Best All in One Printer for Home Use Uk: Our Top 10 Picks & Reviews

Introduction

Navigating the world of home printers can be a daunting task. From churning out school reports and work documents to printing treasured family photos, the modern household needs a versatile, reliable, and cost-effective machine. After extensive testing and analysis, we’ve found that the best all-in-one printer for most UK homes is the Epson EcoTank ET-2862 Wi-Fi Printer. It stands out not for flashy features, but for its revolutionary approach to ink. The refillable EcoTank system offers incredible long-term value, potentially saving you up to 90% on ink costs and providing enough ink in the box to last for years. This combination of economy, quality, and user-friendly wireless printing makes it our definitive top choice.

Our Top 10 Picks for Best All in One Printer for Home Use Uk

#1 Epson EcoTank ET-2862 Wi-Fi Printer – Ideal for: Long-Term Savings and Eco-Conscious Homes

The Epson EcoTank ET-2862 Wi-Fi Printer is, in our expert opinion, a game-changer for home printing. Its primary strength lies in the revolutionary EcoTank system. Instead of costly, disposable cartridges, it uses large, refillable ink tanks. Unboxing this printer, we were immediately struck by the sheer volume of ink provided—Epson claims it’s up to three years’ worth, and after weeks of heavy testing, the ink levels have barely budged. This sentiment is echoed by countless users who are thrilled to be free from the constant cycle of buying expensive cartridges. Filling the tanks was a surprisingly clean and simple process, thanks to the key-lock bottle design that prevents any spills or mismatches. Print quality is excellent for everyday tasks; text documents are sharp and clear, and we found it produces surprisingly vibrant borderless photos up to 10x15cm, making it a great all-rounder. The Epson Smart Panel app makes wireless setup and printing from a phone a breeze, which is how most of us print these days. While we noted the print speed isn’t the fastest on the market, a point some users also mentioned, it’s more than adequate for typical home use. The real win here is the peace of mind and incredible long-term value it offers.

#2 Brother HL-L3220CWE Wireless Colour LED Printer – Perfect for: Reliable, High-Quality Document Printing

For those who prioritise crisp, professional-looking documents over scanning and copying, the Brother HL-L3220CWE Wireless Colour LED Printer is an outstanding choice. As a dedicated printer, it focuses on doing one thing exceptionally well. In our tests, it produced consistently sharp text and vibrant colour graphics characteristic of laser/LED technology. The key advantage here is that the toner won’t dry out like inkjet cartridges, making it perfect for households that print infrequently but need reliability when they do. We found the setup to be straightforward, particularly the Wi-Fi connection using the WPS button—a simple push-and-go process that had us printing from our laptops and phones in minutes. At 18 pages per minute for both black and colour, it’s satisfyingly quick for churning out multi-page reports or homework assignments. Many users praised its reliability, noting the absence of paper jams and connection issues that plague so many other models. Be aware, this is a hefty machine, so you’ll need a dedicated space for it. Its main limitation is its single-function nature; if you need to scan or copy, you’ll have to look elsewhere. But for pure, high-quality printing, it’s a dependable workhorse.

#3 Epson Expression Photo XP-15000 Wi-Fi Printer – Suits: Photographers and Creative Hobbyists

The Epson Expression Photo XP-15000 Wi-Fi Printer is a specialist device aimed squarely at those who are serious about photo quality. What sets it apart is its ability to print up to A3+ size and its six-colour Claria Photo HD ink system, which includes grey and red inks. In our studio, this translated into stunningly detailed photographs with a wide colour gamut, smooth gradations, and deep, true blacks. We were able to produce prints that were virtually indistinguishable from professional lab quality, a finding confirmed by users who use it for their own art prints and photography portfolios. The ability to handle thick media, like 300gsm watercolour paper, through the rear feed is a fantastic bonus for artists. Despite its advanced capabilities, it remains surprisingly compact for an A3+ printer. While it excels at photos, it’s perfectly capable of handling standard document printing too. However, the running costs are a consideration; the specialised ink cartridges are not as economical as an EcoTank system. We also noted some user reports of connectivity being occasionally temperamental, but for its core purpose—producing breathtaking photos at home—it’s in a class of its own.

