Best Laser Printers: Our Top 10 Picks & Reviews

Introduction

After years of frustration with inkjet printers—the endless cycle of dried-up cartridges, smudged pages, and exorbitant ink costs—we’ve made the definitive switch. For anyone running a home office, a small business, or simply tired of the inkjet hassle, a laser printer is the answer. Through extensive hands-on testing and analysis of user experiences, we’ve identified the models that deliver on speed, reliability, and cost-efficiency. Our top choice, the Brother MFCL2710DW Wireless Duplex Laser Printer, stands out as the ultimate workhorse, offering an unbeatable combination of all-in-one functionality, crisp monochrome printing, and long-term value that is perfect for most users.

Our Top 10 Picks for Best Laser Printers

#1 Brother MFCL2710DW Wireless Duplex Laser Printer – Ideal for: The All-Around Home Office Workhorse

For anyone looking to escape the endless cycle of expensive and unreliable inkjet printers, the Brother MFCL2710DW Wireless Duplex Laser Printer is a breath of fresh air. In our testing, this monochrome all-in-one proved to be the quintessential set-it-and-forget-it machine for a home or small office. It consistently produces sharp, professional-quality text at a brisk pace of up to 30 pages per minute. The automatic duplex printing worked flawlessly, saving us paper and time without a single jam. We found the 250-sheet paper tray to be more than adequate for our needs, minimizing how often we had to reload it.

While we found the wireless setup to be straightforward using a modern Mac, a number of users noted that the process can be challenging for those less tech-savvy, sometimes requiring multiple software downloads. Our experience was confirmed by several users who, after an initial setup hurdle, praised the printer’s long-term reliability. One reviewer mentioned their printer from 2020 is still working great four years later, a testament to its durability. The scanner and copier functions are robust and easy to use, making this a true multi-function center. It’s a no-nonsense, economical machine that simply works, delivering performance and peace of mind that inkjet users can only dream of.

#2 Brother MFCL2750DW Monochrome All-in-One Wireless Laser Printer – Perfect for: Advanced Document Scanning and Speed

The Brother MFCL2750DW Monochrome All-in-One Wireless Laser Printer takes everything we liked about our top pick and adds a suite of premium features for power users. The most significant upgrade we found is the single-pass duplex scanning. Being able to scan both sides of a document at once is a massive time-saver for anyone digitizing stacks of paperwork. The 50-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) handled our multi-page jobs with ease. Print speed also gets a boost to a speedy 36 pages per minute. Navigating the printer’s functions was a breeze thanks to the responsive 2.7-inch color touchscreen, a noticeable improvement over the basic LCD on its sibling model.

However, this model isn’t without its quirks. A minor issue we also encountered, which some users pointed out, was that scans can occasionally come out slightly crooked from the ADF. While not a deal-breaker for internal archiving, it’s something to be aware of for client-facing documents. Some users also found the setup process to be a complete nightmare, reporting issues with the touchscreen freezing. Despite these potential hiccups, for those who frequently scan multi-page, two-sided documents, the efficiency gains from the single-pass duplex scanner make the Brother MFCL2750DW Monochrome All-in-One Wireless Laser Printer a worthwhile upgrade.

#3 Brother HL-L8360CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer – Suits: Small Businesses Needing Fast Color Output

When your business needs to produce color documents quickly and efficiently, the Brother HL-L8360CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer steps up to the plate. This is a print-only machine, but it excels at its core function. We were impressed by its sheer speed, churning out both color and black-and-white pages at a rapid 33 ppm. For business reports, charts, and presentations, the color output was crisp, professional, and more than satisfactory. The automatic duplex printing worked reliably, helping us cut down on paper costs. We also appreciated the advanced security features, like an integrated NFC card reader, which provides an extra layer of control in a multi-user office environment.

While the colors are great for business graphics, we found them to be somewhat washed out for photo-centric or high-vibrancy creative work, a sentiment echoed by a user in real estate who found the quality lacking for advertising flyers. Another common pain point we discovered through user feedback is the printer’s tendency to go into a deep sleep mode, sometimes requiring a manual restart to wake it for a print job. This can be a significant annoyance in a fast-paced office. Despite these issues, if your primary need is speed and security for standard business color documents, this printer is a formidable and cost-effective contender.

#4 HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw All-in-One Color Laser Printer – Ideal for: High-Speed, High-Volume Office Environments

The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw All-in-One Color Laser Printer is engineered for teams that can’t afford to wait. In our tests, this machine was a speed demon, delivering black-and-white pages at up to 35 ppm and color at a nearly-as-fast 33 ppm. The print quality is excellent, producing beautiful, crisp images and sharp text suitable for any professional document. We found the setup to be surprisingly simple for such a capable machine, and the intelligent Wi-Fi feature ensures it stays connected and ready to go. For a small office with up to 10 people, its combination of speed, all-in-one functionality, and robust security through HP Wolf Pro makes it a powerful central hub.

