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The best printer for students will encompass everything, from size to cost to multi-level functions. It's one of the most important dorm room essentials because no one wants to spend time trekking across campus to get to the library to print out a paper (especially if you finished writing it at midnight).
Designed to make your life easier, a quality printer will save you plenty of time and should last you for years to come. And, believe it or not, there are tons of affordable printers available for $100 and less, whether you’re looking for a traditional inkjet device or a specialized photo printer.
Nowadays, you don't even have to be in the same room to print out documents. The best printers will offer various components like bluetooth connectivity, automatic feeders for multi-page documents, and a much better ergonomic design that can fit well into smaller spaces.
So if you're looking to add a new printer to your back-to-school shopping list, you've come to the right place. We've browsed through hundreds of customer reviews and selects to find the best affordable picks.
Ahead, discover 11 of the best printers for students to use in their dorm rooms.
Epson Workforce Pro WF-3820 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer
Best Overall Printer for Students
This printer received Amazon's choice award for a reason. It's built for speedy, high volume printing (thanks to a special precision core heat-free tech), has an auto two-sided printing feature, and a large color touchscreen for quick navigation and control. Plus, it's also eco-friendly, designed with recyclable products, and has low energy consumption.
Pros: Wireless Setup, Low Energy Consumption, Hold 250 Sheets of Paper
Cons: Some Users Note the Printer Uses up a Lot of Ink Quickly
HP Sprocket 3x4 Instant Photo Printer
Best Photo Printer for Students
The HP Sprocket photo printer is best for students who enjoy having actual print photos to hang up on their dorm room walls or to add to scrapbooks and photo albums. Designed to handle all your photo printing needs effortlessly, this portable, lightweight printer (3x4) offers wireless printing no matter where you are. All you have to do is connect your iOS or Android via bluetooth, and boom, you can print directly from your cellphone. It also provides high-quality photos on waterproof, smudge-proof, and sticky-backed paper.
In addition, you can download the HP Sprocket app to customize your photos before printing. With the app, you'll have access to all kinds of fun photo editing perks like stickers, borders, filters, and unique effects. It may be a cheap printer, but it's a high-quality device that will last you throughout your college years and beyond—you'll be packing up this baby from your dorm room and setting it up in your home office before you know it.
Pros: Unbeatable price, easy setup, fast printing speeds, color printing
Cons: Limited Photo Sizing
HP DeskJet 2755e Wireless Color All-in-One Printer with bonus 6 months Instant Ink
Best Budget Printer for Students
With a 4.3-star rating and over 700 rave reviews, it’s safe to say that Amazon customers are getting a lot of use out of this printer. You can print, copy, scan in color, and mobile print thanks to its wireless features. It also comes with additional smart features and HP+, which gives you six free months of an instant ink subscription (now that's a great deal). After six months, you'll have to pay the monthly fee, but you do get to save 50% on each ink purchase.
Pros: Multiple connections via Bluetooth, wi-fi, and USB, easy setup,
Cons: Customers Note That You Have to Manually Feed Your Double-Side Document Into the Feeder
Canon PIXMA G3260 Wireless Color All-in-One Printer
Best Heavy Duty Printer for Students
If you're planning on printing a lot of projects, documents, and photos - this may be the best pick for you. The PIXMA is an all-in-one printer that will provide you with high-quality printed documents, borderless photos, and more! It also comes with a mega tank ink cartridge set that holds up to 30 times more ink than traditional cartridges, according to the brand. Meaning, you can print up to 6,000 black and 7,700 color pages per ink bottle set. Its special features also incles an easy-to-use LCD screen, wireless connectivity, ad versatile printing options, ranging from 3x5 to 8x11 sizing.
Pros: Wireless, Mega Ink Cartridge Tank, All-in-One Printer
Cons: Some Users Note It Prints at a Slow Speed
Canon ImageCLASS LBP6030w 8468B003 USB & Wireless Black & White Laser Printer
Best Monochrome Printer for Students
Featuring advanced wi-fi connectivity and a high-speed USB 2.0 port, this printer makes it easy to print black and white documents from anywhere, including shared computers, mobile devices, and external hard drives. The brand claims that it can produce up to 19 pages per minute, great for when you're in a rush to get to class. You can also create custom mailers thanks to its special imageClass feature that can hold 10 envelopes at once.
Pros: Laser Printing, High-Quality Prints, RAM Memory
Cons: Some Users Note It's Difficult to Setup
Brother MFC-J1010DW Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer
Dorm rooms are not that big, so you'll want to try to maximize your space as much as possible with smaller items. Fortunately, this printer can deliver everything you want in a compact, sleek size. The features include fast inkjet print speeds, multiple connection options, wireless printing and scanning, and versatile paper handling. The paper tray can hold up to 150 sheets at a time, and there's an automatic duplex (two-sided) feature to help save paper.
Pros: Compact Size, Fast Print Speeds, Affordable
Cons: Some Users Note the Small Screen Is Difficult to Use
Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Color Inkjet Printer
“This is an excellent little printer with BIG possibilities!” wrote one satisfied customer. The Epson WorkForce offers print resolutions of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi (a.k.a superb high quality), a color LCD screen (to help you view current and upcoming jobs), wireless connectivity, and mobile printing capabilities making it ideal for busy students always on the go. It's also energy star certified, which means it was designed to use less energy than alternative printers - so you can feel good about reducing your carbon print and save money!
Pros: 1.4" LCD Color Screen, Compatible with PCS and Macs, Energy Efficient
Cons: Some Users Report It Has Low Battery Life
Pantum Monochrome Jet Printer P2502W
This compact printer from Pantum has the ability to print crystal clear documents along with copying and scanning capabilities. With an easy one-step driver installation, you can easily print from your iPhone or iPad with the AirPrint feature. An added plus: The printer also comes with an all-in-one toner cartridge, 150-page input tray, and a wireless connection.
Pros: Compact Size, Wireless Connection, Affordable
Cons: Some Users Report They Had Connection Difficulties With Wi-Fi
Canon Selphy CP1300 Photo Printer
If you’re prioritizing top-notch photo print quality, the Selphy CP1300 from Canon is the printer for you. The ultra-sleek photo printer can print images as squares, rectangles, and even photo booth-style strips of pics. Since you can edit the photos directly on the printer’s screen, you can be sure every image will print exactly the way you want it to. Print candids from your phone using the printer’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, or straight from your favorite camera using its multiple memory card slots and USB port.
Pros: Affordable, Compact, Mobile Printing Capabilities, Wireless
Cons: Only Prints Photos
Epson XP-7100 Inkjet Printer
HP Tango X Printer
The Tango X might be small, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to replace its ink cartridges on a regular basis. The printer is compatible with special high-yield cartridges, which require far less frequent replacement than typical cartridges and will save you money long term. Equipped with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, it’s easy to set up, and you can even tell it what to print via a voice-activated system. When it’s not in use, store it in the provided linen cover to keep it looking brand new.
Pros: Easy Setup, Protective Cover, Mobile Printing Capabilities, Voice-Activated Printing
Cons: Expensive
