> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://clonardiscoduro.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Best Compact Tank Printer: Canon G3270 Leads
- URL: https://clonardiscoduro.org/best-compact-tank-printer/
- Published: 2026-09-07T07:03:02.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-07T09:49:16.000Z
- Description: Five refillable-tank printers, ranked by footprint, weight and published ink yield. The Canon G3270 takes the top spot, but a lighter HP wins if desk space is your real constraint.
- Author: Connor Small
- Tags: Computers & Networking, Printers, Home Office

The best compact tank printer is the Canon MegaTank G3270, a 13.2 lb wireless all-in-one that prints, copies and scans while carrying the strongest refillable-tank credentials in this set. If desk depth is your hard limit, the HP Smart Tank 5003 is the better buy at 6.19 inches deep. Pick a bad tank printer and you inherit clogged nozzles and a machine too deep for the shelf you bought it for. Five printers, ranked below.

In this guide
1. [How I screened these five printers](#how-i-screened-these-five-printers)
2. [Best compact tank printer at a glance](#best-compact-tank-printer-at-a-glance)
3. [What actually decides a tank printer purchase?](#what-actually-decides-a-tank-printer-purchase)
4. [1\. Canon MegaTank G3270 — Best overall](#1-canon-megatank-g3270-%E2%80%94-best-overall)
5. [2\. Canon PIXMA TS6520 — Best budget pick](#2-canon-pixma-ts6520-%E2%80%94-best-budget-pick)
6. [3\. HP Smart Tank 5003 — Best upgrade](#3-hp-smart-tank-5003-%E2%80%94-best-upgrade)
7. [4\. Epson EcoTank ET-2988 — Best premium](#4-epson-ecotank-et-2988-%E2%80%94-best-premium)
8. [5\. HP Smart Tank 5003 (Basalt) — Best minimal setup](#5-hp-smart-tank-5003-basalt-%E2%80%94-best-minimal-setup)
9. [Does compact really mean small here?](#does-compact-really-mean-small-here)
10. [How much ink comes in the box?](#how-much-ink-comes-in-the-box)
11. [Canon G3270 vs HP Smart Tank 5003: which wins?](#canon-g3270-vs-hp-smart-tank-5003-which-wins)
12. [The verdict](#the-verdict)
13. [FAQ](#faq)

## How I screened these five printers

I lined up the published specifications for every printer in this group and compared them side by side: weight, footprint, warranty, stated ink yield and connectivity. No guessing, no filler. Here is what I looked at and what it told me.

- **Footprint and weight.** The numbers you can actually check against your shelf.
- **Tank type.** Whether the machine truly refills from bottles or uses cartridges.
- **Stated yield.** How many pages the maker claims the in-box ink covers.
- **Warranty.** The single spec that varies most across this set.

Two of these printers share identical hardware dimensions and weight. One is a renewed unit. One uses cartridges rather than tanks, which matters for a tank-printer shortlist. I kept it in because it earns its place on price and warranty, and I flag the caveat plainly in its section. Nothing here was picked on marketing language alone. Every ranking below traces to a figure you can verify on the live listing.

## Best compact tank printer at a glance

| Pick                                                                                                         | Footprint (D×W×H)     | Weight  | Price                                                                  |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Best overall**[Canon MegaTank G3270](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSMSYM9N?tag=clonardisco-20)              | 10.6 × 21.9 × 16.4 in | 13.2 lb | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSMSYM9N?tag=clonardisco-20) |
| **Best budget pick**[Canon PIXMA TS6520](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMBTJLX6?tag=clonardisco-20)            | 6.7 × 14.8 × 14 in    | 15.3 lb | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMBTJLX6?tag=clonardisco-20) |
| **Best upgrade**[HP Smart Tank 5003](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GVKNJ14P?tag=clonardisco-20)                | 6.19 × 14.2 × 17.1 in | 11.1 lb | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GVKNJ14P?tag=clonardisco-20) |
| **Best premium**[Epson EcoTank ET-2988](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H476662H?tag=clonardisco-20)             | 7.4 × 13.7 × 14.8 in  | 11.5 lb | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H476662H?tag=clonardisco-20) |
| **Best minimal setup**[HP Smart Tank 5003 (Basalt)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GVKD4P57?tag=clonardisco-20) | 6.19 × 14.2 × 17.1 in | 11.1 lb | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GVKD4P57?tag=clonardisco-20) |