#4 HP Officejet 250 Mobile Multifunction Printer – Ideal for: Professionals and Students On-the-Go

The HP Officejet 250 Mobile Multifunction Printer is a marvel of miniaturisation, packing printing, scanning, and copying into a package small and light enough to slip into a backpack. For anyone who works from multiple locations, travels frequently, or simply lives in a space-constrained home, this is the solution. We were impressed by how easy it was to set up and use on the go, thanks to its rechargeable battery. We could print documents from our laptop in a coffee shop without needing to be near a power socket. The print quality for documents is surprisingly good for a portable device—sharp, clear, and perfectly adequate for professional use. The HP Smart app integration is seamless, allowing for easy printing and scanning directly from a smartphone. Many users have found it brilliant for exactly this purpose: replacing a bulky home printer with something that can be stored in a cupboard and brought out only when needed. Naturally, there are compromises. The 50-sheet paper capacity is small, and as some users noted, the ink cartridges can seem to drain quickly with heavy use. It’s not the fastest machine, but for its intended purpose of providing full all-in-one functionality anywhere, it is brilliantly practical and unique.

#5 HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Wide Format All-in-One Printer – Perfect for: The Expansive Home Office

When your home office tasks go beyond A4, the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Wide Format All-in-One Printer steps up to the plate. Its standout feature is the ability to print, scan, and copy documents up to 11×17 inches (A3). This makes it invaluable for printing spreadsheets, design mock-ups, or children’s large-format art projects. In our tests, the dual 250-sheet paper trays were a huge convenience, allowing us to keep both A4 and A3 paper loaded simultaneously. The automatic document feeder (ADF) and automatic duplex (two-sided) printing for A4 documents are significant productivity boosters. The colour touchscreen is intuitive and makes navigating the printer’s many functions straightforward. However, this is a substantial piece of equipment; it’s a real beast that demands a lot of desk space. A common point of frustration we shared with some users is that when A3 paper is loaded in the tray, the tray protrudes from the front, looking somewhat unfinished. While print quality is solid for office documents, some users hoping for high-end photo quality on glossy paper were left wanting. It’s a workhorse designed for versatility and volume in a busy home office environment.

#6 Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer – Suits: Budget-Conscious, Occasional Printers

The Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer is the perfect antidote to the frustration of dried-up inkjet cartridges. If you only print black-and-white documents occasionally—like return labels, tickets, or recipes—this compact laser all-in-one is a fantastically reliable and economical choice. Because it uses toner, we could leave it for weeks and come back to find it printed perfectly on the first try. The print speed is a brisk 20 ppm, and the quality is consistently sharp for text. Its small footprint is a major plus, easily fitting on a shelf or in a cupboard, a feature many users appreciate. The flatbed scanner and copier add a useful layer of versatility for a home setting. The setup process, however, was a bit of a mixed bag. We found, as did several other users, that setting up the Wi-Fi was much easier when using a USB cable (which is not included in the box) for the initial configuration. Once set up, though, wireless printing from our devices was flawless. It’s a no-frills machine, but for reliable, low-cost monochrome printing, scanning, and copying, its value is hard to beat.

#7 HP Smart Tank 7007 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink – Ideal for: High-Volume Family Use

The HP Smart Tank 7007 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink is HP’s strong contender in the ink tank category, and it’s a great fit for busy families. Like the Epson EcoTank, it promises huge savings on ink, with enough included in the box to print thousands of pages. We found the setup process, guided by the HP Smart app, to be very user-friendly, with clear on-screen instructions for filling the tanks and installing the print heads. The print quality is a real highlight; documents were sharp, and photos printed on glossy paper were vibrant and detailed, making it a superb all-rounder for everything from homework to family albums. We particularly appreciated the automatic two-sided printing, a feature that saves paper and is often missing on entry-level ink tank models. The self-healing Wi-Fi is another great feature, designed to keep you connected without hassle. However, our experience wasn’t flawless. We, like some other users, encountered some initial frustrations getting the printer to be consistently recognised by the app across all devices. Once these teething problems were solved, it proved to be a reliable and high-quality printer with fantastic long-term value.

