Personal Printers are Declining, but Printing Demand Remains Steady

According to printer and copier/MFP provider WithMe, Inc. and its 2026 Printing Report, while personal printers are on the decline, printing demand continues to grow. What’s changed, it says, is how people print.

According to the firm, over 1.1 million unique PrintWithMe users printed more than 33 million pages in 2025. PrintWithMe printers and MFPs are shared printers and MFPs that are designed to be used in shared print environments such as education, housing, hospitality, and retail. 

Drawing on 16,000 survey responses, the report reveals how hybrid work has reshaped printing behavior, redefining when, where, and why people print. Shared spaces now play a pivotal role in meeting this demand.

Why People Ditched their Home Printers

According to PrintWithMe, 80 percent of apartment residents no longer own personal printers, with 43 percent citing limited space as the main reason. 

But it says that while the printers may have disappeared, the need to print hasn’t.

Half of surveyed users now rely on shared printers at least a few times a month. More than 40 percent report using them as frequently, if not more frequently, than other building amenities. Residents want printing that’s convenient, clutter-free and accessible.

“People want access without the headaches,” commented WithMe CEO Jeff Lail. “Whether they live in apartments, work remotely, or operate in flexible office environments, they still need the ability to print. What they don’t need is the hassle of managing it themselves. Our data clearly demonstrates that printing has simply moved from individual desks into shared spaces where it serves users and the teams that support them far more efficiently.”

How Hybrid Work Changed the Geography of Printing

According to the company’s report, 70 percent of residents work from home at least one day per week, while 30 percent turn to shared spaces like lounges, coworking areas, and cafés to get their work done.

Business documents account for 30 percent of the total pages printed by PrintWithMe users, illustrating how printing habits continue to evolve alongside hybrid work.

Driven by dense populations, widespread hybrid work model adoption, and high expectations for modern amenities, the following cities have become shared printing hotspots: Chicago, Austin, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Gainesville, Brooklyn, Seattle, Boston, and Los Angeles.

As work has become more distributed, printing has followed suit, shifting from private home offices and traditional workplaces to shared, community-based environments that connect where people live and work.

Designed for Both the User and the Operator

PrintWithMe says it delivers value on both sides of the experience. Users benefit from reliable, secure self-serve printing that gives them the freedom to print on their own schedules. Staff are freed from the operational burden of maintaining outdated leased machines or managing ineffective DIY printer setups.

Leasing teams, workplace managers, and office administrators no longer need to handle supply runs, printer troubleshooting, or IT support. PrintWithMe’s model includes automated supply replenishment, remote monitoring, and live support, reducing pressure on staff and ensuring consistent performance.

“It’s hands-on for residents and hands-off for us,” explained Mignon Watkins, Assistant General Manager at BH Management’s Iconic on Alvarado. “We used to spend hours every week managing a printer that never quite met expectations. PrintWithMe changed that. The setup was easy, support was proactive and residents get what they need without coming to the leasing office.”

Rethinking What People Actually Use

Amenities that meet everyday needs often outperform those purely designed for aesthetics.

WithMe says flashy amenities may impress during tours, but actual amenity usage tells a different story. Shared printers, premium coffee amenities like SipWithMe and smart lockers have become integral to residents’ daily routines. 

“People argue that residents don’t print anymore, but I completely disagree,” said Elizabeth Pearson, community manager at Bell Partners. “We see constant use. Whether it’s for work-from-home tasks or everyday needs like returns or signing documents, printing is still essential.”

About the Report

Informed by 16,000 survey responses from PrintWithMe and SipWithMe users at thousands of locations nationwide, The 2026 Printing Report reflects nearly a year’s worth of consumer insights gathered between September 2024 and August 2025, along with nationwide usage data from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.

About WithMe, Inc.

WithMe’s PrintWithMe and SipWithMe solutions simplify resident printing and coffee supply, enabling property management teams to provide a superior living experience while reducing costs, optimizing spend, and improving operational efficiency. 

PrintWithMe powers printing solutions at thousands of multifamily, cafe and coworking locations across all 50 states. SipWithMe is pairs high-performance coffee machines with fresh, craft-roasted coffee. WithMe is an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company, appearing on the list for the past five consecutive years, as well as a two-time NAA Top Employer.