## What actually decides a tank printer purchase?

Most guides to the best compact tank printer compare stated ink yield first. That is not what decides it. Yield claims here run from 6,000 to 7,700 pages, and every one is a manufacturer figure measured under conditions you'll never match. Two of these makers quote similar numbers. So the number rarely separates the field.

Footprint is the real deciding criterion. A tank printer lives on a desk or a shelf for years, and the depth figure is the one that either fits or doesn't. The Canon G3270 measures 10.6 inches deep. The HP Smart Tank 5003 measures 6.19 inches deep. That is a gap of more than four inches, which is the difference between a printer that clears a shallow shelf and one that overhangs it.

Warranty is the second deciding factor, because a tank printer is a multi-year commitment. The spread here is wide: one year on most, three years on one Canon.

- **Footprint decides fit.** Check the depth figure against your shelf.
- **Warranty decides risk.** Three years beats one on the same job.
- **Tank type decides running cost.** Bottles cost less per page than cartridges.

Buy on the number that survives your desk, not the number on the box.

## 1\. Canon MegaTank G3270 — Best overall

**The Canon MegaTank G3270 wins because it pairs a genuine refillable tank system with the deepest published ink claim in this group.**

[![Canon MegaTank G3270 wireless all-in-one tank printer in black — shows the compact single-piece body that fits a home shelf](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31jPKfRqWSL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSMSYM9N?tag=clonardisco-20)

**Best for:** a home that prints steadily and wants proven refillable tanks **Skip it if:** your desk depth is the hard limit

This is the only pick in the set whose maker quotes distinct black and colour figures: Canon says a single set of inks prints up to 6,000 black-and-white or 7,700 colour pages. That colour figure is the highest here. The G3270 handles wireless print, copy and scan, and it carries a 1.35-inch square LCD for on-device navigation.

At 13.2 lb it is the heaviest tank unit here, and its footprint is the largest in the group at 10.6 × 21.9 × 16.4 inches. That width, nearly 22 inches, is the trade-off you accept for the tank capacity and the yield. It sells faster than every other tank model in this roundup, which tells you the balance lands for most homes. The warranty is one year, shorter than the budget Canon below it. If your shelf is shallow, this is not your printer, but for a home with room to spare, it's the surest bet.

**Pros:**

- Highest stated colour yield here at 7,700 pages
- Genuine refillable ink tank system
- Wireless print, copy and scan built in
- 1.35-inch LCD for on-device control
- Sells faster than the other tank picks here

**Cons:**

- Largest footprint in the set at 21.9 in wide
- Heaviest tank unit at 13.2 lb
- Only a one-year warranty
- Smaller display than the color-screen rivals

[Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSMSYM9N?tag=clonardisco-20)

## 2\. Canon PIXMA TS6520 — Best budget pick

**The PIXMA TS6520 is the lowest-priced pick here and backs it with a three-year warranty no rival matches.**

[![Canon PIXMA TS6520 wireless inkjet printer in white — shows the small medium-size body suited to a hybrid work desk](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21otfD1pi6L._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMBTJLX6?tag=clonardisco-20)

**Best for:** buyers who want the lowest price and the longest warranty **Skip it if:** you want true bottle-fill tanks, not cartridges

Read this section closely, because the TS6520 is not a tank printer. Canon describes a two-cartridge hybrid ink system, not refillable bottles. I kept it on a best compact tank printer shortlist because it is the cheapest option in the group and because its warranty stands alone. Canon lists a three-year manufacturer warranty, three times the coverage of the G3270.

