Wondering which laser printer to buy for your home office or personal use? With so many options on the market, choosing the right model can be tricky.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll review the 5 top-rated laser printers perfect for home use based on speed, print quality, cost, features and reliability.
You‘ll also learn key factors to consider when buying a home laser printer and pros and cons of laser vs inkjet technology.
Let‘s dive in and find the perfect laser printer to boost your productivity!
#1 Pick: Brother MFC-L8900CDW – Best Overall
The Brother MFC-L8900CDW consistently ranks as the best laser printer for home and small office use thanks to its excellent performance, low operating costs and business-friendly features.
This color laser all-in-one zips through print jobs at speeds up to 33 pages per minute. It churns out rich, vibrant color prints at up to 2400 x 600 dpi resolution for impressive detail and clarity in graphics and photos. For text-heavy documents, you‘ll enjoy razor-sharp black print quality.
The 50-sheet auto document feeder allows quick unattended copying, scanning or faxing of multi-page reports, presentation handouts or expense receipts. It scans documents at resolutions up to 1200 x 1200 dpi ensuring every detail is captured clearly.
You can rely on the MFC-L8900CDW for high volume printing too. It has a recommended monthly print volume of up to 4,000 pages and a generous maximum monthly duty cycle of 35,000 pages. The 250-sheet main paper tray is expandable to 1,300 sheets with add-on cassettes for fewer refilling interruptions when printing large jobs.
Connecting devices is a breeze thanks to built-in wireless, Ethernet, USB, WiFi Direct and NFC tap-to-print functionality. IPP and AirPrint support enables direct printing from iPhone and iPad.
The 5-inch color touchscreen provides intuitive control over copy, print and scan settings. Some handy business-centric features include ID card copy, print watermarks, poster printing, header-footer printouts etc.
With average black toner costs around 3 cents per page, the MFC-L8900CDW provides serious printing power in an affordable package.
*Print Speed: Up to 33ppm (black), 32ppm (color)
- Print Resolution: 2400 x 600 dpi
- Scanning: 50-sheet ADF, up to 1200 x 1200 dpi
- Paper Capacity: 250 sheets, expandable up to 1300
- Connectivity: Ethernet, Wireless, WiFi Direct, USB, NFC
- Monthly Duty Cycle: 35,000 pages
- Recommended Print Volume: Up to 4,000 pages/month
Pros:
- Blazing fast print speeds
- Superb print quality
- Low cost per page
- Expandable paper capacity
- Automatic duplex printing
- 50-page document feeder
- Feature-packed
- Reliable and durable
Cons:
- High initial purchase price
- Large, bulky footprint
The Brother MFC-L8900CDW has everything a busy home office needs in a high-speed color laser printer. It‘s a worthwhile investment that will handle years of demanding use while keeping operating costs low.
#2 Pick: HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fdw – Speedy Performer
Need a fast home office workhorse that won‘t break the bank? The HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fdw is your perfect pick.
This speed demon churns out professional-quality color or black-and-white prints at speeds up to 28 pages per minute. Even large print jobs get done in a flash! It achieves this swift performance using a 800 MHz processor and 256 MB RAM.
Print resolution goes up to 600 x 600 dpi ensuring documents have crisp, well-defined text while graphics and photos exhibit good detail with smooth color gradations.
The built-in 35-sheet automatic document feeder allows quick scanning, copying or faxing of multi-page documents without having to manually feed one sheet at a time. This is a huge timesaver!
Connections are a breeze with built-in dual band Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Wireless Direct, Ethernet and compatibility with the HP Smart app. The printer is also Energy Star certified for efficiency.
While color laser printers are pricier to buy initially, HP‘s affordable replacement toner cartridges deliver professional quality at just 7 cents per color page and 4 cents per black page. That‘s cheaper than a coffee!
With its compelling mix of fast performance, solid features and low running costs, the HP M479fdw is a price/performance champ.
- Print Speed: Up to 28ppm (black & color)
- Print Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi
- Processor: 800 MHz
- RAM: 256MB
- Paper Input: Up to 350 sheets
- Scanning: 35-sheet ADF
- Connectivity: Dual-band WiFi, Ethernet, USB
Pros:
- Blazing fast print speeds
- Automatic duplex printing
- 35-sheet document feeder
- Low cost per page
- Compact, desktop-friendly footprint
- Energy efficient operation
Cons:
- Max resolution only 600dpi
- Smaller paper input capacity
With its compelling blend of fast performance and key timesaving features, the HP M479fdw speeds up print-centric workflows in the home office.
