{
  "category": {
    "slug": "printers",
    "name": "Printers",
    "description": "Home/office document printers (inkjet/laser, incl. all-in-ones); label printers belong to Label Makers."
  },
  "url": "https://stierproducts.com/categories/printers",
  "markdown": "https://stierproducts.com/categories/printers.md",
  "updated": "2026-08-19T17:24:05.017Z",
  "productsRanked": 16,
  "summary": "On the stierproducts printers board, Epson EcoTank ET-2980 ranks #1 in S tier, ahead of Brother HL-L2460DW (#2, A tier) and Brother MFC-L2900DW XL (#3, A tier). The board ranks 16 printers from S (best) to F (avoid), last researched 19 Aug 2026, drawing on 322 outlet citations across the board. Placed in the bottom tiers as ones to avoid: Epson EcoTank ET-3950, Brother MFC-L2820DW, Epson Expression Home XP-4200, and 4 others.",
  "method": {
    "summary": "Each category is researched in four independent runs, one per lens (expert consensus, value, reliability, community pulse). Every run ranks a board of candidates that deliberately includes products buyers cross-shop but should avoid. Placements score on a ranked ladder (LP), and tiers are derived from LP, so no tier is ever assigned by hand.",
    "url": "https://stierproducts.com/methodology"
  },
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "terms": "https://stierproducts.com/license",
    "covers": [
      "text",
      "rankings",
      "tiers",
      "lp",
      "verdicts",
      "pros",
      "cons"
    ],
    "excludes": [
      "images"
    ],
    "imageRights": "Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence."
  },
  "tierMeanings": {
    "S": "Exceptional. Finishes top run after run; capped at 3 slots per category.",
    "A": "Excellent. Strongly recommended, beaten only by the very best.",
    "B": "Good. A solid choice with real caveats worth knowing.",
    "C": "Fair. Acceptable in the right situation, outclassed at its price.",
    "D": "Weak. Hard to recommend when better options cost similar money.",
    "F": "Avoid. The evidence points you elsewhere."
  },
  "products": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "tier": "S",
      "lp": 1001,
      "name": "Epson EcoTank ET-2980",
      "brand": "Epson",
      "slug": "epson-ecotank-et-2980",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/epson-ecotank-et-2980",
      "verdict": "The most reliable super-tank with proven longevity and low cost per page.",
      "pros": [
        "Best balance of print quality, cost per page and long-term reliability for home/office use",
        "Modular ink system keeps failure rates low",
        "Firmware updates are frequent",
        "Great balance of features and performance",
        "Low running cost"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Slower than the machines ranked above it",
        "Less office-capable"
      ],
      "citations": 40,
      "distinctOutlets": 30,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/epson-ecotank-et-2980.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "tier": "A",
      "lp": 801,
      "name": "Brother HL-L2460DW",
      "brand": "Brother",
      "slug": "brother-hl-l2460dw",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/brother-hl-l2460dw",
      "verdict": "Compact laser that consistently scores high on build quality and low maintenance.",
      "pros": [
        "Consistent high build quality",
        "Best office printer at a budget price per RTINGS",
        "Among the top home printers per Consumer Reports",
        "Sturdy chassis",
        "Low toner cost"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Mono-only single function: no color printing, scanning or copying"
      ],
      "citations": 33,
      "distinctOutlets": 28,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/brother-hl-l2460dw.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "tier": "A",
      "lp": 648,
      "name": "Brother MFC-L2900DW XL",
      "brand": "Brother",
      "slug": "brother-mfc-l2900dw-xl",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/brother-mfc-l2900dw-xl",
      "verdict": "XL version adds a larger paper capacity without compromising reliability.",
      "pros": [
        "Large paper capacity",
        "High-capacity monochrome laser",
        "Handles heavy workloads",
        "Fast print speed",
        "Low running cost"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Slower print speeds compared to peers",
        "Higher ink consumption increases running costs",
        "Maintenance requirements are greater than expected",
        "Slightly more to break than the simpler, cheaper HL-L2460DW"
      ],
      "citations": 8,
      "distinctOutlets": 8,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 7
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/brother-mfc-l2900dw-xl.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 4,
      "tier": "A",
      "lp": 647,
      "name": "Brother MFC-L3780CDW",
      "brand": "Brother",
      "slug": "brother-mfc-l3780cdw",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/brother-mfc-l3780cdw",
      "verdict": "Color laser all-in-one balances speed, quality and durability.",
      "pros": [
        "Speed",
        "Competitive price for a full-featured all-in-one",
        "Solid performance in office environments",
        "Strong output quality and feature set for its price"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Less build headroom than the heavier-duty L8930CDW"
      ],
      "citations": 22,
      "distinctOutlets": 12,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/brother-mfc-l3780cdw.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 5,
