Choosing the Best Printer for Scanning Photos at Home

You inherit an album of curled snapshots, and the question quickly becomes whether a single machine can scan them and print copies for relatives. A multifunction photo printer can, and it saves the space and money of buying a separate flatbed scanner. The catch is that scanning quality varies far more between all-in-ones than most spec sheets suggest, so a printer chosen only for print speed can disappoint when it meets a faded 1970s portrait.

For photo work, the scanner glass, the optical resolution, the software and the way the machine handles borderless color prints all matter. The picks below are current as of 2026 and focus on all-in-one printers from Epson, Canon and HP that pair a flatbed scanner with photo-friendly inkjet printing. The guidance explains which numbers to check and which marketing claims to ignore, so the machine you buy suits both scanning and reprinting.

Quick Picks

How to Choose

Scan resolution that suits prints

For 4 by 6 inch snapshots, an optical scan resolution of 600 dpi is a sensible baseline and 1200 dpi gives room for cropping. For small originals such as wallet photos, aim for at least 1200 dpi so the file survives enlargement. Ignore interpolated numbers in the thousands, which only stretch pixels. Scanning at 300 dpi is fine for simple sharing but too low for restoration.

Flatbed glass and lid design

A flatbed with a letter-size glass handles a single large print or several small ones side by side. Lids that lift completely or hinge flat matter for oversized album pages. An automatic document feeder is useful for documents but can scuff or jam on old photos, so a photo-focused plan should rely on the glass, not the feeder.

Ink system and photo quality

Look for five or six ink cartridges, including a dedicated photo black or extra color tank, because those printers handle gradients and skin tones better than basic four-color models. Refillable-tank models lower the cost per page for people who print often. Consider the supported paper sizes, borderless printing and the ability to print directly from a memory card or phone.

Software and file handling

Good scanning software offers dust and scratch removal, color restoration tools, and the ability to save TIFF or high-quality JPEG. Check that you can scan several photos at once and have the software crop and straighten them. A wireless scan-to-cloud option is helpful for sharing quickly, but make sure you can also save locally at full resolution.

Our Picks Reviewed

Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 All-in-One

Photo is in the series name, which tells you this all-in-one is aimed at households that care about print quality as much as office tasks.

• Pro: The Expression Photo line is built around photo printing, so one machine can scan old snapshots and then print reproductions with color suited to pictures.
• Pro: An all-in-one design saves space compared with separate printer and scanner units, which matters in small apartments and shared desks.
• Con: Cartridge-based inkjets can be costly to run if you print many photos, so heavy users should weigh the ongoing ink expense carefully.

Skip it if you only need to digitize prints and rarely print anything, because a dedicated flatbed would be simpler. Anyone scanning film negatives or slides will also need a different tool altogether.

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550

The EcoTank Photo name combines refillable ink tanks with a photo focus, a pairing that appeals to people who print large batches of pictures.

• Pro: Tank-based printing generally lowers the cost of each page over the long run, which is a real advantage for anyone reprinting a whole album.
• Pro: The Photo designation points to a machine designed for picture quality, and a wide-format capability suits larger prints and projects.
• Con: A tank-based photo printer is bigger and takes more desk space than a basic compact all-in-one, which may not suit small rooms.

Skip it if you print occasionally, work in a tight space, or only want a simple scanner for old pictures. A smaller printer will cover that without taking over the desk, and a basic model is far less demanding to maintain when it sits unused for weeks.

Canon PIXMA TR8620a

A busy home office favorite, this PIXMA all-in-one handles printing, copying and scanning, and it is a flexible choice for mixed document and photo use.

• Pro: The all-in-one format covers everyday paperwork and occasional photo scanning, so one machine can serve both homework and family archives.
• Pro: Canon has deep roots in imaging, so scanning software and photo printing tools are usually well developed and supported.
• Con: A general-purpose home printer may not match the scan detail or color depth of a dedicated photo flatbed for fragile or faded originals.

Skip it if your priority is archival-quality scans of fragile prints. A dedicated scanner delivers cleaner results and gives you more control than any general-purpose home printer can, especially when the prints are faded, wrinkled or one of a kind and cannot be replaced.

