Who else hates printers? As teachers, no other piece of technology is so frustrating and unreliable to use other than the dreaded printer. While we have a dedicated guide on the best 3D printers for classrooms (which are super fun and engaging to use), we’ve decided to share what we found to be the most reliable printers for classroom use.
Teachers need the best printers to enhance their classroom teaching experience. Choosing among printers with various features, such as Wi-Fi compatibility with a cell phone or an extra-large capacity ink tank, can be overwhelming.
In truth, most teachers do not require expensive, advanced features and would benefit more from affordable printers that can still meet their needs. Thus, prioritizing cheap printers is crucial.
What to Look for in a classroom printer
A few factors to consider when choosing a printer include its size, durability, and energy efficiency. We also suggest looking at the following:
- Cost-effectiveness: Teachers often have limited budgets, so the cost of the printer is an essential factor to consider. Look for a printer that offers a reasonable price per page of printing and doesn’t require expensive ink or toner cartridges.
- Connectivity and compatibility: A printer connecting to multiple devices and platforms, such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones, is essential for a teacher’s workflow. Also, ensure the printer is compatible with the software and apps you use most frequently.
- Speed and quality: A printer that can produce high-quality prints quickly and efficiently can save teachers time and frustration. Look for a fast printing speed and high-resolution output printer to ensure that your documents and materials look professional and easy to read.
The best printers for teachers
With that out of the way, here are the top printers we found to be the most reliable and valuable for the classroom.
- Epson EcoTank
- Brother HL-L2300D
- HP Color LaserJet Pro
- Canon TR8620
- Canon G3260
- Pantum P2502W
- Jadens Wireless Portable Printer
Epson EcoTank – A super tank printer for classroom use
The super tank printer is an inkjet printer that differs from traditional ones because it has large, refillable ink tanks instead of disposable cartridges. This design promotes better cost efficiency and environmental friendliness.
Epson EcoTank
Super tank printer with large, refillable tanks instead of cartridges.
Super tank printers have a high-capacity ink system that can print thousands of pages and reduce the amount of money spent on ink. Also, users can refill the ink tanks with bottles of ink instead of buying disposable cartridges when the ink runs low.
No more annoying, overpriced print cartridges. Not only is it more cost-efficient, but also more environmentally friendly. Instead of throwing away empty cartridges with super tank printers, you can refill them with ink whenever needed. Plus, the cost per page when using a superb tank printer is much lower than traditional cartridge-based models.
In addition to being an economical and eco-friendly choice, many super tank printers have advanced printing features such as wireless printing and print quality settings for better prints. They also offer other extras like automatic duplexing, faxing capabilities, and direct mobile printing options for added convenience.
All in all, super tank printers provide excellent value for money and are a great choice for anyone looking to save money on their printing costs while helping reduce their environmental impact.
Pros:
- Perfect for a classroom if you’re going to be printing thousand+ pieces of paper.
Cons:
- Lacks more advanced features and functionality compared to other printers.
Brother HL-L2300D – The best for classroom use
The printer is designed to be easy to use, setup and maintain. It comes with an LCD display that shows the printer’s current status. There are also buttons on the control panel so users can easily adjust settings and access lists of print jobs.
Brother HL-L2300D
Best for use in a classroom. Easy to setup, install and use.
The printer includes software packages such as PCL 6, PostScript 3, and Adobe PDF 1.7, making it compatible with many applications.
Additionally, there are ports available for connecting USB devices such as memory sticks and external hard drives for convenient printing from any location.
The printer can print up to 27 pages per minute and has automatic duplex printing. However, it does not have Wi-Fi capability. It can produce sharp and professional black and white pages with a resolution of up to 2400 x 600dpi. The auto duplex printing feature helps save resources by printing on both sides of the paper. Additionally, a manual feed slot is available for printing envelopes and letterheads.
Pros:
- It works, can print a lot and is very easy to setup.
- Reliable.
Cons:
- The manuals that come with this printer are quite confusing and contain way to much jargon.
- No Wi-Fi! Yes, really.
HP Color LaserJet Pro – Good remote printing
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw Wireless All-in-One Laser Printer offers fast wireless performance and versatile functions. You can conveniently print and scan using HP Smart, an excellent mobile print app.
HP LaserJet
Responsive wireless performance. Scan and print using a mobile app.
With this printer, you can save time by utilizing the exclusive office features in the HP Smart app, which can automate repetitive tasks and organize documents up to 50% faster. The printer has print, scan, copy, and fax capabilities, offers print speeds up to 22 ppm, and has a user-friendly 2.7″ color touchscreen.
