A photo printer is judged first on print quality, then on what each print costs — the figure that separates a cheap habit from an expensive one. Our pick is the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550, with an SR Score of 90: gallery-quality wide-format prints at roughly six cents per 4x6, the lowest running cost here. The Canon PIXMA PRO-200S (89) is the runner-up for serious pro-grade color.
The ranking
| Rank | Printer | Best for | Type / 4x6 cost | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 | Best overall | Ink tank / ~6c | 90 |
| 2 | Canon PIXMA PRO-200S | Pro color | 8-ink inkjet / ~30c | 89 |
| 3 | Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 | Detail & accuracy | Pigment inkjet / ~varies | 88 |
| 4 | Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 | Compact ink tank | Ink tank / ~low | 86 |
| 5 | Canon PIXMA G620 | All-rounder value | Ink tank / ~low | 84 |
| 6 | Canon Selphy CP1500 | Instant 4x6 | Dye-sub / ~37c | 83 |
| 7 | Kodak Dock Plus | Phone-dock prints | Dye-sub / ~50c | 80 |
Methodology
The Photo Printer Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria:
- Print quality (35) — color accuracy, detail, gradation.
- Cost per print (25) — ink/media cost per 4x6.
- Features & sizes (20) — max print size, connectivity, scanning.
- Value for money (10) — price for the package.
- Reputation & reviews (10) — tester track record.
Print quality leads, since photos live or die on it. Cost per print is weighted heavily because photo printing volume adds up fast. Re-weight Features up and the wide-format Canon PRO models climb.
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
The best overall, around six cents per 4x6. A six-ink wide-format tank printer that produces vibrant, gallery-quality prints up to 13 inches wide with the lowest running cost here, plus scanning.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Print quality | 33/35 |
| Cost per print | 24/25 |
| Features & sizes | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 8/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: a high up-front price, though the cheap per-print cost pays it back with volume.
Canon PIXMA PRO-200S
The pro-color pick, around 30 cents per 4x6. An eight-ink dye printer for serious photographers, with wide 13-inch output, smooth gradients, and excellent color for prints and panoramas.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Print quality | 34/35 |
| Cost per print | 18/25 |
| Features & sizes | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 8/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: dye inks cost more per print than the ET-8550’s tanks and are less archival than pigment.
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310
The detail-and-accuracy pick. The best-tested photo printer for amazingly detailed prints and outstanding color accuracy with pigment inks, aimed at pros wanting archival, large-format output.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Print quality | 35/35 |
| Cost per print | 17/25 |
| Features & sizes | 19/20 |
| Value for money | 6/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: the most expensive and largest unit here, overkill for casual printing.
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500
The compact ink-tank pick. The smaller sibling of the ET-8550 with the same low per-print cost and excellent photo quality in a more desk-friendly all-in-one, capped at letter-size output.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Print quality | 31/35 |
| Cost per print | 23/25 |
| Features & sizes | 15/20 |
| Value for money | 8/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: no wide-format printing beyond letter size.
Canon PIXMA G620
The all-rounder value pick. A MegaTank photo printer with excellent, color-accurate image quality and low ink cost — the best balance of quality and price for most home users.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Print quality | 30/35 |
| Cost per print | 22/25 |
| Features & sizes | 15/20 |
| Value for money | 9/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: letter-size output and fewer inks than the dedicated pro printers.
Canon Selphy CP1500
The instant 4x6 pick, around 37 cents per print. A compact dye-sublimation printer that makes smudge-proof, water-resistant 4x6 snapshots from your phone in seconds, ideal for events.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Print quality | 27/35 |
| Cost per print | 18/25 |
| Features & sizes | 14/20 |
| Value for money | 8/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: limited to small sizes and higher per-print cost than ink tanks.
Kodak Dock Plus
The phone-dock pick, around 50 cents per print. A dye-sub printer with a built-in dock that charges your phone while it prints 4x6 photos — fun and simple for casual snapshots.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Print quality | 25/35 |
| Cost per print | 15/25 |
| Features & sizes | 14/20 |
| Value for money | 8/10 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Trade-off: the highest cost per print here and 4x6-only output.
How to choose
Start with how much and how big you print. If you print photos often and want the best quality at the lowest running cost, the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 is the clear pick — the ink tanks make every print cheap. Serious photographers who want pro color and archival pigment should look at the Canon PRO-200S or imagePROGRAF PRO-310, which climb to the top the moment you re-weight the rubric toward Print quality and Features. Casual users get great value from the compact ET-8500 or PIXMA G620. If you mainly want quick, smudge-proof 4x6 snapshots at events, a dye-sub Canon Selphy or Kodak Dock is small and simple. Decide your volume and max size first, and the score follows.
Verification
- Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 — wide-format, ~6c/4x6 verified via TechRadar and PetaPixel.
- Canon PIXMA PRO-200S — 8-ink, ~30c/4x6, 13” wide verified via siemens-mobile and Castle Ink.
- Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 — best-tested detail/accuracy verified via TechRadar.
- Epson ET-8500 / Canon PIXMA G620 — ink-tank quality and value verified via Castle Ink and peccadille.
- Canon Selphy CP1500 / Kodak Dock Plus — dye-sub, ~37c / ~50c per print verified via siemens-mobile and RTINGS.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the best photo printer in 2026?
- The Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 for most photographers: gallery-quality wide-format prints at about six cents per 4x6, the lowest running cost here. For pro-grade color, the Canon PIXMA PRO-200S; for instant 4x6 prints, the Canon Selphy CP1500.
- Inkjet or dye-sublimation for photos?
- Inkjet photo printers (Epson ET-8550, Canon PRO-200S) give the best detail and color and print large. Dye-sublimation printers (Canon Selphy, Kodak Dock) are compact, smudge-proof, and great for quick 4x6 snapshots but limited in size.
- How much does it cost to print a photo at home?
- It varies widely. A 4x6 costs about six cents on the Epson ET-8550 ink-tank printer, around 30 cents on the Canon PRO-200S, and about 37-50 cents on dye-sub units like the Selphy or Kodak. Ink-tank printers are cheapest over time.
- Do I need a wide-format printer?
- Only if you print larger than letter size. The ET-8550 and PRO-200S handle up to 13 inches wide for posters and panoramas; the imagePROGRAF PRO-310 goes further. For 4x6 and 5x7 snapshots, a compact dye-sub is enough.