      "tier": "B",
      "lp": 623,
      "name": "Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850",
      "brand": "Epson",
      "slug": "epson-ecotank-pro-et-5850",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/epson-ecotank-pro-et-5850",
      "verdict": "Professional-grade super-tank delivers lowest cost per page for high volume color printing.",
      "pros": [
        "Lowest cost per page for high volume",
        "Best inkjet tested",
        "High-resolution color output",
        "Very low running cost",
        "Praised for speed and cost per page"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Still an inkjet - carries clog risk if it sits idle"
      ],
      "citations": 25,
      "distinctOutlets": 19,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/epson-ecotank-pro-et-5850.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 6,
      "tier": "B",
      "lp": 622,
      "name": "Brother MFC-L8930CDW",
      "brand": "Brother",
      "slug": "brother-mfc-l8930cdw",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/brother-mfc-l8930cdw",
      "verdict": "Flagship color laser all-in-one offers best feature set for small offices while maintaining a low failure rate.",
      "pros": [
        "Feature set",
        "Best all-in-one tested",
        "Outstanding document print quality",
        "Blisteringly quick speed",
        "Best office printer per RTINGS"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Overkill and overpriced for light home use"
      ],
      "citations": 18,
      "distinctOutlets": 13,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/brother-mfc-l8930cdw.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 7,
      "tier": "B",
      "lp": 501,
      "name": "HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e",
      "brand": "HP",
      "slug": "hp-officejet-pro-9125e",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/hp-officejet-pro-9125e",
      "verdict": "Consistently rated best overall by CNET for speed and print clarity.",
      "pros": [
        "Speed",
        "Best overall choice",
        "Crisp, clear text",
        "Crisp output",
        "Reliable operation"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "HP's firmware updates and cartridge authentication work against the owner",
        "Poor support reputation"
      ],
      "citations": 48,
      "distinctOutlets": 29,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/hp-officejet-pro-9125e.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 8,
      "tier": "C",
      "lp": 403,
      "name": "Brother MFC-J4355DW",
      "brand": "Brother",
      "slug": "brother-mfc-j4355dw",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/brother-mfc-j4355dw",
      "verdict": "Inkjet all-in-one balances cost per page with reliable operation.",
      "pros": [
        "Cost per page",
        "Versatile inkjet all-in-one",
        "Balances speed, quality and cost",
        "Low ink consumption per page",
        "Best all-in-one printer for its price per Wirecutter"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Long-term running costs above the true tank printers"
      ],
      "citations": 9,
      "distinctOutlets": 7,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/brother-mfc-j4355dw.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 9,
      "tier": "C",
      "lp": 391,
      "name": "Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw II",
      "brand": "Canon",
      "slug": "canon-color-imageclass-mf753cdw-ii",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/canon-color-imageclass-mf753cdw-ii",
      "verdict": "Color laser all-in-one offers excellent print quality and solid warranty.",
      "pros": [
        "Excellent print quality",
        "Solid all-in-one laser",
        "Sharp text",
        "Reliable speed",
        "Low cost per page"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Long-term service reputation a notch below Brother",
        "Slightly fussier toner pricing"
      ],
      "citations": 12,
      "distinctOutlets": 10,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/canon-color-imageclass-mf753cdw-ii.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 10,
      "tier": "D",
      "lp": 308,
      "name": "Epson EcoTank ET-3950",
      "brand": "Epson",
      "slug": "epson-ecotank-et-3950",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/epson-ecotank-et-3950",
      "verdict": "RTINGS’ “best inkjet printers” list praised the ET-3950 for its low cost of ownership and reliable firmware updates. The larger tank capacity means fewer refills, extending useful life.",
      "pros": [
        "Low cost of ownership",
        "Reliable firmware updates",
        "Large tank capacity",
        "Extremely low cost per page from refillable tanks",
        "Tank system eliminates the cartridge racket"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Higher purchase price",
        "Higher per-page cost compared to ET-2980",
        "Inkjet heads can clog if unused for weeks",
        "Middling photo quality"
      ],
      "citations": 30,
      "distinctOutlets": 23,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 4
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/epson-ecotank-et-3950.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 11,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 206,
      "name": "Brother MFC-L2820DW",
      "brand": "Brother",
      "slug": "brother-mfc-l2820dw",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/brother-mfc-l2820dw",
