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Nov 05, 2024

10 Best Portable Printers for Travel in 2024 [Documents & Photos]

Amar Hussain Senior Content Contributor 823 Published Articles Countries Visited: 63U.S. States Visited: 9 Keri Stooksbury Editor-in-Chief 49 Published Articles 3430 Edited Articles Countries Visited:

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

823 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

49 Published Articles 3430 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 50U.S. States Visited: 28

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Even in an increasingly paperless world, there are still times when having a portable printer is crucial. Whether it’s for quickly printing important personal documents, labels for your small business, or printing photos, a good portable printer is bound to save you time and energy.

Some portable printers are great all-around and can print documents and pictures, while others stand out for top-quality photo printing — we’ve considered all the options for you.

Many portable printers are available these days with various functions and specifications to suit everyone’s needs. Before you click to buy, consider a few things to make sure you’ve found the right fit for you.

If you’re in the market for a portable printer, you’ll want to narrow down your search and ensure it’s capable of printing what you require. There’s no point in buying a high-tech printer if you just need bare-bones printing, or buying a standard printer when you only intend on printing photos.

For a range of projects, you might also want to consider looking for a good, multi-functional portable printer to suit your needs.

The weight and size of a portable printer is an important factor in assessing how and where you will most need to use it. Smaller, lighter printers are ideal for those on the go — something to keep in mind if you frequent different workspaces but still need the option of printing.

Conversely, if you have a roomy home office where you need a printer but are less likely to move it around often, you might not be so picky about weight or larger dimensions.

Some people prefer printers that can easily connect with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and some prefer good old-fashioned USB connections. While there are pros and cons to each, it’s best to find a printer that has a connection type that works for you.

Bottom Line: Wireless options can be great for portability and a minimalist look, but wired printers won’t face issues with wireless disconnection and are also the most secure option.

Printing speed is usually a tradeoff for portability when it comes to printers, but many portable options can still get the job done in a reasonable time. Printer speed is often referred to in “ppm” or (pages per minute) or “ipm” (images per minute), both of which give you a general idea of how quickly it does the job.

On the quality side, dpi, or dots per inch, is the most common way of gauging the printing resolution. These details may not matter much for plain text-only printing, but if you require high-quality, detailed output, then pay attention to these specs.

If you’re planning on using a printer in an area where power isn’t an issue, you might not be as picky about its power source. However, rechargeable printers allow a lot more flexibility in where and how you print and come in really handy if you frequently travel for work.

With enough portable printer options online to make your head spin, you’ll want to check out our round-up of top products below – bound to make your life a whole lot easier.

This single-function printer is perfect for low-volume printing and high-quality results. It can print documents and photos with resolutions as high as 4800 x 1200 dpi and up to 7.7 ipm in black ink and 4 ipm in color.

Capable of using most common paper types, it can hold up to 60 sheets of plain paper or 20 sheets of 4 x 6-inch photo paper. Using a hybrid ink system, pigment-based black ink produces crisp lines while dye-based ink yields beautiful, vibrant colors.

Weighing 7 pounds and measuring 20 x 12 x 3 inches, it’s a great option for your home office or small personal printing jobs. You won’t find Bluetooth or wireless connection here — just a standard, no-fuss USB connection with the included 4-foot cable.

For added performance, a selectable quiet mode keeps the noise down, and it has an automatic power-saving mode in case you forget to turn it off.

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Perfect if you change workspaces often or run small business booths, this printer is less than 5 pounds and can fit into a laptop bag and go where you need it. A rechargeable battery that reaches full charge in 90 minutes makes it a practical option for those on the go.

Devices with the free HP ePrint app downloaded can print wirelessly, and you can also print via the USB cable included. The tray holds up to 50 sheets of regular paper, and you can print both documents and high-quality photos.

Quality can be as much as 4800 x 1200 dpi, and speeds can reach up to 10 ppm for black ink; 7 ppm for color ink.

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Compact and sleek, this slightly more affordable option offers wireless printing from various devices. Capable of running on AC power or its rechargeable battery, the WF-110 charges using USB cables or an AC adapter.

You can expect battery-operated print speeds of 3.5 ISO ppm for black ink and 2 ISO ppm for color, with up to 6.7 ISO ppm for black ink and 3.8 ISO ppm for color ink when it’s plugged in. Easily select features such as double-sided printing, or get quality photos printed up to 4 x 6 inches.

Under 5 pounds and small enough to fit into your bag, it also uses voice activation printing, so Google Assistant or Alexa can handle some of the work for you. A small LCD color display panel means easy setup and function selection, while the automatic power saving mode helps make the most of your battery life.

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Impressively light at just 3.45 pounds, this slimline printer can print 300 dpi and can be easily slipped into your bag or purse without hassle. It comes with a carrying case and its design makes it a prime option for those requiring a travel printer or one for small offices with limited desk space.

