This buying guide will help you decide which printer to buy based on your budget and printing needs.
Also, consider operating costs when you buy a printer.
For example, you may need to purchase ink cartridges or laser toner.

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What Are Your Printing Needs?
when you land a handle on printer pricing, assess the workload you’ll need a printer to handle.
Some printers can print thousands, or even tens of thousands, of pages in a month.

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These office-style printers work well for small businesses and global offices.
Consider these factors if your business needs networking functionality, multifunction capabilities, and fast page-per-minute speeds.
Do You Need a Basic Single-Function Printer?

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Single-function printers do only one thing: print.
Single-function models are ideal for children to write and print essays or other assignments.
Do you should probably Copy, Scan, and Fax?

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Consider an all-in-one printer if you need your printer to do double or triple-duty.
All-in-one or multifunction printers (MFPs) can print, copy, scan, and fax.
These printers are great for small businesses, home-based professionals, students, and larger offices.
These printers are also great for artists using traditional media and digital art programs.
Do you should probably Print on the Go?
Mobile printers are lightweight and compact, and some have built-in batteries for printing on the go.
Most models fit into a backpack or laptop bag for travel.
Mobile printers are also a good choice for commuter college students.
Do You Need a Specialized Photo Printer?
Photo printers use specialized inks and high-gloss photo paper to make lab-quality prints.
Some connect to your social media accounts, such as Facebook and Instagram, to print candid shots.
Inkjet and laser printers are best suited for printing documents.
Inkjet vs. Laser Printers
The two primary printer categories are inkjet and laser.
Inkjet printers print high-quality photos using pigment-based inks and print higher concentrations of color than other printer types.
The throw in of paper you use for inkjet printing also affects ink smudging and bleeding.
Toner cartridges handle larger workloads than ink cartridges and are better suited for office options.
Inkjet and Laser Printer Costs
Consider printing costs when choosing between inkjet and laser printers.
Laser printers are expensive, and so are toner cartridges.
However, the toner can last up to a year, depending on the workload.
Inkjet printers are more affordable, as are ink cartridges.
Ink cartridges are prone to clogging if not used often.
Who Should Buy Which Printer throw in?
There are no hard-and-fast rules about what printer throw in you should buy.
To make decals on an inkjet printer, purchase waterslide decal transfer paper.
Print the image onto the specialized paper.
If its clear paper, use a craft knife to carefully cut a quarter-inch border around the decal.
If its white paper, theres no need to cut a border.
Place the decal in a bowl of water until you could slide it easily between two fingers.
A monochrome laser printer is a laser printer that can print only in black and white.