You don’t have to spend all of your hard-earned cash to get a great printer.
There are plenty of more affordable options out there from a variety of different brands. It’s all about doing your research and knowing where to look.
In this guide, you will find some of the best budget printers that money can buy. Each one comes in at under $150, making them great options for people who want a lot in an affordable package.
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Who Should Get This
Many of us need a quality printer. Whether you run a business from home or simply want the option to be able to print a document from time to time, having a printer around the house allows you to easily accomplish your task without having to go to a different location.
Though many printers are pretty expensive, the ones here are much lower in price. That makes them perfect for those on a budget.
Every item in this article makes a great option for students, small business owners, or anyone else who wants a printer without spending an arm and a leg.
While these budget printers are all feature-heavy, they aren’t the top-of-the-line options meant for a lot of output.
If you need a printer for serious professional purposes, you might need to find something else.
Best Printer Under $150: Our Picks
All of the following budget printers give you strong traits and good characteristics at a low cost.
1. HP DeskJet 4155e
- Best For: Overall
- Key Features: Great connectivity. Print, copy, and scanning capabilities. HP+ functionality. Instant Ink.
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Bluetooth, WiFi
- Sheet Size: 3 x 5 to 8.5 x 14 inches
- Dimensions: 16.85 x 13.07 x 7.87 inches
A well-rounded printer with an affordable price tag, the HP DeskJet 4155e is perfect for users who want a strong option with plenty of features. It can do a little bit of everything (print, copy, scan) and gives you great resolution in both color and monochrome.
Adding to that are three excellent HP features. You get access to the useful Smart App, 6 months of free Instant Ink, as well as the HP+ system. All of those increase the general usefulness and make everything easier in the long run.
This item is just a bit tricky to install. As long as you don’t mind some extra work upfront, it’s absolutely worth the time investment.
2. Canon ImageClass LBP6030w
- Best For: Monochrome
- Key Features: Excellent connectivity. High 150-sheet capacity. Energy Saver mode. Canon Genuine Toner 125.
- Connectivity Technology: WiFi, USB
- Sheet Size: 8.5 x 11
- Dimensions: 9.8 x 14.3 x 7.8 inches
This Canon ImageClass is a strong budget printer that mixes strong connectivity with a high paper capacity (150 sheets) and a quick printing speed. That power is then backed up by multifunctional connectivity that freely works with Android and Apple products.
This model manages to stay relatively compact too, which is a big deal for anyone who wants to save some space in their office or on their desk. The Energy Saver Mode cuts down on electricity use and the Canon Genuine Toner works extremely well.
This printer does a lot, but it’s limited in that it’s monochrome. You won’t be able to print in color when using it, which does restrict certain projects. If that’s not a problem, this is a perfect pick.
3. Pantum P3012DW
- Best For: Connectivity
- Key Features: Automatic duplex printing. Strong connectivity. Quick print speed. 1-year standard warranty. Fast installation.
- Connectivity Technology: WiFi, USB, Ethernet
- Sheet Size: 8.5 x 11
- Dimensions: 13.94 x 13.15 x 9.13 inches
This model from Pantum is versatile, fast, and won’t cost an arm and a leg. Despite managing to stay at a lower price point, this printer comes with multiple connection options (WiFi, USB, ethernet) and one of the easiest setups on the market.
Everything here is easy to grasp and completely wireless. The metal frame construction is another big bonus, delivering an extra level of durability to the entire machine. There’s a 1-year standard warranty on top of that too.
This printer, for all of its great features, is on the bulky side. It won’t take over your entire workspace, but it doesn’t come with the sleekness or attractive look you often see in other modern choices.
4. Epson Expression Home XP-4100
- Best For: Connection
- Key Features: Auto 2-sided printing. Easy setup. Great interface. Strong wireless connectivity.
- Connectivity Technology: WiFi
- Maximum Print Speed: 10 pages per minute
- Dimensions: 6.93 x 5.75 x 2.99 inches
If you’re after a strong wireless printer that comes at a more affordable cost, the Epson Expression Home goes a long way. This model has incredibly reliable connection options, and is compatible with just about any portable or smart device you might have at home.
