How We Research
Every guide on ClipboardClub starts with one question: will this product work for the person who is shopping for it? For our ink tank printers guides, that means what you print, how often you print and how much you want to spend on ink.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with what you print
Documents, homework, labels, photos and a small home business each ask different things of a printer. How often you print matters too, because ink can dry out in a printer that sits.
We check the print, copy and scan functions the maker lists. When your printing habits limit the choice, we say what to look for.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at the tank design, the ink bottles a model uses, paper trays, automatic duplex, a document feeder, Wi-Fi and app support, and the maintenance box where there is one.
Epson, Canon, HP and Brother describe their ink yields and running costs in their own words, so we name the brand for every claim. We also note the warranty terms the maker lists.
3. We look at buyer feedback
We read through what buyers report after using a printer. We look for patterns, like hard setup, streaks, clogged print heads, ink spills, app problems or paper jams.
One angry review doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
4. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A printer that's great for home documents may score lower in a guide written for photos.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We keep pages up to date
Products change, and some disappear from stores. Epson, Canon, HP and Brother each sell several printers with similar names, and ink bottle numbers differ by model, so we check each model name and code, and we only link new units.
Bottle numbers and yield figures come from the maker's own pages. When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have used every printer we cover.
Ink stains, so follow the maker's directions for filling tanks, cleaning print heads and replacing parts.
We don't promise a cost per page or an ink yield, and when a maker gives a figure, we label it as the maker's claim.