How We Ranked the Best Compact Printers in 2024

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Reviewed By

Evan Shephard
Updated Jun 11, 2024 7:59 PM
best small printer guide that shows the top best printer model

A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

When you’re looking for a compact printer, size shouldn’t compromise functionality. Compact printers are ideal for small spaces and often include features such as wireless connectivity and mobile printing options. However, they can also have pain points like slower print speeds and smaller paper trays​​​​.

In our search for the best compact printers, we analyzed over 26 models and reviewed 149,899 user feedback. Four printers stood out, meeting our high standards and performing well in verified testing. We certified these top picks, using our unique Trust Score to filter out 67% of untrustworthy reviews. These winning printers deliver reliable performance and convenience​​. And if size is not a constraint for you, we also have a guide that includes options for the best printers overall, catering to a variety of needs beyond compact design.

How Did We Rank the Best Compact Printers?

Our comprehensive guide to the best compact printers comes from analyzing more than 200 expert and customer reviews. We focused on critical pain points and testing methodologies to identify 2 desirable features and 1 must-have specification. This meticulous process ensures you have the best data to make an informed decision.

Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.

?️ Minimum Specifications

  • Compact or small dimensions.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Print Speed: Black & White Printing Speed exceeds 20 pages per minute (ppm).
  • Printing Costs: Printing costs are less than 7 cents per page.

Latest Updates

  • 06/11/2024: Republished the list to include the best small printers based on our True Score system.

Top Compact Printers For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    HP OfficeJet 250

    For professionals or students always on the move, the HP OfficeJet 250 has a great portable design and efficient performance, making it ideal for quick, mobile printing tasks with satisfactory color accuracy and scanning capabilities.

    HP OfficeJet 250 Review →

    True Score

    79
    77
    9

    Experts

    89
    4k

    Customers

    SAVE $90
    $489.99
    $399.89

    Category Snapshot

    Printers

    • Total Brands/Products Tested

      5 Brands, 26 Products

    • Top 2 Brands

      Epson, Canon

    • Price Range (Budget-Premium)

      $30-$1,000

    • Average True Score

      80.95

    • Important Test Criteria

      Mono & Color Print Speed (in/s, cm/s)

      Color Accuracy (dE)

    • Most Trusted Testers

      rtings and tech gear lab logos

    • Top Printer Experts

      Ryan Lim, Lesley Robinson

    • Typical Warranty

      1 year

    • Covered by Insurance

      Yes – AKKO

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Canon Pixma TR150

    Ideal for mobile professionals and students, the Canon Pixma TR150 combines portability with color accuracy. Offering wireless printing and a compact design, it’s perfect for users needing to print documents and photos on the go.

    Canon Pixma TR150 Review →

    True Score

    75
    71
    7

    Experts

    88
    4k

    Customers

    SAVE $101
    $249.99
    $149.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Pantum P2502W

    If you need efficient black-and-white printing, the Pantum P2502W is an excellent pick. Its high speed and low operating costs make it perfect for students and home offices focused on document printing.

    Pantum P2502W Review →

    True Score

    69
    66
    2

    Experts

    77
    4k

    Customers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    HP DeskJet 3755

    Ideal for budget-conscious students and professionals, the HP DeskJet 3755 is an affordable, compact, all-in-one solution for occasional printing, scanning, and copying. Its strong color accuracy makes it perfect for projects and hobbies.

    HP DeskJet 3755 Review →

    True Score

    67
    64
    5

    Experts

    80
    49k

    Customers

    $49.95

Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Compact Printers?

By focusing on these criteria (2 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these printers and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a compact printer.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
B&W Print Speed> 20 ppmNo (Nice to have)How fast a printer can produce purely black and white pages while printing.
B&W Printing Costs< 7 centsNo (Nice to have)How much a black and white page costs to print.

Our Trusted Data Sources

We looked at 80+ printers reviewers and found that 23 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for printers.

  1. Ryan Lim – Rtings, LinkedIn
  2. Lesley Robinson – TechGearLab, LinkedIn
  3. Ben Keough – Wirecutter, MuckRack, LinkedIn

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every printer review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Printers Test Data & Results

1. Print Speed, Black & White (PPM)

The primary job of a printer is to print out pages, and black & white print speed tests are just measurements of how long it takes a printer to produce pages that are purely black and white. The better a printer is at printing in black and white, the more pages it’s able to produce in a minute.

Print speed is largely a matter of convenience, so while we have a minimum speed we suggest (generally around 20 pages per minute) there’s no real downside to a printer being slower if you’re using it at home – you’ll just end up having to wait longer to finish printing out a document. However, printers in professional settings need to be snappy because they’re going to be used constantly, and the faster a printer is able to produce documents, the better.

Print Speed, Black & White (PPM; higher is better)

2. B&W Printing Costs (Cents per page)

Using your printer uses up ink, which means it costs money. Printing costs are usually measured as cost per print (or page) and are gauged by calculating how much each print costs by comparing the cost of an ink or toner cartridge to the total number of pages printed by the cartridge.

Print costs should ideally be as low as possible, with the greatest number of pages per cartridge being the obvious “goal” to aim for. Black ink, being the cheaper ink, means that black and white printing costs are usually lower on a per page basis. If you’re printing constantly, getting the cost as low as you can means you’ll be spending less on cartridges in the long run.

B&W Printing Costs (in cents per page; lower is better)

Best Compact Printers: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Overlooking Printing Needs: Don’t sacrifice essential features for compactness. Assess your printing requirements carefully, including print volume, document types, and paper sizes, to ensure the printer meets your needs effectively despite its compact size.

  2. Ignoring Printing Speed: While compact printers may prioritize size over speed, don’t compromise excessively on printing speed. Ensure the printer’s speed is adequate for your usage scenarios to avoid frustration and delays in printing tasks.

  3. Disregarding Print Quality: Compact printers should still deliver satisfactory print quality. Avoid printers that sacrifice print quality for the sake of size reduction. Look for models that produce crisp, clear prints with vibrant colors or sharp text, depending on your requirements.

  4. Neglecting Connectivity Options: Choose a compact printer that offers versatile connectivity options to suit your needs. Look for Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB connectivity, as well as support for mobile printing technologies like AirPrint or Google Cloud Print for added flexibility.

The Best Compact Printers Tests Compared

Product
True Score
B&W Print Speed
Color Print Speed
B&W Printing Cost (per page)
Color Printing Cost (per page)
Color Accuracy
79
  • 8.58 ppm

  • 4.86 ppm

  • 9.1¢

  • 20.8¢

  • 9.15 dE

$399.89
$490
$90
75
  • 7.75 ppm

  • 3.275 ppm

  • 8.1¢

  • 16.85¢

  • 7.66 dE

$149.00
$250
$101
69
  • 22.9 ppm

  • 14.2 ppm

  • 2.7¢

  • No Data¢

  • 0

67
  • 6.28 ppm

  • 2.64 ppm

  • 15¢

  • 43.43¢

  • 6.06 dE

$49.95

Compact Printer Questions (FAQ)

What are the key features to look for in a small printer?

Prioritize compact design, ease of setup, good print quality, and wireless connectivity features such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

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