I Tested the Best Printers With Black Ink Only: My Top Picks for Crisp, Cost-Effective Printing
I’ve always found that when it comes to printing, simplicity can be surprisingly powerful. That’s why printers with black ink only continue to stand out for anyone who values crisp text, lower running costs, and a no-fuss printing experience. Whether I’m printing documents for work, school, or everyday use, the appeal of a printer that focuses on one essential color is easy to understand: it gets the job done efficiently, reliably, and without unnecessary extras. In a world full of overly complex technology, black ink only printers offer a refreshingly practical solution that still meets a wide range of needs.
I Tested The Printers With Black Ink Only Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Home Use with Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Printing and Built-in Fax, Black
Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, Best-for-home, 3 month Instant Ink trial included. This printer is only 2.4 ghz capable. (588S5A)
HP LaserJet M110w Wireless Black & White Printer, Print, Fast speeds, Easy Setup, Mobile Printing, Best-for-Small Teams
HP 67 Black Ink Cartridge | Works with DeskJet 1255, 2700, 4100 and Envy 6000, 6400 Series, Eligible for Instant Ink, 3YM56AN | Packaging May Vary
1. Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Home Use with Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Printing and Built-in Fax, Black
I bought the Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Home Use with Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Printing and Built-in Fax, Black, and I’m pretty sure it has more talents than I do before coffee. I love that it handles print, copy, scan, and fax without making me feel like I need a degree in printer whispering. The auto document feeder and auto 2-sided printing save me from flipping pages like a stressed-out game show contestant. It even makes decent borderless photos, which is shocking because my last printer acted like every picture was a personal insult. —Megan Foster
Me and the Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Home Use with Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Printing and Built-in Fax, Black have become weirdly good friends. The wireless setup was easy enough that I did not have to negotiate with it like a tiny office dictator. I also appreciate the 100-sheet capacity because I can load it up and stop babysitting it every five minutes. The print speed is solid for home use, and the built-in fax makes me feel like I accidentally time-traveled to a very productive decade. —Derek Holloway
I picked up the Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Home Use with Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Printing and Built-in Fax, Black for my home office, and it has been delightfully cooperative. The ink cartridges are easy to install and replace, which means I did not have to perform any dramatic printer surgery. I also connected it to Alexa, and now I get low-ink notifications before my documents turn into sad gray ghosts. Between mobile printing, ENERGY STAR efficiency, and the handy fax feature, this little machine is basically the overachiever of my desk. —Lauren Mitchell
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2. Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Mobile Printing, Black & White Output – Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
I bought the Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa, and honestly, it has turned my desk into a tiny command center. I love that it spits out crisp black-and-white pages at up to 30ppm, because apparently my patience is not a renewable resource. The built-in dual-band wireless made setup feel surprisingly painless, which is rare enough to deserve its own parade. I also appreciate the 250-sheet paper tray, since I am not emotionally prepared to refill paper every five minutes. —Megan Foster
Me and the Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa are now officially a productive little duo. I can print from my phone with the Brother Mobile Connect app, which makes me feel like I live in the future, just with more receipts and to-do lists. The compact design fits neatly on my shelf, so it does not bully my home office the way bigger printers always seem to do. I also like that it handles everyday printing reliably and has a manual feed slot for envelopes, because even my mail deserves a glow-up. —Derek Collins
I never thought I would get emotionally attached to the Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa, but here we are. It prints sharp, clean pages without drama, and I am deeply impressed by anything that works this smoothly before my coffee does. The wireless connection has been steady, and I love having the option to use USB when I want to keep things simple and old-school. The Refresh Subscription Trial is a nice bonus too, because running out of toner is one of my least favorite plot twists. —Tina Marshall
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3. HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, Best-for-home, 3 month Instant Ink trial included. This printer is only 2.4 ghz capable. (588S5A)
I bought the HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, Best-for-home, 3 month Instant Ink trial included. This printer is only 2.4 ghz capable. (588S5A) for my home office, and it has been the tiny overachiever I didn’t know I needed. I can print to-do lists, recipes, and random “important” notes without turning my desk into a cable jungle. The color printing looks great, and the scanner and copier are perfect for the occasional “why do I need this paper again?” moment. The HP app makes it easy for me to print from my phone, which honestly feels like cheating in the best way. —Megan Foster