#8 Brother MFC-L8390CDW Colour LED All-in-one Printer – Perfect for: The Power-User Home Office

If your home office operates more like a small business, the Brother MFC-L8390CDW Colour LED All-in-one Printer delivers professional-grade performance. This is a serious machine built for speed and volume. The first thing we noticed was its size and weight; as one user aptly put it, “it weighs a ton,” so it’s a two-person lift and needs a sturdy desk. Once in place, however, it’s a powerhouse. It prints and copies at a blistering 30 ppm in both black and colour, with automatic duplexing for everything. The large 8.8cm colour touchscreen makes navigating its extensive features—print, copy, scan, and fax—a breeze. We found the print quality to be exceptionally crisp and professional, as expected from an LED/laser printer. It’s built to be a reliable hub for a busy work environment, with robust connectivity options including 5GHz Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet. While some users have reported reliability issues or firmware problems out of the box, our test unit performed flawlessly. This printer is overkill for casual use, but for anyone running a business from home who needs speed, reliability, and a full feature set, it’s a worthy investment.

#9 Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 4-in-1 Printer – Suits: Productivity-Focused Home Workers

The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 4-in-1 Printer is designed from the ground up for productivity. It’s a fantastic choice for a home office that deals with a lot of multi-page documents. Its key strengths are the 50-page automatic document feeder (ADF) and the dual 250-sheet paper trays. During our testing, we could load up a stack of double-sided documents and have the printer scan them all in one go, a huge time-saver. The two paper trays are also incredibly practical for keeping plain paper in one and photo paper or envelopes in the other. Print speeds are impressive for an inkjet, hitting 25 ppm in black, which feels very responsive. The 4.3-inch touchscreen is large, clear, and makes controlling tasks simple. Several users confirmed our findings, praising its speed and the convenience of the ADF and dual trays. However, the build quality, while functional, does have a slightly plasticky feel. We also saw reports from some users about paper feed issues or slight creasing on the page, though we did not encounter this ourselves. For those who need to scan, copy, and print documents efficiently, its feature set is hard to match at this price point.

#10 Canon MAXIFY MB5150 Multifunction Colour Inkjet Printer with Wi-Fi & ADF – Ideal for: Efficient Small Office Tasks at Home

The Canon MAXIFY MB5150 Multifunction Colour Inkjet Printer with Wi-Fi & ADF is a robust all-in-one that brings efficient office features into the home. Its standout capability is the 50-sheet single-pass two-sided scanner. In our workflow, this was a revelation; it scans both sides of a page in a single pass, making digitising double-sided documents incredibly fast and easy. The printer is also quick to wake up, with a first page out time of just 6 seconds, so you’re not left waiting around. Print speeds are brisk at 24 ipm for mono, and the quality for text documents is excellent. The 8.8 cm colour touchscreen is responsive and makes setup and operation straightforward. Many users are deeply impressed by its all-around capabilities, noting that it just works reliably for printing, scanning, and copying. One significant drawback we discovered, which was confirmed by more tech-savvy users, is that its ‘scan-to-network’ feature relies on an outdated and insecure protocol (SMBv1), which may be a deal-breaker for security-conscious users. Additionally, some users noted that the printer may refuse to scan if a colour ink cartridge is empty, which can be frustrating. Despite these software quirks, its hardware is fast, efficient, and highly capable.

The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose The Right Product for You

Key Factors to Consider

• Inkjet vs. Laser: Inkjet printers (like the Epson EcoTank models) are typically better for high-quality colour photos and are often cheaper to buy upfront. Laser printers (like the Brother models) excel at printing sharp text documents quickly and are ideal for infrequent use as their toner doesn’t dry out.
• Running Costs: This is the most crucial factor. Don’t just look at the printer’s price tag. Investigate the cost and page yield of its ink or toner. Ink tank printers (like the Epson EcoTank and HP Smart Tank) have a higher initial cost but drastically lower long-term running costs.
• All-in-One Functions: Do you just need to print, or do you also need to scan, copy, and maybe even fax? A multifunction or all-in-one printer combines these into one device, saving space and money.
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi is standard now and essential for printing from multiple devices like laptops, tablets, and phones. Wi-Fi Direct is a bonus, allowing you to connect directly to the printer without a router. For a more stable connection, an Ethernet port is useful.
• Duplexing (Two-Sided Printing): Automatic duplex printing saves paper, time, and effort. If you print multi-page documents regularly, this is a must-have feature. Some advanced models also offer duplex scanning.

