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The short answerFor most homes the best photo printer is a six-color ink tank: the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 for letter size, or the ET-8550 if you want 13 x 19. If all you print is 4 x 6 for albums and frames, the Canon SELPHY CP1500 is simpler and cheaper to start with.
By Marius. Listing data pulled Oct 30, 2026. Page built Nov 1, 2026. How I rank printers.
Best letter-size photo tank
The all-rounder. Photos, homework and shipping labels on one machine, with ink costs that don’t make you hesitate before pressing print. Pick the 8550 instead only if 13 x 19 is a real need.
4.1 out of 5 from 1,279 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Lowest cost per print at 13x19
Same ink, bigger paper. Good for a family that also makes posters, crafts and the odd framed 13 x 19. It’s the larger purchase and needs more desk.
4.0 out of 5 from 2,725 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Best budget photo tank
The cheaper tank with a proper photo ink set. Go for it if the budget is tight and you don’t need Ethernet or disc printing.
3.9 out of 5 from 1,200 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Best compact photo all-in-one
For small rooms and light use. The photo tray stays loaded, which is why it’s pleasant to use. Cartridges make it the costly one if you print a lot.
3.8 out of 5 from 241 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Best 4x6 dye-sub printer
If the job is 4 x 6 prints for albums, this beats a letter-size inkjet on effort: dry, sealed prints, no clogged nozzles after a month away.
4.4 out of 5 from 2,755 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Best dock for everyday phone prints
For phone-only families: sit the phone in the dock and print. Biggest owner sample of any printer here.
4.2 out of 5 from 20,100 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Best all-rounder with a photo tray
The practical pick if the printer is mostly for homework and paperwork and photos are an occasional job. Four-color ink.
4.0 out of 5 from 606 Amazon ratings (Oct 30, 2026)
Fewer than a few dozen photos a year and a cartridge all-in-one like the XP-8700 is hard to beat on total cost. A few hundred and tanks start winning. If it’s 4 x 6 only, dye-sub kits at roughly 40 cents a print are predictable and clean.
Cheap glossy paper and good glossy paper can look like two different printers. Epson’s value 4 x 6 glossy and its premium glossy are a few cents apart per sheet; buy the better one for anything going in a frame. See the paper guide.
| Printer | Type | Max print | Ink | Scan | Owner rating | Per 4x6 | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 | Ink tank | 8.5 x 11 in | 6-color Claria ET Premium | Yes | 4.1 (1,279) | 18c | Amazon |
| Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 | Ink tank | 13 x 19 in | 6-color Claria ET Premium | Yes | 4.0 (2,725) | 18c | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA G620 MegaTank | Ink tank | 8.5 x 14 in | 6-color dye with red and gray | Yes | 3.9 (1,200) | 17c | Amazon |
| Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 | Cartridge | 8.5 x 14 in | 6-color Claria Photo HD | Yes | 3.8 (241) | 54c | Amazon |
| Canon SELPHY CP1500 | Dye-sub 4x6 | 4 x 6 in | Dye-sublimation | No | 4.4 (2,755) | 42c | Amazon |
| KODAK Dock Plus 4x6 | Dye-sub 4x6 | 4 x 6 in | 4PASS dye-sublimation | No | 4.2 (20,100) | 49c | Amazon |
| HP Envy Photo 7975 | Cartridge | Letter and A4 | 4-color thermal inkjet | Yes | 4.0 (606) | n/a | Amazon |
| Printer | Per print | Three-year total |
|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA G620 MegaTank | 17c | $479 |
| Canon SELPHY CP1500 | 42c | $614 |
| KODAK Dock Plus 4x6 | 49c | $659 |
| Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 | 18c | $769 |
| Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 | 54c | $863 |
| Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 | 18c | $864 |
On a tank printer, ink for a 4 x 6 is a few cents and paper is roughly 8 to 15 cents, so about 12 to 20 cents in total. Dye-sub kits come to around 36 to 49 cents. Check what your local lab charges per 4 x 6 and compare; the calculator on this site does the home side.
A dye-sub 4 x 6 like the Canon SELPHY CP1500, or a letter-size photo tank if you also print documents.