HP ENVY Photo 7855

The ENVY Photo name suggests a stylish home printer that is equally happy with school projects and family pictures.

• Pro: A Photo-labeled all-in-one targets people who want to scan prints and reproduce them without buying a separate scanner.
• Pro: HP printers typically come with a mobile app for scanning and printing, which is convenient for sharing pictures from a phone.
• Con: Home all-in-ones that rely on ink subscriptions or cartridges can be pricey to maintain, so check the supply plan before committing.

Skip it if you dislike app-centered workflows or prefer to use only a computer and a USB cable, or if you need top-tier scanning of delicate originals. Households that avoid accounts and cloud services should check the privacy settings before setup.

Canon PIXMA TS9520

This PIXMA TS-series model is a wireless all-in-one aimed at people who print larger photos and want flexible paper handling.

• Pro: A wireless all-in-one lets several devices in the house print and scan without cables, so anyone in the family can use it.
• Pro: TS-series printers are known for photo-friendly output, which helps when copies of scanned pictures are meant for framing or gifts.
• Con: A feature-rich all-in-one is bulky, and its flatbed scanner will not match a dedicated film or photo scanner for fine detail, and fitting such a large printer into a small room can be a challenge.

Skip it if you have limited desk space or only want to scan, not print. Anyone digitizing hundreds of family prints should also consider a faster dedicated photo scanner, since a flatbed handles only a few prints per pass.

Epson Expression Photo XP-970 Small-in-One

The Small-in-One label points to a compact all-in-one body, which makes it attractive for apartments, dorm rooms and shared desks where space is tight.

• Pro: A compact all-in-one saves desk room while still combining printing and scanning, so one footprint serves both the photo album project and everyday paperwork.
• Pro: The Expression Photo name signals a photo-oriented design, which suits reproducing scanned snapshots on glossy paper for relatives and frames.
• Con: Compact bodies typically limit paper capacity and tray size, so large batches or oversized prints may require more frequent refilling and handling.

Skip it if you plan big restoration projects or print in high volume every week. A larger tank-based printer or a dedicated scanner will keep up with that workload more comfortably than a small desk machine.

Which One Fits

Wipe the glass with a lint-free cloth before each session and dust every print with a soft brush, since removing dust beforehand saves far more time than retouching specks. When reprinting, glossy paper suits frames and matte paper suits albums, so pick one stock per project. Then match the machine to your situation.

• Family archivist who also reprints: the Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 All-in-One handles both jobs on one desk.
• High-volume photo printer: the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 favors refillable tanks and bigger prints.
• Home office with occasional photo scanning: the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is a flexible generalist.
• App-friendly households: the HP ENVY Photo 7855 suits those who scan and print from a phone.
• Craft and framing projects: the Canon PIXMA TS9520 offers room for larger prints.
• Serious restoration work: skip printers and read the guide to the best professional photo scanner instead.

Common Mistakes

1. Choosing by print speed alone, when scan resolution and glass size matter more for photo projects.
2. Feeding old, fragile prints through an automatic feeder instead of laying them on the glass.
3. Scanning at 300 dpi and later finding the picture too soft to enlarge.
4. Forgetting to clean the glass, which turns dust into permanent specks on every scan.
5. Ignoring ink costs until the first set of cartridges runs out after a single album.

FAQ

Can a regular all-in-one printer scan photos well enough?

For family sharing and basic copies, yes. For restoration or large enlargements, a dedicated photo scanner gives better detail and control over color and dust.

What resolution should I scan at?

Use 600 dpi for standard prints and 1200 dpi or higher for small originals. Save a master copy as TIFF, then create smaller JPEG versions for sharing.

Do I need photo paper to print scanned pictures?

For good results, yes. Plain paper dulls colors. Match paper type to the setting in the printer menu for the best output.

What if my originals are negatives or slides?

A printer’s scanner usually cannot light film from behind. See the guide to the best photo negative scanner for suitable options.

Is there a faster way to scan a big stack of prints?

A feeder-style photo scanner can process stacks quickly. The guide to the best scanner for scanning old photos compares the options in more detail.