Best Refurbished Printers: 9 Top Picks in 2026

Alex Morgan
Posted on August 2, 2026August 28, 2026

Refurbished printers make a lot of sense for buyers who want a lower entry price without settling for something flimsy or painfully bare-bones. A good renewed or certified-refurbished machine can cover the usual home office grind, the school-paper scramble, and those random weekend moments when the scanner suddenly becomes the most important thing in the house. The trap, though, is easy to fall into: people chase the cheapest listing, ignore the print technology, and end up with a printer that is slow, expensive to feed, or awkward to live with after the first week.

The smartest move is to focus on the basics that affect daily use. Think print speed, ink or toner costs, wireless reliability, duplex printing, scan quality, and whether the machine fits your space without turning the desk into a cable jungle. Some buyers want color photos and casual family documents. Others want crisp black-and-white pages that look sharp in a stack of invoices. That split matters, and it is why the best refurbished printers are not all trying to do the same job. The top overall pick here stands out because it hits that sweet spot of compact size, full features, and easy everyday usability.

If you are short on time, the comparison table below gives a quick way to size up the strongest choices. Click any product name to jump straight to its review.

Table of Contents

Best Refurbished Printers Comparison Table

Product	Best For	Main Strength	Type
Brother MFC-J1010DW	Best Overall	Compact all-in-one convenience	Color Inkjet
Canon PIXMA TS6520	Best Budget-Friendly Color Pick	Balanced home use features	Color Inkjet
Canon PIXMA TS4320	Best Value Starter Option	Low-cost everyday printing	Color Inkjet
HP Smart Tank 5000	Best For High-Volume Homes	Cartridge-free ink savings	Ink Tank
Refurbished HP LaserJet Pro P1606DN	Best Pure Black-and-White Bargain	Simple laser reliability	Monochrome Laser
Brother MFC-J1170DW	Best Feature-Rich Compact Pick	NFC, cloud, and mobile tools	Color Inkjet
HP DeskJet 2923	Best Basic Household Printer	Straightforward everyday use	Color Inkjet
Brother DCP-L2640DW	Best For Small Teams	Fast monochrome productivity	Monochrome Laser
Brother HL-L2460DW	Best Refurbished Laser Upgrade	Fast duplex printing and office-ready output	Monochrome Laser

Each of the printers below fills a different lane, so the details matter more than the label on the box.

1. Best Overall: Brother MFC-J1010DW

This Brother earns the top spot because it feels like the practical middle ground so many shoppers are chasing. It is small enough to disappear onto a corner desk, yet it still gives you the full all-in-one set: print, scan, copy, wireless support, and duplex printing. That matters on a Tuesday night when a kid needs a worksheet scanned and emailed, or when you have three pages of forms and do not want to flip paper by hand like it is 2009. The renewed premium angle also makes the value more appealing, especially for buyers who want a known brand and do not need a giant office beast humming in the background.

What really helps this model stand out is that it feels built for real homes, not showroom fantasy. Fast enough for school packets and routine office pages, but not so oversized that it steals the whole shelf. Brother usually does well with straightforward operation, and this model follows that logic. If your goal is to keep things simple while still getting useful features, this one hits a very comfortable lane. It is the kind of printer that quietly does its job and gets on with life, which is exactly what most households want.

Pros

Compact footprint that fits nicely in a home office or shared room.
Duplex printing helps save paper without extra fuss.
All-in-one functionality covers printing, scanning, and copying.
Wireless and mobile printing make day-to-day use easier.
Strong brand reputation for practical, dependable office gear.

Cons

Inkjet running costs can climb if you print a lot of color pages.
Not the fastest choice for heavy-volume office work.
Renewed units can vary a little more in cosmetic condition than new ones.

If you want a refurbished printer that feels balanced rather than compromised, this Brother is a very safe bet. It is the one to buy for mixed household use, weekend admin chores, and light home-office printing where flexibility matters more than raw speed. People who print constantly might want a laser or tank model instead, but for most buyers, this is the sweet spot that keeps things sensible without feeling stripped down.

To buy this product, click here.

2. Best Budget-Friendly Color Pick: Canon PIXMA TS6520

The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is the kind of printer that makes sense when your needs are pretty normal, but you still want a little polish. It is compact, wireless, and friendly enough for mixed household use, with duplex printing and a small OLED display that keeps the setup from feeling like a chore. If you have ever dragged a printer out of a closet, plugged it in, and immediately regretted the whole decision, this is the sort of model that tries to soften that pain. It is built for people who print documents, occasional photos, school projects, and the usual home-office clutter.

