Experience a Secure Connection With the Best Printer Cables
The Leading Printer Cables You Can Buy In 2022
Amazon Basics Printer Cable – Best Overall
The number one position goes to the Amazon Basics Printer Cable. This male-to-male connector features a square-shaped USB-B end, which plugs into your printer and a rectangular USB-A end, which plugs into your PC or laptop. Coming in two different sizes — 6 and 16 feet — this printer cable is super versatile. The small size is ideal for those who like to keep their cables neatly managed in a minimal desk setup, while the longer size allows you to print up to 16-feet away from your printer or office space.
What makes us so confident about this product is that it has over 60,000 ratings on Amazon — 84% of them being five stars! This massive popularity and its impressive reliable build makes this USB printer cable our best overall choice.
Pros
- Very sturdy construction
- Comes in certified frustration-free packaging
- Features corrosion-resistant gold-plated connectors
- Two sizes for versatility
Cons
- Not tangle-free
UGREEN Printer Cable – Most Compatible
Next up, we have the UGREEN Printer Cable. This well-known brand of computer accessories makes this product easy to trust. No matter what printer model you’ve got, this cable has you covered thanks to its universal compatibility with brands like Canon, HP, Brother, Dell, Samsung, Epson, Piano, Xerox, and Dac. Plus, it’s plug-and-play, which means you won’t need to install a driver to print.
What’s more, this handy printer cable is available in 5, 10, and 15-foot lengths. Simply pick the one according to your desk’s needs. Plus, at data transfer speeds of 480 Mbps, you can expect faster and more stable transmission than WiFi connectivity.
Pros
- Compatible with any and all printers
- High-speed data transmission
- Plug-and-play for instant connectivity
Cons
- Not nylon-braided
JSAUX Printer Cable – Best Design
Our third choice is this unique-looking USB printer cord from JSAUX. You’d think aesthetics don’t matter much when you’re buying a cable, but this one will make you think again! This USB printer cable is easily the best-looking option on our list thanks to its metallic braided finish and gold-plated connectors. The three available color options — grey, blue and red — allow you to easily match this cable with the theme of your desk setup. Plus, the nylon-braided design makes it tangle-free and further adds to its visual appearance. It’s safe to say this cable is the complete package!
Pros
- Features resilient nylon braiding
- Lifetime warranty
- Company offers 24/7 customer service
- Comes in three attractive colors
Cons
- Doesn’t come in black
AINOPE Printer Cable – Most Durable
Next up, we’ve got the AINOPE Printer Cable. This cord’s most notable feature is its enhanced durability; because of this, you’ll probably never have to buy a replacement for your printer cable. What’s more, this printer cable features game-changing quality improvements, such as a pure copper wire, an increased number of shielding layers and cores, gold-plated connectors, nylon braiding, and a sturdy casing made out of aluminum alloy.
Coming in three lengths — 6.6, 10, and 16 feet — and three color options, this is durable, reliable cable you won’t want to pass up.
Pros
- Corrosion-resistant connectors
- Includes free sticky buckles for organization
- Extremely reliable and durable
Cons
- Doesn’t have a manufacturer’s warranty
Buying Guide to Choosing a Highly-Rated Printer Cable
Some printers aren’t sold with a cable, which means that if you’ve bought a new printer, you may also need to separately purchase the right cable for it. But before you visit your nearest computer store or start surfing the web to order a cable online, it’s important to know exactly what you’re looking for.
If you have little-to-no knowledge or experience with technology, you might end up coming home with a connector that doesn’t fit your computer on one end or your printer on the other. But don’t worry! We’re here to help you out with every little detail so you can buy the right cable for your printer. Let’s get to it!
First, Know Your Computer Ports
The tech world evolves at a very fast rate, which means the standards of ports and connections are continually changing. In the case of printers, the most common connection is type A to type B. However, that might not apply to some modern computers and laptops.
While most printers still ship with a female type B port, not all the latest laptops have a type A port. If your computer lacks a type A port, then a type A to type B cable will only bring you frustration. For instance, if you have a 2020 Macbook Air (which only has type C ports), what you need is a type C to type B cable.
So, it’s important to know what ports your laptop has and buy a compatible cable. In most cases, a USB type A to type B cable will work since all desktop computers, and almost all laptop computers, have a port for it.
Next, Consider the Build Quality
The reason why you’re reading this article is that your printer cable broke or stopped working, right? To avoid this from happening in the future, we recommend investing in a cable that’s made to last. To ensure that a cable has a strong build quality, keep an eye out for the following features.
Braided cables
Unless you’re on a very tight budget, a braided cable is a must-have. It keeps the cable from breaking and fraying, it reduces tangling, and it also makes the cable look attractive.
Gold-plated connectors
Next, make sure the cable has gold-plated connectors. These help with corrosion resistance, which is an extremely important factor if you’re planning to use your printer cable for years to come. Plus, gold plating also helps ensure optimal signal quality.
Strong casings
Lastly, a strong casing material at each end of the connectors adds to the cable’s durability. Plastic can be a great affordable option, but we recommend going with either an aluminum alloy or a stainless steel build if you have a higher budget.
Finally, Get the Right Length
You might think that the longer your printer cable is, the better. But that’s not the case. Depending on your desk setup and whether you need the cable for school or work, you might not need an excessively long cable.
Unnecessarily long cables are much harder to manage and make your whole workspace look cluttered. These are also much more susceptible to tangling, which is extremely frustrating to deal with. For most work-from-home needs, a 6-foot-long cable is sufficient.
In offices, several computers often have to be hooked up to the same shared printer. For such needs, a shorter cable might not do the trick, so you may have to go with a 16-foot option.