Thermal transfer technology means this is a no-mess, inkless printer, and each easily replaceable thermal ribbon can print up to 45 sheets of standard letter-sized paper. It’s easy to use and set up, and once your device supports the app, you can get to printing via Bluetooth or USB input.

As part of it being so slimline, this printer doesn’t have a bulky paper tray, and it’s best used for single-page jobs as paper must be aligned and fed through the printer.

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While some machines keep it simple with printer-only functions, others are fully-loaded, like this all-in-one printer, scanner, and copier.

Wireless connection and quick setup make it user-friendly, and a color touch screen means you can easily toggle through mode selections. Print speeds average about 10 ppm black or 7 ppm color, and it is also capable of printing envelopes and card stock — a great feature for all types of business.

This is a great addition for professionals who travel frequently or those who need a printer capable of multiple tasks. It easily fits into your backpack, car, or carry-on, and it’s also pretty light at just 6.5 pounds.

The rechargeable battery is fully charged in under 3 hours, and it means one less cable you need to pack up to be on your way.

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If you’ve checked out a few portable printer options and been a little surprised at the cost, don’t worry — there are still affordable options to fit every budget. The TS302 is a good option for small businesses trying to keep costs down or for anyone with lower-output printing needs.

A smaller price tag doesn’t mean less capable, either — it’s still a wireless inkjet that can connect to smartphones and laptops to print, scan and copy your documents. It’s capable of printing in black and color, holds up to 60 sheets of standard-sized paper, and can also print quality 4 x 6 photo prints.

Still reasonably light at 6.5 pounds, it has slightly larger dimensions of 17 x 11.1 x 5.7 inches, but it’s still portable enough to pack up wherever work takes you.

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Camera phones have come a long way in making photography accessible, but printing all those memories can still be an obstacle.

The Kodak Step makes it easier, letting you print 2 x 3-inch black and color pictures in only 1 minute. It uses zero ink or “Zink” technology, so you’ll only need paper replacements instead of ink cartridges or ribbons.

This rechargeable printer is also compact at 3 x 5 x 1 inches and just 8.5 ounces, easily fitting into small purses and backpacks for printing at your fingertips. You can also use the Kodak app to edit your photos beforehand and add fun stickers — so there are loads of ways to customize your photos.

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Kodak has a few great options to fit various budgets, and the Dock Plus is one of their higher-end photo printers available. Though it supports Bluetooth connection, it mainly uses a USB-C docking port to connect your phone to the printer, but also includes an iOS adapter for iPhone users.

It prints 4 x 6-inch photos, which can be bordered or borderless, and uses a laminating process for fingerprint-free, long-lasting prints. The Kodak Photo Printer app lets you edit photos, add stickers, and even make collages as well, so the possibilities are endless.

You can easily pack it up to take with you, and it is a great way to print and share memories with others along the way.

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Although a few of the photo printers are pretty small, the Sprocket is quite literally pocket-sized at 3 x 4.5 inches and weighs in at only 6 ounces.

Supporting both Android and iOS, it uses Bluetooth to print 2.3 x 3.4-inch photos using Zink sticky-backed paper, meaning your photos can also instantly become stickers. The photo paper is easily reloadable 10 sheets at a time and is smudge-, water-, and tear-resistant for extra durability.

You can edit photos through the HP Sprocket app by adding text, doodles, stickers, and frames, making this rechargeable printer also really fun for kids to use.

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If you want to enjoy new technology but still love classic vibes, this portable printer is a fun option. It prints 3 x 3-inch photos for that retro look, and you can use the Kodak app to customize them by selecting bordered or borderless options or by adding stickers, frames, and more.

Measuring 5.1 x 4.1 inches and weighing just under a pound, it can easily fit in your hand, purse, or backpack right, along with fingerprint-proof and water-resistant photos. It uses Bluetooth to connect to your favorite devices and has a rechargeable battery for portable convenience.

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Having a portable printer is a great option for quickly and seamlessly getting the job done without visiting printing centers or struggling with large, cumbersome printers. Increasingly popular and important with the rise of at-home work, there are tons of options to suit your style and preferences.

You should consider the price of the printer, replacement part costs, and frequency of use. Portable printers are most effective for small, low-output jobs where the convenience of having a compact printer outweighs the cost of outsourcing printing.

No, not all portable printers are capable of printing photos. Some printers are strictly for documents, others strictly for photos, and some cater to both needs. Read up on the specs to be sure you’re getting what you want, and pay particular attention to dpi for an idea of what kind of photo quality you’ll receive.

Portable printers use multiple technologies to connect, including Bluetooth, wireless, and USB wired connections. Although they are super convenient, it is worth noting that these connections are often less secure. If you are concerned about privacy and confidentiality, printers with wired options may be worth considering.

No, some printers may not support certain operating systems. Check the technical specifications to make sure it’s compatible with your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

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Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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