Best 4x6 dye-sub printer
Canon SELPHY CP1500
Top for steady quality, a screen, memory card slots and an optional battery.
- Max print
- 4 x 6 in
- Ink
- Dye-sublimation
- Running cost
- about 42c per 4x6
4.4 out of 5 from 2,755 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Best 4x6 photo printers
The short answerThe best 4x6 photo printer is the Canon SELPHY CP1500 for most buyers. Refill kits work out to roughly 36 to 49 cents a print. The Kodak Dock Plus, HP Sprocket Studio Plus and Liene M100 are the alternatives, depending on whether you want a dock, an app, or a low entry price.
By Marius. Listing data pulled Oct 30, 2026. Page built Nov 1, 2026. How I rank printers.
Our picks, in order
Best app for decorated 4x6 prints
HP Sprocket Studio Plus
Top for decorating prints in the app; refills at roughly 43 cents each from the 108-sheet pack.
- Max print
- 4 x 6 in
- Ink
- Dye-sublimation
- Running cost
- about 44c per 4x6
4.3 out of 5 from 314 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Best dock for everyday phone prints
KODAK Dock Plus 4x6
Top for a printer on the shelf that charges the phone; the biggest rating sample.
- Max print
- 4 x 6 in
- Ink
- 4PASS dye-sublimation
- Running cost
- about 49c per 4x6
4.2 out of 5 from 20,100 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Best value snapshot printer
Liene M100 4x6
Top for a low entry price; about 46 cents a print from refills.
- Max print
- 4 x 6 in
- Ink
- Thermal dye-sublimation
- Running cost
- about 46c per 4x6
4.5 out of 5 from 2,242 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Compact 5x7 inkjet (older model)
Epson PictureMate PM-400
The inkjet alternative that also prints 5 x 7 on ordinary Epson paper. Older and pricey.
- Max print
- 5 x 7 in
- Ink
- Combined multicolor cartridge
- Running cost
- not modeled (single cartridge or ink plan)
4.5 out of 5 from 1,435 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
How to choose
Dye-sub vs inkjet at 4x6
Dye-sub prints come out dry and sealed and the machine doesn’t clog, but you buy matched kits at about 40 cents a print. A photo tank costs a fraction of that per print, but you’re buying a much bigger printer. Pick on how many you print.
Side by side
| Printer | Type | Max print | Ink | Scan | Owner rating | Per 4x6 | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon SELPHY CP1500 | Dye-sub 4x6 | 4 x 6 in | Dye-sublimation | No | 4.4 (2,755) | 42c | Amazon |
| HP Sprocket Studio Plus | Dye-sub 4x6 | 4 x 6 in | Dye-sublimation | No | 4.3 (314) | 44c | Amazon |
| KODAK Dock Plus 4x6 | Dye-sub 4x6 | 4 x 6 in | 4PASS dye-sublimation | No | 4.2 (20,100) | 49c | Amazon |
| Liene M100 4x6 | Dye-sub 4x6 | 4 x 6 in | Thermal dye-sublimation | No | 4.5 (2,242) | 46c | Amazon |
| Epson PictureMate PM-400 | Cartridge | 5 x 7 in | Combined multicolor cartridge | No | 4.5 (1,435) | n/a | Amazon |
What the picks cost over three years
| Printer | Per print | Three-year total |
|---|---|---|
| Canon SELPHY CP1500 | 42c | $614 |
| Liene M100 4x6 | 46c | $622 |
| KODAK Dock Plus 4x6 | 49c | $659 |
| HP Sprocket Studio Plus | 44c | $660 |
Pairs well with: Dye-sub and instant refills
Canon KP-108IN Color Ink and Paper Set, 108 sheets
4.8 (3,440)View on Amazon
Canon KP-108IN Ink and Paper Set, 2 pack (216 prints)
4.8 (3,383)View on Amazon
KODAK PHC-120 refill for Dock Plus: cartridges and 120 sheets
4.5 (3,393)View on Amazon
HP Sprocket Studio Plus paper and cartridges, 108 sheets
4.6 (907)View on Amazon
Liene Amber M100/M200 paper and cartridges, 80 sheets
4.8 (1,493)View on Amazon
Fujifilm Instax Wide film, 40 prints
4.6 (1,220)View on Amazon
Fujifilm Instax Mini film, 40 prints
4.9 (80)View on Amazon
Epson 320 cartridge for PictureMate PM-400
4.7 (1,522)View on AmazonQuestions people ask
How much does a 4x6 print cost on a dye-sub printer?
Roughly 36 to 49 cents from the Canon, HP and Liene packs priced in the data pull.
Can I print 4x6 on a regular inkjet?
Yes. Photo inkjets such as the XP-8700 and the EcoTank photo models take 4 x 6 paper in a photo tray.