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Most of us are guilty of keeping too many photos stored on our phones and computers and never getting around to actually printing them out, so with that in mind, we spent hours of research, then purchased and tested today's 9 best photo printers. These machines span the category from battery-powered mini-printers to full-sized desktop machines that will produce professional-quality images on a wide range of mediums and in a variety of dimensions. While our in-house photography team tested for image quality, the office math whizzes analyzed the short and long-term costs of printing. With the holistic picture that our research provides, you'll be able to confidently pick the best photo printer for your home or office.
There are tons of other gear and gadgets available to help you produce a better photograph — our in-depth reviews cover some of the best products on the market. Whether you're an amateur photographer looking for the top instant camera or best tripod, or a professional photographer flying a top-ranked drone, we've got reviews to satisfy any application of these products. If you're prefer to go digital, we've tested the top digital picture frames for showcasing your family photos. Aside from photo printers, our teams also cover the best printers, best scanners, and top-rated keyboards for your everyday needs.
Editor's Note: We updated our photo printer review on September 13, 2023, to include updated versions of the Canon IVY and Kodak Mini Retro.
iPad, iPhone and Android tablets, Alexa and smartphones; Ethernet networking, andard Connectivity:
Hi-Speed USB, USB Host, Wireless 802.11 b/g/n5, Wi-Fi Direct 5, Ethernet 10/100
Hi-Speed USB 2.0/Wireless 802.11 b/g/n5, WiFi Direct4 Printing from a Mobile Device:
Epson Connect 6, Epson Email Print, Epson iPrint Mobile App, AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Android Printing, Remote Print
Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN, 2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.11b/g)
Memory Card Slot
PictBridge (USB) & Wireless PictBridge (Wireless LAN)
Hi-Speed USB (Cable not included)
USB Flash Memory
Operating system requirements
Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later; Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7 (32-bit,64-bit)
Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 SP1, Mac OS X v10.11.6 - macOS v10.15, 14 iOS, Android, Windows 10 Mobile
Windows 10 8/8.1/Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Windows Vista (32-bit , 64-bit)
Mac OS X 10.6.8 — macOS 10.12.x6
Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 8.x (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows XP SP3 (32-bit), Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.6.8 — 10.10.x8;
Internet access is required to install drivers and software.
Windows:12 Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows 7 SP1
Mac:13 Mac OS X v10.10.x - macOS v10.12 (Sierra)
Mobile Operating Systems:14 iOS, Android™, Windows 10 Mobile, Amazon Fire devices15
Scanner
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Cost per print: $0.37 | Maximum Resolution: 5760 x 1440 dpi
REASONS TO BUY
Roll paper
10-color ink palette
Relatively easy operation
REASONS TO AVOID
Slow to print
Big desktop footprint
The Epson SureColor P700 is a professional quality printer whose color prints are in a class of their own. In complement to the color output — and demonstrating its remarkable range — the P700's grayscale renderings are also superb. On the technical side of the equation, the setup of this unit is relatively straightforward though it does require downloading software and following a multi-stepped process. Finally, at just $0.37 per 4" x 6" color photo, this model has a cost per print competitive with commercial printing labs. That's quite a selling point if you ask us.
Given all the praises we've showered this marvel of modern home printing with, you may be wondering, what's the catch? It's the cost. The Epson SureColor P700 is expensive and is made more so because the inks that come with the machine are "starter" cartridges that will quickly be exhausted. The unit is also physically large and will eat up a lot of desk or countertop space. The Canon PIXMA Pro-200 is quite a step down in price with a similar but slightly less impressive printing performance.
Cost per print: $0.50 | Maximum Resolution: 400 dpi
REASONS TO BUY
Easy setup
Solid compact design
Sticker photo paper
REASONS TO AVOID
Single print size
Relatively low resolution
Rekindling the excitement of the analog era, the Canon IVY 2 makes on-the-fly photo printing fun and easy. It has a streamlined, compact shape and seamless Bluetooth interaction with your smartphone. The prints are of reasonable quality, albeit slightly low-ish resolution for the keen eye, yet still decent compared to other mini-printers. Additionally, The ZINK paper has an adhesive back that turns them into stickers, which is a fun perk.
While the Canon IVY 2 makes printing as easy as pushing a button on your phone, its functionality is limited, and the cost per print is high. It can only print on one kind of paper and in one set of dimensions, and that can't possibly compete with a fully-fledged desktop printer. But then again, it's not supposed to. Even with these small downsides, it still manages to outperform its predecessor, the Canon IVY with a much faster charging time, slightly higher resolution prints, and enhanced photo customization within the easy-to-use app.
