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Whether you’re raising a high school student, attending college/university yourself, working from home, or just like having paper copies of things as backups for digital files, you’re going to be going through a lot of paper. And while you can print all of your documents at libraries, your office, and stores like Walmart and Staples, the convenience of having a printer at home cannot be overstated.
Printers are super valuable things to have around. They all fit easily on a desk or filing cabinet, most can be used to print, copy, scan, and fax, and many are also capable of printing photos in addition to regular paper documents. Many of them also offer versatile connection types including wireless, mobile, or USB connections. They can simplify your life a ton.
If you’re in need of a new or replacement printer but you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to help. Printers will vary in things like price, printing technology, printing speed, paper capacity, touchscreen/display size, and more. To find the best fit, you’ll want to think about every single feature. They’ll all matter at the end of the day!
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best printers in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Top Pick: Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J4535DW All-in-One Wireless Colour Inkjet Printer
Upgrade Pick: Epson Ecotank Photo Et-8500 Wireless Color All-in-one Supertank Printer
Portable Pick: HP CZ992A OfficeJet 250 All-in-One Portable Printer
Photo Pick: Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 Wireless Color Wide-Format Printer
Budget Pick: Canon 0515C023 PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer
We are big fans of the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J4535DW All-in-One Wireless Colour Inkjet Printer. You’ll get a year’s worth of ink included with the large cartridge, so you won’t have any extra investment needed upfront to get started. If you go through less than 150 sheets per month, it’ll last even longer. Perfect for heavy printing! And so is the large 400-sheet paper tray. You won’t have to fill up too often.
Another thing we love about this printer is its device compatibility. You can connect tablets, phones, PCs, and laptops thanks to the versatile connect options — USB and wireless options exist. It’s also got a super intuitive and responsive touchscreen display so you can swap functions between printing, scanning, copying, etc., and make any other adjustments that are needed. So convenient.
One of the only potential downsides with this one is the size. It’s a larger printer and will need a fair amount of space on a desk or shelf to call home. Hopefully, that won’t be an issue. Also, it isn’t the most affordable option out there, so if you’re shopping on a tight budget it might not be the best fit. You get a ton of value for the price, though. If you can swing it, you won’t regret it.
Overall, the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J4535DW All-in-One Wireless Colour Inkjet Printer is a solid investment no matter what type of document management you’re dealing with. It might seem a bit pricey at first, but trust us, it’s worth it.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have great things to say about the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J4535DW All-in-One Wireless Colour Inkjet Printer. It’s easy to use with the touchscreen display and it offers all of the functions they could ask for. They appreciate the large paper capacity and the high-quality printing they get with black or colour ink. They’d all buy it again.
Buy If…
A large paper tray is ideal
You do a lot of printing on a daily basis
You love the convenience of a touchscreen display
You’ll want to connect to the printer in a variety of ways
Don’t Buy If…
You’re looking for something extra affordable
You don’t have a lot of shelf space available
Dimensions: 14.6” x 17.1” x 9.8”
Weight: 25.9 lbs
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Printing Speed: 20 ppm (black), 19 ppm (colour)
Paper Capacity: 400 sheets
Display Size: 2.7”
Warranty: 2 years
We could not be happier with the quality of the Epson Ecotank Photo Et-8500 Wireless Color All-in-one Supertank Printer. It’s truly one of the most advanced printers out there right now. Whether you’re printing regular documents, graphics, or full-colour photographs, this printer can get the job done right. It’s also compatible with a variety of paper types and thicknesses for full versatility.
You can connect to the printer with a USB, MicroSD card, mobile app, and even a Wi-Fi connection — you’ll always be able to print however it’s most convenient. We bet you’ll fall in love with the display, too. We sure did. It’s super easy to navigate and large enough to be easy to read. Plus, it’ll show you how much is left of each ink type, so you never have to take a risk on a big printing job.
