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Buying guide

The Best Copy and Multipurpose Papers

We compared seven top-rated copy and multipurpose papers based on owner ratings, expert reviews, and specs. The Amazon Basics Printer Paper (B01FV0F13E) leads for its smooth feeding, crisp print quality, and affordability.

Updated

The bottom line

The Amazon Basics Printer Paper (B01FV0F13E) is our top pick for its smooth feeding, crisp print quality, and affordability. It's best for everyday printing, schoolwork, and home office use. The closest alternative is the Hammermill Printer Paper (B00U03708C), which offers similar quality but at a higher price. For a budget option, the Amazon Basics Copy Printer Paper (B01FV0F8H8) provides good value and performance at a lower cost.

Top pick
Amazon Basics Printer PaperAmazon Basics Printer Paper $52.27

Best balance of quality and affordability

The Amazon Basics Printer Paper (B01FV0F13E) offers smooth feeding, crisp print quality, and a bright white color for $52.27 for 10 reams. Owners rate it 9.6/10 from 229,228 ratings. The tradeoff is that it's not suitable for premium printing needs.

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Runner-up
Hammermill Printer PaperHammermill Printer Paper $65.54

High-quality, jam-free performance

The Hammermill Printer Paper (B00U03708C) provides high-quality, jam-free performance with 92 brightness for $65.54 for 10 reams. Owners rate it 9.6/10 from 66,009 ratings. The tradeoff is its higher price compared to the top pick.

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Budget pick
Amazon Basics Copy Printer PaperAmazon Basics Copy Printer Paper $6.97

Affordable with good performance

The Amazon Basics Copy Printer Paper (B01FV0F8H8) offers smooth texture, bright white color, and versatile use for $6.97 for 1 ream. Owners rate it 9.6/10 from 229,889 ratings. The tradeoff is its smaller quantity per purchase.

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The field, ranked

  1. Amazon Basics Printer Paper Best balance of quality and affordability 9.0/10 $52.27 Amazon
  2. Hammermill Printer Paper High-quality, jam-free performance 8.5/10 $65.54 Amazon
  3. Amazon Basics Copy Printer Paper Affordable with good performance 8.0/10 $6.97 Amazon
  4. Amazon Basics Copy Printer Paper Good value for bulk use 7.5/10 $47.87 Amazon
  5. HP Printer Paper Quality paper with some packaging issues 7.0/10 $6.97 Amazon
  6. Amazon Basics Multipurpose Copy Printer Paper Bulk option with limited ratings 6.5/10 $72.29 Amazon
  7. Hammermill Printer Paper High-quality but with packaging issues 6.0/10 $49.99 Amazon

Where the differences show up in daily use

The Amazon Basics Printer Paper (B01FV0F13E) and Hammermill Printer Paper (B00U03708C) both offer smooth feeding and crisp print quality, but the Amazon Basics paper is more affordable. The HP Printer Paper (B001AFL8GY) has a subtle ripply appearance after prolonged storage, which some users find off-putting. The Amazon Basics Copy Printer Paper (B01FV0F8H8) is a budget option, but it comes in smaller quantities.

Who should buy which

For everyday printing needs, the Amazon Basics Printer Paper (B01FV0F13E) is the best choice due to its affordability and quality. If you need high-quality paper and can afford a higher price, the Hammermill Printer Paper (B00U03708C) is a good option. For those on a tight budget, the Amazon Basics Copy Printer Paper (B01FV0F8H8) offers good value and performance.

What owners complain about after buying

Some owners of the HP Printer Paper (B001AFL8GY) report issues with the plastic wrap tearing easily and not being resealable. A few users also mention a subtle ripply appearance after prolonged storage. The Amazon Basics Multipurpose Copy Printer Paper (B073H7XMYW) has limited ratings, making it harder to assess its performance fully.

The also-rans

The Amazon Basics Multipurpose Copy Printer Paper (B073H7XMYW) and the Hammermill Printer Paper (B072FVQNWM) did not earn picks due to limited ratings and packaging issues, respectively. The HP Printer Paper (B001AFL8GY) is a good option but has some storage and packaging issues that may deter some users.

How this was put together

This guide is based on owner ratings (over 600,000 ratings across the set), expert reviews, and product specs. We did not test any products hands-on. The evidence is thinnest for the Amazon Basics Multipurpose Copy Printer Paper (B073H7XMYW) due to limited ratings.