Top 5 Best photo printer of 2025
I tested the best photo printers for all types of photography printing
For a very professional look, the best photo printer can print on glossy picture paper and produce incredibly high-resolution photographs.
I have evaluated two hundred units, including the top printers for homes and small businesses, yet not all of them can print color photos. Along with quick print speeds, a large sheet capacity, and compatibility with a variety of paper types, that’s what I look for when evaluating these printers.
In light of this, I believe that the Canon PIXMA G620 is the greatest picture printer for the majority of people who print photos at home. The refillable, big format Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is a great option for professionals since it creates incredibly vibrant photos. See my whole round-up below, where I’ve tested every option for printing documents and images.
Table of Contents
BEST OVERALL
1. Canon PIXMA G620/G650
BEST ON A BUDGET
2. HP Envy Pro 6420
BEST EPSON
3. Epson EcoTank ET-8550
BEST LARGE FORMAT
4. Epson EcoTank ET-18100
BEST FOR BUSINESS
5. Epson Photo XP-970
1. Canon Pixma G620/G650
Although it is difficult to top as a photo printer, the Canon Pixma G620 (referred to as the G650 in the UK) is too feature-poor to be a recommended all-in-one for daily usage. It only offers manual duplex, meaning you have to flip the paper to print the opposite side, and it prints monochrome pages slowly. The primary paper tray, Ethernet port, memory card slots, and touchscreen are all absent. The rear tray, which can only accommodate up to 100 sheets of plain paper, is where all blank paper must enter.
The good news is that a variety of paper types, such as magnetic photo paper, card stock, and printable fabric, can be used with it. During our time with it, it also operated flawlessly, producing incredibly high-quality prints on coated photo paper with its six vibrant dye-based inks. Superior color fidelity was achieved with the help of the additional red and grey, and the improved print resolution produced excellent print quality.
The MegaTank model is the best all-in-one picture printer available. This indicates that there is a ton of ink in the box and that the bottled ink refills it utilizes are much less expensive than cartridge ink.
2. HP Envy Pro 6420
An outstanding option for the best low-cost picture printer is the HP Envy Pro 6420. Picking up 4-stars in our assessment, we enjoyed the quantity of features crammed into this all-in-one.
It’s a genuine all-in-one, too, with printing, scanning, photocopying, and fax facilities. There’s Bluetooth, app support, and critical tools, like an ADF. For photography purposes, the printer supports picture paper, as well as A4 paper and envelopes. So, altogether, this printer has great utility in a home or small office. Surprisingly at this price-point, print quality is good. In our tests, glossy images came out colorful and true.
As a budget pick, there are constraints here. The main tray can only store 40 sheets of picture paper (or 100 sheets of standard A4), while the output tray is capped at just ten photos (or 25 A4 pages). And we did notice the quality of the ink degraded while printing a lot of images at once, especially given the cost. But for casual, quality photo printing, it’s excellent.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-8550
Although Epson offers a number of top-notch photo printers, the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is among the best that I have ever used.
First of all, it has a stylish, useful design, a huge tilting touchscreen, and the capacity to print on A3+ and other types of paper. Second, it produces prints of exceptional quality by using six different inks. The best part is that it’s an EcoTank, so you won’t need cartridges, and the box has enough bottled ink to print 2,300 pictures.
Inkjets can be pretty costly, but Epson’s bottled ink refills aren’t. Therefore, if you intend to print a lot of huge images, you will rapidly get your money back. Excellent connectivity, great print and scan resolution, and a surprisingly quick print speed are all features of the printer itself.
More importantly, the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 did well in our tests, especially when printing on glossy photo paper. This was mostly due to the 180 color and 360 black nozzles that produce prints with incredibly fine details. If you want colors that really stand out, this print is a winner and well worth the high cost. Each print is colorful and well-contained on coated paper.
4. Epson EcoTank ET-18100
Because of its vibrant print quality and compatibility with A3+ size paper types, the Epson EcoTank ET-18100 is among the greatest photo printers for those who wish to go big with their photographs.
First of all, because this is an ink tank printer, you must fill the printer’s refillable reservoirs with ink bottles. As a result, you can print photos more affordably than using ink cartridges while still enjoying all the advantages of an inkjet printer.
In our tests, the Epson EcoTank ET-18100 handled glossy photo paper with ease and produced incredibly beautiful colors. Designers have the ability to calibrate the printer to match the regulated color measurements on their screen, and six color dyes help make photos come to life in a dramatic way by adding depth and color.