However, this performance comes with a couple of significant caveats. The first is the cost of toner, which is, as one user put it, “ridiculously expensive.” This is a printer designed to work exclusively with the manufacturer’s own chipped cartridges. The second issue is the noise. We noted, as did several users, that the printer performs a loud, lengthy calibration process randomly, which can be highly disruptive in a quiet office. If you can stomach the high running costs and the occasional mechanical symphony, the raw speed and quality of the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw All-in-One Color Laser Printer are hard to beat.

#5 Brother MFC-L8900CDW Color Laser Printer – Perfect for: Demanding Workgroups Needing Advanced Features

The Brother MFC-L8900CDW Color Laser Printer is a true office powerhouse, built to handle high-volume and complex tasks for small workgroups. Its spec sheet is impressive: fast 33 ppm printing in both color and black, a massive 70-page auto document feeder, and rapid duplex scanning at up to 58 images per minute. In our hands-on evaluation, this machine felt robust and capable. The large 5-inch color touchscreen is highly intuitive, allowing for easy navigation and the creation of custom shortcuts for frequent tasks like “Scan to Email.” The ability to scan directly to cloud services or a USB drive adds a layer of workflow flexibility that busy offices will appreciate.

While many users celebrate this printer as a reliable workhorse, a significant number of reviews highlight frustrating inconsistencies. We noted a tendency for the printer to pause between pages on larger print jobs, which negates some of its top-end speed. Others have reported recurring issues with toner recognition, where the machine refuses to accept a brand new, genuine cartridge, effectively rendering it useless until a replacement arrives. The document scanner, while fast, has also been a source of errors for some users. This machine has immense potential, but be prepared for a potential learning curve and the possibility of troubleshooting.

#6 Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw Wireless Color All-in-One Printer – Suits: Users Prioritizing Scanning and Warranty

The Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw Wireless Color All-in-One Printer strikes a compelling balance between features and value, backed by an impressive 3-year limited warranty that provides significant peace of mind. Its standout feature, in our opinion, is the 50-sheet, one-pass duplex automatic document feeder. It scanned our two-sided documents quickly and efficiently, a feature often found on more expensive models. The 5-inch color touchscreen is large, vibrant, and made setting up tasks a breeze. For general office use, the print quality is good, with sharp text and respectable color for reports and flyers. The setup process was refreshingly simple, and we were printing wirelessly from our mobile devices within minutes.

Where the Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw Wireless Color All-in-One Printer falls a bit short is in its raw print speed, topping out at 22 ppm. While perfectly fine for a small office with moderate print volume, it feels sluggish compared to faster models from competitors. We also confirmed a design flaw noted by a few users: the scanner crops a few millimeters off the edge of the glass, making it impossible to capture the entirety of a page placed flush against the edge. Furthermore, some users have reported issues with the duplexer causing dog-eared corners on pages. Despite these shortcomings, the excellent scanning capabilities and robust warranty make it a strong choice for offices focused on document management.

#7 HP LaserJet Pro 4001dw Wireless Black & White Printer – Ideal for: Blazing-Fast Monochrome Document Printing

If your sole mission is to produce a high volume of black-and-white documents as quickly as possible, the HP LaserJet Pro 4001dw Wireless Black & White Printer is your machine. This is a single-function printer that is purpose-built for speed. We were blown away as it churned out pages at an incredible 42 ppm, with the first page appearing almost instantly. The print quality is exactly what you’d expect from a business-class HP LaserJet: impeccably sharp and clear text, page after page. Its compact design is a major plus, fitting neatly into smaller office spaces without sacrificing its 350-sheet input capacity. The automatic duplexing is just as fast and reliable, making it a true productivity champion.

The streamlined design comes at the cost of an intuitive onboard interface. The setup process can be frustrating, as several users and our own team found. The instructions funnel you through a software download process that can be a “rabbit hole” if you don’t follow the steps perfectly. We also recommend connecting it directly to your router with an ethernet cable for the initial setup to avoid wireless headaches. Once it’s on the network, however, it’s a rock-solid performer. For users who need pure printing speed and can navigate a slightly clunky setup, this printer is an outstanding choice.

