A printer that can scan is easy to choose badly. Some compact models are fine for occasional recipes and forms but become frustrating when a stack of pages lands on the desk. Others handle office documents quickly but take up enough room to dominate a small workspace.
The Best printer scanner options here cover monochrome laser machines, color inkjets, cartridge-free ink tanks, and office-focused color lasers. We looked at the capabilities that matter when printing, copying, and scanning are all part of the job, including automatic document feeders, duplex printing, wireless connections, paper capacity, and document speed.
Our top pick is the Brother DCP-L2640DW, with the Canon PIXMA TS6520, Brother MFC-J1360DW, and the larger office models covering the rest of the range.
Comparison table
| # | Product | Award | Type | Print speed | ADF | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brother DCP-L2640DW | Best overall | Monochrome laser | Up to 36 ppm | 50 sheets | Fast black-and-white documents |
| 2 | Canon PIXMA TS6520 | Best compact color | Color inkjet | Not listed | No ADF listed | Home color printing |
| 3 | Brother MFC-J1360DW | Best color document handling | Color inkjet | Up to 16 ppm black, 9 ppm color | 20 sheets | Home office paperwork |
| 4 | Epson EcoTank ET-2800 | Best ink tank | Color ink tank | Up to 10 ISO ppm | No ADF listed | Frequent color printing |
| 5 | Brother MFC-L2820DW | Best monochrome office machine | Monochrome laser | Up to 36 ppm | 50 sheets | Small offices needing fax |
| 6 | HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e | Best color home office printer | Color inkjet | Up to 20 ppm black, 10 ppm color | Yes | Reports and mixed documents |
| 7 | HP LaserJet Pro 3101fdw | Best secure monochrome office printer | Monochrome laser | Up to 35 ppm | Yes | Small teams |
| 8 | HP Color LaserJet Pro 3301sdw | Best color laser | Color laser | Up to 26 ppm | Yes | Professional color documents |
| 9 | HP DeskJet 2955 | Best basic home printer | Color inkjet | Up to 7.5 ppm black, 5.5 ppm color | No ADF listed | Occasional household printing |
| 10 | Canon PIXMA TR4720 | Best fax-equipped compact printer | Color inkjet | Up to 8.8 ipm black, 4.4 ipm color | Yes | Home users who need fax |
1. Brother DCP-L2640DW: Best Overall
Pros
- Fast monochrome printing
- 50-sheet automatic document feeder
- Dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB
- Duplex printing and mobile control
Cons
- Black-and-white printing only
- No fax function
- Heavy for a compact desktop printer
Best for: people who primarily print and scan work documents and want a quick, dependable multifunction machine.
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the printer we would put in the busiest home office before considering a much larger machine. It is a straightforward monochrome laser printer, copier, and scanner that focuses on the documents most people actually need to produce. Text pages come out quickly, and the 50-sheet automatic document feeder makes a multi-page scan or copy job far less tedious than placing each sheet on the glass.
Its listed print speed reaches 36 pages per minute. That matters when a form turns into a packet or when several people need documents at once. Scan speeds are listed at up to 23.6 images per minute in black and 7.9 images per minute in color. Those figures make it a more capable document tool than the slower inkjet models here, although the printer itself is designed around black-and-white output.
Connection options are unusually flexible for a compact model. Dual-band wireless supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, while Ethernet and USB provide alternatives when wireless setup is inconvenient. Brother's Mobile Connect app handles printing, scanning, and printer management from a mobile device. The machine also works with Brother TN830 and TN830XL toner and supports the Refresh EZ Print service.
The main limitation is the lack of color. The Canon PIXMA TS6520 and Brother MFC-J1360DW are better fits for photos, colored charts, and school projects, while the Brother MFC-L2820DW adds fax capability to a similar monochrome format. The DCP-L2640DW is also a 25-pound machine measuring 16.1 inches wide, 15.7 inches deep, and 12.5 inches high, so a strong shelf is necessary.
For someone whose priority is scanning and printing contracts, invoices, shipping labels, and other text-heavy pages, this is the cleanest choice in the group. It is the one we'd keep when speed and document handling matter more than color.