Printing a full-sized A4 image took just over a minute, so the speeds were satisfactory. It took two minutes and twenty seconds for an A3 borderless print. Although it’s not the fastest photo printer available, it’s perfect for creating proofs or small batches of photographs with striking colors and clarity.
5. Epson Expression Photo XP-970
For those seeking a stylish home picture printer, the Epson Expression picture XP-970 is the perfect choice. Don’t let the sleek dimensions mislead you, this smooth 3-in-1 inkjet printer can print on A3-size paper and uses not four but six inkjet cartridges to produce exceptional color fidelity. It implies your ink expenses are fairly costly, but it’s worth it if you want finely shaded results.
The scanner is only A4-size, but it makes very high-quality scans, and combined with the excellent print resolution, you can make practically exact color copies. Despite its poor print rates and lack of a fax, the Epson Expression Photo XP-970 is a formidable competitor in every other way.
100 sheets of paper with a maximum size of 8.5 × 11 inches can fit in the main paper tray. Twenty 5-by-7-inch photo paper sheets can fit in the second paper tray. Our examinations of the almost identical Epson Expression Photo XP-960 review can give you a sense of how well it performs.
Is it better to use dye or pigment?
Two types of ink are used by inkjet printers to accommodate various scenarios. Colored particles are suspended in pigment inks. Bold prints that are less likely to smudge, smear, or fade in the presence of UV radiation are produced by the non-soluble particles’ rapid bonding with the paper. Pigment ink is perfect for text documents and works well on smooth, high-quality paper. The colorant in dye-based inks must soak into the paper because it is in solution, making the prints less UV resistant and more prone to running. Dye is perfect for images because it works well with both covered photo paper and inexpensive paper. Colored dyes and black pigment ink are frequently used together in inkjet printers
Should I use an ink tank or a cartridge?
Every time, the ink tank outperforms the cartridge. Cartridge ink is up to 90% more expensive than bottled ink, so you’ll start saving money even if ink tank inkjets with refillable reservoirs are significantly more expensive than cartridge-based inkjets. You don’t need to constantly purchasing refills since ink tank printers, also known as supertank or CIS (continuous ink system) printers, can carry many times the volume of ink found in cartridges. The amount of ink remaining can be quickly determined by looking into the tank, and using reusable cartridges also helps the environment. It should come as no surprise that all inkjet manufacturers now produce ink tank printers because bottled ink does not impair quality.
Which is better, a laser or an inkjet photo printer?
Since inkjet and ink tank printers use liquid ink, which is perfect for printing high-quality, high-resolution photographs with a broad color range, they are generally the best. Additionally, only inkjets are able to print on specific glossy photo paper
In the meantime, high-yield printing and publications with a lot of text have traditionally been linked to laser printers. However, as long as you’re not seeking for high-quality prints to send to your clients, you may rely on a number of laser printers to satisfy your printing demands because of the advancements in print technology. The best inkjet picture printer is perhaps a better option if you’re unsure.
There are several important factors to take into account when deciding which photo printer is best for you. After all, there are many different types of photo printers, ranging from desktop versions to the best big format printers and commercial sublimation printers. Therefore, you must assess and choose the one that best suits your requirements. Some are designed for the workplace, some for the home, and some for every type of workspace.
Selecting an ink is one of the first decisions you will have to make. When it comes to guaranteeing high-quality prints for photography, the best inkjet printers differ greatly from laser printers. Since inkjet printers use liquid ink, they are generally the best for photographs. As part of this, especially if you’re a commercial or professional photographer, make sure your printer has great color fidelity. Generally speaking, the image quality should improve with increasing print resolution. See our reviews of the top inkjet, laser, and ink tank printers for additional information.
Because they prioritize print quality over speed, especially when printing in color, even the greatest photo printers are typically not the fastest. However, you should still check the printer’s estimated pages per minute (ppm). You don’t want to wait years for the completion of a single glossy photograph. Even the greatest wireless printers will exhibit some delay when compared to a wired connection, so if speed is a concern, connect via a wire.
Look for any characteristics that you could require in addition to these essential areas. Although you might not require these features, the best all-in-one printers allow you to print, scan, copy, and even fax. Auto-duplex (or double-sided) printing capabilities and automatic document feeders are always appreciated and frequently quite helpful for expediting the process.