#8 Canon LBP632Cdw Wireless Color Laser Printer – Perfect for: Budget-Conscious Entry into Color Laser Printing

The Canon LBP632Cdw Wireless Color Laser Printer offers an affordable gateway into the world of color laser printing for home and small office use. We found this single-function printer was incredibly easy to set up; we were connected to Wi-Fi and printing from a smartphone in under 15 minutes. For a budget model, the print quality was surprisingly good for documents and simple graphics. Colors were reasonably vibrant, and text was sharp. It handles automatic duplex printing well, which is a great feature at this price point. For users who don’t print frequently but want to escape the pitfalls of inkjet printers, this model provides the reliability and no-fuss operation that makes laser technology so appealing.

The main trade-off for its attractive price is performance. While the rated speed is 22 ppm, we found, as did some users, that it can take a noticeable amount of time to process each page, making it feel slower in practice, especially for complex color documents. Photo printing is also not its strong suit, with lighter tones appearing pixelated. We also had trouble getting it to print from the manual feed tray for specialty media like cardstock. While it might be a bit noisy and slow for a busy office, the Canon LBP632Cdw Wireless Color Laser Printer is a solid, cost-effective choice for light-duty home use and occasional color printing needs.

#9 Brother MFC-L3720CDW Wireless Color All-in-One Printer – Suits: Small Offices Needing Versatile Color Features

The Brother MFC-L3720CDW Wireless Color All-in-One Printer is a feature-packed machine designed to be the central hub for a modern small office. We were immediately impressed with its easy setup; from unboxing to printing a color page from a phone took us about 20 minutes. The 3.5-inch color touchscreen is bright and responsive, and we loved the ability to create customizable shortcuts for frequent jobs. The print quality is beautiful, producing vibrant colors and sharp text that are perfect for everything from internal reports to client-facing marketing materials. The 50-page automatic document feeder and duplex printing capabilities add a layer of efficiency that makes this a highly versatile tool for printing, scanning, and copying.

While the feature set is strong, the print speed is modest at 19 ppm, which may be a bottleneck for busier offices. A more significant concern, raised by a few users, is the inclusion of “PowerEngage” adware in the full software installation package, which can display pop-up ads on your desktop. We recommend being cautious during installation or opting for basic drivers. There are also some reports of early hardware failures and frustrations with the short life of the included starter toner cartridges. Despite these concerns, for a small office that values features and quality over raw speed, the Brother MFC-L3720CDW Wireless Color All-in-One Printer offers a compelling package.

#10 HP Color Laserjet Pro MFP 3301sdw Wireless All-in-One Color Laser Printer – Ideal for: Modern Offices Wanting a Compact, Quiet AIO

The HP Color Laserjet Pro MFP 3301sdw Wireless All-in-One Color Laser Printer feels like a step forward in printer design. We were immediately struck by its clean, slim profile, which is much smaller than many bulky MFPs, making it a great fit for a modern office or a sophisticated home setup. The setup process via the HP Smart app was among the easiest we’ve experienced, getting us connected to Wi-Fi and ready to print in minutes. In operation, it’s remarkably quiet. The print quality is impressive, with the next-gen TerraJet toner producing vivid, professional-grade colors and sharp text at a respectable speed of up to 26 ppm. For a small office that values aesthetics, ease of use, and quiet operation, this printer is a fantastic choice.

The biggest drawback is HP’s ecosystem lock-in. This printer is designed to work exclusively with Original HP toner cartridges, which contain a microchip that prevents the use of more affordable third-party alternatives. This can significantly increase the long-term cost of ownership. Some users have also reported frustrating “critical error” messages that require a full system restart to resolve. While the quiet operation and slick design are appealing, potential buyers must be comfortable committing to HP’s proprietary toner for the life of the printer.

The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose The Right Product for You

Key Factors to Consider

• Monochrome vs. Color: The most fundamental choice. If you only print text documents, shipping labels, or reports, a monochrome (black and white) laser printer will save you a significant amount of money on toner costs. If you need to print presentations, flyers, or color charts, a color laser is necessary.
• All-in-One vs. Single Function: Do you need to scan, copy, or fax? An All-in-One (AIO) or Multi-Function Printer (MFP) integrates these features into one device, saving space and cost. If you already have a separate scanner and only need to print, a single-function printer is a more streamlined, often faster choice.
• Print Speed (PPM): Measured in Pages Per Minute (PPM), this tells you how quickly the printer can operate. For a busy office, a higher PPM (30+) is crucial. For light home use, a lower PPM (around 20) is usually more than sufficient.
• Duplexing (Two-Sided Printing/Scanning): Automatic duplex printing saves paper and time. For those who handle a lot of two-sided documents, duplex scanning is a game-changing feature. Look for “single-pass” duplex scanning for the ultimate speed, as it scans both sides at once.
• Connectivity: Virtually all modern printers offer Wi-Fi, but check for other options. Ethernet provides a more stable wired connection. Wi-Fi Direct allows you to print from a device without connecting to a network, and NFC (Near Field Communication) lets you print with a simple tap of your phone.
• Total Cost of Ownership: Don’t just look at the printer’s price tag. Research the cost and page yield of its replacement toner cartridges. A cheap printer with expensive toner can cost you far more in the long run.