Its strongest appeal is the combination of usability and decent print quality at a modest refurbished-friendly price point. Canon’s hybrid ink system gives it a bit more life for both sharp text and color pages, which is useful when your printer needs to handle a birthday flyer one day and return forms the next. The footprint is friendly, the wireless setup is approachable, and the app support lowers the friction for phone-first users. For a household that wants a reliable color machine without a giant bill or a giant footprint, this is an easy one to like.

Pros

Good balance of affordability and useful home features.
Duplex printing helps reduce paper waste.
Compact design works well in tight spaces.
OLED display makes it easier to check status at a glance.
Strong mobile printing support for phones and tablets.

Cons

Inkjet cartridges can be costly over time if you print a lot.
Best for light to moderate use, not heavy weekly workloads.
Small displays are handy, but they do not replace full-featured controls.

This Canon fits the buyer who wants a dependable everyday printer and does not want to spend the rest of the month thinking about it. It is also a nice pick for hybrid workers who print a few pages at a time and value clean text and simple app-based printing. If you are chasing the lowest long-term page cost, a tank or laser model is smarter. If you want a friendly color all-in-one that feels easy from day one, this one lands nicely.

To buy this product, click here.

3. Best Value Starter Option: Canon PIXMA TS4320

The PIXMA TS4320 feels like a printer for people who want the basics done nicely and do not need a lot of ceremony around it. It is compact, wireless, and set up for everyday print, scan, and copy tasks without making the user wrestle with a giant control panel or oversized chassis. A lot of families and solo workers run into the same pattern: they need a printer for homework, shipping labels, or the odd form, but they do not want a machine that dominates the room. This Canon lands squarely in that lane.

What gives it value is how much of the useful stuff Canon managed to pack in while keeping the design simple. Duplex printing is a real perk at this level, especially if you dislike wasting paper on drafts or reference sheets. The print quality is solid for documents and casual color use, and the mobile printing support makes it feel far less old-school than the price might suggest. It is not a powerhouse, and it does not pretend to be. That honesty is part of the appeal. For buyers who want a no-drama starter printer, it is a very sensible choice.

Pros

Low-friction way to get color printing, scanning, and copying.
Compact enough for a shelf, nook, or desk corner.
Automatic two-sided printing adds real convenience.
Mobile printing support is useful for quick phone jobs.
EPEAT Silver and ENERGY STAR certification add some eco appeal.

Cons

Better suited to light use than constant daily output.
Two-cartridge ink systems can be less efficient than larger tank systems.
Basic control layout may feel limited for power users.

This model makes the most sense for buyers who want a small, affordable printer for household tasks and occasional work documents. It is also a smart fit for students or apartment dwellers who need something that will not swallow half a desk. If your printing habits are modest and you care more about convenience than pro-level speed, this Canon is a very comfortable place to land.

To buy this product, click here.

4. Best For High-Volume Homes: HP Smart Tank 5000

This HP Smart Tank model is for the buyer who is tired of babying cartridges. The whole point here is simple: refillable ink, fewer interruptions, and a print life that feels much calmer than a standard cartridge setup. If your household burns through school packets, recipe printouts, shipping labels, and homework sheets like a small paper factory, the Smart Tank approach makes a lot of sense. The promise of years of ink, or at least a lot more pages before you think about replacements, is a serious comfort for budget-conscious families.

It also has a practical personality. HP’s refill system is meant to be easy and mess-free, which is a relief because nobody wants blue ink on the counter at 7 p.m. while dinner is half-cooked. This is the kind of printer that performs best once it settles into a routine, and that routine is where it shines. It is not the leanest, tiniest machine here, but it does lean into durability, lower running stress, and a cleaner ownership experience for people who print a lot. If your main complaint with printers is that they always seem hungry, this one changes the mood.

Pros

Cartridge-free ink tank design can lower long-term frustration.
Large ink supply is useful for frequent household printing.
Refill system is meant to be simple and less messy.
All-in-one features cover printing, scanning, and copying.
Good fit for families that print steadily throughout the week.

Cons

Higher upfront cost than basic inkjet models.
Bulkier than some small office printers.
Best savings show up only if you actually print enough pages.

Buy this one if you want fewer ink headaches and a printer that feels built for repeat use. It suits busy homes, homeschooling setups, and anyone who is done playing the cartridge swap game every few weeks. Buyers who print only a page or two here and there may not get the best value from a tank system, but for regular users, the tradeoff starts looking very smart.

