A printer is one of the more useful gifts you can give, and one of the easier ones to get wrong. The right one depends on what the person prints: photos, school papers, labels for an online shop, or art. This guide is sorted from the big gift down to stocking stuffers, so you can stop at your budget. Everything links to Amazon, where you can check the current price. If you are shopping the sale, see our Black Friday printer deals.
Quick answer
For a household that prints, the safest big gift is a printer with low running costs: the HP Smart Tank 7603 (ink included per the listing) or the Brother MFC-L3720CDW color laser. For a photo lover, a Canon SELPHY CP1500 is a classic. Under $50, ink, photo paper or a label maker is the most used.
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A wireless color laser all-in-one that prints, copies and scans. Laser toner does not dry out between uses, which suits a household that prints in bursts. Compare it with other models in our best laser printers guide.
Check price →How to Choose a Printer Gift
The first question is always how much they print. A household that prints every week is a good match for a refillable ink tank printer, because ink is cheap per page and nothing has to be replaced in a hurry. A household that prints a few pages a month is a better match for a laser, because toner does not dry out. Someone who prints photos should get a photo-oriented inkjet or a dedicated 4x6 printer. Someone who sells online should get a thermal label printer, which uses no ink at all.
The second question is what they already own. Giving a printer to someone who has a working one rarely lands well, but giving supplies for a printer they love almost always does. Check the printer’s model number and order the cartridge or bottle that matches it. A wrong ink number is the most common returned printer gift.
The third question is running costs. Printers are often priced low because the maker earns on ink. Before you buy, look at what a refill costs and how many pages it prints. Our ink tank printer guide and best printers guide compare running costs, and our best all-in-one printers page covers print, copy and scan models.
Finally, plan for setup. Wireless setup trips up many first-time owners. Our guide to connecting a printer to Wi-Fi walks through it, and the free printer test pages let the recipient check that colors, black and nozzles print correctly on day one, while the printer can still be returned.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| If they… | Top gift | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| print every week | Epson EcoTank ET-2400 | Mid-range |
| print a few pages a month | Brother HL-L2460DW | Mid-range |
| love printing photos | Canon SELPHY CP1500 | Mid-range |
| sell online | Phomemo M110 | Under $50 |
| are a photographer | Canon PIXMA PRO-200S | Premium |
The Big Gift
Printers worth giving to someone who prints a lot, whether photos, school and work papers or a home business.
A 13-inch professional pigment inkjet for fine art and photo prints. It is a specialist gift: the person needs to already care about print quality, color profiles and paper. See our best photo printers for how it compares.
Check price →A 13-inch dye-based photo printer aimed at enthusiasts and small studios. Dye ink gives vivid color on glossy paper, and the printer is more manageable in size and cost than the PRO-310.
Check price →A refillable-tank all-in-one for heavy printing, with a wide format for printing and copying beyond letter size per the listing. The upfront cost is high, but low cost per page suits a busy office. Read our best ink tank printers.
Check price →An ink tank all-in-one that the listing says comes with three years of ink included. That makes it an unusually complete gift because the recipient does not have to buy ink right away.
Check price →Mid-Range
Printers and printing gadgets that fit most households and most gift budgets.
A compact cartridge-free tank printer that prints, copies and scans. It is the usual starting point for a household that is tired of buying ink cartridges.
Check price →A six-color refillable photo all-in-one. It is aimed at people who want better photo output than a basic tank printer without stepping up to a professional model.
Check price →A compact wireless monochrome laser. For someone who prints a few pages at a time and wants it to work every time, it is hard to beat. See our inkjet vs laser comparison.
Check price →A wireless inkjet all-in-one with photo-oriented features. It is a good all-round gift for a household that prints photos a few times a year.
Check price →A compact dye-sublimation photo printer that makes 4x6 prints that come out dry and smudge-resistant. It is a classic gift for family photo albums. Read our portable printer guide.
Check price →A pocket-sized printer that turns phone photos into small instant-style prints. Good for teens, scrapbookers and party hosts.
Check price →A docking photo printer for 4x6 prints that charges and prints from a phone. Check the cost of refill cartridges before buying, since photo printers use proprietary media.
Check price →A connected label maker that prints from a phone or computer. Useful for organizing a workshop, pantry or shipping supplies. See our best label printers.
Check price →A small printer that prints adhesive-back photos from a phone. A fun gift for someone who likes to decorate journals and gifts.
Check price →Under $50
Printing supplies and small devices that suit a gift but still get used.
A small thermal label printer with no ink to buy. Good for labeling bins, spices and handmade goods.
Check price →Refill ink is a practical gift if you know what the recipient prints on. Check the bottle number against the printer model before you buy.
Check price →Standard ink for a very common home printer series. Match the cartridge number to the printer first.
Check price →A heavyweight cotton rag fine art paper for archival prints. An upgrade for anyone who frames their own work.
Check price →A textured fine art paper that adds a handmade feel to prints. Check that your printer supports the paper weight.
Check price →Stocking Stuffers
Cheap, useful and easy to wrap.
A big pack of glossy photo paper makes holiday card and photo printing easy. Check that the paper matches your printer type.
Check price →Direct thermal labels need no ink. A useful add-on for someone who sells online.
Check price →Gift Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying ink without the model number. Ink and toner are specific to printer series. Write the model down or ask.
- Giving a printer to someone who prints rarely. Inkjet ink can dry out. A laser or a tank printer used monthly avoids that.
- Ignoring the room. Large all-in-ones and photo printers need desk space and a power outlet.
- Forgetting to leave a receipt. A gift receipt makes returning a wrong model easy.
- Skipping the test. Print a test page right away. If something is wrong, use our printer fix guides or return it.
A printer that arrives broken or prints streaks can be sorted out quickly: see the streaks and lines fix and the print spooler error fix for the most common first-week problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good gift for someone who has a printer?
Supplies they will definitely use: the right ink or toner for their model, photo paper, or fine art paper. Check the model number before you order so you buy the correct cartridge or bottle.
What is the best printer to give as a gift?
For most households, a refillable tank printer such as the Epson EcoTank ET-2400 is a safe gift because it has low ongoing costs. For someone who prints only a little, a compact monochrome laser such as the Brother HL-L2460DW is a safer choice because toner does not dry out.
Is a photo printer a good gift?
Yes, for someone who prints photos. Compact 4x6 dye-sublimation printers are popular for family albums. A pocket printer is more of a novelty. Check the cost of refill paper and cartridges, since those are the running costs.
Should I buy an ink tank printer or a laser printer as a gift?
Ask how much they print. Weekly printers benefit from a tank printer because ink is cheaper per page. Occasional printers benefit from laser. Our inkjet vs laser comparison explains the trade-off.
Are printers cheaper during the holiday sales?
Printers are promoted heavily during the sale season, but offers change. Pick the model first, then check the live price on the product page. See our Black Friday printer deals for what is worth watching.
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