Where to Buy Multifunction Printer?
A comprehensive guide to retailers, prices, and smart buying tips
Walmart
Big Box RetailerOn Walmart shelves sits a Canon PIXMA TS3722, priced at $53. Next to it is the HP DeskJet 2852e at $59. The Epson WorkForce WF-2950 is $79. All three can print, scan, and copy. The Brother MFC-L2760DW is more expensive at $199.99, with fax capability, black and white laser. The Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw costs $702.99, color laser, with a three-year warranty.
Buy
Best Buy
Electronics RetailerBest Buy prices are about the same. The website categories range from $25 to over $750. HP, Brother, Canon, and Epson—these four brands take up most of the shelf space. In-store same-day pickup is available.
In March 2024, Best Buy sold the Canon imageCLASS LBP246dw for $199.99, $40 cheaper than Walmart at the same time. Best Buy has a price match guarantee. Free shipping on orders over $35. Return period is 15 days.
Amazon
Online MarketplaceSearching "multifunction printer" on Amazon returns over three hundred pages. Price filters are divided into under $150, $150-200, $200-300, and over $300. Refurbished units are a few dozen dollars cheaper than new ones.
Staples
Office SuppliesStaples started out selling office equipment. The Xerox VersaLink C415 is on sale, marked 28% off. The Canon imageCLASS MF751Cdw II is 26% off. Store staff can help you choose a model. In physical stores, you can get hands-on with the machines.
Costco
Membership WarehouseCostco requires a membership card. The printer selection isn't as extensive as Best Buy or Amazon, but prices are kept low. Some models come with extra ink cartridges.
Depot
Office Depot
Office SuppliesOffice Depot has a similar positioning to Staples. Back-to-school season in July, August, and September often features promotions.
Tom's Guide Testing Results
Tom's Guide has tested a bunch of models. The Brother INKvestment MFC-J995DW is listed as the overall recommended pick, with color printing costs around 0.9 cents per page—half the industry average of 1.9 cents. The Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 takes the budget route. The Brother MFC-L2750DW XL is the fast one among black and white lasers, with a per-page cost of 2.7 cents. The Epson EcoTank ET-5850 runs 0.4 cents for black and white, 1.6 cents for color, but the machine itself is expensive.
Brother INKvestment MFC-J995DW
Overall Recommended Pick
Color printing cost: ~0.9 cents/page
Industry average: 1.9 cents/page
Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290
Budget Route
Affordable option for cost-conscious buyers
Brother MFC-L2750DW XL
Fast B&W Laser
Per-page cost: 2.7 cents
Epson EcoTank ET-5850
B&W: 0.4 cents | Color: 1.6 cents
Machine itself is expensive
The Printer Industry's Decades-Old Playbook
Buying the machine is cheap; buying the ink is expensive. This has been the printer industry's playbook for decades. HP has Instant Ink subscription, Canon and Epson have similar services. Whether a subscription is worth it depends on your print volume.
Best Times to Buy & Deal Hunting Tips
That Clark.com article checked over 70 printer deals on ClarkDeals. The conclusion is that Amazon, Office Depot, Walmart, Staples, and Best Buy can all have models under $100. Amazon's Prime Day is in July, Black Friday is in November—these two time periods have the most deals. Walmart has sold all-in-one printers for $19. Staples sold them for $40 on Black Friday.
Product Specifications Comparison
Canon imageCLASS MF3010
Home Office- Paper tray capacity: 150 sheets
- Black and white laser
- No automatic document feeder
- Scanning requires placing one sheet at a time
- Suitable for low-volume home offices
HP Envy 6555e
Home / SOHO- 35-sheet automatic document feeder
- 100-sheet paper tray
- Touch screen included
HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e
Small Business- Paper tray capacity: 225 sheets
- Fast print speed
- Positioned for small businesses
High-Volume & Enterprise Options
The Brother color laser MFC-L8610CDW sells at Walmart for $639.99. Companies with high print volumes buy these kinds of machines.
Ricoh and Kyocera make large commercial machines, also available on Amazon, with prices ranging from hundreds to thousands. Small companies generally don't need these.
Brand Official Websites
Brand official websites are also an option for purchasing. HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother all have online stores. Sometimes official sites have exclusive discounts or bundle packages.
Summary
From budget-friendly $53 inkjets at Walmart to $700+ color laser machines, the multifunction printer market offers options for every need and budget. Key retailers include Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, Staples, Costco, and Office Depot. Watch for Prime Day in July and Black Friday in November for the best deals. Consider total cost of ownership including ink, not just the machine price. Expert reviews from Tom's Guide can help identify models with the lowest per-page printing costs.