Printers are annoying. All of them. But if you want to keep the annoyance to a minimum, we recommend a laser printer: Not only do laser models print sharp text and crisp graphics, but they also run more reliably than inkjets, and they won’t clog if they sit unused for weeks between jobs.
The best laser printer is the powerful, versatile HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw. It’s easy to set up and use, and it produces great-looking results both in color and in black and white.
Our pick
This model produces crisp text and vibrant graphics, and it has a low operating cost. But you can use only HP toner with it, so be prepared to pay full price come replacement time.
Type: | laser | Size: | 16.5 by 16.6 by 13.2 inches |
Features: | print, copy, fax, scan | Color print: | yes |
Wireless: | yes | Cost per page: | 3.3¢ for black, 16.3¢ for color |
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw has an easy-to-use, smartphone-style touch interface and a 21st-century mobile app that together make daily use far less frustrating in comparison with other printers we’ve tried.
It produces sharp black text, vibrant full-color graphics, and photos good enough for a school report.
It’s also fast, topping out at around 22 pages per minute, and it can print on envelopes, labels, and other odd-size media thanks to a handy bypass slot. But cycling through the various print settings may be a challenge for people with low vision, as the main menu options are juxtaposed over a black bar that can be difficult to see.
While prints cost a reasonable 3.3¢ or 16.3¢ per black or color page, respectively, replacing the cartridges remains an investment—HP’s firmware works only with its branded toner.
Budget pick
With low operating costs, this is the best laser printer you can get for around $150. But it can’t scan or copy, and it prints only in black and white.
Type: | laser | Size: | 14 by 14.2 by 7.2 inches |
Features: | Color print: | no | |
Wireless: | yes | Cost per page: | 2.7¢ for black |
With a price that typically hovers around $150 and a print cost per page that averages 2.7¢, the Brother HL-L2350DW is cheaper to own and operate than our other picks. At just 7.2 inches tall, this model can more easily fit on a bookshelf or in a tight desk area. But it spits out only black-and-white prints, and it can’t scan or copy.
Also great
This multifunction printer adds a flatbed scanner and an automatic document feeder to our budget pick, significantly upping its home-office utility. But it prints only in black and white.
Type: | laser | Size: | 16.1 by 15.7 by 12.5 inches |
Features: | print, copy, fax, scan | Color print: | no |
Wireless: | yes | Cost per page: | 2.7¢ for black |
The Brother MFC-L2750DW offers the same operating costs, the same print speed, and the same connectivity options as our budget pick, the HL-L2350DW. It also has a flatbed scanner and a fast, single-pass duplexing automatic document feeder on top. For home offices, this model is a great do-it-all option—as long as you don’t need color.
Upgrade pick
This business-class machine checks all the boxes for a home office or small business: It’s faster, sharper, more durable, and more secure than our other picks.
Type: | laser | Size: | 18.2 by 16.1 by 15.8 inches |
Features: | print, copy, fax, scan | Color print: | yes |
Wireless: | yes | Cost per page: | 2.6¢ for black, 15.4¢ for color |
Upgrade to a business-oriented color laser all-in-one (AIO) printer like the Brother MFC-L3780CDW if your work finds you printing and scanning every day. It prints and scans more quickly, sharply, and reliably than inkjet alternatives.
It includes robust admin and security settings designed for situations that may involve sensitive data, such as faxing legal documents or emailing a scanned driver’s license over Wi-Fi.
Though most home offices don’t need this kind of upgrade, the MFC-L3780CDW hits the sweet spot if you run a business with modest printing and paper-handling needs, or if you’ve grown exasperated with your inkjet AIO’s failings.
More Stories
What expenses should my employer pay if I work from home?
Black bear pays late-evening take a look at to business supply shop in Pincher Creek
Top 5 Paper Shredders under 3000 for secure document disposal