One of the only things we’d improve about this printer if we could is the size of the paper tray. It can only fit 100 sheets at once, so if you’re doing a fair amount of printing, you will have to fill it up more often than you’d like. Otherwise, the expensive price tag might be the only reason you choose to keep looking.
Overall, the Epson Ecotank Photo Et-8500 Wireless Color All-in-one Supertank Printer is a thing to admire. No matter what kind of printing tasks you have ahead of you, this thing will get the job done right. You’ll be amazed by what it’s capable of.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 2/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are blown away by the quality of the Epson Ecotank Photo Et-8500 Wireless Color All-in-one Supertank Printer. They’ve used a variety of paper types with it and are very happy with how each printed sheet comes out. The included ink bottles are incredibly long-lasting, and the resolution of printed photographs couldn’t be better. They’re all very happy with their choice.
Buy If…
A large screen would be ideal
You’ll be printing photos as well as paper documents
You don’t want to guess how much ink is left
You’d love to connect to your printer in multiple ways
Don’t Buy If…
Affordability matters
You do a lot of printing and don’t want to fill up the tray frequently
Dimensions: 13.7” x 24.1” x 15.9”
Weight: 18.5 lbs
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Paper Capacity: 100 sheets
Display Size: 4.3”
Warranty: 1 year
There are a lot of things to like about the HP CZ992A OfficeJet 250 All-in-One Portable Printer. Of course, its main claim to fame is its portability. With a compact design and one of the lightest weights you can imagine, this printer is built for travel. It can fit easily in a backpack or suitcase to head out to a campsite, cottage, or hotel, and since it can run on battery power, you won’t always need access to an outlet!
It offers a great range of functionality, too. It can print, scan, and copy documents with ease, and you’ll be able to print in either monochrome or colour, whichever fits your project best. Plus, it’s even compatible with Amazon Alexa so you can print hands-free. How cool is that!?
There are a couple of things we want you to be aware of before we wrap this up. First, if you’re printing on battery power instead of AC power, you’ll need to make sure the printer has enough juice to get the job done. This might be inconvenient at times. Also, the printing speed is a bit slow, so it won’t be ideal for heavy use. Lastly, the expensive price tag might also be a deterrent.
Overall, the HP CZ992A OfficeJet 250 All-in-One Portable Printer is our favourite travel-friendly printer, and it was an easy addition to our top five this year. No matter when or where you’ll need to do some printing, this machine will be the perfect companion for your adventures.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are very happy with the HP CZ992A OfficeJet 250 All-in-One Portable Printer. The printing speed could be better, but the quality is great with monochrome and colour sheets. The small size is the main reason they chose this one, and they have not been disappointed with its portability at all. The 3-in-1 functionality is also a nice touch.
Buy If…
You’d love a printer that works with Alexa
You need a printer that will travel easily
You’d like a printer compatible with colour and monochrome cartridges
You’ll need to print, scan, and copy documents
Don’t Buy If…
You’d like a printer that works quickly
You don’t want to worry about battery life when you’re printing
Budget-friendliness is important
Dimensions: 15” x 3.6” x 7.8”
Weight: 6.5 lbs
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Printing Speed: 10 ppm (black) & 7 ppm (colour) on AC power, 9 & 6 ppm respectively on battery power
Paper Capacity: 50 sheets
Display Size: 2.65”
Warranty: 1 year
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 Wireless Color Wide-Format Printer has a lot going for it. Its wider-than-normal design means you can print photos as large as 13” x 9” with no issues. However, it can also print small 4” x 6” photos without any trouble. You can also a variety of photo paper types to suit your subject perfectly. You’ll never not be able to print your photos the way they deserve.
This is also a pretty user-friendly printer. It has an easy-to-read display that will indicate your ink levels at all times, so you’ll be able to order more before they run out on you. You’ll never be playing chicken with your printer. Thank goodness. The high-quality build of this one also means you’ll be able to use it for years without any problems.
