to determine the right DPI for you.
Print Speed (PPM)Print speed is measured in pages per minute (PPM). This spec tells you how quickly the printer can produce pages. If you need to print large documents frequently, a higher PPM will save you time. For occasional printing, a lower PPM might be acceptable. Generally, a speed of 10-20 PPM is adequate for home use, while small offices might benefit from speeds of 20-30 PPM or higher. Think about your typical printing volume to choose the right speed.
Connectivity OptionsConnectivity options determine how you can connect your printer to your devices. Common options include USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. USB connections are reliable for direct connections to a single computer. Wi-Fi allows for wireless printing from multiple devices, which is convenient for home or office networks. Bluetooth is useful for printing directly from mobile devices. Consider how you plan to use the printer and choose the connectivity options that best fit your setup.
Paper HandlingPaper handling refers to the types and sizes of paper the printer can accommodate, as well as the capacity of the paper tray. If you need to print on various paper sizes or types (like photo paper, envelopes, or labels), make sure the printer supports them. A larger paper tray capacity means less frequent refilling, which is useful for high-volume printing. For home use, a tray that holds 100-150 sheets is usually sufficient, while small offices might need a capacity of 250 sheets or more. Assess your typical printing tasks to determine the right paper handling features.
Ink/Toner Cost and YieldInk or toner cost and yield refer to how much you will spend on replacements and how many pages you can print before needing to replace them. This is important for managing long-term costs. Yield is usually measured in the number of pages per cartridge. Higher yield cartridges cost more upfront but reduce the cost per page. Look for printers with affordable and high-yield cartridges if you print frequently. For occasional printing, standard yield cartridges might be more economical. Consider your printing frequency and budget to choose the right option.
Size and DesignThe size and design of the printer are important if you have limited space. Small color printers are designed to fit in compact spaces, but sizes can still vary. Measure the space where you plan to place the printer and compare it to the dimensions of the models you are considering. Additionally, consider the design and whether it will fit aesthetically with your home or office decor. Choose a printer that fits comfortably in your space and meets your design preferences.

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