Some of the biggest names in business had very humble beginnings. Amazon, Virgin, and Apple all began in tiny offices with barely any funding, but with ideas that would one day make them some of the most profitable companies in history.
Any humble business, even one working from a home office, could follow a similar path. If you’re just starting out, chasing a dream, or are just keeping costs low, we wish you the best of luck.
One thing that all those companies shared back in the day was a printer. No office is complete without one, regardless of the products or services you provide. Knowing what is the best printer for a home office is crucial to your success, and we’re here to help you find one that’s right for you.
Why do Home Offices Need Printers?
Even in 2025, where almost everything we do is digital, physical printing is still necessary. You might need a physical copy of a document to send in the post, or one to keep as a physical record that can’t be lost and/or corrupted by keeping it digital-only.
If you run a business out of your home office, this is even more important. You might need documents you can take on the road, for a client pitch, presentation, staff training, interviews, or just as something to study while waiting for a train. Sometimes you’ll need a physical document for legal reasons too.
Most modern office printers also copy and scan documents too. This is an essential feature for if you need multiple documents or are doing the reverse of the preservation we just mentioned, creating a digital version of a physical document.
And that’s just documents. If you’re putting together products, or need to post anything, you need professional-looking shipping labels, with the correct information and a dash of your branding included.
These might require a specific type of printer, one that can print onto the adhesive material you need for stickers and labels. Knowing the type of printer you need is just as important as finding one that’s high quality.
Types of Printer for Home Offices
There are two main types of printer: Inkjet and thermal.
An Inkjet printer is the most commonly used printer, you’ll see a lot in offices. This is because they’re versatile, able to print large quantities of documents, as well as copying and scanning. They also have a low up-front cost, which is why they’re the go-to for people setting up their offices.
However, the initial cost is low, but the cost of running an inkjet printer is not. As these printers use ink, they need ink cartridges. These have to be replaced and aren’t cheap even if you buy in bulk. If your printer is constantly whirring away, the cost adds up fast, often making an Inkjet the least affordable option. For a small home office or occasional use, an Inkjet printer will serve you well, just keep this in mind if you plan to expand.
Thermal printers aren’t as common but are essential for a number of offices. If you need to print onto specific materials, like the adhesive paper for stickers and labels, some inkjets won’t be up to the task. Thermal printers use a heated pad to create bold text and images, no risk of ink smudging at any time.
They are also (generally) more reliable, lasting for years longer than the equivalent inkjet if you take care of it. But the biggest advantage is by far the cost. Some people ignore thermal printers because they’re initially more expensive than inkjets, but since there are no cartridges to buy, the savings quickly catch up.
Inkjet Vs Thermal Printers
So which printer is best? Well, from what we’ve said already it looks like thermal printing is the way to go, but don’t be too hasty. Thermal printers are great in many ways, especially if you need them for a niche task like printing receipts (you’ll struggle to find an inkjet that is made for that). However, inkjets are often the better all-rounders and are still cheaper if you don’t use them much.
We can’t tell you which is best without knowing what you or your business needs to print. But we can say that, once you’ve figured this out, you should choose a printer from a reliable brand.
You might find a printer from overseas that is more affordable, but you’ll be sacrificing quality. You should be using your printer for a long time; if it lets you down after less than 100 uses, you’ll be frustrated and out of pocket.
The most important thing to consider when buying a printer is scalability. This is especially important for businesses that plan on growing as quickly as possible. If you’re a sole trader with a home office, this isn’t an issue, but if you do plan on moving to an office and bringing in more people, choose a machine that will be able to handle the increased demand.