2. Canon PIXMA TS6520: Best Compact Color
Pros
- Automatic two-sided printing
- Dual-band wireless connection
- Compact 15.3-pound design
- Color and borderless printing up to 8.5 by 11 inches
Cons
- No automatic document feeder listed
- Two-cartridge ink system
- Monochrome OLED display is small
Best for: home users who want color printing, copying, and scanning in a compact footprint.
The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is the most natural fit for a household that wants a color printer without giving up much desk space. Its 14.8-inch length, 14-inch width, and 6.7-inch height make it notably easier to place than the office-oriented machines. At 15.3 pounds, it is also easier to move when the printer needs to share a table or cabinet.
Canon uses a two-cartridge hybrid ink system aimed at sharp text and vivid color. The TS6520 supports documents and photos up to 8.5 by 11 inches, with or without borders, so it is more versatile than a strictly document-focused laser. Automatic two-sided printing helps reduce manual page flipping for longer documents, though the data does not list an automatic document feeder.
The 1.42-inch monochrome OLED display shows ink levels and printer status and provides access to settings. It is not a large touchscreen, but the physical control panel is intended to keep basic jobs simple. Dual-band Wi-Fi works over 2.4GHz or 5GHz, and mobile printing is supported through the Canon PRINT app, Apple AirPrint, and Mopria Print Service.
The Brother MFC-J1360DW is a stronger choice for stacks of pages because its 20-sheet ADF is built for multi-page copying and scanning. The Canon counters with a smaller body and a more home-friendly color focus. Cartridge-based printing also means it is not the right fit for a household that produces large volumes of color pages, where the Epson EcoTank ET-2800's tank design is more suitable.
Canon's compact design makes sense for apartments, bedrooms, and shared desks. Choose it when color output and a small footprint matter more than high-volume scanning.
3. Brother MFC-J1360DW: Best Color Document Handling
Pros
- Automatic duplex printing
- 20-sheet automatic document feeder
- 150-sheet paper tray
- Cloud app support and mobile management
Cons
- Slower than the laser picks
- ADF is single-sided
- Smaller display than office models
Best for: a home office that regularly scans and copies multi-page color documents.
The Brother MFC-J1360DW earns its place by handling paperwork better than most compact color inkjets in this group. The useful detail is not just that it prints, copies, and scans. It includes a 20-sheet single-sided automatic document feeder, so a short stack of forms can be processed without lifting the scanner lid for every page.
Its print speeds reach up to 16 pages per minute in black and 9 pages per minute in color. That is comfortably ahead of the Canon PIXMA TR4720 and HP DeskJet 2955 for routine documents, although the Brother DCP-L2640DW remains much faster for black-and-white work. Automatic duplex printing handles two-sided output, and the 150-sheet paper tray means it needs less frequent attention during a normal workweek.
A 1.8-inch color display provides access to printing, copying, scanning, and cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive. Wireless and USB connections are available, and Brother's Mobile Connect app adds phone-based controls and ink monitoring. The printer uses Brother LC501 series inks, a detail worth checking before purchase if a household already has a preferred cartridge system.
Its weakness is that the ADF is single-sided rather than a full duplex feeder, and the printer is still an inkjet. For long black-and-white runs, the DCP-L2640DW and MFC-L2820DW are better suited. For photos and occasional color, the Canon PIXMA TS6520 takes up less room, but it does not list an ADF.
This is the Brother to choose when scanning and copying are regular tasks rather than emergency features. It gives a small office a more orderly way to work through forms while retaining color output for presentations and household documents.
4. Epson EcoTank ET-2800: Best Ink Tank
Pros
- Cartridge-free ink tank design
- High stated ink yields
- Color printing for documents and photos
- Light 11.4-pound body
Cons
- No automatic document feeder listed
- Slower 10 ISO page-per-minute output
- Epson recommends genuine ink
Best for: households that print color regularly and want fewer ink changes.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is built around a different idea from the rest of this list. Instead of small cartridges, it uses refillable ink tanks. That makes it particularly appealing to families, students, and home offices that print color pages often and dislike stopping to replace cartridges.