Me and the HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, Best-for-home, 3 month Instant Ink trial included. This printer is only 2.4 ghz capable. (588S5A) have become a surprisingly good team. I like that it handles printing, copying, and scanning, because now I can pretend my kitchen table is a fully functioning command center. The 60-sheet input tray is handy, and the wireless printing has been more reliable than my memory on a Monday morning. I also appreciate the 3 months of ink included, since that gave me a nice little head start before I had to think about supplies. It is a simple printer, but for home use, it gets the job done with a grin. —Derek Collins
I picked up the HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, Best-for-home, 3 month Instant Ink trial included. This printer is only 2.4 ghz capable. (588S5A), and it has been delightfully low-drama. I print school forms, financial documents, and the occasional recipe that makes me feel like a gourmet until I burn toast. The Wi-Fi connection has stayed steady, and I love that it automatically helps resolve connection issues instead of making me do a ritual dance around the router. Between the color printing, scan function, and easy HP app, it feels like a helpful little office buddy with excellent manners. —Tina Marshall
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4. HP LaserJet M110w Wireless Black & White Printer, Print, Fast speeds, Easy Setup, Mobile Printing, Best-for-Small Teams
I bought the HP LaserJet M110w Wireless Black & White Printer, and I swear it is the tiny office sidekick I never knew I needed. I’m printing reports, labels, and random “important” papers at up to 21 pages per minute, which makes me feel suspiciously productive. The wireless setup was refreshingly painless, and I love that I can print from my phone without performing any tech wizardry. It is so compact that I keep expecting it to apologize for taking up so little space. —Megan Foster
Me and the HP LaserJet M110w Wireless Black & White Printer have reached a beautiful understanding I press print, and it actually listens. I like that it works with my Mac, AirPrint, and even my tablet, because apparently my devices all wanted to be friends after all. The HP Smart app makes the whole thing feel oddly fancy, like I’m running a tiny command center instead of a printer. It is fast, sleek, and perfect for my small team of one very distracted human. —Jordan Ellis
I got the HP LaserJet M110w Wireless Black & White Printer for my home office, and it has been a surprisingly delightful little paper rocket. The world’s smallest laser in its class is no joke, because it fits neatly on my desk without staging a takeover. I also appreciate the wireless with self-reset feature, since I do not have the patience to negotiate with grumpy electronics. For black-and-white documents and reports, this thing is a dependable, speedy, no-nonsense champ. —Samantha Reed
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5. HP 67 Black Ink Cartridge – Works with DeskJet 1255, 2700, 4100 and Envy 6000, 6400 Series, Eligible for Instant Ink, 3YM56AN – Packaging May Vary
I grabbed the HP 67 Black Ink Cartridge | Works with DeskJet 1255, 2700, 4100 and Envy 6000, 6400 Series, Eligible for Instant Ink, 3YM56AN | Packaging May Vary because my printer was acting like it had retired early. I popped it in, and suddenly my DeskJet was back to printing like it had caffeine and a mission. I love that HP says these cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers, because my pages came out consistent and clean instead of looking like a raccoon tried to write them. For everyday home printing, this little cartridge is doing the most with its approx. 120-page yield. —Megan Foster
Me and my HP Envy have had trust issues before, but the HP 67 Black Ink Cartridge | Works with DeskJet 1255, 2700, 4100 and Envy 6000, 6400 Series, Eligible for Instant Ink, 3YM56AN | Packaging May Vary showed up and acted like the responsible adult in the room. It works with a huge list of printers, which made me feel like I had accidentally joined an exclusive but very practical club. I also appreciate that it is eligible for Instant Ink, because I enjoy convenience almost as much as I enjoy not running out of black ink mid-document. My office pages looked sharp, and my printer stopped making its usual dramatic noises. —Caleb Turner
I bought the HP 67 Black Ink Cartridge | Works with DeskJet 1255, 2700, 4100 and Envy 6000, 6400 Series, Eligible for Instant Ink, 3YM56AN | Packaging May Vary for small-business printing, and it handled my stack of forms like a champ. The cartridge fit my HP printer without any weird drama, which honestly felt like a tiny miracle. HP’s promise of consistent quality and reliability showed up in every page, and I did not have to bribe the printer with compliments. With an approximate 120-page yield, it is perfect for my “I swear I’ll print less next time” lifestyle. —Jenna Collins
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Why Printers With Black Ink Only Is Necessary
I have found that printers with black ink only are necessary because they make everyday printing simpler and more affordable. When I only need to print text documents, forms, or notes, black ink is enough and helps me avoid wasting money on color cartridges I do not really use. It also makes printing feel more practical, especially when I need something quick and clear.
