Best value printers you can buy in 2022

YOU may think that because everything is done electronically nowadays, you no longer need a printer.

However, it is still an incredibly useful piece of tech to have around for when you need hard copies of important document, physical tickets for an event or need to print a returns label for a package.

Printers can seem expensive, but it is possible to get a good value one by shopping around. We've rounded up a list of 11 great value printers that have impressive features such as double-sided printing, voice activation and wireless printing from your phone.

What's the difference between inkjet and laser printers?

Inkjet printers work using ink to transfer images from your PC (or another device) to paper. Laser printers use a laser to create an electrostatic charge on the paper which attracts toner and creates images on the page.

Generally speaking, inkjet printers are better all-rounders, because they can be used to print both text and images. Laser printers are more suited to printing black ink on documents, which they'll manage faster than your average inkjet printer.

Inkjet printers can be very cheap upfront, but the need to replace their ink cartridges means the costs rack up quickly if you use them regularly (although this issue is being tackled by printers with built-in ink tanks.)

Laser printers tend to be more expensive than inkjet printers upfront, but you get more bang for your buck when replacing toner when compared to ink cartridges.

Best cheap printers at a glance

• Best value for money:
• Best all-rounder:
• Best for scanning documents:
• Best all-in-one printer:
• Best for voice compatibility:
• Best for double sided printing:
• Best laser printer:
• Best for small spaces:
• Best for quick printing:
• Best for using with a smartphone:
• Best for gifting:

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1. Inkjet printer: Canon PIXMA MG2550S

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• Canon PIXMA MG2550S, £34.99 at Canon –

This Canon PIXMA gets you a lot for a little. For roughly £70 you get a decent colour printer that's got a built-in scanner. You don't get Wi-Fi connectivity in a unit this cheap, and if you're planning on printing off pictures at home you might want to invest a little more. But this should take care of most basic tasks when you hook it up with a USB.

2. Inkjet printer: Epson Expression Home XP-2150

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• Epson Expression Home XP-2150, £61.99 at Amazon –

A solid, all-round budget option, the XP-2150 can print, scan and copy, via cable or Wi-Fi. It works with envelopes and glossy photo paper and supports both standard and extra-large (XL) cartridges. The printer is also quite compact and weighs only 4kg.

3. Inkjet printer: HP DeskJet 2721e

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• HP Deskjet 2721e, £72 from Amazon -

This HP Deskjet packs a lot of features in a bargain package. Not only will it do a decent job of printing off black text and colour images, but it also has Wi-Fi connectivity to make connecting to it from a variety of devices a breeze. Plus it's got a scanner in the lid which is useful for copying any documents you need digitised. You'll struggle to get better value at this price.

4. Inkjet printer: Epson Expression Premium XP 6100

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• Epson Expression Premium XP 6100, £89.99 from Amazon -

An all-in-one printer, the XP 6100 can print, scan and make copies. Double-sided printing and dual paper trays mean you'll be able to print different things at the same time. The Epson Expression Premium XP 6100 also has Wi-Fi capabilities, as well as an SD card slot to facilitate printing from external supports. Oh, and the maximum, monochrome printing speed is a blazing-fast 32 ppm.

5. Inkjet printer:Canon TS3150 PIXMA All-in-One

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• Canon TS3150 PIXMA All-in-One, £79.99 from Amazon -

Compatible with Alexa's voice control, this printer is designed for use with mobile devices. Another all-in-one printer, the Canon TS3150 PIXMA works best with the Canon Print App that allows you to print, scan and copy wirelessly from a range of devices. Printing quality is solid as well, and features multi-page print jobs with automatic two-sided printing. The only downside? There's no USB cable included in the box, so make sure to buy one if you plan to connect this printer to your PC via cable.

6. Laser printer: Brother HL-L2310D

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• Brother HL-L2310D, £109.99 from Argos -

We've opted to not include a couple of cheaper laser printers that don't include automatic double-sided printing because we think it's worth paying a little extra to get that feature. This Brother is great value for under £100 and will do two-sided printing, managing up to 30 pages a minute. The toner cartridges aren't too expensive either, so it'll be relatively cheap to run. The downside is that it has no scanner and no Wi-Fi connectivity. But if you want something to plug and play with a USB port, this could be the printer for you.

7. Laser printer: Brother DCP-L2530DW

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• Brother DCP-L2530DW, £169.99 from Argos -

You don't have to spend over £170 on a laser printer that will handle double-sided printing. Even if that printer has Wi-Fi built-in with the added bonus of a scanner. That's good value!

8. Laser printer: HP LaserJet M140w

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• HP LaserJet Pro M140w, £131.98 from HP -

Designed for small spaces, the HP LaserJet M140w is one of the world's smallest and lightest laser printers. It is compatible with the HP Smart App to enable mobile printing and from the cloud. It also features decent print speeds with up to 18/19 pages per minute (ppm). Not the fastest on this list, but at roughly £130, it's still a good deal.

9. Laser printer: Pantum P3500DW Wireless A4 Mono Laser Printer

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• Pantum P3500W, £139.99 from Amazon -

This eco-friendly printer comes with a separate toner cartridge and drum unit to reduce waste.

It also features an automatic duplexing function for easy office documentation and can print 30 (A4) / 32 (Letter) pages per minute.

With Wi-Fi connectivity & mobile printing, you'll be also able to use the printer via a dedicated mobile app.

10.Polaroid Hi·Print 2x3 Pocket Photo Printer

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• Polaroid Hi·Print 2x3 Pocket Photo Printer, £89.99 from Polaroid -

Forget the big clunky printing machines, Polaroid's new printer is so small it'll fit in your pocket.

The Bluetooth device seamlessly connects to your camera role and will print your photos onto Polaroid paper. Pictures are high quality, and it only takes a couple of seconds for your photo to be ready.

11.Phomemo M02 Printer

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• Phomemo M02 Printer, £31.91 from Amazon -

A printer might not seem like an immediate gift idea, but the Phomemo Mo2 is a beautifully designed printer that comes in five different colours and patterns.

There are no cables involved with printing your favourite pictures, instead just link your camera roll to the device via Bluetooth.

The printer works with a variety of different size and thickness paper making it the perfect gadget to get creative with. As well as normal photos, try creating DIY stickers, bookmarks or handy labels.

Where can I buy printers?

Printers are always in high demand, and finding a site with the best deals in stock can be challenging at times. To ease the process for you, we have selected a few stores below you can use to browse the best printer deals.

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How much do printers cost?

If you're looking for a cheap and cheerful printer, you can get away with spending £40 (or under) and still get an inkjet printer with Wi-Fi connectivity and a built-in scanner.

The quality of such printers is plenty good enough if you only need it now and again, but you might consider a more expensive option if you're printing off a lot of documents regularly.

We've rounded up the best printers on the market if you're looking for top quality. Decent laserjet printers start off at around £50, but you might want to pay a little more for some useful features such as double-sided printing.