Another excellent reason this works is the simple design. Rather than being too overbearing, everything is easy to use and straightforward. The Auto 2-sided printing helps save paper, the setup is a breeze, and the 2.4-inch color screen is a synch to operate.
The biggest issue you’ll run into when using this device is customer service. It’s not the best or the most reliable, which can be an issue if you have a problem. Luckily, the manual is quite thorough.
5. HP DeskJet 3755
- Best For: All-in-One
- Key Features: All-in-One design. AirPrint and Instant Ink. HP Smart App. Compact. Fully wireless.
- Connectivity Technology: WiFi
- Sheet Size: 3 x 5 to 8.5 x 14 inches, Letter, Legal, Envelope
- Dimensions: 15.86 x 6.97 x 5.55 inches
Another excellent DeskJet, the 3755 is a cheaper printer with all of your favorite modern specs. Not only do you get full access to the HP suite (Instant Ink and Smart App) but there are plenty of compatible systems. Everything is fully wireless as well.
Being able to break from cords goes a long way if you’re trying to save space, as does the more compact design. The LCD display looks incredible and this option supports many different sizes. Whatever you need to print, it will deliver. You can fax, copy, and scan as well.
This printer does tend to glitch from time to time. That can be annoying when trying to set up a larger job, but it’s a quick fix for people doing much more casual work.
6. Pixma TS3520
- Best For: Budget
- Key Features: Small, compact design. Easy-to-navigate 1.5-inch LCD screen. Easy smartphone or computer setup. Rear paper tray.
- Connectivity Technology: WiFi, USB
- Sheet Size: 4 x 6, 5 x 5, 5 x 7, 8.5 x 11, 8.5 x 14
- Dimensions: 17.2 x 12.9 x 5.8 inches
While all of the printers on this list are affordable in one way or another, the Pixma TS3520 from Canon is even cheaper than most. This is an incredibly functional printer that, while not the sleekest or most modern choice, is compact enough to fit just about anywhere.
Not only that, but it comes with various adjustment settings as well as a 1.5-inch LCD screen that allows you to seamlessly control everything. It only takes a few moments to get up and running, and the quality remains strong no matter what you print.
This model doesn’t have the most consistent connectivity, and it tends to use a good amount of ink. Even so, it’s hard to beat the features you get for the lower price.
Cheap Printer Under $150: What to Consider
Monochrome or Color
Most budget printers fall under the monochrome category. This means they only print in black in white. While that may not be a problem for a majority of your printing needs, it’s an important consideration to think about.
If you need color printing options, there are some that fall under $150 but you’ll find far more monochrome-style options. Several listed here are monochrome, with the HP options being the only ones with color capabilities.
Connectivity
With any printer, you want to make sure that it has all of the connectivity options you need. That includes built-in ports like Ethernet and USB connections.
Also consider WiFi connectivity, as that makes printing from any device quite easy. Always double check the technical specs before you buy to ensure your printer has everything you need.
Cost
If you’re reading this guide, cost is an obvious concern. Luckily, you don’t have to search for good budget options because we’ve done the research for you. The goal should be to get a lot of great features without paying too much up front.
There are some features you might miss out on by getting a printer that’s more affordable, but the cheaper choices listed below will still give you quality performance.
Additional Features
You should also be on the lookout for any other additional features you might need or want out of your printer. I personally like a touchscreen control panel, as it makes things easier to use.
You might also want to think about aspects like how many pages per minute the printer can handle, if it has scanning capabilities, or if it’s energy efficient. A warranty is nice to have as well.
Useful Tips
Even the most expensive printers can experience technical difficulties from time to time. Luckily, a lot of these problems are fairly easy to troubleshoot with the owner’s manual or by asking customer service.
If you can’t find the solution you are looking for there, check out this video with some advice on how to fix the 5 most common printer problems.
Final Words
Any of the printers listed in this guide makes for a great budget option. You don’t always need to spend a lot of money to get a high-quality device, and the choices here prove that point.
If you’re looking for a way to solve your printing solutions while also saving some cash, give these a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Do you know of a great printer under $150 that didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments below!