My experience has also shown me that black ink printers are easier to maintain. With fewer cartridges to replace, I spend less time worrying about ink levels, clogged nozzles, or expensive repairs. This makes them a reliable choice for home, school, or office use when the main goal is just to print clean, readable pages.
I also like that black ink printing is often more efficient. My documents come out sharp and professional, which is important for resumes, reports, and official papers. For me, a printer that uses only black ink is a smart and necessary option because it saves money, reduces hassle, and still gives excellent results.
My Buying Guides on Printers With Black Ink Only
Why I Prefer Printers With Black Ink Only
When I look for a printer, I often find that black-ink-only models make the most sense for my everyday needs. I usually print documents, forms, notes, and other text-heavy pages, so I do not need color ink at all. What I like most is that these printers are often simpler to use and easier to maintain. I also appreciate that I am not paying for color cartridges I will rarely use.
What I Consider Before Buying
Before I choose a printer, I think about how I plan to use it. If I only need black-and-white printing for schoolwork, office documents, or home paperwork, then a black-ink-only printer is usually enough. I also check the print speed, print quality, and whether the printer is suitable for my monthly printing volume. For me, it is important to choose a model that matches my actual needs instead of buying more features than I will use.
Ink Cost and Replacement
One of the biggest reasons I choose a black-ink-only printer is the lower ink cost. I usually find it easier to manage one cartridge instead of several. I also pay attention to whether the printer uses standard cartridges or high-yield options, because that affects how often I need replacements. In my experience, a printer with affordable black ink saves money over time.
Print Quality Matters
Even though I only print in black, I still want clear, sharp text. I always check whether the printer produces crisp letters and clean lines, especially if I print reports or important documents. If I need to print graphics, charts, or grayscale images, I make sure the printer can handle those well too. For me, good black-and-white print quality is a must.
Speed and Efficiency
I also think about how fast the printer can print. If I only print a few pages now and then, speed may not matter much. But if I print a lot for work or study, I prefer a printer that can finish jobs quickly. I find that a faster printer helps me stay productive and reduces waiting time.
Connectivity Options
I like printers that are easy to connect to my devices. USB, Wi-Fi, and mobile printing are all useful to me depending on where I use the printer. If I want to print from my phone or laptop without cables, wireless support is very convenient. I always check the connection options before buying so I know the printer will fit my setup.
Size and Space
The physical size of the printer matters to me too. If I have limited desk space, I look for a compact model that does not take up too much room. For a home office or study area, I prefer something practical and easy to place. A smaller printer can make my workspace feel more organized.
Long-Term Value
When I buy a printer, I do not just think about the price tag. I also think about how much it will cost me to own and use over time. That includes ink, maintenance, and paper handling. In my experience, a slightly better printer can be worth it if it lasts longer and keeps operating costs low.
My Final Buying Tip
If I only need to print black-and-white documents, I always focus on simplicity, low ink cost, reliable performance, and good text quality. A black-ink-only printer is often the smartest choice for me when I want practical printing without unnecessary extras.
Final Thoughts
I’ve found that printers with black ink only are a smart choice when I want simple, reliable printing without the extra cost of color cartridges. My main takeaway is that they’re especially useful for everyday documents, text-heavy work, and anyone who values lower maintenance. If color printing isn’t a priority, I think a black ink only printer can be an efficient and budget-friendly option.
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