Independent printer advice
Choose, set up and get more from your printer
Calm, plain-English guides for homes, students and small offices: from picking the right type of printer to fixing an offline printer or a faded page.
Find the right printer
Start with how you print
Pick the description closest to you to see the guides that discuss it. These are reading routes, not personalized recommendations: we don’t rank printers or know your needs better than you do.
Homework, forms and the odd photo
A household or student printing a little, often irregularly.
Lots of black-and-white documents
Reports, invoices, coursework: text matters more than color.
A home office or small business
Several people, regular volumes, scanning and sharing.
Keeping running costs down
You want to know what each page really costs.
Browse by section
The printer ownership journey
24 guides in six sections, from the buying decision to everyday care.
- ChooseBuying AdviceWork out what you need before you compare models.3 guides
- UnderstandPrinter TypesInkjet, laser, ink tank, all-in-one, mono and color.4 guides
- Set upSetup & Wi-FiUnboxing, Wi-Fi, USB, Windows and Mac.4 guides
- UsePrinting & ScanningSettings, two-sided printing, scanning and phones.4 guides
- RunInk & TonerConsumables, running costs and safe handling.4 guides
- MaintainMaintenance & FixesOffline, stuck queues, print quality, jams and care.5 guides
Featured explainers
Understand the big decisions
Inkjet vs Laser Printer: Which Suits the Way You Print?
Inkjet vs laser printer explained: how each works, print quality, speed, idle periods and running costs, so you can match the technology to your printing.
How to Work Out a Printer's Cost per Page and Running Costs
Work out printer cost per page from published yields and current prices, include drums and paper, and compare printer running costs fairly over time.
Featured tutorials
Practical step-by-step help
Recently published
New on PrinterSage
- How to Choose a Printer: A Plain-English Buying Guide
- Choosing a Printer for Home, Students and Families
- Choosing a Printer for a Home Office or Small Business
- Ink Tank vs Cartridge Printers: Costs and Trade-Offs
- All-in-One Printers Explained: Print, Scan, Copy and Fax
- Monochrome vs Color Printers: Do You Need Color?
About PrinterSage
Independent, practical and upfront about limits
PrinterSage is a free educational website. We don’t sell printers, ink or toner, repair devices or provide manufacturer support, and we aren’t affiliated with HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Lexmark, Xerox or any other brand. Steps vary by model, so our guides tell you when to check your manual or the manufacturer’s support site.
Questions, corrections or a topic we should cover?
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