Whether you're a traveling sales rep, real estate agent, field service technician, or digital nomad, having a portable printer means never hunting for a print shop or missing a deadline. Modern portable printers are compact enough to fit in a laptop bag, run on battery power, and connect wirelessly to any device.
1 Who Needs a Portable Printer?
Sales Professionals
Print contracts, proposals, and invoices on client visits
Real Estate Agents
Print documents for signings anywhere
Field Technicians
Print work orders and receipts on-site
Digital Nomads
Work from anywhere with full printing capability
Event Photographers
Print photos on location for instant sales
Frequent Travelers
Never depend on hotel business centers
2 What to Look For in a Portable Printer
Size & Weight
Look for printers under 6 pounds that fit in a laptop bag. The smallest document printers are around 12" x 7" x 3" closed.
Battery Life
Most portable printers print 200-330 pages per charge. Consider how many pages you'll need between charging opportunities.
Connectivity
WiFi Direct lets you print without a network. Bluetooth is convenient for phones. USB works when wireless fails.
Print vs All-in-One
Need to scan documents? The HP OfficeJet 250 is the only compact all-in-one. Print-only models are lighter and cheaper.
3 HP OfficeJet 250 — Best Overall Portable Printer
HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile All-in-One
The only portable printer that prints, scans, AND copies. At just 6.5 pounds, the OfficeJet 250 fits in any laptop bag and delivers 225 pages per battery charge. It's the complete mobile office solution.
Pros
- ✓ Only portable that scans & copies
- ✓ 225 pages per charge
- ✓ Fast 90-min recharge
- ✓ USB thumb drive printing
- ✓ 2.65" color touchscreen
Cons
- ✗ Higher price (~$400)
- ✗ No auto-duplex
- ✗ Larger than print-only models
4 Canon PIXMA TR150 — Best Value Portable Printer
Canon PIXMA TR150
At just 4.5 pounds (5.1 with battery), the TR150 is incredibly compact while delivering excellent print quality. Voice-activated printing via Alexa and Google Assistant adds modern convenience. The optional battery pack provides 330 prints per charge.
Note: Battery is sold separately for ~$80. The printer also works plugged into AC power or USB power.
5 Best Portable Photo Printers
For photographers and social events, dedicated photo printers deliver better quality than document printers. These compact devices print directly from your phone and create instant memories:
Canon SELPHY CP1500
Professional 4x6 dye-sub photos. Water-resistant, smudge-proof prints that last 100+ years. Perfect for events.
HP Sprocket Select
Pocket-sized instant printer for 2.3x3.4" sticky-back photos. Perfect for parties and creative projects.
Fujifilm Instax Link Wide
Instant film prints from your smartphone. Wide format for landscape shots. Retro aesthetic.
Kodak Dock Plus
4x6 photos with built-in iPhone/Android dock. Dye-sublimation for professional quality.
6 Document Printers vs Photo Printers
| Feature | Document Printers | Photo Printers |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Contracts, invoices, reports | Photos, events, memories |
| Paper Size | Up to 8.5x14" | 2x3" to 4x6" |
| Cost Per Page | $0.05-0.15 | $0.25-0.50 per photo |
| Size | Laptop bag | Pocket to small bag |
| Top Pick | HP OfficeJet 250 | Canon SELPHY CP1500 |
7 Battery Life Comparison
8 Frequently Asked Questions
Can I print from my phone with portable printers? ▼
Is the battery included with portable printers? ▼
Can portable printers use regular paper? ▼
Ready to Print Anywhere?
Choose your perfect portable printing solution