To buy this product, click here.

5. Best Pure Black-And-White Bargain: Refurbished HP LaserJet Pro P1606DN

There is a very specific kind of buyer who will love this printer: someone who wants plain, sharp, black-and-white pages and does not care about color bells and whistles at all. That is the entire charm of a laser printer like this one. It is meant for documents, forms, invoices, and everyday text pages that need to look crisp and professional. A refurbished laser model often appeals to small office users because it feels sturdy, uncomplicated, and better suited to consistent text printing than a cheap inkjet that sits around drying out between jobs.

This machine also has a nice no-nonsense vibe. It comes certified refurbished, so the appeal is partly about getting a tested unit with a warranty buffer while avoiding the price of a new office laser. If you remember the first time you printed a stack of resumes and wanted every page to look clean and serious, this is the sort of printer built for that moment. It is not for photos or color projects. It is for people who want black text to look like black text, every single time, without fussing over ink clogs or decorative features.

Pros

Laser printing is ideal for crisp black-and-white documents.
Refurbished pricing can make office-grade hardware more accessible.
Good choice for users who do not need color output.
Simple, work-focused design is easy to live with.
Certified refurbished status adds some reassurance.

Cons

No color printing at all.
Older model, so it lacks modern convenience features on newer machines.
Best suited to document work rather than mixed media tasks.

This is a smart buy for a home office that mainly spits out text, shipping paperwork, and forms. It is less compelling for families that want one machine for everything, and it is a hard pass for anyone who needs photo printing. But if your desk life is mostly invoices and reports, this old-school LaserJet can still feel like a very sharp tool.

To buy this product, click here.

6. Best Feature-Rich Compact Pick: Brother MFC-J1170DW

If you want a compact all-in-one printer with a little more swagger, this Brother is a strong contender. It is aimed at home offices and small offices, and you can feel that in the way it handles wireless printing, scanning, and mobile workflows. It is the printer you reach for when your week has a weird mix of printed packets, scanned receipts, and quick document uploads from your phone. That sort of flexibility is a big deal in real life, especially if your desk has to serve as a school station, admin center, and coffee cup landing zone all at once.

Brother’s reputation for practical office gear helps here too. The feature set is more ambitious than the cheapest compact printers, but it still avoids feeling bloated. NFC and cloud support can be useful if your household or small team likes quick tap-and-go workflows. It is also a nice fit for buyers who want a renewed premium option without jumping to a larger, more expensive office machine. If you need a printer that can flex a little harder than the bare minimum while staying relatively compact, this one has a lot of charm.

Pros

Compact all-in-one layout is friendly for small workspaces.
Mobile, cloud, and NFC support improve everyday convenience.
Fast print and scan performance for a class like this.
Brother’s office-oriented design tends to age well in real use.
Good fit for mixed home-office and small-office tasks.

Cons

Inkjet running costs can be higher than laser options.
More features mean a little more setup attention.
Not the best choice for huge monthly print volumes.

Buy this model if your printer needs are varied and you want a compact machine that still feels businesslike. It is especially useful for people who bounce between phone printing, cloud files, and scanning chores all week long. If you only need a bare-bones printer, this may feel like a touch more machine than you need, but for busy multitaskers, that extra flexibility is the whole point.

To buy this product, click here.

7. Best Basic Household Printer: HP DeskJet 2923

The DeskJet 2923 is one of those printers that seems built for the everyday chaos of a normal home. Grocery list, school permission slip, directions to a weekend event, a quick scan of a signed form, done. It keeps the feature set simple enough that the learning curve stays mild, which is a blessing if the machine is going to be shared by multiple people who do not want a ten-minute tutorial just to print a recipe. The included Instant Ink trial also gives it a bit more breathing room for buyers who like subscription-style convenience.

What stands out most is the no-drama shape of the thing. Compact design, wireless support, mobile printing, and a control panel that is easy to understand. That is a good recipe for households that want a printer nearby without turning it into a hobby. The output speeds are modest, so this is not the machine for a mountain of reports, but it does the easy stuff well. It is a practical choice for families, renters, and casual home users who want something affordable and approachable.

Pros

Simple layout makes it easy for the whole household to use.
Compact footprint works well in small rooms and apartments.
Mobile printing support adds useful convenience.
Basic print, copy, and scan tasks are covered well enough.
Energy and recycled-content certifications are a plus for some buyers.

Cons

Slower than office-focused printers.
Best for lighter use, not steady heavy workloads.
Inkjet cartridges can add up over time.

