An all-in-one printer is a printer that combines printing with scanning and copying in a single device, and some models add faxing. It's also called a multifunction printer (MFP). All-in-ones replace several separate machines, saving space and money, and they're available with inkjet, ink tank, or laser technology.
All-in-One Printer Essentials at a Glance
Prints, scans, and copies, and some models also fax
Also known as a multifunction printer (MFP)
Available as inkjet, ink tank, or laser models
Many models scan straight to a computer, email, the cloud, or a phone
Business models often add an automatic document feeder for multi-page scanning
All-in-One Printer Functions Explained
Printing on an all-in-one printer
Printing works the same as on a single-function printer, using either liquid ink or toner. Learn how the two technologies differ in our guides to inkjet printers and laser printers.
Scanning on an all-in-one printer
Scanning turns paper documents and photos into digital files, such as PDFs or JPEGs. You place items on the flatbed glass or, on models that have one, load pages into a document feeder. Depending on the model, you can send scans to a computer, an email address, a USB drive, cloud storage, or your phone. On Windows, many HP printers scan through the HP Scan software, and on a Mac through HP Easy Scan. For step-by-step help, see how to use a scanner.
Copying on an all-in-one printer
Copying combines a scan and a print in one step, without a computer. Most all-in-ones let you choose the number of copies, color or black-and-white, and basic adjustments like darkness or resizing from the control panel.
Faxing on an all-in-one printer
Faxing sends and receives documents over a phone line. Fax is less common on home models and more common on business-focused all-in-ones. Traditional fax requires connecting the printer to an analog phone line. Some HP models also support sending faxes through HP's mobile app over the internet, depending on the printer and service availability.
Function | What it does | Typically found on |
Puts documents and photos on paper | All models | |
Scan | Creates digital copies of paper documents | All all-in-one models |
Copy | Duplicates documents without a computer | All all-in-one models |
Fax | Sends and receives documents over a phone line | Many business and home office models |
To find models with fax, browse HP printers with fax. For setup help, see HP Support's guide on how to print, scan, or fax.
Flatbed Scanners and Automatic Document Feeders
All-in-one printers can take in originals in two ways:
Flatbed scanner glass: You lay one item face-down on the glass. It's best for photos, books, receipts, and anything fragile or oddly sized.
Automatic document feeder (ADF): A tray on top pulls a stack of pages through one at a time, so you can scan or copy multi-page documents without lifting the lid each time.
For two-sided originals, some feeders flip each page to scan the back, while others scan both sides in a single pass for faster results. Look for two-sided (duplex) scanning if you regularly scan double-sided contracts or forms.
Inkjet vs. Laser All-in-One Printers
Inkjet or ink tank all-in-one | Laser all-in-one | |
Best for | Color documents, photos, and home use | High-volume text documents in offices |
Photo printing | Excellent | Not ideal |
Speed | Moderate | Usually faster for large text jobs |
Up-front cost | Usually lower for cartridge models | Usually higher |
HP examples | HP DeskJet, HP ENVY, HP OfficeJet Pro, HP Smart Tank | HP LaserJet Pro MFP and HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP |
In HP laser model names, "MFP" marks an all-in-one, and an "f" in the model suffix often indicates built-in fax. Browse all HP all-in-one printers.
All-in-One vs. Single-Function Printers
All-in-one printer | Single-function printer | |
Functions | Print, scan, copy, and sometimes fax | Print only |
Space | One device does several jobs | Separate devices needed for scanning or copying |
Up-front cost | Slightly higher than a comparable print-only model | Lower |
Best for | Homes, students, home offices, and most businesses | Printing only, with no need to scan or copy |
For most people, the convenience of scanning and copying is worth the small difference in price. A single-function printer makes sense only if you're certain you'll never need to scan or copy.
Who Needs an All-in-One Printer?
Families and students: Scan permission slips, copy worksheets, and digitize school projects.
Home offices: Scan signed contracts, receipts, and IDs, and send documents digitally.
Small businesses: Copy and scan multi-page documents with a feeder, and fax when clients or agencies still require it.
Anyone going paperless: Scan bills, records, and photos into digital files you can store and search.
For more ideas, see printers by use or our picks for the best all-in-one printers from HP.
What to Check Before Buying an All-in-One Printer
Functions you need: Confirm whether you need fax or only print, scan, and copy.
Document feeder: Choose a model with an ADF if you scan or copy multi-page documents.
Two-sided scanning and printing: Saves time with double-sided originals and long documents.
Scan destinations: Check whether the printer scans to email, the cloud, a USB drive, or your phone.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi and mobile printing let everyone in the home or office use it. Learn more about printer connectivity.
Running costs: Compare ink or toner costs based on how much you print. Learn more about printing costs.
Security: For shared office printers, look for built-in security features. Learn more about printer security.
Frequently Asked Questions About All-in-One Printers
What is the difference between an all-in-one printer and a multifunction printer?
An all-in-one printer and a multifunction printer (MFP) are the same thing. Both terms describe a printer that also scans and copies, and sometimes faxes.
Do all all-in-one printers have fax?
Not all all-in-one printers include fax. Many home models only print, scan, and copy, while fax is more common on business and home office models. Check the product specifications if you need fax.
Can an all-in-one printer scan without a computer?
Many all-in-one printers can scan without a computer. Depending on the model, you can scan directly to a phone app, an email address, a USB drive, or cloud storage from the printer's control panel.
Can an all-in-one printer copy without a computer?
An all-in-one printer can make copies without a computer. You place the original on the scanner glass or in the document feeder and start the copy from the printer's control panel.
Do you need a phone line to fax from an all-in-one printer?
Traditional faxing from an all-in-one printer requires an analog phone line connected to the printer. Some HP printers also support sending faxes through HP's mobile app over the internet, without a phone line.
Related Printer Topics
Printers: the main types of printers and how they work
Inkjet printers: how inkjets work and who they suit
Laser printers: fast, high-volume printing with toner
Paper and media: paper types, sizes, and trays
