10 Best Compact Printers

The Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is a compact, all-in-one inkjet printer designed to save you money and space, making it a great choice for home or small office use. Its standout feature is the EcoTank system, which uses refillable ink tanks instead of cartridges, allowing you to print thousands of pages with the included ink — up to 4,500 pages in black and 7,500 in color — dramatically reducing running costs. The print quality is sharp, with a high resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi, suitable for both documents and photos.

The print speed is moderate, at about 10 pages per minute in black and even less in color, so it’s better suited for moderate daily use rather than heavy-duty printing. Connectivity options are versatile, including Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and Ethernet, plus mobile device compatibility, so you can easily print from laptops, smartphones, or tablets. The printer is fairly compact and lightweight at 5 kg, with a 100-sheet paper tray and a 30-page automatic document feeder that helps with multi-page tasks. It also supports duplex printing, which saves paper.

On the downside, while it’s compact, it’s not the smallest in its category, so it requires a bit of desk space. Also, while the print speeds are okay for general use, they might feel slow if you need quick, large volume printing. The Epson ET-4800 is a cost-effective, user-friendly option if you want an economical, multi-function printer with good print quality and modern wireless features.

The Epson Expression Home XP-5200 is a compact all-in-one printer ideal for home or small office environments where saving space is important. Utilizing inkjet technology, it delivers sharp print quality with a maximum color resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi, suitable for printing photos and documents with clear detail. Print speeds are moderate, reaching up to 33 pages per minute in black and 20 ppm in color, which is decent though not the fastest in its category. A practical feature is automatic duplex printing, allowing double-sided printing to help save paper effortlessly.

Connectivity options are robust, including Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct, enabling wireless printing from computers, smartphones, and tablets without requiring cables or a network. It also supports printing directly via Epson’s Smart Panel app, enhancing convenience for mobile users. The 150-sheet input tray is sufficient for everyday printing tasks but may require frequent refills for heavier workloads. Weighing 5.2 kg with dimensions around 35 x 38 cm, the printer is compact enough to fit on a desk without crowding the workspace, though it is not particularly lightweight for frequent transport.

The 2.4-inch color display simplifies control of copy and scan functions without needing a computer, adding to user-friendliness. Initial ink cartridges are affordable and available in standard and XL sizes; however, ink costs can accumulate over time, which is typical for inkjet printers. For those seeking a stylish, space-efficient multifunction printer with wireless capabilities and good print quality for everyday use, the XP-5200 is a reliable option. For users prioritizing very fast printing or high portability, there may be more suitable alternatives.

The Brother DCP-L2660DW is a solid choice if you're looking for a compact, all-in-one mono laser printer that handles printing, copying, and scanning efficiently. It offers a fast print speed of up to 34 pages per minute, which is great for quickly producing sharp black-and-white documents. The print resolution of 600 x 600 dpi is standard for laser printers in this category, delivering clear text and decent quality for everyday office needs, though it’s not designed for photo printing or high-detail graphics. Connectivity is convenient with both USB and 5GHz WiFi, allowing easy wireless setup and printing from smartphones or computers. The 6.7cm colour touchscreen makes navigating functions straightforward, so you won’t get lost in complicated menus.

Paper handling is also strong, with a 250-sheet input tray reducing the need for frequent refills and automatic duplex (double-sided) printing helping save paper. On the downside, the printer’s size and weight (almost 11.5 kg and roughly 40 x 41 x 32 cm) make it less portable than smaller compact printers, so it’s better suited for a small office or home workspace rather than carrying around. The maximum resolution and monochrome output mean it won’t handle colour or photo printing, which is typical for a mono laser but worth noting if you need colour prints. Toner cartridges offer a good balance of yield, meaning you can print many pages before needing replacements.

This Brother model is especially well-suited for users who primarily print text documents quickly and reliably with wireless convenience, but it’s not ideal if you need portable or colour printing.