In-depth review
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Review (2026)
In-depth review of the Epson EcoTank ET-2800: tank printing for families, and where its missing feeder matters.
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 All-in-One Supertank Printer
The entry tank printer: cartridge-free printing for a household that has had enough of running out of ink.
Our verdict
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is the best entry tank printer for families that print steadily, because it removes the most annoying part of home printing: running out of ink at the wrong moment. Bottled ink lasts for a large volume of pages, running costs stay low for years, and wireless printing from phones covers everyday needs. The missing feeder and modest speed are real limits, but for single-page printing and light scanning, they rarely get in the way.
What we like
- Bottled ink included in the box covers a large volume of printing before any refill is needed, which changes how a family thinks about printing.
- Wireless printing from phones and tablets is straightforward, and the control panel stays simple enough for occasional users.
- Running costs stay low for years, since a bottle of ink costs far less per page than a set of cartridges.
What to watch out for
- There is no automatic document feeder, so multi-page scanning and copying means lifting the lid for each page.
- Print speeds are modest, so long documents take their time compared with a laser or a faster OfficeJet.
- The input tray holds 100 sheets, so heavy users refill paper more often than on office-style machines.
Who it is for
Families that print steadily through the school year and want ink costs to stop being a recurring worry.
Tank ink changes printing habits
When ink is cheap per page, families stop rationing printing: worksheets, readings, and colour projects get printed without a mental calculation about cartridge cost. That behaviour change is the ET-2800's real benefit, and it is why tank printers suit households with school-age children better than any cartridge printer at a similar purchase position. The included bottles cover a large volume before any refill is needed, which makes the first year of ownership notably calm.
Simple, but with clear limits
The control panel stays simple, wireless printing works from phones and tablets, and print quality suits documents and school colour work well. The limits are equally clear: no feeder means multi-page scanning is a page at a time, speeds are modest for long documents, and the 100-sheet tray needs refilling more often than office machines. None of those limits matter much for single-page family printing, and all of them matter for a home office, which is why the ET-4850 exists.
How it stacks up
Against the Canon PIXMA G3270, the ET-2800 wins on brand familiarity in tanks and a simpler buying decision, while the G3270 wins on Canon colour handling for photos. Against the Epson EcoTank ET-4850, the ET-2800 wins on purchase cost and simplicity, while the ET-4850 wins on feeder, fax, Ethernet, and duplex. Against the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e, the ET-2800 wins on running costs over time, while the 9015e wins on speed, two-sided handling, and tray size.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Ink lasts so long that families stop rationing school printing
- Phone printing works smoothly for homework and everyday documents
- The simple controls suit occasional users who dislike fiddly menus
Common complaints
- Scanning several pages means lifting the lid for each one
- Long documents print at an unhurried pace
- The paper tray needs refilling sooner than on larger office machines
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Key specifications
- Functions
- Print, scan, copy
- Ink system
- EcoTank refillable tanks, 522 ink bottles
- Input tray
- 100 sheets
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, USB
- Duplex
- Manual two-sided printing
Also consider
Epson EcoTank ET-4850 All-in-One Supertank Printer
The tank printer for a busy home office: fax, feeder, Ethernet, and bottled ink that keeps heavy printing affordable.
- Functions: Print, scan, copy, fax
- Ink system: EcoTank refillable tanks, 502 ink bottles
Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3270 All-in-One Printer
Canon's tank answer for the home: low-cost colour printing with Canon photo quality, in a compact all-in-one.
- Functions: Print, scan, copy
- Ink system: MegaTank refillable tanks, GI-21 ink bottles
Research-based assessment. ThePickLedger has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
How long does the included ink last?
Epson includes enough bottled ink for a large volume of pages, far more than a set of starter cartridges. Exact page counts vary with coverage, since a page of colour photos uses far more ink than a page of black text, but most families go a long time before buying a refill bottle.
Does a tank printer need regular use?
Yes, ideally. Tank printers reward steady use, and a machine left idle for months may need cleaning cycles before printing well again. Families that print at least a few pages most weeks will have no trouble.
Can the ET-2800 print photos?
Yes, with good colour output for a tank all-in-one, suitable for school projects and family prints. It is not a dedicated photo printer, so serious photographers should look at a photo-specific model instead.