#3 Pick: Brother HL-L2370DW – Best Budget Buy
If you want basic monochrome printing on a tight budget, the Brother HL-L2370DW is the perfect fit. At well under $150, it‘s easy on your wallet but still packs helpful features like wireless networking.
This entry-level black-and-white laser printer delivers clean pages at speeds up to 36 pages per minute. It may not have the fastest engine around, but clearly beats inkjet printers. Print resolution is a standard 600 x 600 dpi – perfect for churning out text-based Word docs, emails and forms.
The HL-L2370DW prints the first page out in less than 10 seconds. You‘ll enjoy greater overall efficiency and fewer idle printer waits compared to an inkjet.
With built-in wireless networking, you can print wirelessly from your laptop, desktop, smartphone or tablet without cable clutter. It also offers automatic duplex printing for two-sided output.
Operating costs stay low thanks to Brother‘s high-yield replacement toner cartridges costing a thrifty 1.5 cents per page.
At just 16 pounds, this compact printer has a small footprint perfect for tight desks. Despite the low price, Brother‘s build quality gives you years of reliable service. For basic black-and-white home printing on a budget, the HL-L2370DW delivers excellent value.
- Print Speed: Up to 36 ppm
- Print Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi
- First Page Out: Less than 10 secs
- Paper Input: 250 sheets
- Connectivity: Wireless, WiFi Direct, USB
- Weight: 16 pounds
Pros:
- Low purchase price
- Swift 36ppm speed
- Compact and lightweight
- Wireless connectivity
- Automatic duplex printing
- Very inexpensive toner
Cons:
- No scanning or faxing
- Not recommended for high volumes
With swift speeds and ultra-low running costs, the Brother HL-L2370DW provides unbeatable value for money.
#4 Pick: Brother MFC-L2750DW – Best for Wireless
Looking for robust wireless printing from mobile devices? The Brother MFC-L2750DW has you covered. With extensive wireless capabilities, it makes mobile printing a breeze.
It offers standard Wi-Fi connectivity for printing from computers on your home network besides Wi-Fi Direct for connecting phones and tablets directly without a router.
AirPrint support lets you send print jobs wirelessly from iPhones and iPads with just a couple taps. Google Cloud Print integration enables printing from any location using Google services. NFC makes it easy to establish connections by simply tapping compatible mobile devices on the printer.
The MFC-L2750DW delivers sharp black-and-white prints at up to 36 pages per minute. Automatic duplex printing saves paper by enabling two-sided output. Up to 2400 x 600 dpi print resolution ensures crisp fine detail in documents.
Copy and scan speeds up to 24ppm and 19ppm respectively allow rapid duplication and digitization of multi-page reports. The auto document feeder holds 35 pages for unattended batch scanning and copying.
With average toner costs around 2 cents per page, you get serious printing capabilities with affordable operation. If you need to print from mobile devices often, the wireless savvy MFC-L2750DW delivers exceptional convenience and value.
- Print Speed: 36ppm
- Print Resolution: Up to 2400 x 600 dpi
- Mobile Printing: AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Wi-Fi Direct
- Paper Input: 250 sheets
- Scanning: 35-sheet ADF, up to 19ppm
Pros:
- Extensive wireless connectivity
- Fast print speeds
- Low costs per page
- Copier and scanner included
- Prints from smartphones/tablets easily
Cons:
- Lacks color printing
- Small paper input capacity
With robust wireless printing capabilities, the Brother MFC-L2750DW makes printing from mobile devices a breeze.
#5 Pick: HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw – Easiest to Use
Prefer fuss-free printing right from your smartphone? The HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw is one of the easiest to use with comprehensive mobile print options.
The free HP Smart app allows printing and scanning from your mobile device using cloud services like iCloud, Google Drive or Dropbox. You can monitor toner levels, configure printer settings and more.
Built-in dual-band Wi-Fi handles all your wireless printing needs while Wi-Fi Direct allows laptops, tablets and smartphones to connect directly. Apple AirPrint allows wireless printing from iPhones and iPads.