Cost per print: $0.45 | Maximum Resolution: 1440 dpi
REASONS TO BUY
Great color
Capable of 13" x 19" prints
Intuitive setup
REASONS TO AVOID
Sepia tones in grayscale
Some skin tone issues in large formats
If you want a full-size printer but don't want a full-size dint in your wallet, the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is the machine to thread that needle. This relatively compact model punches well above its weight. It will print in large format, and with the aid of its expansive color palette, it produces vibrant colors that come out nicely across all print formats.
Despite all the praise, the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 has some flaws, mainly regarding the overall resolution and grayscale output, where dark tonal transitions can be hard to discern. The dark areas also showed some subtle but noticeable micro banding. And although the problem seemed to resolve itself over time, we had some issues with the printer staying connected. Another small step down in price with a similar black and white print performance is the Epson PictureMate PM-400, which also has a slightly easier setup.
Cost per print: $0.43 | Maximum Resolution: 300 dpi
REASONS TO BUY
Convenient
Fun
Decent quality prints
REASONS TO AVOID
Tricky to set up
One paper type
The Canon SELPHY CP1300 is a significant step up in quality from the mini-printers, yet it maintains the same appeal. This printer is compact, transportable, and can even run off a battery (sold separately). We recommend this machine for folks who want to get all those great photos from their phone onto their friends' fridges. The photo quality is better than the average retail photo lab, and the cost isn't much higher either. It's also fun to watch the machine at work — seriously. The paper passes back and forth through the machine, layering on the different inks, allowing you to see the CMYK color model in action.
The only real disadvantage with the Canon SELPHY is that the machine is limited to just a few print sizes and Canon's glossy proprietary paper. We were not surprised that a printer of this size had some issues with streaking and color fidelity, though they weren't too bad. Conversely, we were pleasantly surprised that the skin tones and transitions in grayscale were pretty much spot-on.
We didn't just buy these printers, we printed hundreds of images in various dimensions in both color and grayscale.
Credit: Jason Peters
Why You Should Trust Us
After extensive online research, our testing team settled on an extensive lineup of the best photo printers available on the market to test side-by-side. We set up a viewing room devoid of shadow and glare to analyze the printers' outputs comparatively. We selected a series of color and grayscale images to cover all aspects of rendering a high-quality photo and then printed them on various paper types in several different sizes. The office staff also printed photos from their own devices to test the ease of connecting to and operating the machines. Finally, each printer's features and specifications were collected, measured in-house (if possible), and organized for comparison.
The most important aspect of our testing focused on the Color Prints score since most people want to print photographs in color. This metric makes up 35% of the overall score and is comprised of specific tests focused on dynamic range, resolution, and overall impression. Each of these tests were repeated using 7 test images, which means that we subjected each photo printer to 21 specific tests for the Color Prints metric alone. Overall, each photo printer is subjected to more than 47 individual tests across the 5 scoring metrics. All-in-all, our expert team printed and analyzed more than 400 pictures for our in-depth analysis of photo printers.
Our photo printer testing is divided across five different metrics:
Color Prints (35% of overall score rating)
Black and White Prints (35% weighting)
Print Capabilities (15% weighting)
Operating Cost (10% weighting)
Set-Up (5% weighting)
Our review team brings product-specific expertise to the testing and rating of photo printers. In-House Photographer Jason Peters was born with a sharp eye that he further honed at Brooks Institute of Photography. His education saw him to studio work in Los Angeles and eventually landed him here at the GearLab. Our seasoned Review Analyst Austin Palmer brings to the mix over five years of consumer electronics testing and photography experience. His attention to specifics such as long-term printer costs is invaluable. With experience testing a range of technical products, Review Editor Genaveve Bradshaw brings a detail-oriented and creative eye to this project. Finally, Senior Review Editor Nick Miley is a photography hobbyist and occasional freelancer who doesn't think a photo is complete until the print is in a frame and on the wall.
Analysis and Test Results
Our testing regimen includes a deep dive into the visual quality of the prints, the dimensions and mediums used, the machine's ease of use, and the cost of printing. Each testing metric is weighted to account for a percentage of the final 1 - 100 point score. Below is a detailed account of the tests that make up each metric and how they reveal the market's best machines. We hope that this comprehensive review will help you pick the best photo printer for your needs and budget.
