Which printer brand to buy in 2025

Knowing which printer brands develop the most faults and which have the most satisfied customers is key to helping you choose a good model. We've surveyed nearly 8,000 actual printer owners so you can find out which printer brand you should buy. 

Our unique survey data reveals whether customers will stay loyalty to their printer brand and buy it again, as well as when popular printer brands developed a fault in the past seven years and the most likely faults from each brand. You can use our unique printer brand data to help you choose a model that won't let you down.

Just want to know which model to buy? Head to our pick of the best home printers to find out which we recommend

Printer brands rated

The tables below have the inkjet brands in alphabetical order. Only logged-in Which? members can see our unlocked table and discover which brands have the happiest customers - and which don't.

You can get instant access to our results and all of our reviews, including our printer, battery and laptop reviews, if you join Which?.

Inkjet printers

How long will my printer last?

Based on previous surveys of owners and our research over the years, we know that printers last for around 13 years. So it's all the more important to pick the right model for you, as you are going to be regularly using it for more than a decade.

We estimate the running costs for each model we test, based on printing 20 black text pages and 10 pages of graphics every month, turning the printer off between uses (if you use your inkjet a reasonable amount, we'd actually recommend leaving it on, as most printers run extra cleaning cycles that waste ink on startup).

We've found that some inkjet models can cost more than £150 a year to run - that's nearly £2,000 over your printer's lifetime. Others will cost £2 or less. So choosing a model that doesn't have sky-high running costs could save you a lot of money – don't get caught out and stuck with a printer you regret.

Head to our expert pick of the best cheap printers to buy and run. Not in the market for a new printer yet? You can still cut your printing costs - go to the best cheap ink cartridges.

Verdict: top printer brands in depth

We’ve pulled together our survey data and independent test results – with insights from our printer experts – to give you an in-depth look at how each brand performs.

Which? members can log in to view our unique lab test scores and customer satisfaction survey results. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access on our verdicts on the following printer brands, listed below in alphabetical order:

• Brother
• Canon
• Epson
• HP

You'll also get access to all of our online reviews – from printers, to laptops to electric cars.

Seven most common printer faults and how to fix them

Our survey of thousands of printer owners has uncovered the the most common printer problems. Read on to find out what they are and what you can do about them.

1. Deterioration in print quality

There are many reasons print quality can drop. First check it's not simply an ink nozzle problem: these can become blocked and cause streaks, patchy prints and faded colours. If you notice a drop in quality, start by running a cleaning cycle, which uses ink to blast away any dried-on ink. Try changing the cartridge if you have a cartridge inkjet model.

If the problem is that text doesn't line up (misalignment), you can get your printer to perform an alignment (calibration). Turning it off, waiting 30 seconds, and turning it on again can also fix it.

Maintenance and cleaning advice varies between models, so be sure to check your manual before you open up your printer and tinker with any sensitive components.

If the problem is to do with printing white lines, take a look at how to fix white lines when printing.

2. Printer became slow to begin printing when it was faster before

This is often due to software issue – over time, your computer or mobile device's software will be updated, and your printer's software or hardware may struggle to keep up.

First, rule out the basics: turn your printer off, leave it 30 seconds, then turn it on again. Try reinstalling the printer by removing it from the devices list on your PC, phone or tablet and adding it again. Also restart your PC, phone or tablet if you haven't done this recently. 

You can also try removing your printer and device from your home network and re-adding them again, if they're connected over wi-fi. Plus double-check any cables are fully inserted. You can also check your printer settings to make sure your printer is listed as the default.

If the basics didn't fix the problem, the most common issue is you're using an outdated printer driver. You can uninstall the driver and reinstall it again. Use the relevant link to download the latest printer drivers from your manufacturer's website (don't download from any other website): 

• Brother drivers
• Canon support
• Epson support
• HP drivers

You can also try resetting the printer spooler, which manages the printing process on your computer: 

• Windows - search for Services in the taskbar, right-click on Printer Spooler and select Restart. 
• Mac - open up printer settings, right-click the printer and then choose Reset Printing System. You'll need to re-add the printer to your computer as the reset will remove it.

3. Print heads not delivering ink consistently/clogging up, or cartridge needing replacing before it's empty

Not using your printer for a while can cause problems with the nozzles on the print head. If the nozzles still aren’t working after you’ve run the print-head cleaning function, try cleaning the print head. Check your printer's manual for specific advice for your model before you begin, as it's important you don't invalidate your warranty or cause more damage, but it usually involves a lint-free cloth dampened with warm distilled, filtered or bottled water. 