This color laser printer delivers up to 22 pages per minute – fast enough for most home office tasks. It achieves a print resolution up to 600 x 600 dpi for vivid color graphics and photos with laser-sharp black text.
The 2.7-inch touchscreen provides intuitive printer control at your fingertips. Time-saving features like automatic duplex printing, 150-sheet main tray expandable to 550 sheets, scan-to-email and optional high-yield cartridges add value.
For maximum convenience without complexity, the HP M255dw really hits the mark. From wireless mobile printing to its user-friendly interface, it delivers on ease of use.
- Print Speed: 22 ppm (black & color)
- Print Resolution: Up to 600 x 600 dpi
- Mobile Printing: HP Smart app, Apple AirPrint, Wi-Fi Direct
- Touchscreen: 2.7-inch color touch display
- Paper Input: 150 sheets, expandable
Pros:
- Seamless wireless/mobile printing
- Intuitive touchscreen interface
- Automatic duplex printing
- Compact footprint
- Vivid color prints
Cons:
- Slower print speeds
- Only 150-sheet input tray
With robust wireless connectivity and mobile print options, the HP M255dw provides a fuss-free user experience.
Laser Printer Buyer‘s Guide
With so many options, it can get overwhelming to pick the right laser printer for your needs. Here are the key factors to consider:
Print Volume – Estimate your monthly print volumes and get a printer rated for higher duty cycles for reliability. Home offices should look at 3000+ pages per month capacity.
Print Speed – Faster print speeds of 25ppm+ accelerate large jobs. Slower models around 20ppm may suffice for light needs.
Print Quality – Minimum 600 x 600 dpi resolution gives good quality for both text and graphics. Higher resolutions like 1200 or 2400 dpi provide even sharper fine detail.
Paper Handling – Larger paper trays like 300+ sheets reduce refill frequency. Expandable trays are useful for high volumes. Automatic duplex printing saves paper.
Size – Laser printers tend to be bulkier than inkjets. Make sure you have enough desk space for a printer that‘s ~17 inches wide. Lighter weight below 30lbs helps with moving.
Color vs. Monochrome – Monochrome lasers only print in black-and-white while color lasers print full color. Color is useful for presentations, charts etc. but costs more.
Operating Costs – Laser toner costs 2-5 cents per page on average. Choose printers with high-yield cartridge options for lowest costs.
Connectivity – Basic options like Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, USB cover most needs. Ethernet, NFC provide additional flexibility.
Brand – Stick with leading vendors like HP, Brother, Canon known for solid print quality and reliability.
Why Choose a Laser Printer Over an Inkjet?
Laser printers offer compelling advantages over inkjet printers that make them better suited for home office use:
Faster Print Speeds – Laser printers are significantly faster with average print speeds of 20-30ppm versus just 5-15ppm for consumer inkjet models. Faster speeds accelerate large print jobs.
Lower Operating Costs – Laser toner cartridges last far longer than ink cartridges. Laser printing costs 2-4 cents per page on average compared to up to 10 cents for inkjet.
No Smearing or Bleeding – Laser toner sits firmly on the page. Inkjet inks can smear, bleed through paper or fade over time.
Crisp Text Quality – Laser printers deliver professional sharpness ideal for word processing, reports and forms with tiny fonts.
Minimal Upkeep – Laser printers have no ink clogging issues and need minimal maintenance unlike inkjet printheads.
Reliable Paper Handling – Laser printers reliably handle sheets without misfeeds thanks to advanced internal mechanisms.
For most home office tasks, a laser printer will help you get more done in less time while keeping supply costs low. Their speed, quality and low maintenance make them a smart investment for productivity.
Wrapping Up
We highly recommend the Brother MFC-L8900CDW as the best laser printer for home and home office use in 2024. With exceptional print speeds, high monthly duty cycles and versatile scan/copy functionality, it can keep pace with demanding workloads at running costs of just pennies per page.
For those needing quality color printing on a budget, the HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fdw delivers swift professional prints at very affordable cost per page. And the Brother HL-L2370DW packs amazing value into the most affordable package.
Whichever model you choose, investing in one of the best home laser printers will provide years of reliable service andBoost your productivity while saving time and money. Here‘s to printing success!