This printer has a 250-sheet input capacity and a 50-page automatic document feeder to help you stay productive. In addition, it comes with dual-band Wi-Fi to keep your classroom connected.
Its Automatic two-sided printing ensures you can reduce paper usage and save time. It also offers fast first-page-out times and energy-saving features to keep printing costs low. With an ENERGY STAR-certified device, you can enjoy the benefits of a more efficient printer without compromising performance.
Pros:
- Voice activated printing.
- Two sided printing.
Cons:
- Default printer settings could be better optimized. You’ll need to customize the settings to your liking most likely.
Canon TR8620a – Airprint with Android
The PIXMA TR8620a is a compact home office printer with various features and functions to cater to your work needs. It includes front and rear paper feeding, a 5-Individual Ink System, a 4.3″ LCD Touchscreen, and wired and wireless[1] connectivity options. Output Language Code: EN-US
Canon Pixma
A good mid range printer for a school office.
The PIXMA TR8620a is a versatile printer that can perform various functions, such as scanning multiple-page documents using the Auto Document Feeder, printing double-sided homework assignments from online courses, or wirelessly printing family photos from your smartphone. It is a compact home office printer that can handle tasks like printing, faxing, and scanning more efficiently, making it suitable for your productivity needs.
You can print from your mobile devices using the Canon PRINT app or Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service for Android. You can also enhance your prints using the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint Editor and Canon Creative Park App.
Pros:
- Feature rich printing features with Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity.
Cons:
- Build quality could be better, it feels flimsy so keep your young students away from playing with this device.
Canon G3260 – Another great super tank printer
If it’s not apparent, we love the super tank design for printers. They make a lot of sense for classroom use instead of old-fashioned cartridges. You can save 1,175 ink units and print up to 6,000 black / 7,700 color pages with just one set of color bottles. Your purchase of this printer also includes two extra black ink bottles.
Canon G3260
Super tank printers are simply superior to any machine still using cartridges.
This wireless all-in-one printer can print documents and photos on various paper types using a hybrid ink system. The system uses pigment black for sharp black text and dye-based colors for vivid borderless photos up to 8.5″ x 11″. Additionally, it has fast print speeds and a flatbed scanner, making it easy to handle printing, copying, and scanning tasks.
You can print wirelessly from your computer or mobile device using the Canon Print app or Apple AirPrint6 or Mopria to print without additional apps.
Pros:
- Super tank design.
- Lot’s of helpful features like wireless like the Canon Print app.
Cons:
- Wireless only, there is no ethernet connection.
Pantum P2502W Wireless Laser – A good budget option
This is a nice, single function wireless laser printer designed for home use or an office. If you don’t need or want something overly complicated for your classroom then this is a good choice if all you’re doing is printing documents, work and papers for students casually every month.
Pantum Laser Printer
700 pages printed per cartridge. A good choice for the teachers office.
You get 700 pages per cartridge and a 1 year warranty. It’s also well built and comes with a metal frame in a sleek, compact design.
Pros:
- If all you need is a simple, well built printer this is it.
Cons:
- No super tank or any other advanced features.
JADENS Wireless Portable Printer – A useful backup
This portable printer doesn’t require ink and can print basic documents such as recipes, forms, letters, assignments, study materials, and travel documents using thermal technology. This portable printer doesn’t require ink, toner, or ribbons. Instead, it uses thermal paper which costs only $0.07, saving hundreds of dollars annually.
Jaden’s Portable Printer
Mobile printer. Perfect for field trips and when you’re away from the office.
This device is a convenient solution for printing while traveling for business or leisure. Its size fits into your car, backpack, or other compact spaces. The JADENS portable printer is also helpful for emergency printing situations, such as contracts, office documents, inventory lists, business checks, shipping labels, and boarding passes.
Finally, it is easy to set up either via Bluetooth with your smart device (compatible with IOS and Android) or via USB with your laptop or computer. It only takes 5 minutes to set up after unboxing. Just make sure to download the app beforehand if you plan to use it with your smartphone and install the driver if you plan to use it with your laptop.
Pros:
- The small, portable option.
- A great backup printer or printer for occasions where you’re out of the classroom.
Cons:
- Thermal paper is sometimes difficult to find in the correct size for documents.
The best printers for a classroom – conclusion
That’s it for our guide on printers. From expensive super tank options, to average “run of the mill” printers to light weight portable printers, we hope you found something here useful for you. In general, we found super tank printers to be the best if you’re going to keep a printer in your classroom long term.