Epson states that the included ink can produce up to 4, 500 black pages and 7, 500 color pages, and that the printer can include up to two years of ink in the box. Those are substantial claims, but the practical benefit is simpler: the tank system is designed for less frequent replacement. Epson's Micro Piezo Heat-Free technology is intended to produce detailed documents and vivid prints, while the listed output reaches 10 ISO pages per minute.
The ET-2800 combines printing, scanning, and copying in a 16-inch-wide, 17-inch-deep body. It weighs 11.4 pounds, making it lighter than every laser model here. Wireless printing and the cartridge-free layout make it easy to use as a household printer, though the absence of a listed ADF means multi-page scanning remains a page-at-a-time task.
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e is a better document machine for a home office because it adds an ADF, a 225-sheet input tray, and faster black printing. The Epson is more compelling for ongoing color output. It also has an important ownership constraint: Epson strongly recommends genuine ink, and the product information warns that non-genuine ink may damage the printer in ways not covered by its limited warranty.
If you are comparing how much regular color printing changes the right ink system, the ET-2800 is the clearest example of why tanks deserve consideration. It suits people who print frequently enough to benefit from large reservoirs, not someone who scans a few pages once a month.
5. Brother MFC-L2820DW: Best Monochrome Office Machine
Pros
- Fast black-and-white output
- 50-sheet automatic document feeder
- Built-in fax
- 2.7-inch touchscreen
- Wireless, Ethernet, and USB
Cons
- Monochrome printing only
- Larger and heavier than home inkjets
- More capability than casual users need
Best for: small offices that need fast monochrome documents, scanning, copying, and faxing.
The Brother MFC-L2820DW is the office-minded sibling to the DCP-L2640DW. Both are compact monochrome laser multifunction printers with a listed print speed of up to 36 pages per minute and a 50-sheet automatic document feeder. The difference is that the MFC-L2820DW adds fax, making it the more complete choice for a small office that still receives or sends documents that way.
Scanning speeds are listed at up to 23.6 images per minute in black and 7.9 images per minute in color. The 2.7-inch touchscreen makes it easier to start jobs directly from the printer than the smaller display on the Brother MFC-J1360DW. It can also print from and scan to cloud apps including Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, and OneNote.
Connectivity covers dual-band wireless at 2.4GHz and 5GHz, Ethernet, and USB. Brother's Mobile Connect app provides another route for printing, scanning, and device management. The machine uses TN830 or TN830XL toner and supports Brother's Refresh EZ Print service, so toner monitoring can be handled alongside the printer's mobile controls.
The HP LaserJet Pro 3101fdw also targets small teams and adds HP Wolf Pro Security, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and fax. The Brother has a slightly higher listed print speed and a smaller stated footprint, while the HP offers a more explicit security focus. Compared with the DCP-L2640DW, the MFC-L2820DW is the better purchase for anyone who would otherwise need a separate fax device.
At 22.5 pounds and 12.5 inches high, it is not a casual desktop accessory. It belongs in a dedicated office space, where its speed, feeder, and fax make sense. For home users who only need scanning and occasional black text, the DCP-L2640DW is simpler.
6. HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e: Best Color Home Office Printer
Pros
- Automatic document feeder
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 225-sheet input tray
- Fast black-and-white inkjet output
- Dual-band wireless connection
Cons
- Color output is slower than black
- Instant Ink subscription applies after the trial
- Wide 18.11-inch body
Best for: home offices that need color reports, scanning, copying, and regular document feeding.
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e is the most balanced color office printer here for people who need more than occasional household pages. It includes printing, scanning, copying, automatic two-sided printing, and an automatic document feeder. That combination makes it much more practical for reports, forms, and packets than the Canon PIXMA TS6520 or HP DeskJet 2955.
HP lists output of up to 20 pages per minute in black and 10 pages per minute in color. The 225-sheet input tray is another office-friendly feature, reducing the need to refill paper during a run. The printer's dual-band Wi-Fi is designed to detect and resolve connection issues, while the HP app supports printing, scanning, copying, and faxing from a phone, computer, or tablet.
