JustBuyItForLife.com

Buy It For Life
Printers

Updated Jul 20, 2026

Electronics

Buy it for life: the most durable printers,
according to r/BuyItForLife on Reddit.
Recommended by people who have owned them for years. How we pick.
Do you know of an item that should be on this list? Let us know!

Brother laser printer Most Loved Badge

Brother laser printer External link

Reliable monochrome or color laser printer with cheap toner and low-maintenance occasional-use performance.

Mentioned 80 times in the threads we read

  • Just works reliably
  • Toner lasts a long time
  • Works well for infrequent printing
my cheap brother printer was a godsend. When I got it, people were like "what's so special about it" and I said, "absolutely nothing, that's why I want it"
– JackfruitAwkward7504 Reddit comment
Mine keep chugging along. Don’t know how old but definitely over 10. B&W, scanner, WiFi. works great with my new Mac.
– sprockety Reddit comment
I got a Brother printer, plugged it in, followed the prompts to connect it to my Wi-Fi and it JUST FUCKING WORKS.
– nburns1825 Reddit comment
Buy on Amazon
Brother HL-L2460DW Most Loved Badge

Brother HL-L2460DW External link

Basic duplex monochrome model praised for dependable Wi‑Fi, low toner cost, and simple setup.

Mentioned 4 times in the threads we read

  • Duplex printing
  • Good wi‑fi connectivity
  • Supports third-party toner
Brother came to the market for: laser monochrome, supports third party toners and dual side are what HL-L2460DW is made for.
– Acrobatic_Inside3173 Reddit comment
Good, basic, fast, cheap to replace ink which doesn't dry out, does duplex, has good wifi.
– atomicpowerrobot Reddit comment
I bought it for my mother in law who is terrible with computers and I only hear about it when she's out of toner
– atomicpowerrobot Reddit comment
Buy on Amazon
Brother HL-L2445DW

Brother HL-L2445DW External link

Affordable duplex Brother model with simple setup, Ethernet option, and dependable everyday document printing.

Mentioned 4 times in the threads we read

  • No crappy software needed
  • Duplex printing
  • Ethernet available
A cheap Brother (I have the HL-L2445DW). Doesn't need any crappy software, just works.
– alexbrn Reddit comment
I have the wired version of the HL-L2445DW, which is the HL-L2300D and it's been working wonderfully for about 10 years so far.
– Asmodeuss323 Reddit comment
If you don't need these l2400 would do you good.
– Acrobatic_Inside3173 Reddit comment

Available at store.brother.is

Brother HL-2270DW

Brother HL-2270DW External link

Older wireless duplex Brother model repeatedly described as durable, cheap to run, and dependable.

Mentioned 3 times in the threads we read

  • Wireless duplex printing
  • Very reliable long term
  • Cheap with generic toner
my wife and I have owned our 2270dw (double sided wireless), went printed thousands upon thousands of pages and it's so cheap and reliable we never think about it.
– jackalopeswild Reddit comment
HL-2270DW. It just works. I can't recall having any serious issues in the 8 or so years I've had it
– chlorculo Reddit comment
Sits in corner for months doing nothing then when I need it, starts right up.
– sprockety Reddit comment
Buy on Amazon
Epson EcoTank

Epson EcoTank External link

Refillable ink-tank printer with very low ink costs, but mixed suitability for occasional use.

Mentioned 12 times in the threads we read

  • Cheap refill bottles
  • Ink lasts a long time
  • Good for frequent color printing
I've had my Epson Ecotank inkjet since late 2019 (ET-4750), and clogging just hasn't been a big issue.
– Traditional_Gur_3980 Reddit comment
Epson eco tank for the win! It never jams, disconnects, it prints as it should every time.
– stcrsh Reddit comment
I have an Epson Eco tank and it's amazing. Ink is cheap and lasts literally forever
– ItsOmniss Reddit comment
Buy on Amazon
Canon color laser printer

Canon color laser printer External link

Color laser alternative valued for long toner life and low hassle in occasional home use.

Mentioned 4 times in the threads we read

  • Long toner life
  • Good print quality
  • Low hassle for occasional use
I have a Canon color laser and we print very little so I just swapped the original toners after 5 years.
– linus_b3 Reddit comment
my favorite for home and small office use are Canon. Good drivers, good utility software, and the print quality is amazing.
– vinberdon Reddit comment
I have a color Brother laser/copier/scanner for the color jobs. I've also got a Samsung b&w laser that's older and still going strong.
– DevCatOTA Reddit comment
Buy on Amazon

Back to Electronics

Sources:
I need a printer, against my will
What’s the best, relatively cheap (to run) color printer for occasional use?
Are Brother printers still king?
PSA: Buy a laser printer!
Least invasive, most simple printer that still has ink cartridges in production?