Value
Our method for assessing value takes two different approaches to reach the same endpoint. We are looking for a product that either performs at a similar level to other products but costs less or a product that performs at a higher level than similarly priced competitors. The Epson XP-15000 is a full-sized photo printer priced significantly below the cost of other machines that render larger format prints.
Side-by-side comparative analysis was critical to our judgment of print quality.
Credit: Laura Casner
Color Prints
Most people want to print in color. With that in mind, we weighted this metric to account for 35% of a printer's overall score. As the basis for our analysis of color prints, we purchased seven stock images that spanned subjects from portraits to landscapes and collectively covered a wide dynamic range. We printed in several dimensions from the mini printers' 2" x 3" up to 13" x 19" with the full-size models. We also tested various paper types when possible to see which rendered the best results.
Our assessment of the prints relied on the eyes of both professional photographers and laypeople. The assessment had two parts. First, we rated each print on the overall impression it gave the viewer. The focus was on clearly defined borders, smooth tonal transitions, and skin tone (for the images featuring people). The overall impression also focused on the print's fidelity as compared to the original image displayed on a high-resolution monitor. The second part of the color metric honed in on the print's resolution and sharpness.
The full-size printers excelled in this evaluation, with the Epson SureColor P700 living up to its name and the Canon PIXMA Pro-200 delivering similar results. These printers' standards in image fidelity, resolution, and consistency across multiple paper dimensions left a big gap between them and the rest of the class. However, making a big splash was the Canon SELPHY CP1300, proving that mid-size printers don't have to kick out middling quality prints.
Full-size prints from a full-size printer. Just look at those colors!
Credit: Laura Casner
The chief complaint with the Canon SELPHY was streaking. The Canon Pixma TR8620 produced brightly pigmented photos, but they could lean into too much contrast and saturation. However, even with these issues, the quality is still substantially better than prints produced by many big chain photo labs.
Grayscale goes a long way in revealing the definition and tonal transitions of a print.
Credit: Laura Casner
Finally, when we compared the Canon IVY 2 to its mini printer peers, it provided the best color images of the lot, though they were far from what the best printers can produce. Some photos were even a little over-processed, which we didn't love. Also worth mentioning among the mini printers is the KODAK Mini 3 Retro 4PASS. It provided some vibrant prints with popping colors, but had the tendency to blow out the highlights. At the end of the day, mini printers can only offer a certain amount of resolution. Both of these minis would make great companions for printing memories you can actually touch instead of being relegated to your smartphone.
Comparing phone camera photos with high resolution stock photos.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Black and White Prints
Black and white prints can reveal more about an image's boundary definition and tonal transitions than you may see in the busy brightness of a color print. Even though most users will be printing fewer of their photos in black and white, the heavy demands that this format places on a printer caused us to weigh this metric the same as the color at 35% of the total score.
The black and white evaluation protocols reflected those used for the color prints, the exception being that the images chosen for inspection are in grayscale. Again, the Epson SureColor P700 and the Canon PIXMA Pro-200 shot the moon in this evaluation. These printers have an advantage in this metric because they boast multiple ink cartridges in shades of black and gray. The Epson SureColor P700 has a fantastic tonal range, tonal contrasts, and brilliant definition. Moreover, this printer improved on its predecessor by reducing the magenta in the prints, thus capturing a more neutral tone. The Canon PIXMA Pro-200 delivered high-quality results, but the prints showed some green tones, lending the printed images a warmer feel.
There's nothing like the pop that good contrast creates in a black and white print.
Credit: Laura Casner
There was a significant step-down in quality from the full to the mid-sized machines as with the color metric. However, the Epson XP-15000 and the Epson PictureMate PM-400 were standouts in their size class. The large format, 13" x 19" prints produced by the Epson XP-15000 were nearly on par with the full-sized machines. Interestingly, the quality decreased as the print dimensions decreased, with banding and streaking becoming more apparent. The Epson PM-400 was much more consistent across the various print dimensions. Despite displaying tone qualities similar to the full-sized machines, this model suffered from a reduction in resolution.
The time to print a 4" x 6" was just one aspect of the print capabilities metric.
Credit: Laura Casner
Print Capabilities
The print capabilities metric includes a mixture of cataloged specs and test result data. Specifically, we cataloged the printers' number of ink cartridges, the range of print dimensions they can accommodate, and the applicable print substrates. These are materials like matte and glossy paper and less common mediums like artboard and canvas. We also tested the print speed and paper tray capacity. This metric accounts for just 15% of a printer's overall score.
