Homeschooling is on the rise, and with good reason. It allows parents to take an active role in their child’s education and tailor learning to their unique needs and interests.
But homeschooling comes with its own set of challenges, not the least of which is finding the best printer for homeschooling families.
If you need a color inkjet printer that you don’t need to change to every month, and it can save you money and paper (duplex printing) then I would highly recommend HP Smart Tank 7301.
As a teacher and homeschooling mom, I had experience with a lot of different printers, so I’ll try to introduce you to my top picks – besides the one I mention above – of the best printers for homeschooling families.
Why Do You Need a Printer for Homeschool?
It’s the 21st century. We have smartphones, tablets, and laptops. So why do you need a printer for homeschooling?
In the early days of computing, printers were very expensive and only found in businesses. Today, they’re much cheaper and found in many homes. However, you may be wondering if you really need a printer for homeschool.
Printers are an important part of any homeschooling set-up. They allow for the easy and quick printing of materials, which can be a great time-saver for busy homeschooling families.
In addition, printers can be used to print out worksheets, coloring pages, and other educational materials that can be used in the homeschooling classroom (you don’t have to buy lots of activity books, just print out what you really need).
I love to have a printer to use in teaching printable materials. Tablets and laptops are good, but in some cases I better like off-screen learning opportunities.
I can’t imagine practicing writing without paper and pencil, and if that is associated with some nice, colorful worksheets, that’s a perfect match.
A bonus point is your kid’s excitement when you print the worksheets and they want to grab the printer paper from your home printer.
How to Choose the Best Printer for Homeschool Usage
When it comes to choosing a printer for homeschooling, there are a few factors to consider. The type of printer, the print quality, and the cost of ink are all important factors.
Laser Printers vs Inkjet Printers
Laser printers have been around for decades, and inkjet printers have become increasingly popular in recent years. Both types of printers have their pros and cons, so it’s important to know which one is right for your needs before making a purchase.
If you print mostly text documents, a laser printer is going to be your best bet. Laser printers are faster than inkjet printers and they produce crisp clean text.
They’re also more energy-efficient. The downside is that laser printers are more expensive up front, and the toner cartridges can be pricey.
If you do a lot of printing of photos or other graphics-heavy documents, an inkjet printer is going to be your best bet. Inkjet printers produce superior quality prints, and they’re less expensive than laser printers.
I’ll be very honest. I have both of them. The inkjet printer is for printing photos for some activities, while the laser I’m using for texts, usually printing worksheets in black and white although.
All-In-One or Just Printer for Homeschool
Just like in the world of computers, where an all-in-one is a machine that combines the functions of multiple devices into a single unit, an all-in-one printer is a device that can print, scan, copy, and fax.
The main advantage of an all-in-one printer is convenience. However, there are also some disadvantages to consider.
All-in-one printers tend to be more expensive than simple print-only models. And if one function breaks on the device, you may have to replace the entire unit.
I think an all-in-one printer is worth more, even if it is more expensive, but saves me time and money, not to speak that takes up less space than four separate devices would.
Connectivity
When you’re looking for a printer, connectivity is key. You want to make sure that the printer you choose can connect to all of the devices that you’ll be using it with.
Wi-Fi is the most common way to connect printers to devices these days, so make sure that your printer has Wi-Fi built in.
Bluetooth is another option that some printers have, which can be handy if you have a lot of Bluetooth-enabled devices in your home or office.
Ethernet is another option for connecting your printer, but it’s not as common as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Black and white or color printer
One of the biggest decisions is whether to go with a color or black and white printer. Here are a few things to think about when making your decision:
1. How much printing will you be doing?
If you plan on doing a lot of printing, then a color printer might be the way to go. However, if you only plan on printing occasional documents, then a black and white printer might be all you need.
2. What type of documents will you be printing?
If you’ll be mostly printing text-based documents, then a black and white printer should suffice. However, if you’ll be printing color photos or illustrations, then you’ll need a color printer.
3. How much money do you want to spend?
Price
Compare the cost of printers before you make a purchase.
I know inkjet printers are typically less expensive than laser printers. The initial purchase price of an inkjet printer is usually lower than that of a laser printer, but you also need to know that inkjet cartridges tend to be more expensive than toner cartridges.
The cost of a printer also depends on the features it offers. Printers that include built-in scanners and photocopiers will obviously cost more than those that don’t. But even among similar models, there can be significant price differences.
Best Printers for Homeschool Families Reviewed
For many homeschool families, having a good printer is a must. But with so many different types and models on the market, it can be hard to know which one to choose.
Here are my favorites that I highly recommend if you before buying a printer for homeschooling.
Best HP Ink Printer for Homeschooling – HP Smart Tank 7301
The HP Smart Tank 7301 is an all-in-one printer that is designed for homeschooling. The printer has a built-in tank that holds enough ink to print up to 8,000 pages, and it uses HP’s inkjet technology to produce high-quality prints.
It has an auto-document feeder and duplex printing, which makes it very efficient. Cloud printing is a great feature, as it allows you to print from anywhere.
You don’t have to worry about buying new expensive ink cartridges for a long time, because they include in the starter box up to two years of Original HP ink.
The printer also has a number of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi and Ethernet, so it can be easily connected to a network. The HP Smart Tank 7301 is a versatile and affordable option for homeschooling that need a reliable printer.
My Co-Founder partner, Eniko owns this printer for homeschooling. In our experience the printing is clear and the colors are vibrant. The printer is easy to set up and use.
The print quality is consistent and the printer is very reliable. The only downside is you have to use the app if you want to print remotely.
