5 Best Inkjet Printers with Refillable Ink Tanks | Best Ink Tank Printer in 2025

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At A Glance: Best Inkjet Printers with Refillable Ink Tanks

• Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 Wireless Wide-Format All-in-One Supertank Printer
  Our Top Pick
• Epson EcoTank L3250 A4 Wi-Fi All-in-One Ink Tank Printer with Scan, Copy - Black, Medium
• HP Smart -Tank 7301 Wireless All-in-One Cartridge-free Ink Printer

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If you’re tired of shelling out for overpriced cartridges that always seem to run dry at the worst time, refillable ink tank printers are the smart way forward. They combine the low running costs of bulk ink with the convenience of high-capacity tanks, often delivering years of use before a refill is needed. After comparing the top contenders, I can confidently say this: if you want premium photo quality, the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is the king of the hill. For all-around home or office use, Epson, HP, and Canon all have strong mid-range options that balance price, performance, and long-term savings.

This roundup covers five of the best models currently available, each suited to a slightly different type of user. Let’s dive in.

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 – Best for Creative Professionals and Photo Enthusiasts

The Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is more than just a printer, it’s a creative studio on your desk. It’s built for those who care about details, whether you’re printing lab-quality family photos, art projects, or even wide-format posters.

What makes it stand out:

• 6-color Claria ET Premium ink system delivers incredibly vibrant photos
• Wide-format printing up to 13″ x 19″ with borderless support
• Prints a 4×6 photo in just 15 seconds
• Handles specialty media like cardstock, CDs/DVDs, and thick paper up to 1.3 mm
• Touchscreen, wireless printing, and smart app support
• Buy on Amazon

The real magic is in the cost savings. Epson claims you’ll spend about 4 cents per 4×6 photo compared to 40 cents with cartridge printers. Over time, that adds up to thousands in savings for anyone who prints regularly. Add in a two-year warranty and it feels like Epson designed this for photographers who want to take control of their printing without breaking the bank.

Epson EcoTank L3250 – Best Compact Option for Home Users

If you just want a straightforward printer for home documents, school projects, and the occasional photo, the Epson EcoTank L3250 is a solid, budget-friendly choice.

Highlights:

• Compact design with integrated tanks that don’t stick out
• Easy Wi-Fi setup and mobile printing via Epson Smart Panel
• Borderless printing up to 4R (perfect for casual photo printing)
• Spill-free refilling system
• Buy on Amazon

This model doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles, no ADF or touchscreen, but that’s not a dealbreaker for most families. It’s reliable, easy to maintain, and powered by Epson’s heat-free technology, which also helps reduce power consumption. If you don’t need wide-format or business-level features, this small workhorse covers the basics beautifully.

HP Smart Tank 7301 – Best for Families and Small Offices

HP’s Smart Tank 7301 feels like the brand’s answer to Epson’s dominance in the ink tank world. It blends HP’s signature print quality with convenience features that make everyday use smooth.

What you’ll love:

• Includes 2 years of ink in the box (up to 8,000 color or 6,000 black pages)
• Automatic 2-sided printing to save paper
• 35-page automatic document feeder for batch scanning and copying
• Borderless printing and strong wireless connectivity
• Clean, modern design that looks good on a desk
• Buy on Amazon

Where this one shines is in ease of use. HP has worked hard to make setup and operation simple through its app, and reviewers consistently praise how smooth the process feels compared to older tank models. For households that print a mix of schoolwork, documents, and family photos, the Smart Tank 7301 is an excellent middle-ground option.

Canon G7020 – Best All-in-One with Fax and Office Features

Canon’s G7020 Megatank is aimed squarely at the home office crowd that still needs faxing, scanning, and copying on top of everyday printing. It combines the cost savings of refillable ink with the functionality of a traditional office printer.

Strengths:

• Full suite of functions: print, copy, scan, fax
• Auto 2-sided printing saves time and paper
• High yields: up to 6,000 black and 7,700 color pages per set of inks
• Wireless printing and compatibility with Alexa
• Buy on Amazon

The design is more utilitarian, with a small LCD screen instead of a large color touchscreen. But if you want an office-style printer that won’t burn a hole in your budget, the Canon G7020 fits the bill. It’s also one of the most reliable models when it comes to churning out large batches of documents.

Epson EcoTank ET-2720 – Best Affordable Entry Point

For those who just want an inexpensive way into the EcoTank world, the ET-2720 is a fantastic starting point. It cuts out some higher-end features, but what you get is still far more efficient than a cartridge printer.

Key points:

• Replaces up to 90 cartridges with a single set of bottles
• Includes up to 2 years of ink in the box
• Compact design with a color display for easy navigation
• Sharp text and graphics thanks to Epson’s heat-free Micro Piezo printhead
• Buy on Amazon

This one is best for light-to-moderate users, students, small families, or anyone frustrated with cartridge costs. It doesn’t do wide-format or high-volume scanning, but it nails the basics at a very approachable price.

Why Refillable Ink Tanks Are Worth It

Before wrapping up, it’s worth emphasizing why refillable ink tanks are such a game changer.

• Massive savings: Printing costs drop by as much as 80% compared to cartridges.
• Convenience: No more late-night runs to the office supply store.
• Eco-friendly: Less plastic waste since bottles replace dozens of cartridges.
• Reliability: Many models include two years of ink, meaning you can literally forget about running out.

For anyone printing more than a handful of pages each month, the difference is dramatic.

Any Drawbacks?

No product is perfect, and refillable ink tanks do have a few quirks. Refilling, while easy, can get messy if you’re not careful. These printers also cost more upfront compared to cartridge models, but the long-term savings more than justify it. Another consideration is that genuine inks are recommended to maintain warranty coverage, which means you’ll want to avoid cheap third-party bottles.

Which Printer Is Right for You?

With so many strong options, the key is matching the printer to your lifestyle. Here’s how I’d break it down:

• Epson EcoTank ET-8550 – Perfect for photographers, graphic designers, or hobbyists who care about premium photo output and creative flexibility. If you print large, borderless photos or custom projects, this is your dream machine.
• Epson EcoTank L3250 – Ideal for families or students who just need a simple, compact printer for homework, everyday documents, and occasional photo printing. It’s the budget-friendly option that won’t overwhelm your desk.
• HP Smart Tank 7301 – Great for families with kids in school or small offices where both documents and photos get printed regularly. If you want a balance of cost savings, ease of use, and productivity features like duplex printing and an ADF, this one makes life easy.
• Canon G7020 – Best for home offices that still rely on faxing, scanning, and copying along with high-volume printing. If you’re running a small business or working from home full-time, this covers all the bases.
• Epson EcoTank ET-2720 – Perfect starter choice for casual users who are sick of paying cartridge prices. If you only print a few pages a week but want the peace of mind of not running out of ink constantly, the ET-2720 is a no-brainer.

Our Take

Refillable ink tank printers are the smartest printing investment most households and small offices can make right now. They deliver a rare mix of affordability, convenience, and performance that cartridge printers simply can’t touch.

If you’re serious about photo printing, the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is hands down the best choice. For everyday use, the HP Smart Tank 7301 and Canon G7020 are excellent all-in-ones, while the Epson L3250 and ET-2720 shine for compact, affordable home printing.

In short, pick the one that matches your needs and you’ll enjoy years of stress-free, low-cost printing.