Best HP Printer 2024: Top Home, Office and Business Picks

HP, short for Hewlett-Packard, are one of the largest manufacturers of printers on the planet: manufacturing a diverse array of affordable products for different printer applications. As such, it’s hard to find a definitive best HP printer, though the company has a number of top jack-of-all-trades products for even the most varied use cases.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled the HP printers that do the best job of matching the most common use cases. From bulk-order office printers to more varied printers for the home, you’re sure to find the right printer that suits your needs.

How We Picked the Best HP Printer

As mentioned above, the best HP printer will vary depending on the specifications of use. Most offices don’t need a craft printer capable of varied specialist media, just as most homes don’t need a productivity powerhouse capable of ultra-fast print speeds. We’ve considered both extremes, highlighting both multimedia and standard printers from HP. Factoring in price, print speed and print quality; we assessed each printer against one another based on its strengths and weaknesses.

We settled on five printers across a range of budgets, each well worth the cost in their varied specialist fields. We’ve broken down each printers respective merits – and demerits – below.

HP Envy Photo 7855 Wireless Home Office Printer

Specifications

• Printer Output: Color
• Printer Type: InkJet
• Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct
• Duplex Printing: No

What We Think

The reduced carbon footprint from this compact and eco-friendly printer is just the icing on the cake, when factored in with all its other top features.

Reasons to Buy

• Eco-friendly – made from recycled plastics and with a low power draw, this HP printer has a low carbon footprint.
• Affordable – like many HP printers, the upfront cost of the 7855 is under $200.

Reasons to Avoid

• Poor color quality – although marketed as a photo printer, the 7855 doesn’t have the level of color depth that we’d expect from a top photo printer.

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Helping save the environment as well as money, the HP Envy Photo 7855 is a highly compact yet affordable HP printer, topping out our list thanks to its median of price and quality.

With an average cost-per-print of just 5 cents, the 7855 is a great low-cost option both upfront and ongoing. Made from recycled plastics, the printer keeps its draw on the environment to an absolute minimum. Print speeds are fast, even at top print quality levels, with the 7855. You can mass-produce full-color prints at an average speed of 10 prints per minute – given this printer’s low price, this is even more impressive. There’s a lot to love about the 7855.

That said, we did find that the fullness of those full-color prints was a bit lacking: other photo printers on the market are more capable of varied color depth, which does lessen this multimedia printer in comparison to its counterparts. We still recommend it, however, as our top HP printer choice!

HP Smart-Tank 5101

Specifications

• Printer Output: Color
• Printer Type: InkJet
• Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth
• Duplex Printing: No

What We Think

With a printer, copier and document scanner all rolled into one device, the 5101 is a great low-cost investment and multipurpose tool.

Reasons to Buy

• Multipurpose device – ideal for low-budget homes or offices, this printer packs everything you need into one unit.
• InkJet printing – the 5101 capable of printing on a variety of specialist media such as cardstock thanks to its InkJet design.

Reasons to Avoid

• Small paper tray – the 5101 can only hold 100 sheets of paper at a time, making for frequent and frustrating replenishment.

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If you need an affordable all-in-one printer, look no further than the HP Smart-Tank 5101. At the same price point as the 7855, you get a versatile multipurpose device that’s ideal for the home or office.

Prints are rendered in great time and quality with the 5101, with a 5 page per minute print rate for full-color documents. As an ink tank printer, the 5101 uses large reservoirs of ink for maximum ink economy and efficiency, meaning that both ongoing and upfront costs are kept low. With easy connectivity over WiFi, Bluetooth or traditional wired means, you won’t struggle to print with this HP printer.

So why isn’t this our best HP printer? Whilst printing itself is easy, the paper capacity on the 5101 hamstrings the overall usefulness of this unit, making for near-constant replenishment. If you don’t mind the extra hassle, then the 5101 is the best multipurpose HP printer on the market.

HP OfficeJet 250

Specifications

• Printer Output: Color
• Printer Type: InkJet
• Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth, Cloud Printing
• Duplex Printing: No

What We Think

A portable printer that doesn’t skimp on functionality, the OfficeJet 250 is a great option for those needing a mobile print solution.

Reasons to Buy

• Easy use – wireless setup and connectivity are easy and intuitive with the OfficeJet 250.
• All-in-one features – scan, copy and even fax from this portable print solution.

Reasons to Avoid

• Poor ink economy – due to the compact nature of this printer, ink reserves are limited.

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For a productivity tool that you can take anywhere, the HP OfficeJet 250 is a stellar portable printer from HP. If you need a reliable wireless printer, then this is the unit for you.

Print results are rendered quickly, with a print speed of 19 prints per minute for color documents. With easy connection via Bluetooth or WiFi, you can take this printer practically anywhere. That’s made even easier by the design, which can fold down and easily fit in a modest bag. Allowing you to scan, fax and photocopy – as well as print – this is a tremendous productivity tool for remote workers or those who travel frequently.

However, if you’re planning to use this printer frequently, it’s worth noting that its ink economy isn’t the most sterling. Due to the price of ink, this can make for higher ongoing costs. But for unparalleled wireless printing on the go, the OfficeJet 250 is an ideal option.

HP DeskJet 3755

Specifications

• Printer Output: Color
• Printer Type: InkJet
• Connectivity Technology: WiFi Direct, Cloud Printing
• Duplex Printing: No

What We Think

For a price even lower than HP’s budget standard, the 3755 is a versatile print solution for homes at the fraction of the price of a standard printer.

