Multifunction Printers Price Comparison
Compare 898 multifunction printers from HP, Brother, Canon and Epson. Find the best price across top UK retailers and cut your cost per page.
Multifunction Printers price comparison UK
Choosing a multifunction printer is rarely straightforward — and the market data makes that abundantly clear. With 898 models tracked across dozens of UK retailers, prices stretch from 37 £ for a basic home inkjet to 852 £ for a heavy-duty office workhorse. That's an extraordinary range, and it reflects just how differently these machines are built and priced depending on who they're designed for.
Brother dominates the top of our most-compared list, which is telling. Their A3 inkjet range — particularly the MFC-J5340DW and MFC-J5740DW — consistently attracts the most price comparisons, suggesting buyers are actively hunting for deals rather than simply grabbing the first result on Currys or Amazon. HP holds the largest slice of the catalogue with 275 products, but their average price sits noticeably higher than Canon or Brother, partly because their range skews towards business laser devices. Epson, meanwhile, punches well on value — 196 products at a lower average than HP, with strong representation in the EcoTank segment that appeals to anyone tired of paying over the odds for ink cartridges.
The technology split matters more than most buyers realise. Inkjet machines — including piezoelectric models from Epson and thermal designs from HP and Canon — are the right call for colour-heavy workloads, photo output, or occasional printing at home. Laser and LED devices (Brother's MFC-L series, HP's LaserJet Pro range) are built for volume: faster pages-per-minute, lower cost per page on monochrome, and a duty cycle that won't flinch at a busy office environment. Mixing up these two categories is one of the most common and expensive mistakes buyers make.
Worth noting: the sweet spot in this catalogue sits around 156 £, where you'll find capable A4 colour laser MFPs with automatic duplex printing, Wi-Fi, and a respectable ADF. Below 102 £, you're largely looking at entry-level inkjets with limited paper handling. Above 250 £, the machines start offering serious duty cycles, hard drive storage, secure print queues, and A3 scanning — features that only make sense if your office genuinely needs them.
For anyone comparing options, it's also worth looking at dedicated laser printers if you don't need scanning, or standalone inkjet printers for lighter colour workloads. If your needs extend to large-format output, our large format printer comparison covers that ground separately.
How to Choose a Multifunction Printer: What Actually Matters
Most buyers focus on the headline price and miss the real cost — consumables. A cheap inkjet can end up costing three times as much to run as a slightly pricier laser over two years. Here's what to look at before you compare prices.
Inkjet vs Laser: matching technology to your workload
This is the single most important decision. Inkjet MFPs (HP OfficeJet, Epson EcoTank, Canon MAXIFY) are better for colour documents, photos, and lower monthly volumes — typically under 500 pages/month. Laser and LED MFPs (Brother MFC-L series, HP LaserJet Pro) are faster, cheaper per page on monochrome, and built for duty cycles of 5,000–50,000 pages/month. If your office prints mostly text documents in bulk, a laser device will pay for itself quickly. If you print occasional colour brochures or photos, inkjet is the more sensible choice — especially EcoTank-style models that sidestep expensive cartridge replacements entirely.
A3 vs A4 capability — don't pay for what you won't use
A3 MFPs cost meaningfully more than their A4 equivalents, and the Brother A3 inkjet range is a prime example — the MFC-J5340DW starts well below the MFC-J6957DW, which adds A3 scanning on top of A3 printing. Unless you regularly handle technical drawings, large spreadsheets, or marketing materials, A4 is almost certainly sufficient. That said, if you do need A3 even occasionally, it's worth investing upfront rather than retrofitting — there's no workaround for a printer that physically can't handle the paper size.
Cost per page and cartridge yield
The sticker price is just the beginning. Monochrome laser printing typically runs at 0.5–2 pence per page; colour inkjet can reach 6–8 pence per page with standard cartridges. High-yield toner cartridges dramatically reduce this — a Brother or HP high-yield toner can drop monochrome CPP below 1p. Always check what cartridges are included in the box (starter cartridges are often half-yield) and what the XL or high-yield replacements cost before committing. This is where Epson EcoTank models genuinely disrupt the market: their per-page cost is among the lowest available.