- Automatic 2-sided printing
- Borderless prints
- Spill free refill
- Cost effective printer
- Remote printing only works with the HP Smart app
- Built material is not the best
Best Economical Printer with Color All-in-One – Epson EcoTank ET-2720
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is an all-in-one wireless printer with high page yield ink bottles. You can print up to 4,000 pages without having to worry about refilling it. It uses refillable ink tanks instead of cartridges, so you can save up to 70% on ink costs.
Not only is it economical to use, but it’s also eco-friendly with its Epson Connect and Energy Star certifications. Plus, setting up the printer is quick and easy with its built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity.
You can choose from some other very similar models too: Epson EcoTank ET-2760 which can do auto 2-sided printing or Epson EcoTank ET-2850.
- Quiet printer
- Zero Cartridge Waste
- Excellent photo print quality
- No fax
- Need to watch the ink level
- If not used for long periods of time it will need head cleanings
Best Cheap Printer for Homeschool – Canon PIXMA TR4520
If you are looking for a printer that would be able to print from your phone, this one fits the bill. The TR4520 also features Wi-Fi connectivity.
This is a great all-in-one printer for homeschooling. It can print, scan, copy and fax, making it a versatile option for those who need an all-in-one device.
With its compact design, the TR4520 is a great space-saving option for small offices.
I own one of these printers and I can say it is an ideal printer for the budget-conscious shopper. With its low price tag, this printer is great value for your money. The Canon PIXMA TR4520 also has high yield instant ink cartridges, so you can save money on ink costs in the long run.
I love that it’s wireless because I don’t have to worry about cords getting in the way. The print quality is great, and it’s really fast too.
This is a printer I have for color printing, and except for the Wi-Fi connectivity, which sometimes drops off, I’m pleased with it.
- Easy to use printer
- Connects automatically to WiFi
- Affordable
- Compact printer
- Short USB cable
- Makes loud noise
- Shuts itself down
- Doesn’t print on both sides
Best All-in-One Color Inkjet Homeschooling Printer: Epson Premium EcoTank 4800 Series
Epson’s newest 4800 EcoTank is one of the best values on the market for an all-in-one printer. It includes print, scan, and photocopy functions, and it can connect to a computer or mobile device via USB, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi.
The biggest selling point of the 4800 EcoTank is its extremely low cost of ownership. The printer comes with two years’ worth of ink included, which is enough to print up to 14,000 pages.
That’s an incredible value compared to traditional printers that need new cartridges every few months.
Its key features are among others the printing speed: up to 10 ISO ppm in black and 5 ISO ppm in color.
It has an input paper tray capacity of up to 100 sheets and an automatic document feeder capacity of up to 30 sheets. It also has a 1.44″ color LCD display for easy viewing of your prints.
The 4800 EcoTank also has some great features for eco-conscious users. It uses Epson’s DURABrite Ultra Ink, which is designed to be less harmful to the environment than other inks on the market.
My experience is pretty good with this printer. Epson’s EcoTank 4800 is a great printer for those who want to save on printing costs. It uses less ink than other printers, so you’ll save money in the long run.
- Easy to set up and use
- Long lasting ink
- Environmental friendly – no cartridge to throw away
- Wireless printing
- Bit noisy
- No automatic duplex printing
- No paper trays, printer paper feeder located on the backside
Best Black and White Laser Homeschool Printer – Brother Monochrome Laser Printer – MFCL2710DW
This best basic printer offers fast printing speeds of up to 27 pages per minute, and it has a monthly duty cycle of up to 10,000 pages.
The printer also has a 250-sheet paper capacity, so you can keep your work area tidy and organized.
Additionally, the printer has automatic double sided printing capabilities, which can help save you time and money on paper costs.
The starter pack includes a Starter Toner Cartridge (approx 700 pages) if with buy Brother HL-L2370DWXL you’ll get up to 2 years of toner in-box. If you want to copy and scan too, try Brother HL-L2390DW model.
I bought this printer for black and white printing and I am very happy with it. It was easy to set up and I love that it is a monochrome laser printer.
It prints very quickly and the quality is great. As I mentioned above I have Canon PIXMA too that has color ink cartridges for mainly printing photos and pictures.
- Wireless
- Works with Alexa
- 2 sided printing
- Quite
- WiFi setup is not that easy
- No scanner
Best Wireless Color Laser Printer for Homeschool – HP Color LaserJet Pro – M283fdw
This HP Color LaserJet Pro model is a compact color laser printer that doesn’t sacrifice speed or quality. It’s perfect for homeschooling.
With print speeds of up to 22 ppm, it can handle even the most demanding printing jobs quickly and easily. And with its 2 sided printing capabilities, it can help you save time and paper.
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw also offers wireless connectivity, so you can print from virtually anywhere in your home.
I worked with this printer in school and it is perfect in every way. The only downside to this printer is the price; it is a bit on the expensive side. However, the price is worth it for the quality of this printer.
- High-quality color
- Print remotely with the HP Smart app
- Wide range of paper support
- One-year limited hardware warranty
- Pricey
FAQ
What is the best and cheapest printer for homeschool learning?
If you want a budget friendly printer that is good too I would recommend Epson EcoTank ET-2720. You pay more when you buy it, but the cartridge lasts much longer and you don’t need to refill it as much as you need other old school inkjet printers. In other words, buying ink will be just a one time year problem.
Final Verdict – Best Homeschool Printer
Choosing a new printer for homeschool is not an easy thing. It is important to consider the cost of both the printer and the cartridges, the printing speed, and the print quality.
With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one. However, by following these guidelines, you can narrow down your choices and find the perfect printer for your needs.
My choice is the HP Smart Tank 7301. With this printer, you’ll do a very good investment and your kids can enjoy all the colorful worksheets and templates that you’ll use for homeschooling for many years ahead.