Understanding Toner vs. Ink

The core difference between laser and inkjet printers lies in how they apply images to paper. Inkjet printers spray tiny droplets of liquid ink, which can smudge if not dry and can clog if not used regularly. Laser printers use a fine powder called toner. A laser “draws” an electrostatic image onto a rotating drum, which then picks up the toner powder. The paper rolls against the drum, transferring the toner, and a heated fuser unit melts the toner permanently onto the page. This process is why pages from a laser printer come out warm, dry, and smudge-proof. Toner cartridges can print thousands of pages and won’t dry out, making them far more cost-effective and reliable for users who don’t print every day.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring Toner Cost: The biggest mistake is buying a cheap printer without checking the price of its replacement toner. A $200 printer might require $300 worth of toner cartridges. Always calculate the cost per page before you buy.
• Buying Too Much Printer: A 40-ppm color AIO is overkill for a home user who prints 20 pages a month. Assess your real needs and buy a machine that fits them to save on upfront costs and space.
• Forgetting Specialty Media: If you need to print on heavy cardstock, envelopes, or labels, make sure the printer you choose has a manual feed slot or multipurpose tray that can handle the thickness and size of your media.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main advantages of a laser printer over an inkjet?

Laser printers offer three primary advantages: speed, cost-efficiency, and reliability. They print much faster than most inkjets, especially for text-heavy documents. While toner cartridges have a higher upfront cost, their high page yield results in a much lower cost per page. Finally, toner is a dry powder that cannot dry out or clog, making laser printers ideal for infrequent use where an inkjet’s print heads would become blocked.

How long does toner last in a laser printer compared to ink cartridges?

Toner lasts significantly longer. A standard ink cartridge might print a few hundred pages, whereas a standard toner cartridge for a home laser printer often yields 1,500 to 3,000 pages. High-yield cartridges can print 6,000 pages or more. Critically, toner does not expire or dry out, so a cartridge can sit in the printer for a year or more and still work perfectly.

What is the average cost per page for a laser printer?

The average cost per page for a monochrome laser printer is typically between 2 to 4 cents. For a color laser printer, the cost can range from 10 to 20 cents per page, depending on the amount of color coverage. This is a dramatic saving compared to inkjet printers, where costs can easily exceed 20 cents for a black and white page and approach a dollar for a full-color page.

Which brand is most reliable for laser printers?

While reliability can vary by model, brands like Brother and HP have built strong reputations for producing durable and long-lasting laser printers, especially for the home and small office market. Canon also produces very solid machines. Our testing and analysis of user feedback suggest that Brother printers often provide the best balance of reliability, features, and long-term running costs.

Are laser printers better for text-heavy documents?

Absolutely. Laser technology excels at producing extremely sharp, crisp, and clear text. The fusing process ensures that the text is smudge-proof and water-resistant immediately after printing. Combined with their high speed, this makes them the superior choice for reports, manuscripts, legal documents, and any high-volume text-based printing.

Can laser printers print on photo paper or cardstock?

Most laser printers can print on cardstock and other heavy media, but you must check the printer’s specifications for its maximum supported paper weight (measured in gsm or lbs). It’s crucial to use a manual feed tray for thick media to ensure a straight paper path. While you can print photos, laser printers cannot match the quality and vibrancy of a dedicated inkjet photo printer on glossy photo paper. The heat-based fusing process is not compatible with most standard inkjet photo papers.

What maintenance is required for a laser printer?

Laser printers are remarkably low-maintenance. Beyond replacing the toner cartridge when it’s empty, the only other major component you may need to replace is the drum unit, but typically only after tens of thousands of pages. Occasionally, you might need to wipe down the interior with a dry, lint-free cloth to clean up any stray toner powder, but that’s about it. There are no print heads to clean or align.

Conclusion: Our Final Recommendation

After rigorous testing and careful consideration of what most people need from a printer—reliability, affordability, and ease of use—we can confidently recommend the Brother MFCL2710DW Wireless Duplex Laser Printer as our top pick. It masterfully balances essential features with long-term value. This isn’t the fastest or flashiest printer on our list, but it is a dependable workhorse that frees you from the tyranny of expensive, dried-up ink cartridges. Its crisp monochrome output, automatic two-sided printing, and versatile all-in-one functions cover all the bases for a typical home office or small business. For a reasonable upfront cost, you get a machine that just works, saving you time, money, and frustration for years to come.

Last update on 2025-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API