This is a good buy for the family that prints occasionally and wants a printer that stays out of the way until needed. It is also a decent fit for students who mostly print short assignments and forms. If speed or long-term page cost matters more, step up to a tank or laser model. If ease and compactness matter most, this one keeps life pleasantly simple.

To buy this product, click here.

8. Best For Small Teams: Brother DCP-L2640DW

This Brother laser all-in-one feels more like a small office workhorse than a casual home gadget, and that is exactly why it belongs here. If you have a small team, a busy household office, or a side business that produces a steady stream of black-and-white pages, this printer brings real momentum. The appeal is speed, toner-based consistency, and useful scan-and-copy features, including a 50-page automatic document feeder that can save a surprising amount of time on multi-page jobs. That ADF alone can turn a messy afternoon into a much calmer one.

What gives this model extra edge is the way Brother packages practical productivity into a compact footprint. Dual-band wireless and Ethernet make it easy to place in a shared work environment, while the mobile app helps keep the machine useful from a phone or tablet. This is not a printer for color-heavy creative work, and it does not pretend to be. It is built for crisp monochrome output, document stacks, and repeat tasks that need to keep moving without weird delays. For buyers who need that kind of dependable rhythm, it feels very well thought through.

Pros

Fast monochrome printing suits small-team productivity.
Automatic document feeder helps with larger scan and copy jobs.
Laser output keeps text sharp and professional.
Flexible connectivity is useful in shared office setups.
Compact for a machine with this much capability.

Cons

No color printing.
More expensive than basic home inkjets.
Best value shows up in heavier document use.

This is the printer for buyers who have outgrown lightweight home models and need something with more pace. It is great for side businesses, paperwork-heavy families, and small office desks that live in the fast lane. If your printing is occasional and mostly colorful, there are easier options. If you want efficient black-and-white output with office-friendly behavior, this Brother makes a lot of sense.

To buy this product, click here.

9. Best Refurbished Laser Upgrade: Brother HL-L2460DW

If your printer life is basically all black-and-white documents, this refurbished Brother laser model is a strong closing pick. It is aimed at home offices and small teams, and it focuses hard on doing one thing very well: producing clean, sharp, duplex black-and-white pages with decent speed. That focus has a nice effect in real life. You do not spend time fiddling with photo settings, you do not worry about dried-up color cartridges, and you get a machine that feels like it belongs in a serious work nook. It is a satisfying kind of boring, which is high praise in printer language.

The paper handling is practical too, with a 250-sheet tray that keeps refill trips lower than the tiny budget models. The wireless, Ethernet, and USB options make it easy to fit into different setups, whether that is a one-person office or a shared work corner. Since this is a renewed premium refurbished unit, it has added appeal for shoppers who want a better laser-class experience without paying new-printer prices. If you print a lot of reports, drafts, forms, or reference packets, the HL-L2460DW feels like a very polished answer.

Pros

Fast, crisp monochrome printing for serious document work.
Automatic duplex printing saves time and paper.
Large paper tray supports longer stretches between reloads.
Good connectivity options for flexible office placement.
Refurbished premium positioning can improve value.

Cons

No color output.
Best for document-heavy users rather than casual home printing.
Refurbished condition may vary slightly by unit.

This is the pick for people who want a refurbished printer that feels like a step up in seriousness. It suits remote workers, small offices, and households with a constant stream of black-and-white pages. If you need a do-everything family printer, look elsewhere. If you want a laser machine that can keep pace and keep text looking sharp, this one is easy to respect.

To buy this product, click here.

How To Choose The Right Best Refurbished Printers

Match The Print Type To Your Real Habit

Inkjet, laser, and ink tank printers each solve a different kind of pain. If you print family photos, colorful school projects, or the occasional chart, an inkjet usually makes more sense. If your pages are mostly text, invoices, forms, and drafts, laser tends to feel faster and less fussy. If you print a lot and want to stop thinking about cartridges every month, ink tank models are the more relaxed long-term play.

Check The True Running Cost, Not Just The Listing Price

A cheap refurbished printer can turn expensive fast if the ink system is a drain. That is the classic trap. Budget buyers see a low price tag and forget the rest of the story. Cartridge yield, toner cost, and how often you actually print matter more than the sticker alone. A house that prints five pages a week has different economics than a home office that burns through fifty pages a day.

Think About Duplex And Paper Handling

Automatic two-sided printing is one of those features that sounds small until you use it every week. Then it feels like a gift. The same goes for paper tray size and an automatic document feeder. A printer with a larger tray or ADF can save a ton of annoying little trips and manual page flipping, especially for students, remote workers, and small businesses that deal with stacks of forms.

