The 7 Best Printers for Teachers of 2026, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: A compact laser that handles daily worksheets, copies and scans.

The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the printer for a teacher who prints a ream of worksheets a month. It uses a monochrome laser engine, prints both sides automatically, copies and scans, and connects wirelessly from a phone. Laser toner does not dry out over a long break, which is a real problem for inkjets sitting idle in July.

It ranks first because toner economics beat cartridge inkjets for black and white volume, and the compact body fits a classroom desk. The EcoTank ET-2400 matches it on running costs but adds colour. The HL-L3220CDW prints colour but is a laser at the same $200 to $500 bucket.

Buy it for black and white worksheets, tests and handouts. The caveat is colour: it cannot print it, so keep an inkjet for diagrams and display work.

Engine

Monochrome laser

Duplex

Automatic

Functions

Print, copy, scan

Price bucket

$200-500

Our verdict: Refillable tanks keep color printing affordable on a fixed stipend.

The Epson EcoTank ET-2400 replaces cartridges with refillable tanks, and bottled ink is included in the box. It prints in colour, scans and copies, connects wirelessly and is built for high-volume jobs. Because ink comes in bottles, the cost per page falls well below a cartridge printer.

It ranks second because it solves the main trap: ink cost. It beats the Canon PIXMA and WF-2930, which use cartridges, and costs $100 to $200. Against the Brother laser, it offers colour but loses the idle-time reliability of toner, since ink can dry out in a printer left unused over summer.

Choose it for a teacher who prints colour posters and diagrams regularly. The caveat is that tank printers are bulkier than cartridge models, so check your desk space and plan where the bottles will sit.

Ink system

Refillable EcoTank

Functions

Print, scan, copy

Refills

Bottled ink included

Price bucket

$100-200

Our verdict: Color laser at up to 19 PPM for shared department use.

The Brother HL-L3220CDW is a colour laser at 19 PPM with a 250-sheet tray and automatic duplex. Laser colour gives consistent contrast on worksheets and diagrams, and it connects wirelessly to phones and laptops. Toner is stable when idle.

It ranks third because a colour laser costs more in the $200 to $500 bucket than the EcoTank, and colour toner replacement is pricier than bottled ink. It sits behind the DCP-L2640DW because that model copies and scans, which this printer's listing does not mention. Against the HP tank printers, it brings a 250-sheet tray that suits stacks of handouts.

Buy it for a classroom that prints colour in volume and wants lasers. The caveat is the lack of a scanner in the listing, so confirm functions before ordering if you plan to copy handouts.

Engine

Color laser

Speed

Up to 19 PPM

Tray

250 sheets

Duplex

Automatic

Our verdict: Two years of ink in the box, but no document feeder.

The HP Smart Tank 5101 ships with two years of ink in the box, uses a refillable tank, prints, scans and copies, and has a compact footprint for an ink-tank printer. Two years of included ink means no cartridge purchases for a long time.

It ranks fourth because it has no automatic document feeder, so scanning a stack of tests means placing each page on the glass. It also connects on 2.4GHz WiFi only, which can fail on a school network that uses 5GHz. The EcoTank ET-2400 sits in the same $100 to $200 bucket and also lacks a feeder, but it carries no band restriction in its listing.

Buy it for a home office where scanning is occasional. The caveat is the missing feeder and the 2.4GHz limit, so check your network first, because a failed connection wastes a morning.

Ink system

Refillable tank

Included ink

2 years

WiFi

2.4GHz only

Feeder

None

Our verdict: Automatic feeder and duplex make scan-to-cloud grading practical.

The Epson WorkForce WF-2930 is a colour inkjet all-in-one that prints, scans, copies and faxes. It has an automatic document feeder, automatic two-sided printing, a 1.4 inch colour display and a cartridge based ink system, in the $50 to $100 bucket.

It ranks fifth because cartridges make the running cost higher than any tank or laser here. Its edge is the feeder: it scans a stack of student work without placing each page, which speeds up paperless grading. It costs half the price of the EcoTank, so it suits a light-volume teacher.

Buy it for a home grading desk where you scan more than you print. The caveat is ink cost, so avoid it for heavy worksheet printing.

Type

Color inkjet all-in-one

Feeder

Automatic document feeder

Duplex

Automatic

Functions

Print, scan, copy, fax

Our verdict: A fuller inkjet with fax, feeder and a one-year Instant Ink trial.

The HP OfficeJet Pro 8139 is a colour inkjet all-in-one with automatic document feeder, automatic duplex printing, a one-year Instant Ink trial and wireless printing. It prints, scans, copies and faxes, and sits in the $100 to $200 bucket.

It ranks sixth because the feeder and duplex are available on the WF-2930 for half the price. The trial is also temporary: after a year, the Instant Ink plan becomes a subscription you must manage. Its advantage over the WF-2930 is the pairing of feeder and duplex with the Instant Ink trial.

Choose it for a teacher who scans and copies a lot and prints moderate amounts. The caveat is the ink plan, so read the terms before continuing after the first year.

Type

Color inkjet all-in-one

Feeder

Automatic document feeder

Ink plan

1-year Instant Ink trial

Functions

Print, scan, copy, fax

Our verdict: A small duplexing inkjet for rubrics and parent letters at home.

The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is a colour inkjet with automatic duplex, a built-in copier and scanner, a 1.42 inch OLED display and a compact body, in the $50 to $100 bucket. Cartridges feed it, and the compact design suits a small desk.

It ranks last because it has no automatic document feeder, unlike the WF-2930, and uses cartridges, unlike the tank printers. For heavy printing, cartridge costs add up. Its duplex and scanner keep it useful for light jobs.

Buy it for a home grading desk and occasional printing at a low price. The caveat is cost per page, so do not use it for classroom volumes.

Type

Color inkjet

Duplex

Automatic

Display

1.42 inch OLED

Ink

Cartridge-based