Fax is the feature that most printer shoppers assume has vanished and then discover they still need: a landlord who wants a signed lease faxed back, a medical office that only accepts faxed forms, an insurance claim with a hard requirement. If that is you, the keyword narrows the field sharply, because many modern home printers have dropped the fax modem entirely and the ones that keep it tend to be office-oriented. The real decision is which kind of fax-capable machine fits your volume: a laser for crisp black-and-white pages, a color inkjet with a document feeder, or a refillable-tank model built to avoid cartridge refills.
This guide is for home-office workers, small-business owners, and families who fax only a few pages a month but want the capability available without a trip to a copy shop. Seven models below list fax directly in the title, and in 2026 that short list is the honest state of the market. One similar HP model was left out because its title mentions print, scan, copy and an automatic document feeder but never fax, and for this keyword that omission matters.
Our Top Picks
Brother MFC-L2820DW Wireless Compact Monochrome All-in-One Laser PrinterStandard15.7 x 16.1 x 12.5 inches22.5 poundsCheck on Amazon
HP OfficeJet Pro 8139 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjetone size13.29 x 18.12 x 9.17 inches17.6 PoundsCheck on Amazon
Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank PrinterOne Size11.8 x 14.8 x 6.7 inches11 poundsCheck on Amazon
HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjetone size13.29 x 18.11 x 9.17 inches17.6 poundsCheck on Amazon
HP OfficeJet Pro 8135 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjetone size13.29 x 18.12 x 9.17 inches17.6 PoundsCheck on Amazon
Top 3 picks at a glance
Quick Picks
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| Product | Best for | Key spec from the title |
|---|---|---|
| Brother MFC-L2820DW | Compact black-and-white office work | Wireless mono laser with duplex, copy, scan, fax |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 8139 | Color home office | Color inkjet with ADF and duplex |
| HP LaserJet Pro 3101fdw | Fast document printing | Monochrome laser, wireless, print copy scan fax |
| Epson EcoTank ET-4800 | Low-maintenance, cartridge-free printing | Supertank, up to 10 ppm, ADF, Ethernet |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 8135 | Home office needing color and fax | Color inkjet with ADF and duplex |
| Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4820 | Busy small offices | Up to 25 ppm, 35-sheet ADF, 250-sheet tray |
| Canon PIXMA TR8620a | Photo plus documents | ADF, AirPrint, Android printing, fax |
How to Choose
Laser or inkjet for fax-heavy work
Fax pages are almost always black-and-white text, which is exactly what a monochrome laser does well. The Brother MFC-L2820DW and HP LaserJet Pro 3101fdw produce sharp text, and laser toner does not dry out during weeks of inactivity, a real benefit if you print rarely. Color inkjets earn their place when you also need colorful flyers, school projects, or photos. If more than eight in ten of your pages are text, a mono laser usually makes more sense; if color is part of the mix, choose an inkjet and plan for ink upkeep.
Document feeder and duplex
A multi-page fax or scan is miserable without an automatic document feeder. Look for the ADF in the title, then check its capacity: the Epson WF-4820 lists a 35-sheet ADF, enough for a typical contract, while a small feeder forces you to scan in batches. Automatic two-sided printing, listed on several models here, saves paper and keeps long documents tidy. Ignore a feature list that mentions “fax” but not the feeder if you expect to send more than a page or two at a time.
Speed, tray size, and connectivity
Listed print speeds range from the Epson ET-4800’s up to 10 ppm to the WF-4820’s up to 25 ppm. For a household, 10 ppm is workable; for a small office printing batches, a faster engine and a 250-sheet tray cut the refill chore. Connectivity matters as well: wireless printing is common, Ethernet adds a stable wired option on the ET-4800, and the Canon lists AirPrint and Android support for phone printing. Remember that the fax function itself usually needs a phone line connection, so confirm your home setup before assuming it works out of the box. Also look at how much paper the printer holds, since a tiny tray means constant refilling during a long job.
Running costs and what budget models skip
Upfront cost tells only part of the story. A supertank model such as the EcoTank is built around refillable ink instead of small cartridges, which suits heavier printing. Lasers rely on toner that lasts through long gaps. Some titles mention subscription trials for ink or toner delivery; treat these as optional services rather than reasons to buy. Budget fax machines tend to cut corners on feeder size, tray capacity, and wired connectivity, so check those against your real volume.
A practical way to size the decision is to count pages. Under a few hundred a month, almost any model here works and the choice comes down to color versus black-and-white. Past that, tray size, listed speed, and the feeder start to dominate daily life. Also think about where the printer will sit: a laser is usually the bulkier of the two types, and a unit that must reach both a phone jack and a power outlet narrows your placement options more than the spec sheet admits.
The 7 Best Options
Brother MFC-L2820DW
This wireless, compact monochrome all-in-one laser handles copy, scan, and fax, plus duplex printing. The title also mentions a refresh subscription offer. It suits solo professionals and home offices that print mostly text and want a small footprint. A contractor who faxes permits, a tutor who prints worksheets, or a remote worker who needs an occasional signed form are all well served by this kind of machine, since none of them need color.
- Strength: monochrome laser output is well matched to fax and document work.