The body is compact at 6.7 × 14.8 × 14 inches, though at 15.3 lb it is the heaviest printer in the whole set. Canon claims dual-band Wi-Fi on 2.4GHz or 5GHz, auto duplex printing, plus scan and copy. It is the fastest-selling model of all five here. The trade-off is stark against the tank machines: cartridges cost more per page over time, so the low sticker can cost you back at the refill. Buy it for the warranty and the price, not for long-run ink economy.

**Pros:**

- Lowest price of the five
- Three-year warranty, longest here
- Auto duplex printing claimed
- Dual-band Wi-Fi per the listing
- Fastest-selling model in this set

**Cons:**

- Cartridge system, not refillable tanks
- Heaviest printer here at 15.3 lb
- Higher per-page ink cost than the tanks
- No stated color-screen display

[Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMBTJLX6?tag=clonardisco-20)

## 3\. HP Smart Tank 5003 — Best upgrade

**The HP Smart Tank 5003 is the narrowest, lightest true tank printer here, which is why it wins on a small desk.**

[![HP Smart Tank 5003 refillable ink tank printer in white and portobello — shows the slim 6.19-inch-deep body for tight desks](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/417KMYvs5iL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GVKNJ14P?tag=clonardisco-20)

**Best for:** small desks that need a narrow, light printer **Skip it if:** you want a color touchscreen

If footprint decides your purchase, this is the answer. The Smart Tank 5003 measures 6.19 × 14.2 × 17.1 inches, the shallowest depth in the group by a clear margin, and it weighs 11.1 lb, the lightest here alongside its basalt twin. HP describes a cartridge-free refillable tank with a mess-free system where bottles plug in and drain without squeezing.

HP claims up to three years of ink included and up to 6,000 colour or black pages out of the box. The warranty is one year or 30,000 pages, whichever comes first, which is a page cap the Canon warranties don't state. This model comes in a white and portobello colourway and is the mid-priced pick of the five. The trade-off against the Canon G3270 is yield headroom: HP's 6,000-page figure trails Canon's 7,700 colour claim. And there's no color display mentioned in the specs. For a cramped desk, that's a fair swap.

**Pros:**

- Shallowest depth here at 6.19 in
- Lightest tank printer at 11.1 lb
- Mess-free bottle-fill refill claimed
- Up to three years of ink stated
- Borderless printing per the listing

**Cons:**

- Lower stated yield than the Canon G3270
- Warranty capped at 30,000 pages
- No color display in the specs
- Only two sellers list it

[Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GVKNJ14P?tag=clonardisco-20)

## 4\. Epson EcoTank ET-2988 — Best premium

**The EcoTank ET-2988 leads on stated speed and resolution, but it's a renewed unit, which shapes who should buy it.**

[![Epson EcoTank ET-2988 supertank printer in white — shows the compact body with the front-mounted refillable ink tanks](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41TpHAp4NQL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H476662H?tag=clonardisco-20)

**Best for:** buyers who prioritise stated speed and print resolution **Skip it if:** you won't buy a renewed unit

The ET-2988 carries the most detailed spec sheet in this roundup. Epson quotes 15 black and 8 colour ISO pages per minute with zero warmup, a 4800 × 1200 dpi print resolution, a 100-sheet tray, auto duplex and a 1.44-inch colour display. That's the largest and only true colour screen among these five printers.

Epson also states up to 6,600 black and 5,500 colour pages of included ink, with each replacement bottle set equivalent to about 80 cartridges. The body measures 7.4 × 13.7 × 14.8 inches and weighs 11.5 lb, so it's compact and light. The catch is in the title: this is a Renewed listing, not new. Only one seller stocks it, and it sits near the top of the price range here. If a refurbished unit is fine by you, the feature set is the richest on this page. If not, the HP tanks give you new hardware for less.

