Printers are one of those household items that, though once so vital to everyday life, have become less common in recent times. But with the past couples of years changing the way we live, work and attend school, they’ve come into their own again.
Compact printers, especially, are designed to fit into the modern home by being slimline, lightweight and portable. Some are even small enough to fit into your pocket, but these printers tend to be most suitable for printing photos on the go.
If you’re after something for your home office, there are still a lot of smaller options out there to meet your needs.
So if you’re struggling to find a printer that will fit into your life and not take up too much space, while having all of the features and specs you want, then scroll down to see what we thought of some of the offerings from top brands right now.
The best small printers 2021
A small printer isn’t what you need for super quality photo print outs, but for everyday usage and some general colour printing thrown in, and this printer is the best option yet.
What can it do?
This small printer can (obviously) print, as well as scan and copy. You should have no problem carrying out your business admin.
Size
When out visiting clients, you can print on premises, too, as the HP OfficeJet 250 is just about small enough to pop into a rucksack. It’s easy to set up, only takes 90 minutes to charge up, and it’s wireless, so you can easily print from phones and other mobile devices.
So long as you have no need to scan or copy documents, the Epson Workforce is the ideal printer for working on the go.
What can it do?
Whether it’s a last-minute boarding card print out from the airport lounge or you find your client’s premises has no printer, the trusty Epson Workforce is small enough to be kept by your side for instant use.
Wireless
You can print wirelessly so long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, and you can even charge the battery up via the USB car adapter in time for your next meeting.
Quality
The pretty high DPI promises great quality printouts, while the LCD screen allows for easy set up and keeping an eye on ink levels.
While the DPI is nothing to shout about, the HP Sprocket isn’t marketed towards the professional photography market. For taking on day trips or family holidays, on the other hand, it’s perfect.
What can it do?
It prints snapshots and stickers using photo paper rather than ink cartridges, which means printing is instant.
Customisable
You can use the HP Sprocket app to customise your photos with emojis, borders and text, making each print out completely personal and a true representation of the moment the photo was taken.
Wireless
Connect the app to your Facebook account or connect the device to your phone via Bluetooth for easy, on the go print outs.
Printing your snaps on the go has been made easy thanks to this option from Polaroid.
What can it do?
Print photos onto photo paper whilst you're on the go with this hand-sized photo printer. While like the Sprocket, the resolution of the photos printed aren’t going to be anything to write home about, for a bit of fun while you’re out and about you can’t really go wrong.
Customisable
Peel the back off the paper and you can print out a batch of personalised stickers that you can plaster around your room or on your belongings. You can edit pictures using the Polaroid Zip app and easily print from your mobile devices via Bluetooth.
There are lots of reasons to love the HP Envy 6055. For one, despite its compact size, this Wi-Fi-enabled printer prints in colour and black-and-white, scans, copies, and faxes, too. Other pluses: the sleek look and value price point.
What can it do?
As we mentioned, this printer can scan, copy, and fax, so its suitable for both home use or a small business. Besides its basic functions, the Wi-Fi-enabled HP Envy 6055 also connects to Apple AirPrint, Bluetooth, HP Smart and Mopria Print Service, can print from Dropbox or Google Drive, and has a USB 2.0 connection.
Size At 17" long, this isn't the smallest printer on our list and wouldn't be ideal for traveling or printing on the go, but if you're looking for a compact printer for your home office or kitchen countertop, this is an excellent pick.
It's also been chosen for Amazon's 'Climate Pledge Friendly' badge, having been awarded an EPEAT silver badge.
This printer from Canon is perfect for small businesses, especially if one of you is always travelling and needs to print on the go.
What can it do?
Thanks to its small size and decent 9600 DPI, you can print really easily from phones or tablets so long as it is hooked up to Wi-Fi. Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print compatibility also makes printing on the go super easy.
Wireless
There’s the option to purchase a rechargeable battery, so you can print out your pictures even when you’re travelling between destinations. All you need is Wi-Fi
How to choose the best small printer
While size is, inevitably, the most important factor on the checklist of those seeking the best small printer, there are a couple more features worth considering if you're determined to get value for money. These include:
Do I need wireless connectivity?
While you may assume that all printers produced, nowadays, come with wireless connectivity, this is a feature that certainly shouldn't be taken for granted. If you don't want to deal with the hassle of plugging in your phone, or laptop, every time you need to print, ensure you opt for a wireless solution.
Photocopying and scanning
Consider how you intend on using your printer and whether, on occasion, you may be required to scan and photocopy, too.
What is the best small printer?
Let's recap...if you want the best small printer (in our opinion) we wouldn't hesitate to recommend the , which offers everything you need in a handy printer, suitable for day-to-day use. As well as printing, this compact model offers the option to scan and copy, meaning it'll be easier than ever to complete business admin. Plus, it's small enough to pop in a rucksack if you're someone who finds themselves regularly requiring a printer while on-the-go.
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