Pay Attention To Connectivity And App Support

A refurbished printer should still feel modern enough to fit into your phone-heavy routine. Dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet for office setups, NFC on some Brother models, and decent mobile apps can save a lot of frustration. If the printer is going in a shared home or a small office, easy phone printing and stable wireless performance matter more than fancy extras nobody uses.

Measure The Space Before You Buy

A lot of printer regret starts with one hard truth: the thing is bigger than expected. That is especially annoying in apartments, dorm-style corners, and packed home offices. Measure the shelf, check the tray clearance, and think about where the paper will load. A compact printer with good features often beats a larger one that forces you to reorganize the room just to make it fit.

Look Closely At Refurbished Condition And Warranty Support

Refurbished does not mean risky by default, but the support terms matter. Certified refurbished or renewed premium units usually offer more peace of mind than random unknown listings. A warranty, even a short one, can be the difference between a smart bargain and a stressful gamble. The safest buys are the ones that combine a trusted brand, a realistic feature set, and decent seller backing.

Decide Whether You Need Color At All

This is the quiet question buyers should ask before anything else. If you mostly print text, color may be a nice extra you rarely use. If your household prints school projects, creative pages, or occasional photos, color matters a lot more. Many shoppers overpay for color they barely touch, then complain about ink costs later. Matching the printer to the actual job keeps the whole experience cleaner.

Best Refurbished Printers FAQ

Are Refurbished Printers Worth Buying?

Yes, if you choose the right model and buy from a seller with a solid reputation. Refurbished printers can give you a much better feature set for the money, especially if you want a known brand and do not need the newest cosmetic finish. The best ones are tested, cleaned, and sold with some warranty protection, which makes them far more practical than a random used unit.

What Is The Difference Between Refurbished And Renewed Premium?

Refurbished generally means the printer has been inspected and restored to working condition, but the exact process can vary by seller or program. Renewed premium listings usually aim for stricter quality standards and stronger presentation. That does not make every renewed premium product perfect, but it does usually signal a little more confidence and consistency.

Should I Choose Inkjet Or Laser For A Refurbished Printer?

Choose inkjet if you want color, photo capability, and general household versatility. Choose laser if your printing is mostly text and you want faster pages with less worry about dried ink. For many home offices, laser ends up feeling calmer over time. For families or mixed-use households, inkjet often gives better flexibility.

Do Refurbished Printers Still Come With A Warranty?

Often yes, but the length and terms vary. Some listings include a short warranty period, while others may offer a longer coverage window depending on the seller program. Always check the warranty before buying, because that support can matter a lot if the printer has issues after setup.

How Can I Tell If A Refurbished Printer Is A Good Deal?

Look at the brand, print technology, feature set, and running costs together. A low purchase price is less impressive if the ink is expensive or the machine lacks duplex printing. A better deal is usually a printer that matches your actual usage, comes with dependable seller support, and avoids hidden ownership headaches.

What Features Matter Most For A Home Office?

Wireless reliability, duplex printing, fast scanning, and a compact footprint usually matter most. If you handle a lot of paperwork, an automatic document feeder can be a real time-saver. For light home-office use, a small all-in-one with decent mobile support is often enough. For more serious document workloads, a laser model usually feels better day to day.

Can Refurbished Printers Handle School And Family Use?

Absolutely. In fact, that is one of the best use cases for them. Families usually need a printer for forms, assignments, shipping labels, and the occasional photo or project. A refurbished all-in-one can cover all of that without the price shock of a brand-new machine, as long as the ink system and size fit your routine.

Final Verdict

The Brother MFC-J1010DW takes the top spot because it lands in the most useful middle ground. It is compact, capable, and easy to live with, which is exactly what many refurbished-printer buyers want. If you need a straightforward all-in-one for a home office, family tasks, or general everyday use, this is the one that feels the most balanced. For buyers focused on lower running costs, the HP Smart Tank 5000 is the smarter long-term bet, while the Brother HL-L2460DW and HP LaserJet Pro P1606DN make more sense for black-and-white document work.

The real trick is matching the printer to the way you actually live. If your desk handles a little bit of everything, choose a flexible color all-in-one. If your pages are mostly reports and forms, go laser. If you print constantly and want to stop stressing about cartridges, an ink tank model can feel like a breath of fresh air. A good refurbished printer should make your life easier within the first week, not become another household project, and the nine picks above cover the strongest lanes for that kind of practical win.

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