ADF capacity and duplex scanning for document workflows
If you regularly scan or copy multi-page documents, the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) capacity is critical. A 20-sheet single-sided ADF is fine for occasional use; a 50-sheet duplex ADF is what a busy office needs for unattended batch scanning. Automatic duplex scanning (scanning both sides of a page in a single pass) is a feature often reserved for mid-range and above — below 102 £, most machines require manual page flipping. For document management workflows with OCR and cloud integration (OneDrive, Google Drive), check this spec carefully before buying.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and mobile printing
Every modern MFP worth considering ships with Wi-Fi, but the details vary. Wi-Fi Direct lets devices connect without a router — useful in meeting rooms or for guest printing. AirPrint (Apple) and Mopria (Android) support are now standard on most mid-range machines. If the printer will serve multiple users on a fixed network, wired Ethernet is more reliable than Wi-Fi and should be a baseline requirement for any shared office device. HP's Instant Ink subscription and Brother's subscription ink services are worth factoring in if you want predictable monthly costs.
Security features for shared and office environments
Often overlooked until it's too late. In any environment where sensitive documents are printed — HR, legal, finance — a secure print queue (jobs held until the user authenticates at the device with a PIN) is non-negotiable. Above 250 £, most business MFPs add user authentication, encrypted data transmission, and hard drive wiping. For regulated industries or GDPR-sensitive workflows, these aren't optional extras. For a home office printing invoices, they're overkill — but it's worth knowing what you're giving up at the budget end.
- Entry-level inkjet (From 37 £ to 102 £) : Mostly A4 inkjet MFPs from HP (OfficeJet 8125e), Canon (MAXIFY MB2750), and Brother's lower-end models. Print, scan, copy and fax basics are covered, but expect starter cartridges, limited ADF capacity, and no automatic duplex scanning. Fine for a home user printing a few dozen pages a month. Not suitable for any kind of shared office use.
- The sweet spot — capable A4 MFPs (From 102 £ to 156 £) : This is where the market gets interesting. Brother's MFC-L3760CDW (LED colour), HP's LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdw, and the OfficeJet Pro 9135e all sit here. You get automatic duplex printing, proper Wi-Fi with AirPrint/Mopria, and a usable ADF. For a small business or busy home office, this range delivers the best balance of running costs and upfront spend. Our most-compared products cluster here.
- Mid-range business MFPs (From 156 £ to 250 £) : A3 inkjet capability enters the picture (Brother MFC-J6955DW, MFC-J6957DW), alongside colour laser MFPs with higher duty cycles and better paper handling. Expect 50-sheet ADFs, automatic duplex scanning, and faster print speeds. Canon and Brother compete strongly here; HP's colour laser options are also worth comparing. Suitable for teams of 5–15 users with moderate monthly volumes.
- Professional and workgroup devices (Over 250 £) : Lexmark, KYOCERA, OKI, and HP's enterprise LaserJet range dominate above this threshold. These are machines built for 15,000–50,000 pages/month, with hard drive storage, secure print queues, user authentication, and modular paper handling. Lexmark's average price in our catalogue is notably high — they're specialists in high-volume regulated environments. Only worth considering if your monthly print volume genuinely justifies it.
Top products
- HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e All-in-One Printer (HP) : The most accessible entry point in HP's OfficeJet Pro range — solid for a home office with light colour printing needs. Don't expect fast speeds or a large ADF, and factor in ink costs before assuming it's a bargain.
- Brother MFC-J5340DW Inkjet A3 1200 x 4800 DPI Wi-Fi (Brother) : The most-compared model in the entire catalogue, and for good reason — A3 inkjet capability at a price that undercuts most rivals significantly. Best value if you occasionally need A3 but don't want to spend heavily. Ink costs are the main caveat to watch.
- HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdw Printer (HP) : A well-rounded monochrome laser MFP that hits the sweet spot for small offices printing mostly text. Fast, reliable, and cheap to run per page. Not the right choice if colour output matters to you.
- Brother MFC-L3760CDW LED A4 600 x 2400 DPI 26 ppm Wi-Fi (Brother) : One of the strongest colour laser alternatives in the mid-range. LED technology means fewer moving parts and lower maintenance than traditional laser. At 26 ppm colour, it's genuinely fast for the price. A strong pick for a small team that needs colour without paying premium rates.