- Strength: duplex and wireless features are listed in the title.
- Trade-off: black-and-white only, so color printing is off the table.
Skip it if you print photos or color school projects regularly.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8139
This wireless color inkjet all-in-one prints, scans, copies, and faxes, with an ADF and duplex printing. The title labels it as suited for a home office. It works for people who need color alongside fax capability, such as a home-based business that sends faxed paperwork but also prints color proposals. The feeder means a stack of pages can be copied or scanned without standing over the glass.
- Strength: ADF and fax in one color-capable machine.
- Strength: duplex printing is listed.
- Trade-off: inkjet cartridges may dry out if the printer sits idle for long stretches.
Skip it if you print mostly black-and-white pages and prefer toner.
HP LaserJet Pro 3101fdw
A monochrome laser all-in-one that prints, copies, scans, and faxes, with wireless connectivity and fast black-and-white printing. It targets small offices where text documents dominate the workload, such as clinics, accountants, and property managers that handle forms all day. The model name’s fdw suffix signals the fax, duplex, and wireless mix the title spells out.
- Strength: fast black-and-white printing is highlighted in the title.
- Strength: print, copy, scan, and fax are covered in one unit.
- Trade-off: no color output.
Skip it if your documents regularly need color charts or photos.
Epson EcoTank ET-4800
The EcoTank is a wireless color supertank all-in-one that is cartridge-free and supports print, scan, copy, and fax. It lists up to 10 ppm, an ADF, and Ethernet. It fits households that print enough to be annoyed by cartridge refills, such as families with school-age kids or a home business that prints steadily. The wired Ethernet port helps in rooms with weak wireless coverage.
- Strength: the cartridge-free tank design suits steady printing.
- Strength: Ethernet and ADF are both listed.
- Trade-off: up to 10 ppm is slower than the faster office models here.
Skip it if you print large batches and need a quicker engine.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8135
This wireless color inkjet all-in-one prints, scans, copies, and faxes, adds an ADF and duplex printing, and is described as best for a home office. It is a close sibling of the 8139 and appeals to the same buyer: someone who wants an office-style color machine at home without stepping into a full workgroup printer. The listing wording is nearly the same, so differences come down to the version and the bundled trial offer.
- Strength: fax, ADF, and duplex printing in a color machine.
- Strength: wireless setup for shared home networks.
- Trade-off: the title lists no speed figure, so compare ppm elsewhere.
Skip it if you want a printer with a stated 250-sheet tray.
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4820
The WF-4820 is a wireless color inkjet all-in-one that prints, scans, copies, and faxes. It lists up to 25 ppm, a 35-sheet ADF, automatic two-sided printing, and a 250-sheet tray. It is the most office-oriented machine of the group, and the numbers in the title show why: a larger feeder, a larger tray, and the fastest listed speed together keep a busy front desk from stopping to reload paper every few minutes.
- Strength: 35-sheet ADF and 250-sheet tray handle batch work.
- Strength: the 25 ppm speed is the fastest listed here.
- Trade-off: it is built for office volume, which may be more than a casual user needs.
Skip it if you print only a few pages each week.
Canon PIXMA TR8620a
The PIXMA TR8620a is a home-office all-in-one that copies, scans, faxes, and prints photos and documents, with an auto document feeder. It supports AirPrint and Android printing, which suits phone-first households where documents and photos start on a handset rather than a computer. Families who print the occasional school form and also want a decent photo print will find the mix sensible.
- Strength: photo and document printing in one machine.
- Strength: AirPrint and Android support simplify mobile printing.
- Trade-off: the title gives no speed or tray capacity to compare.
Skip it if raw office throughput matters more than photo quality.
Which One Fits Your Situation
You fax a few contracts a month and print mostly text
The Brother MFC-L2820DW is a natural match. A compact mono laser handles text and fax without ink drying out between uses.
You run a small office with batch jobs
Choose the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4820. Its 25 ppm speed, 35-sheet ADF, and 250-sheet tray are built for that workload.
You need color and fax for a home office
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8139 or 8135 covers both, with ADF and duplex printing. Pick between them based on the listing details and availability.
You print a lot and dislike buying cartridges
The Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is designed around refillable tanks, with Ethernet for a stable connection.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming fax works without a phone line connection and never checking the setup beforehand.
- Buying a color inkjet for a text-only workload and then fighting dried-out cartridges.
- Skipping the document feeder, then scanning a 20-page contract one sheet at a time.
- Choosing by upfront cost alone without thinking about ink or toner over the printer’s life.
- Trusting a listing that says “all-in-one” without confirming fax is actually named in it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need a landline to fax?
Most printer fax modems expect a standard phone line connection. If you have only internet-based phone service, check whether your provider supports fax, or use an adapter designed for it.
Is laser or inkjet better for fax?
For black-and-white pages, a laser is a strong fit and tolerates long idle periods. An inkjet is the better choice if color printing is also on your list.
Do I need an automatic document feeder?
If you send or scan more than a page or two at a time, yes. A feeder saves time and prevents mistakes with multi-page documents.
Are subscription trials worth using?
They are optional. Read the terms and decide whether automatic supply delivery fits how much you print; you can print without enrolling.