As a dedicated photo printer, you won’t get the same versatility with this option as you would with standard document printers. It can’t scan or copy. Also, the display is quite small and it’s not a touchscreen variety, so if that’s something you’re used to you’ll have to adapt to buttons. Aside from those minor points, the higher price tag might be the only reason you continue your hunt.
Overall, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 Wireless Color Wide-Format Printer is the best option for photographers, in our humble opinion at least. No matter where you’re at in your photography journey, this printer will bring your photos to vivid life for all to enjoy.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 1/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 Wireless Color Wide-Format Printer. It is the best printer they’ve ever used for photos — the clarity and colour intensity could not be better. They appreciate that the printer is very easy to connect to and that it can be used for a variety of photo sizes. Most of them agree that the price is worth it.
Buy If…
Print quality is your top priority
You’d like to print photos in a variety of layouts
You prefer to keep an eye on your ink levels
Longevity matters
Don’t Buy If…
You’d prefer a touchscreen display
You don’t have a lot of money to spend on a printer
You’d like a printer that can also scan and copy
Dimensions: 15” x 25.2” x 7.9”
Weight: 31.5 lbs
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Paper Capacity: 250 sheets
Display Size: 3”
Warranty: 1 year
The Canon 0515C023 PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer is a pretty good option considering its price tag. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a printer right now, you won’t find a more budget-friendly choice than this one. It’s also one of the smaller printers out there, so it’s still a good option for you if you’re tight on space. It doesn’t weigh much either, so you can travel with it if needed.
One of our favourite things about this printer is how quiet it is. No matter what you’re doing while it’s printing—working, reading, watching a show, etc.—it won’t disrupt you. Another thing we appreciate is the versatility of its connectivity. You can use a USB to connect to a laptop or PC, but it’s also compatible with Wi-Fi so you can send documents and photos to it wirelessly from your phone. How fun is that?
There are two main reasons this printer might not be your perfect match. First, it has a tendency to jam, so if you’re printing a lot you’ll quickly get frustrated by the need to constantly fix the paper feeder. The second thing you might not like is the lack of a display. Most printers have at least a button-controlled display if not a touchscreen, but this one has neither.
Overall, the Canon 0515C023 PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer is the best option you’ll find if affordability is your top priority. It has its flaws, but for standard printing, copying, and scanning, it’s all you’ll need!
Performance: 4/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
Reviewers have mostly good things to say about the Canon 0515C023 PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer. It fits easily on every shelf and desk they set it up on, and it’s quiet enough for them to continue working while it’s printing. It’s easy to print photos and documents from their smartphones, but the USB connectivity works well, too. It has a tendency to jam, though.
Buy If…
A quiet printer is ideal
Affordability is your main priority
You’d like to print wirelessly from mobile devices
You’d appreciate a printer that doesn’t take up a lot of space
Don’t Buy If…
You’d prefer a printer with a display
Seamless printing is a must-have
Dimensions: 17.7” x 12” x 6”
Weight: 11.9 lbs
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Warranty: 1 year
Some printers cost less than $80, and others cost more than $1,300. In general, most people won’t need to spend more than $500, though. Typically, more expensive printers offer higher-quality printing, will be compatible with photos, will have faster print speeds, and will have better versatility for connecting with multiple device types.
If you’re doing a lot of printing on a daily basis, your printer’s speed will matter quite a bit. The best printers can hit around 20 pages per minute, but other printers won’t even hit six. Colour printing will take longer than monochrome printing, and photo printers will have the slowest print times.
Most printers you come across will be inkjet printers, meaning they use ink to print. Laser printers also exist, though. They’re more expensive to buy initially, but toner cartridges go farther than ink cartridges, so they’ll save you money in the long run.
Paper capacity is another thing to think about when it comes to choosing a printer. Some printers have small trays that can only hold 100 sheets, others have extra-large trays that can hold more than 400 sheets. And some printers don’t have trays at all. The average capacity for an automatic paper feeder is 10-50 pages. For both paper capacities, larger is better so you don’t need to fill them up all the time.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.