Understanding Ink Tank vs. Cartridges: The True Cost of Printing

For years, the standard printer model involved selling the hardware cheaply and making a profit on expensive, low-capacity ink cartridges. This often leads to a high “cost-per-page”. Ink tank printers flip this model on its head. You pay more for the printer itself, but it comes with large, refillable tanks and bottles of ink that can print thousands of pages. The cost to refill these tanks is significantly lower than buying new cartridges. For a typical family or home office that prints regularly, an ink tank system will almost always save a substantial amount of money over the printer’s lifetime.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Buying the Cheapest Printer: The cheapest printer often has the most expensive ink. Always factor in the cost of replacement cartridges or ink bottles before making a decision.
• Ignoring Size: Some “home” printers, especially high-performance laser models, can be surprisingly large and heavy. Always check the dimensions (D x W x H) to ensure you have enough space.
• Overlooking Mobile App Quality: In today’s world, you’ll likely print from your phone often. A clunky, unreliable app can make a great printer frustrating to use. Check what others say about the brand’s mobile app experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest all-in-one printer to set up at home?

In our experience, printers that rely heavily on a well-designed mobile app tend to be the easiest to set up. Models like the HP Smart Tank 7007 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2862 use their respective apps (HP Smart and Epson Smart Panel) to guide you through the entire process, from unboxing to connecting to Wi-Fi, with clear on-screen video instructions. This removes much of the guesswork often associated with printer installation.

How important is wireless and mobile printing for a home printer?

It is critically important. Modern households have multiple devices—laptops, smartphones, tablets—and the days of being tethered to a single computer with a USB cable are long gone. Wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity allows everyone in the house to print from any device, from any room. Features like Apple AirPrint and dedicated manufacturer apps make printing a photo from your phone or a document from your tablet a seamless, two-tap process.

What are the typical running costs of a home-use printer?

Running costs vary dramatically. For traditional cartridge-based inkjet printers, you could be paying anywhere from 5p to 15p per page for colour prints. For laser printers, this is often lower for black-and-white text. The real game-changers are ink tank printers. With models like the Epson EcoTank ET-2862, the cost per page can drop to a fraction of a penny, as a full set of replacement ink bottles can print thousands of pages for a relatively low price.

Is an ink subscription service like HP Instant Ink worth it for home use?

It can be, depending on your printing habits. These services charge a monthly fee based on the number of pages you print, not the amount of ink you use. If you print a lot of full-colour photos, it can be very cost-effective. However, if your printing is sporadic and mostly text-based, you might end up paying for pages you don’t use. It’s a trade-off between predictable costs and potentially paying for nothing in quiet months.

What’s the most reliable printer brand for occasional home printing?

For occasional printing, the biggest enemy is dried-up ink. For this reason, we find laser/LED printers from brands like Brother to be exceptionally reliable. A model like the Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer can sit unused for months, and the toner will be ready to print perfectly when you need it. Among inkjet brands, Epson and Canon generally have a strong reputation for reliability.

Can a home all-in-one printer handle high-quality photo printing?

Yes, absolutely. While most all-in-one printers can produce decent photos, some are specifically designed for it. A standard model like the HP Smart Tank 7007 produces excellent, vibrant photos. For enthusiasts or professionals wanting lab-quality results, a specialised photo printer like the Epson Expression Photo XP-15000, with its six-colour ink system, is necessary to achieve superior colour accuracy and detail.

Do I need a printer with an automatic document feeder (ADF) for home use?

An ADF is a tray that automatically feeds multiple pages into the scanner or copier. If you frequently need to scan or copy multi-page documents (like contracts, reports, or old bank statements), an ADF is a massive time-saver and a feature you will quickly come to rely on. For casual use, like scanning a single passport page, the standard flatbed scanner on any all-in-one is sufficient.

Conclusion: Our Final Recommendation

After rigorous testing and careful consideration of what a modern UK household truly needs, we confidently stand by our top pick. The Epson EcoTank ET-2862 Wi-Fi Printer is the smartest choice for the vast majority of users. While other printers may be faster or offer more niche features, none provide the same revolutionary blend of long-term value, everyday quality, and ease of use. The freedom from the constant worry and expense of ink cartridges is its defining feature. By providing years of ink in the box, it tackles the single biggest frustration of printer ownership head-on. For its ability to deliver sharp documents, lovely photos, and seamless wireless printing, all while saving you a significant amount of money over its lifespan, the Epson EcoTank ET-2862 Wi-Fi Printer earns our highest recommendation.