- Brother MFC-J6957DW Inkjet A3 1200 x 4800 DPI Wi-Fi (Brother) : The top of Brother's A3 inkjet MFP range — adds A3 scanning over the J6955DW, which is a meaningful upgrade for document-heavy workflows. Priced accordingly, so only worth it if you'll actually use the duplex A3 scan capability. Overkill for standard office use.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between an inkjet and a laser multifunction printer — and which should I buy?
Inkjet MFPs are better for colour printing and lower monthly volumes; laser MFPs are faster, cheaper per page on monochrome, and built for high-volume office use. If you print fewer than 300–500 pages a month and need decent colour output, an inkjet (particularly an EcoTank-style model) will serve you well. If you're printing thousands of pages a month — mostly text documents — a laser or LED MFP will have a significantly lower cost per page and a longer service life. The mistake most buyers make is choosing on upfront price alone without factoring in consumables.
Is an A3 multifunction printer worth the extra cost for a small office?
Only if you genuinely print or scan A3 documents regularly — otherwise it's money wasted. A3 MFPs like the Brother MFC-J6955DW cost noticeably more than equivalent A4 models, and they're physically larger. If your use case is standard office documents, invoices, and correspondence, an A4 machine is perfectly sufficient. Where A3 earns its keep: architectural drawings, large spreadsheets, marketing materials, and anything that would otherwise require tiling across two A4 sheets.
What does 'duty cycle' mean, and why does it matter when choosing an MFP?
The duty cycle is the maximum number of pages a printer is designed to handle per month without degrading performance or voiding the warranty. Exceeding it regularly causes premature wear on the fuser unit, photoconductor drum, and paper feed mechanisms. A small-office MFP might have a duty cycle of 5,000–10,000 pages/month; a workgroup device can handle 30,000–50,000. Always check your actual monthly print volume against the recommended monthly page volume (which is typically 10–20% of the maximum duty cycle) — not just the headline figure.
Are cheap multifunction printers a false economy?
Very often, yes. Entry-level inkjet MFPs below 102 £ frequently ship with starter cartridges that yield only 50–60% of a standard cartridge's page count. Once you factor in replacement ink costs, a machine that seemed like a bargain can cost significantly more to run over 12 months than a mid-range laser model. The exception is EcoTank-style inkjets, where the higher upfront cost is offset by dramatically lower per-page costs. Always calculate the total cost of ownership over two years, not just the box price.
What connectivity features should I look for in a shared office printer in 2026?
At minimum: dual-band Wi-Fi, wired Ethernet, AirPrint, and Mopria support. For a shared office environment, wired Ethernet is more reliable than Wi-Fi and should be considered essential for any device serving more than two or three users. Wi-Fi Direct is useful for guest printing without network access. If your team uses iPhones and MacBooks, AirPrint compatibility is non-negotiable. For Android-heavy environments, check for Mopria certification. HP's Smart app and Brother's iPrint&Scan are also worth evaluating for ease of mobile setup.
Which brands offer the best value in multifunction printers — HP, Brother, or Canon?
Brother consistently offers the best balance of upfront price and running costs in the small-to-medium office segment. Their MFC-L series laser and LED MFPs are well-regarded for reliability, and high-yield toner options keep CPP low. Canon's MAXIFY range is competitive for home office inkjet use. HP has the widest range but their average price is higher — you're partly paying for ecosystem features like Instant Ink and the HP Smart platform. Epson's EcoTank models are the standout choice if minimising ink costs is the priority. Lexmark sits at a different level entirely, targeting enterprise and regulated-industry deployments.
What security features should I require from an MFP used in a professional or regulated environment?
At minimum, a secure print queue with PIN authentication — this holds jobs in memory until the user physically authenticates at the device, preventing sensitive documents from sitting unattended in the output tray. For regulated industries (legal, healthcare, finance), also look for user-level authentication, encrypted data transmission, and hard drive wiping on decommission. These features typically appear on devices priced above 250 £. For GDPR compliance, the ability to audit print jobs and wipe stored data is increasingly important and worth specifying explicitly when purchasing.