HP also highlights AI-assisted formatting for web pages and emails, with the aim of removing unwanted content and avoiding awkward layouts. That is a useful feature for people who frequently print online material. The product is 18.11 inches wide, 13.29 inches deep, and 9.17 inches high, so it needs more lateral desk space than the compact Canon models.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is the better match for frequent color printing when a tank design is the priority, while the Brother MFC-J1360DW is smaller and has a simpler 20-sheet feeder. The HP has the strongest paper handling of those two, with a 225-sheet tray and a more office-oriented layout. Its biggest caveat is the Instant Ink arrangement, which changes after the included three-month trial unless canceled.
Readers weighing the features that matter in a home office document workflow should start with the feeder and paper tray here. The 8125e is right for a busy home office, but it is more printer than a household that only produces a few pages each week needs.
7. HP LaserJet Pro 3101fdw: Best Secure Monochrome Office Printer
Pros
- Up to 35 black-and-white pages per minute
- Automatic two-sided printing
- Automatic document feeder
- Fax included
- HP Wolf Pro Security
Cons
- Large 19.25-inch square footprint
- Black-and-white output only
- No detailed scan speed listed
Best for: small teams that need secure wireless printing, scanning, copying, and faxing.
The HP LaserJet Pro 3101fdw is designed for a small team rather than a casual home desk. It prints, scans, copies, and faxes, and its automatic document feeder and automatic two-sided printing are aimed at reducing hands-on work. HP positions it for groups of up to seven people, which gives a useful sense of its intended workload.
Its black-and-white print speed reaches up to 35 pages per minute. That is close to the two Brother monochrome lasers, though the DCP-L2640DW and MFC-L2820DW list up to 36 pages per minute. The HP's advantage is its security package. HP Wolf Pro Security provides customizable settings intended to protect the printer and information moving through it.
Wireless printing works with mobile devices, PCs, and tablets, and the printer supports Microsoft, Mac, AirPrint, Android, and Chromebook environments. Ethernet and Bluetooth are also included. Those options make it easier to fit into a mixed-device office, especially where a wired network connection is preferred.
The physical size is the main drawback. The product measures 19.25 inches in both length and width and 15 inches high, so it is substantially less suitable for a narrow desk than the Brother DCP-L2640DW. The Brother MFC-L2820DW offers similar core functions in a smaller stated footprint and provides a 2.7-inch touchscreen with cloud app support.
The 3101fdw makes sense when security and broad device compatibility outrank compactness. It is a particularly sensible choice for a small office handling sensitive documents, while home users should look first at the Brother models.
8. HP Color LaserJet Pro 3301sdw: Best Color Laser
Pros
- Color laser output
- Up to 26 pages per minute in black and color
- Automatic document feeder
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 250-sheet input tray
Cons
- Heaviest printer in the group
- Large office footprint
- Uses HP 218A or 218X toner
Best for: small offices that need consistent color documents and substantial paper handling.
The HP Color LaserJet Pro 3301sdw is the most office-focused color model in this roundup. It combines color laser printing with scanning, copying, automatic document feeding, automatic two-sided printing, and a 250-sheet input tray. That configuration is made for reports, presentations, and other documents that need repeatable color output rather than occasional snapshots.
HP lists speeds up to 26 pages per minute in both black and color. That gives it a clear advantage over the color inkjets when several pages need to be produced in a hurry. HP's TerraJet toner is intended to produce more vivid colors, and the printer uses Original HP 218A standard or 218X high-yield cartridges.
This is a substantial machine. It weighs 37.7 pounds and measures 16.46 inches long, 13.44 inches wide, and 16.5 inches high. The dimensions are less awkward than the square HP LaserJet Pro 3101fdw in one direction, but the height and weight still call for a stable office stand. It is not something to move around casually.
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e is smaller and lighter, and its inkjet design is more appropriate for mixed home use. The HP Color LaserJet Pro 3301sdw is the stronger choice when color documents are produced frequently and consistent office throughput matters. The Brother DCP-L2640DW remains the better monochrome option because it is more compact and does not carry the complexity of color laser hardware.