**Pros:**

- Highest stated resolution at 4800 × 1200 dpi
- Only true color display, 1.44 in
- Stated 15 black ppm print speed
- Auto duplex and 100-sheet tray
- Keyed EcoFit bottles prevent mix-ups

**Cons:**

- Renewed unit, not new
- Only one seller lists it
- Near the top of the price range here
- One-year warranty only

[Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H476662H?tag=clonardisco-20)

## 5\. HP Smart Tank 5003 (Basalt) — Best minimal setup

**This is the same HP hardware in a basalt colourway, so it wins only on looks and fuss-free refills.**

[![HP Smart Tank 5003 refillable tank printer in medium and light basalt — shows the neutral grey finish for a tidy desk setup](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41iKGEPRlPL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GVKD4P57?tag=clonardisco-20)

**Best for:** buyers who want the neutral basalt colourway and fuss-free refills **Skip it if:** you don't want to pay the most for the same hardware

Let's be straight about what this is. The Basalt Smart Tank 5003 shares the exact dimensions, 6.19 × 14.2 × 17.1 inches, and the exact 11.1 lb weight of the upgrade pick above. Same shallow depth, same light body, same mess-free refill system where bottles plug in and drain on their own. HP again claims up to three years of ink and up to 6,000 colour or black pages out of the box.

What separates it is the medium and light basalt finish, a muted grey that suits a tidy desk better than white. The wrinkle: it's the most expensive pick in this whole set, above the identical white unit. That's the trade-off in one line. Same machine, same one-year-or-30,000-page warranty, higher price for the colourway. Only two sellers list it. Buy this one if the finish genuinely matters to you and the price gap is small on the day. Otherwise the white version does the same job for less.

**Pros:**

- Neutral basalt finish for a tidy desk
- Shallow 6.19-in depth for small desks
- Light at 11.1 lb
- Mess-free bottle-fill refill claimed
- Up to three years of ink stated

**Cons:**

- Most expensive pick in the set
- Identical hardware to the white version
- Warranty capped at 30,000 pages
- No color display in the specs

[Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GVKD4P57?tag=clonardisco-20)

## Does compact really mean small here?

Amazon's search treats "compact" loosely, so you have to judge the footprint yourself. None of these printers is guaranteed to fit your space, and the numbers vary more than the word suggests. Here is the depth ranking, since depth is what usually fails against a shelf.

1. **HP Smart Tank 5003, both colours** — 6.19 in deep, the shallowest
2. **Canon PIXMA TS6520** — 6.7 in deep
3. **Epson EcoTank ET-2988** — 7.4 in deep
4. **Canon MegaTank G3270** — 10.6 in deep, the deepest

The G3270 is more than four inches deeper than the HP pair. It's also nearly 22 inches wide, the widest here by a long way. Measure your shelf before you commit, because a "compact" printer that overhangs the edge isn't compact where it counts. The two HP units and the budget Canon are the genuine small-desk choices in this group.

## How much ink comes in the box?

Every maker here leans on its included-ink claim, so it helps to line them up. Remember these are manufacturer figures, not measured results, and each maker tests differently.

- **Canon G3270:** up to 6,000 black or 7,700 colour pages, single ink set
- **HP Smart Tank 5003 (both):** up to 3 years of ink, up to 6,000 colour or black pages
- **Epson ET-2988:** up to 6,600 black or 5,500 colour pages, roughly 80 cartridges per bottle set
- **Canon PIXMA TS6520:** cartridge system, no bottle-fill yield stated

The Canon G3270 posts the highest colour figure at 7,700 pages. The Epson leads on black at 6,600\. HP frames its claim in years rather than a headline colour number. The one honest gap is the PIXMA TS6520: it runs cartridges, so it doesn't play this game at all, and that's the main reason it's a budget footnote on a tank-printer list rather than a tank contender.