Yet again, the Epson SureColor P700 was the top dog. There truly isn't much this machine can't do. It can print from 3.5" x 5" up to 13" x 129", making room-spanning panoramic prints possible. Additionally, the SureColor P700 can print on every medium from glossy paper to canvas, and its ten separate ink cartridges give it a real leg up over the competition.
Right on the heels of the Epson SureColor P700 are the Epson Expression XP-15000 and the Canon PIXMA Pro-200. The prior covers all the standard print sizes from 2" x 6" up to 13" x 44", the latter up to 13" x 39". Although these machines don't include the more exotic print mediums, they are compatible with many photo papers and have seven individual color cartridges.
Ten individual ink cartridges? The Epson SureColor P700 uses this vast arsenal of inks to render one heck of a palette.
Credit: Jason Peters
Finally, we clocked the time it takes each machine to produce a 4" x 6" color print (or, in the case of the mini printers, a mini print). While it might not seem that important if you are printing lots of photos (or very large ones), the risk of something going wrong may make your presence at the machine mandatory. For example, the Kodak KODAK Mini 3 Retro 4PASS occasionally experiences cartridge jams.
Camera photos producted by the Kodak Mini 3 Retro.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Thus, all other aspects of the print being equal, faster is better. The average for this exercise was 56 seconds. On the swift end was the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link at just 9 seconds, though the photo paper develops after the print is kicked out of the machine.
Don't forget to include long-term costs to the price of the printer. We expressed this in the cost per 4" x 6" color print. With few exceptions, the full-size machines had the lowest cost per print with some approaching the costs similar to retail photo labs.
Credit: Laura Casner
Operating Cost
Operating cost measures the long-term expense of the machines we tested, and we weighted it with 10% of a printer's overall score. Here we address how much it costs to produce a single 4" x 6" print. We used the industry's conservative estimate of ink consumption per square inch of color printing and multiplied that by 24 (square inches) to get this figure. The product of this equation was then added to the cost of a 4" x 6" sheet of moderate-quality glossy photo paper. Although the higher-end printers produce much less expensive prints, the upfront cost of the printer is significant. The opposite is true of lower-end printers.
The Epson SureColor P700 and the Canon PIXMA Pro-200 are in a league of their own, producing 4" x 6" images for $0.37 and $0.38 each, respectively — about what you'd pay for a print at a chain photo lab. However, the quality produced by these printers is much better than the store-bought prints. Epson's Expression XP-15000 and PictureMate PM-400 and the Canon SELPHY fall into the 40 - 45 cent range. The mini printers are arguably the most expensive because one needs to print two mini prints to get an equivalent size image that the rest of the machines are rendering.
Many of the smaller printers use an app to print pictures directly from a smartphone. This feature often makes set-up a cinch.
Credit: Laura Casner
Set-Up
Though set-up is generally only done once, it can be frustrating if the process is overly complicated. Given the duration of this task, we weighted this metric to account for just 5% of a printer's overall score. Our evaluation went as follows: read the set-up instructions carefully, follow them exactly, and see if we can print from our phone or laptop. If the process goes off without a hitch, the printer scores high. If we have to do some troubleshooting, the score goes down. Additionally, our staff members who were not directly involved with this review go through the same process and voice their complaints.
By far the easiest printers to get up and running were the mini printers. For these machines, you simply download an app on your phone and give the app permission to access your photos and camera. If you know how to download an app, take a picture, edit and share it, you shouldn't have any problems with these machines. On the opposite end of the spectrum are printers like the Canon PIXMA Pro-200, which require you to download a driver onto your computer and make a WiFi connection. Other annoying aspects of set-up are machines that get locked into a particular computer at the exclusion of others. For example, if you want to print from a co-worker's computer, you will have to plug it in directly to the printer with a USB — details we discovered through trial and error.
Full-size printers, particularly those without an LCD screen, are the most difficult to get running. However, it is a one-time operation and the difficulty is quickly forgotten when the prints come pouring out.
Credit: Laura Casner
Conclusion
Our photo printer review is a deep dive into all the features and specifications that make for quality prints and an enjoyable experience. We analyzed color and grayscale rendering and the technical demands of each format. We assessed the different printing substrates and dimensions that the machines could accommodate and the rendering time required. When considering the price per print, we calculated the long-term operating expenses of each machine. Finally, we made a thorough assessment of each printer's set-up. Given the information provided, we hope we have helped you find the best printer.