One constraint deserves attention: the printer is intended to work only with cartridges using HP chips or circuitry, and firmware updates maintain those measures. That makes cartridge compatibility part of the ownership decision. Choose this model for a small office that has the space and needs a serious color document machine.
9. HP DeskJet 2955: Best Basic Home Printer
Pros
- Small and light design
- Print, copy, and scan functions
- Dual-band wireless
- Mobile control through the HP app
- Uses at least 70% recycled plastics
Cons
- Slowest listed output among the inkjets
- No automatic document feeder listed
- 60-sheet input tray
Best for: occasional household printing of simple color documents, lists, forms, and recipes.
The HP DeskJet 2955 is deliberately simple. It covers color printing, copying, and scanning without adding the office features that make larger machines harder to place. At 7.55 pounds, 11.97 inches long, 16.73 inches wide, and 6.06 inches high, it is the easiest model here to move between a shelf and a desk.
HP lists print speeds up to 7.5 pages per minute in black and 5.5 pages per minute in color. Those figures are adequate for a recipe, school form, or short letter, but they make the DeskJet a poor fit for a large packet. The 60-sheet input tray reinforces that it is intended for light household use, and there is no automatic document feeder listed.
An icon LCD provides basic control from the printer itself. Dual-band Wi-Fi is designed to maintain a connection, while the HP app lets users print, scan, and copy from a smartphone. HP also highlights AI-assisted formatting for web pages and emails, plus a design made with at least 70% recycled plastics and ENERGY STAR and EPEAT certifications.
The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is a stronger compact choice when automatic duplex printing and more capable color output matter. The Canon PIXMA TR4720 adds an ADF and fax, while the HP DeskJet 2955 stays smaller and lighter. For anyone deciding between these basic models, the question is whether multi-page handling matters more than the DeskJet's very small body.
The DeskJet is best for a household that prints occasionally and wants a straightforward wireless machine. Skip it if scanning stacks, printing long reports, or managing a home office is part of the plan.
10. Canon PIXMA TR4720: Best Fax-Equipped Compact Printer
Pros
- Automatic document feeder
- Built-in fax
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 100-sheet paper capacity
- Mobile printing and Alexa support
Cons
- Slow color output
- Older design than newer compact models
- No dual-band Wi-Fi detail listed
Best for: home users who need fax, copying, scanning, and occasional color printing in one machine.
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 remains relevant because it includes features many compact home printers omit. It is a wireless four-in-one machine with printing, copying, scanning, and faxing, plus an automatic document feeder. Automatic two-sided printing and a 100-sheet capacity make it more useful for paperwork than its compact appearance suggests.
Canon lists black document output at up to 8.8 images per minute and color document output at up to 4.4 images per minute. A 4 by 6-inch borderless photo takes approximately 65 seconds according to the product details. Those speeds are modest, but they fit a home printer used for short jobs rather than a shared office queue.
The TR4720 supports documents and borderless prints up to 8.5 by 11 inches. Canon also emphasizes easy ink cartridge installation and replacement. Mobile printing is included, and Alexa can provide low-ink notifications or place a smart reorder when enrolled in smart reorders. The machine measures 17.2 inches wide, 11.7 inches deep, and 7.5 inches high.
The Brother MFC-J1360DW is the better color document tool because it prints faster and includes a larger 150-sheet tray. The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is the sleeker compact option for users who do not need an ADF or fax. The TR4720 earns its place by combining those missing functions in one smaller home-oriented machine.
It is also a useful reference point for the scanning features that matter when handling household paperwork. Choose it if fax remains part of your routine. Otherwise, a newer compact color model may be easier to live with.
How to choose best printer scanner
The right multifunction printer depends less on the number of functions on the box than on how often you scan, what color means for your work, and how many pages you handle at a time.