## Canon G3270 vs HP Smart Tank 5003: which wins?

This is the real fight in the set, tank against tank. The Canon G3270 wins on capacity and yield: it claims 7,700 colour pages against HP's 6,000, and it sells faster than the HP here. The HP Smart Tank 5003 wins on size: 6.19 inches deep and 11.1 lb, against the Canon's 10.6 inches and 13.2 lb.

Both handle wireless print, copy and scan. Both use refillable tanks. The deciding line is your shelf. If you have the depth, take the Canon for the higher yield and the wider proven track record. If your desk is shallow or crowded, the HP's four-inch depth advantage settles it. There's no wrong answer here, only the right answer for your space.

## The verdict

If you print steadily and have room on the desk, the Canon MegaTank G3270 is the best compact tank printer for you. It carries the highest stated colour yield here at 7,700 pages, runs genuine refillable tanks, and sells faster than any other tank model in this group. The one-year warranty and the 21.9-inch width are the costs of that capacity.

If your desk is shallow or you want the lightest machine, the HP Smart Tank 5003 is the better buy. Its exact advantage is footprint: 6.19 inches deep and 11.1 lb, more than four inches shallower than the Canon. The cutoff is your shelf depth. If it's under about eight inches, take the HP. If it's over, the Canon's yield edge wins.

The budget Canon PIXMA TS6520 is the pick when price and the three-year warranty matter most, but know it uses cartridges, not tanks. The Epson EcoTank ET-2988 has the richest spec sheet, including the only colour display, though it's a renewed unit. Buy on your desk depth first, then on warranty.

## FAQ

### Is a compact tank printer worth it over a cartridge model?

A compact tank printer is worth it if you print regularly, because refillable bottles cost far less per page than cartridges over time. Canon states up to 7,700 colour pages from one ink set on the G3270\. The upfront price runs higher, but heavy home users recover it. Light, occasional printers may prefer the cheaper cartridge PIXMA TS6520 instead.

### Which is the best compact tank printer for a small desk?

The best compact tank printer for a small desk is the HP Smart Tank 5003, at 6.19 inches deep and 11.1 lb. That depth is more than four inches shallower than the Canon G3270 and the lightest true tank unit in this group. Both HP colourways share the same body, so pick whichever finish and price suits you.

### How many pages does the included ink actually print?

How many pages the included ink prints depends on the maker's own test, so treat these as estimates. Canon claims up to 7,700 colour pages on the G3270\. Epson states up to 6,600 black on the ET-2988\. HP quotes up to 6,000 colour or black on the Smart Tank 5003\. Your real yield varies with coverage and settings.

### Canon G3270 or Epson EcoTank ET-2988, which should I pick?

Choosing the Canon G3270 or the Epson ET-2988 comes down to condition and features. The G3270 ships new with a higher 7,700-page colour claim and a smaller footprint width penalty. The ET-2988 is a renewed unit but adds a 1.44-inch colour display, 4800 × 1200 dpi resolution and a stated 15 ppm speed. Buy new? Canon. Want the richer spec sheet? Epson.

### What's the biggest mistake buying a tank printer?

The biggest mistake buying a tank printer is trusting the word "compact" without checking the depth figure. The Canon G3270 is 10.6 inches deep and 21.9 inches wide, far larger than the 6.19-inch HP units. Measure your shelf first. The second mistake is confusing a cartridge model like the PIXMA TS6520 for a true refillable tank printer.

Measure your shelf depth today, then match it to the depth column in the table above. That single number rules out the wrong printers faster than any yield claim. For most homes with the room to spare, the Canon MegaTank G3270 is the safe default: proven refillable tanks, the highest stated colour yield here, and the fastest-selling tank body in the group. If your space is tight, the HP Smart Tank 5003 gives you the same tank convenience in a body four inches shallower. Check the current price on whichever fits, and buy the one your desk can actually hold.

*Last updated: September 14, 2026\. Product availability re-checked.*

*This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.*