If this doesn't work, you might need to replace the print head. With cartridge inkjet printers, installing a new cartridge will usually do the trick. With tank inkjet printers, the print heads aren't usually user-removable, so you’ll need to get it replaced professionally.

To avoid your print head drying up, you should leave your printer turned on so the printer can run automatic regular cleaning cycles. This is particularly important if you have a tank printer (an inkjet you refill using bottles of ink rather than cartridges), as they have fixed print heads. If you only use your printer once a month or less, we would recommend a cartridge inkjet printer to minimise this issue.

It's very unlikely for problems to be caused by using a third-party cartridge, based on our survey research, especially if you use one of the third-party brands highly-rated by owners in our annual survey of cheap ink cartridges and where to buy them. 

4. Wi-fi connection issues

Wi-fi issues can be difficult to resolve, but there are a few go-to tricks. First, turn everything off then on again. It might be a cliché, but it can be surprisingly effective. 

If that doesn't work, check that your printer has the latest software updates, including any firmware. Check that the printer driver you're using is the one recommended by the manufacturer, rather than any automatically installed by your PC. Also, removing the printer from the wi-fi network and then adding it again can sometimes do the trick. 

If your printer is giving you an error message, you might shed some light on matters by visiting the manufacturer website or product manual and searching for the error code. If all else fails, keeping a cable handy for emergencies is always a good idea, so you can connect the printer to your router directly, if your printer has an Ethernet socket.

We rate all printers for their ease of connectivity, as well as print quality and running costs. Find out which models top our tests in our printer reviews.

If your printer is refusing to co-operate, check in with our advice on how to fix printer connection issues

5. Components needing replacing

The most common component you're likely to need to replace with an inkjet other than the usual ink cartridges is what's known as a waste ink tank (also known as an ink absorber or ink pad). This collects up all the excess ink from printing and performing cleaning cycles that doesn't end up on the printed page. After you've completed a certain number of pages and cleans, your printer will usually present you with a warning message such as 'waste ink tank full'.

Check your printer's instruction manual. Some printers let you replace the waste ink tank yourself. For others, you may need to take it in for repair. And for some, the ink tank is designed to be so large that if you fill it up it's likely your printer is very old indeed and likely on its last legs anyway.

While some components may also be available to purchase from the manufacturer for your printer (be sure to check the instruction manual and your manufacturer's website), many may require a repair shop to fix. So you may need to weigh up whether the cost of the repair is desirable compared to simply buying a new printer, especially if it's old and other parts will also be fairly worn out.

If you do need to get rid of your printer, find out how to recycle electrical items.

6. Problems with paper feed

Problems with paper feeds and jams have long been a thorn in the side of printer users. We rigorously test printers to reveal any models that are especially prone to faulty feeds and paper jams, and reveal them in our printer reviews.

Paper weight, thickness, glossiness and even humidity are thought to play a role in these issues. Use the paper specified in your printer's manual and only open the paper pack when you’re ready to use it, to reduce these problems. 

A typical 80gsm paper from a brand that makes printers is a safe option. Do try a different paper brand to see if you can rule out if the paper you're using is causing the problem.

7. Problems with connecting to another device (such as your laptop or phone)

Follow your printer brand's advice to ensure you have the correct driver installed on your PC, or the correct app on your phone. Some computers automatically install drivers or won't direct you to the best driver for your printer, so download the correct one directly from your manufacturer's website for the best chance of solving any issues.

Also make sure the firmware on your printer is up to date. If your printer offers a wired connection to your computer with a cable, try that.

To verify if your printer is connecting correctly, try printing a self-test report (print test page) - either from the printer’s control panel or from your computer’s settings.

• In Windows, select the Windows logo > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > right-click your printer. Click Printer Properties > Print Test Page > OK.
• If you have a Mac, select the Apple logo > System Preferences > Printers and scanners. Select your printer > Open Print Queue > Printer > Print test page.

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How we calculate the best and worst printer brands

Which? has a wealth of information on the UK's favourite printer brands. Every year, we ask Which? members to tell us about the devices they own – from how likely they would be to recommend a brand to how long a product lasted once they got it home. 

This year, more than 15,500 Which? Connect members and members of the public told us about more than 58,500 products, including almost 8,000 inkjet printers.

Now you know all about printer brands, use our expert printer reviews to help you choose the right model.