Print technology
Monochrome laser printers such as the Brother DCP-L2640DW are built for fast, sharp black text. Color inkjets handle mixed documents and photos, while the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 uses refillable tanks instead of standard cartridges. Color laser models such as the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3301sdw are aimed at offices that need repeatable color documents at higher throughput.
Automatic document feeder
An ADF is one of the most important scanner features for paperwork. It lets you load several sheets for copying or scanning instead of placing each page on the glass. The 50-sheet feeders on the Brother DCP-L2640DW and Brother MFC-L2820DW suit larger stacks, while the 20-sheet feeder on the Brother MFC-J1360DW handles shorter jobs.
Duplex printing
Automatic duplex printing flips pages internally for two-sided output. It is useful for reports, forms, and schoolwork because it reduces manual page handling. It does not mean the scanner can automatically scan both sides in one pass, so check the feeder description separately.
A fast printer with no useful feeder still leaves you doing the slowest part of a multi-page job by hand.
Paper capacity and footprint
A 225-sheet tray on the HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e or a 250-sheet tray on the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3301sdw suits regular office work. Smaller trays, such as the HP DeskJet 2955's 60-sheet input, are fine for occasional pages. Measure the shelf, including room for paper access, before choosing a larger laser machine.
Wireless and wired connections
Dual-band Wi-Fi can make setup easier on modern home networks, and mobile apps are helpful for quick scans or prints from a phone. Ethernet is more useful in a fixed office, where a wired connection can serve several computers. USB remains a practical fallback for a single nearby computer.
Frequently asked questions
Do all printer scanners include an automatic document feeder?
No. The Brother DCP-L2640DW, Brother MFC-L2820DW, Brother MFC-J1360DW, HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e, HP LaserJet Pro 3101fdw, HP Color LaserJet Pro 3301sdw, and Canon PIXMA TR4720 list an ADF. The Canon PIXMA TS6520, Epson EcoTank ET-2800, and HP DeskJet 2955 do not list one in the supplied product details.
Is a monochrome laser printer suitable for home use?
Yes, if most of your work is black text, forms, labels, or documents. The Brother DCP-L2640DW is a strong home office fit because it combines a 36-page-per-minute speed with a 50-sheet feeder. It is not suitable when you need color photos or colored school projects.
Which model is best for scanning multiple pages?
The Brother DCP-L2640DW and Brother MFC-L2820DW both list 50-sheet automatic document feeders and scan speeds up to 23.6 images per minute in black. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e is another strong choice for a home office, while the Brother MFC-J1360DW has a smaller 20-sheet feeder.
Can these printers scan to a phone?
Several support mobile apps. Brother's Mobile Connect app supports printing, scanning, and printer management on the Brother models, while the HP app handles print, scan, and copy functions on the HP models. The Canon PIXMA TS6520 supports the Canon PRINT app, Apple AirPrint, and Mopria Print Service.
Is an ink tank printer better for frequent color printing?
An ink tank printer can be a better fit when color pages are produced regularly and fewer ink changes are desirable. The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is designed around refillable tanks and lists high black and color page yields. It lacks a listed ADF, so it is less suitable for scanning stacks of documents.
Which printer includes fax?
The Brother MFC-L2820DW, HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e, HP LaserJet Pro 3101fdw, and Canon PIXMA TR4720 include fax-related functionality in their product details. The Brother DCP-L2640DW does not list fax, and neither do the Canon PIXMA TS6520, Brother MFC-J1360DW, Epson EcoTank ET-2800, HP Color LaserJet Pro 3301sdw, or HP DeskJet 2955.
The bottom line
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the Best printer scanner for most document-heavy home offices because its 36-page-per-minute monochrome output, 50-sheet ADF, duplex printing, and broad connection options cover the work that slows smaller inkjets down. Choose the Canon PIXMA TS6520 instead when compact color printing matters more than multi-page scanning.
For heavier office use, the Brother MFC-L2820DW adds fax and cloud controls to a similarly fast monochrome design, while the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3301sdw is the more capable choice for regular color reports and a 250-sheet paper tray.
If you are undecided, choose laser for fast black documents, an inkjet for occasional color, and an ink tank when frequent color printing is the central task.
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