Inkjet printers in our range are mostly A4 colour models for home, study and small office use, with one A3 model among them. Canon, Epson and HP make up most of the selection, and Brother is also stocked. They suit anyone who prints documents, school work or photos at home and does not need the speed of a workgroup laser.
How to choose an inkjet printer
Ink system. Cartridge printers cost less to buy and suit occasional printing. Refillable ink tank printers cost more upfront but usually work out cheaper per page if you print every week. Check which type a model uses before comparing anything else.
Documents or photos. Most printers in our range use four inks: black, cyan, magenta and yellow. One model adds grey, which helps with smooth tones in black-and-white photos. Maximum resolution runs from 600 x 1200 DPI up to 5760 x 1440 DPI, and 4800 x 1200 DPI is the most frequent value we list. Higher figures matter mainly for photo prints, as ordinary text looks sharp on almost any model.
Paper size and tray capacity. Nearly every printer here takes A4 as its largest size, and many also handle A5 and A6 for smaller photos and cards. Only one model prints up to A3, so choose it only if you need posters or large drawings. Most have a single input tray holding around 100 sheets, while a few have two or three trays or hold up to 500 sheets, which saves refilling in a busy office.
Everyday features. Wi-Fi printing from a phone, automatic double-sided printing and a built-in scanner or copier change how a printer fits into daily use. Check the specification of each model for these, because they differ even within one brand.
Inkjet printer brands we carry
- Canon: best known for its PIXMA home and photo printers and its MAXIFY models aimed at small businesses, and the brand with the most inkjet printers in our range.
- Epson: known for its EcoTank refillable ink tank printers, which are designed for people who print often and want lower running costs.
- HP (including Hewlett-Packard and HP Inc.): makes the DeskJet range for light home use and the OfficeJet range for small offices that print more documents.
Also in our range: Brother.
Inkjet printer FAQ
Is an inkjet printer better than a laser printer?
It depends on what you print. Inkjet printers are usually better for colour photos and mixed use, and they cost less to buy. Laser printers are generally faster and more economical for large volumes of black text.
What should I look for in an inkjet printer for home use?
Look for an A4 printer with four-colour ink, wireless connection and a tray of around 100 sheets. If you print weekly, consider an ink tank model, as refills usually cost less per page than cartridges. For occasional printing, a simple cartridge model is enough.
Do inkjet printers dry out if I rarely use them?
They can. Ink in the print head may dry and clog if the printer sits unused for weeks. Printing a short colour page every couple of weeks and switching the printer off with its power button helps prevent this.
What does DPI mean on an inkjet printer?
DPI stands for dots per inch and describes how finely the printer places ink on the page. A figure such as 4800 x 1200 DPI is the maximum resolution, used mainly for photo quality. For everyday documents the difference between models is hard to see.
