Best Home Printers and Printing Supplies
Printers are one of those things nobody wants to think about until they desperately need one. Then it's midnight, you've got something due tomorrow, and you're Googling "best printer" in a panic. We've all been there. Here's our honest take: for most people, a basic laser printer is the move. Inkjet cartridges dry out if you don't print regularly, and then you're buying new ones before you've even used the first set. Laser toner lasts forever by comparison. We also threw in some office essentials that pair well with a printer setup — because you'll need those too.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Key Pros | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother HL-L2350DW Monochrome Laser Printer | Printer | 32 pages per minute output handles high-volume print tasks quickly | Buy on Amazon |
| Brother HL-L2350DW Compact Monochrome Laser Printer | Laser-Printer | 32 ppm printing speed is fast for its price class | Buy on Amazon |
| Fellowes Powershred 79Ci Paper Shredder | Shredder | 100% jam-proof system prevents frustrating paper jams | Buy on Amazon |
| CZUR Lens Pro Portable USB Document Scanner | Scanner | AI-powered page flattening | Buy on Amazon |
| Moleskine Classic Hardcover Notebook Large Ruled | Notebook | Acid-free paper resists ink bleed | Buy on Amazon |
| BIC Cristal Ballpoint Pens 24-Pack (Black) | Pens | Incredibly affordable | Buy on Amazon |
Detailed Look at Each Product
Brother HL-L2350DW Monochrome Laser Printer
The Brother HL-L2350DW prints up to 32 pages per minute with automatic duplex printing and wireless connectivity for a network-ready home or small office laser printer. The high-yield toner option reduces cost per page significantly compared to inkjet alternatives for text-heavy document printing. A compact footprint and straightforward wireless setup make it easy to deploy in any workspace.
- 32 pages per minute output handles high-volume print tasks quickly
- Automatic duplex printing saves paper without manual page flipping
- Laser toner delivers significantly lower cost per page than inkjet
- Monochrome only — cannot print color documents or photographs
- Toner cartridge yield varies significantly from stated estimates
Brother HL-L2350DW Compact Monochrome Laser Printer
The Brother HL-L2350DW delivers fast 32-page-per-minute monochrome laser printing with automatic duplex printing and wireless connectivity in a compact, affordable package. Its 250-sheet paper tray reduces refill frequency, and the high-yield toner option brings cost per page down to nearly 3 cents. AirPrint and Google Cloud Print compatibility allow direct printing from smartphones and tablets.
- 32 ppm printing speed is fast for its price class
- Automatic duplex cuts paper usage in half
- Very low cost per page with high-yield toner
- Monochrome only; no color printing capability
- Toner drum is a separate replacement item
Fellowes Powershred 79Ci Paper Shredder
The Fellowes Powershred 79Ci cross-cuts up to 16 sheets of paper at a time into confetti-sized pieces for secure document disposal. Its 100 percent jam-proof system automatically reverses when a paper jam is detected. A 6-gallon bin provides capacity for extended shredding sessions.
- 100% jam-proof system prevents frustrating paper jams
- Cross-cut shreds into confetti for security
- 16-sheet capacity handles substantial stacks
- Runs hot after extended continuous use
- Bin is not transparent, making fullness hard to gauge
CZUR Lens Pro Portable USB Document Scanner
Portable overhead document scanner with 12-megapixel camera for digitizing documents, receipts, and book pages. AI-powered page-flattening and finger-removal algorithms produce clean scans. Folds flat for easy transport between office locations.
- AI-powered page flattening
- Folds flat for portability
- Scans books without cutting spine
- Software learning curve
- Requires decent ambient lighting
Moleskine Classic Hardcover Notebook Large Ruled
Moleskine's iconic hardcover notebook features 240 pages of acid-free, ink-bleed-resistant paper that handles fountain pens, ballpoints, and gel pens equally well. The rounded corners, elastic closure, and ribbon page marker are practical details refined over decades of use by writers, artists, and professionals worldwide. An expandable inner pocket at the back stores receipts, cards, and loose notes.
- Acid-free paper resists ink bleed
- Durable hardcover and elastic closure
- Inner expandable pocket
- Premium price for a notebook
- Thin pages show some ghosting with heavy ink
BIC Cristal Ballpoint Pens 24-Pack (Black)
The most popular ballpoint pen with a smooth-writing tungsten carbide ball. Ventilated cap meets international safety standards while the clear barrel shows ink level. Each pen writes for over 3 kilometers before running out.
- Incredibly affordable
- Smooth consistent writing
- Long ink life
- Classic reliable design
- Basic no-frills pen
- Cap can get lost
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a laser or inkjet printer?
Laser, unless you need to print photos regularly. The Brother HL-L2350DW is a black and white laser printer that's fast, reliable, and the toner lasts for thousands of pages. Inkjet cartridges are a money pit — they dry out, they're expensive to replace, and half the time the printer tells you they're empty when they're not.
Do I really need a printer at home?
If you print more than a few times a year, yeah. Running to a print shop or the library gets old fast. Shipping labels, tax forms, school stuff, return labels — it adds up. A basic laser printer pays for itself pretty quickly when you factor in the convenience.
What about a document scanner?
If you deal with a lot of paperwork, the CZUR portable scanner is a nice addition. It's way faster than using your phone camera and the scans come out cleaner. But honestly, for most people, a phone scanning app works fine for the occasional document.
Should I buy a shredder too?
If you get any mail with personal info on it — bank statements, medical stuff, credit card offers — a shredder is smart. The Fellowes Powershred handles up to 16 sheets at once and does cross-cut shredding so nobody's piecing your documents back together. It's one of those boring-but-important purchases.