Reasons to Buy

• Wireless printing – with a range of compatible cloud printing services, the DeskJet 3755 allows you to print however you like.
• Highly affordable – the sub-$100 price of the 3755 makes for an easy investment.

Reasons to Avoid

• Small paper tray – even smaller than the 5101 with a small 60-sheet capacity, this printer needs replenishing often.

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For a simple home office printer under $100, the HP DeskJet 3755 is a great option. Boasting all the essentials to a high-quality standard whilst also maintaining a compact form factor – combining some of our favorite features – this HP printer is a fantastic alternative to a full-price printer.

Capable of printing standard documents and borderless photos up to 8.5″ x 14″ in size, you’ve got a broad scope of printing options. Color quality, especially for such a budget photo printer, is exceptional; with shades given incredible depth and contrast. Accommodating a wide range of wireless print services such as Google Drive and Apple’s AirPrint, you’ve always got a means of printing.

However, one element that detracts from this otherwise sterling printer is the small paper tray. At only 60 sheets, you’ll be refilling this printer frustratingly regularly. For infrequent but high-quality printing for a sub-$100 price point, look no further than the DeskJet 3755.

HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw

Specifications

• Printer Output: Color
• Printer Type: Laser
• Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFi Direct
• Duplex Printing: Yes

What We Think

If you need productivity and versatility for your office printer without paying top-shelf prices, then consider the M283fdw.

Reasons to Buy

• Fast print speed – at 22 pages per minute for color documents, the M283fdw can keep up with heavy duty cycles.
• Specialist media compatibility – a rare feature in laser printers, this unit can print on cardstock and select other specialist media formats.

Reasons to Avoid

• Laser printing – the M283fdw is unsuited to particularly detailed or particularly colorful specialist media printing.

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Looking for a budget office printer? Take the HP LaserJet Pro M283fdw, a stellar color laser printer. This unit is highly productive and surprisingly versatile, earning it the final place on our rankings.

This printer is capable of producing consistently detailed and crisp documents without breaking a sweat, at print speeds of up to 22 pages per minute. It can print on paper sizes up to 8.5” x 14”, and there’s even a place for specialty paper like envelopes and postcards. There’s also a touchscreen display for quick commands and configuring the printer’s settings. Moreover, the M283fdw can scan, copy, and fax your documents, so you don’t need to crowd your office with tons of devices for different functions.

However, you may find the M283fdw less appealing than other office printers: as a laser printer, it is highly efficient for documents, but lacks the overall detail or quality that an InkJet printer provides. It’s a subjective hurdle, but one worth considering before investing in this HP printer for offices.

Features and Considerations

Looking at an HP printer, or any other printer for that matter, not on our list? Consider the following to ensure you get the most out of your purchase:

Print Quality

The primary variable to consider for print quality is the printing technology used. Laser printers are superior when it comes to text quality, while InkJet printers produce better-looking photos and graphics. Keep in mind that some toners or ink systems produce even better-looking documents or designs.

Versatility

Depending on your requirements, some features are no doubt more beneficial than others. Having a built-in document scanner or the option to print stickers will be useful. Consider your subjective needs, and whether your use case is reflective of the price you’ll pay for the printer.

Print Size

Likewise, if you need a printer for home to print larger-scale work, ensure that your printer is able to match your needs. Most laser printers are only capable of standard documents, but the average photo printer’s size can vary drastically. We recommend purchasing a printer with the largest print size within your budget – as in the worst-case scenario, that extra print volume simply isn’t used.

Connectivity

Of course, how you print is just as important as what. Most modern printers come with some form of wireless connectivity, and those that don’t will definitely have a USB or Ethernet port somewhere. Make sure that your planned method of printing isn’t interrupted by cable management, or a time-consuming Bluetooth connection.

Ink Economy

“Ink economy” refers to the overall efficiency of your printer in terms of ink or toner. We often see it measured in “cost per print” as an average for the printer. Thankfully, this is measured in cents rather than dollars, but print costs can creep up if the ink is too expensive and runs out too quickly – and you may fall victim to the “razor-and-blades” model.

Are HP Printers Worth It?

HP printers tend to occupy the lower end of the price spectrum, which often has consumers conflating “budget” printers as “cheap” printers. Whilst there will always be a threshold to the quality a low-budget model can provide, HP printers are still highly capable units. Offering easy connection over a range of wired and wireless means, they are some of the most accessible printers available: allowing for multimedia printing at a low cost.

That said, HP’s business model does fall foul of the “razor-and-blades” model mentioned above: you’re often automatically signed on to ink subscription services with your purchase, and the ink can be costly compared to equivalent printers from Epson or Canon.

We generally recommend HP printers to those that need a low-cost printer for infrequent use. Though units like the M283fdw are highly productive and affordable, the ink costs can drive a wedge in that productivity.

FAQs

Verdict

HP Envy Photo 7855 Wireless Home Office Printer

Specifications

• Printer Output: Color
• Printer Type: InkJet
• Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct
• Duplex Printing: No

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The color quality may be lacking overall, but the HP Envy Photo 7855 compensates with some of the best balancing of quality, affordability and versatility out of any printer HP manufactures, and we’re happy to crown it our top pick!

For other printer brands, check out our guides on the best printers across the market, such as the best Brother printers available today.