      "verdict": "The Brother MFC-L2820DW is a low-cost monochrome laser all-in-one that delivers only average speed and basic features, making it a poor value for office use.",
      "pros": [
        "Best office printer per RTINGS",
        "Praised for reliability and speed",
        "Sharp text output",
        "Fast warm-up",
        "Low cost per page"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Average speed",
        "Basic features",
        "Limited functionality",
        "Toner leakage",
        "Print quality degradation over time"
      ],
      "citations": 27,
      "distinctOutlets": 23,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 3,
        "ofRuns": 6
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/brother-mfc-l2820dw.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 12,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 186,
      "name": "Epson Expression Home XP-4200",
      "brand": "Epson",
      "slug": "epson-expression-home-xp-4200",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/epson-expression-home-xp-4200",
      "verdict": "Best cheap inkjet for occasional printing with low cost of ownership.",
      "pros": [
        "Low cost of ownership",
        "Compact size",
        "Decent print quality",
        "Solid performance",
        "Strong warranty"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Small, expensive cartridges - running costs will quietly double its price",
        "Light-duty build",
        "Exists largely to upsell buyers to the EcoTank line"
      ],
      "citations": 17,
      "distinctOutlets": 17,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/epson-expression-home-xp-4200.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 13,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 155,
      "name": "Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3290",
      "brand": "Canon",
      "slug": "canon-megatank-pixma-g3290",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/canon-megatank-pixma-g3290",
      "verdict": "Ink leakage, inconsistent quality, sparse firmware support.",
      "pros": [
        "Large ink tank capacity",
        "Good for high volume printing",
        "Solid print quality",
        "High-quality color photos with vibrant detail",
        "Low running cost compared to other photo printers"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Ink leakage",
        "Inconsistent print quality",
        "Ink tank leaks",
        "Frequent maintenance required",
        "Sparse firmware updates"
      ],
      "citations": 26,
      "distinctOutlets": 24,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 2,
        "ofRuns": 7
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/canon-megatank-pixma-g3290.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 14,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 83,
      "name": "Canon PIXMA TR4720",
      "brand": "Canon",
      "slug": "canon-pixma-tr4720",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/canon-pixma-tr4720",
      "verdict": "Unreliable ink system, frequent errors, poor long-term reliability.",
      "pros": [
        "Solid photo & document printing",
        "Small footprint",
        "Easy setup",
        "Good color fidelity",
        "Reliable ink system"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Unreliable ink system",
        "Frequent error messages",
        "Poor color accuracy",
        "High cost per page",
        "Slow print speeds"
      ],
      "citations": 31,
      "distinctOutlets": 28,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 2,
        "ofRuns": 6
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/canon-pixma-tr4720.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 15,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 0,
      "name": "HP Envy Inspire 7955e",
      "brand": "HP",
      "slug": "hp-envy-inspire-7955e",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/hp-envy-inspire-7955e",
      "verdict": "Driver problems and slow firmware updates increase downtime.",
      "pros": [
        "Reliable performance",
        "Good support",
        "Long-lifespan laser-ink",
        "Good balance of cost and functionality",
        "Decent print speed for everyday documents"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Driver issues",
        "Slow firmware updates",
        "Mediocre print quality",
        "Unreliable ink system",
        "Price not justified"
      ],
      "citations": 12,
      "distinctOutlets": 12,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 3,
        "ofRuns": 7
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/hp-envy-inspire-7955e.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 16,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 0,
      "name": "HP DeskJet 2855e",
      "brand": "HP",
      "slug": "hp-deskjet-2855e",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/hp-deskjet-2855e",
      "verdict": "High maintenance cost and frequent printhead issues.",
      "pros": [
        "Basic printing",
        "Best cheap printer for home use per RTINGS",
        "Rock-bottom sticker price",
        "The default 'cheap printer' at every big-box store, so it's everywhere"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Frequent printhead clogs",
        "Limited firmware support",
        "Higher failure rate",
        "Slow print speed",
        "High ink cost"
      ],
      "citations": 47,
      "distinctOutlets": 39,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 3,
        "ofRuns": 6
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/hp-deskjet-2855e.webp"
    }
  ]
}