Laser printers have come a long way in recent years when it comes to connectivity, print quality, speed and overall usability. With advances in laser printing technology, these printers are now faster, more affordable and easier to use than ever – making them an increasingly popular choice for home office use.
In this comprehensive guide, we evaluate the latest crop of home laser printers to help you find the perfect fit for your needs and budget.
How Do Laser Printers Work?
Before diving into the top recommendations, let‘s first understand what sets laser printers apart:
Laser Printing Process:
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Laser printers use static electricity and heat to fuse toner powder onto paper to print text and images. This is different than inkjet printers which spray ink through tiny nozzles.
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They rely on toner cartridges filled with fine, powdery toner as the print substance instead of liquid ink.
Key Benefits:
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Speed – Laser printers are significantly faster than inkjets, with speeds ranging from 18ppm for home models up to 55ppm for office printers. This makes them ideal for high volume printing.
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Cost – Though laser printers have a higher upfront cost, the toner and maintenance costs are lower in the long run compared to constantly buying expensive ink cartridges. This makes them very economical for frequent printing.
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Quality – Laser printers produce superior print quality with sharp text and excellent color accuracy when printing photos or graphics. The toner sits on top of the paper leading to crisp and water-resistant prints.
With those basics covered, let‘s look at this year‘s top contenders:
The 5 Best Laser Printers for Home Use
| Best For | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Pick | Brother HL-L3270CDW | Compact yet powerful color laser printer, fast printing up to 25ppm, automatic 2-sided printing, wireless connectivity, low running costs |
| Budget Pick | HP LaserJet Pro M15w | Affordable B&W laser printer, compact and lightweight, 19ppm, wireless printing, ideal for light home office use |
| High Volume | Canon ImageCLASS LBP113w | Robust home printer for high print volumes up to 4,000 pages/month, fast 30ppm printing, large paper capacity, wireless connectivity |
| Compact Pick | Brother HL-L2395DW | Space-saving B&W laser printer with 32ppm speeds, wireless printing from mobile devices, ideal for dorm rooms or small spaces |
| All-in-One | HP Neverstop Laser 1001nw | Print, scan, copy with single toner reload system, space-saving design, lowest cost per page in its class |
Below we explore the key strengths of each recommended model to identify which is best suited for your home printing needs:
1. Brother HL-L3270CDW – Best Overall Laser Printer for Home
Compact yet powerful color laser printer with automatic 2-sided printing
The Brother HL-L3270CDW earns our vote as the best overall laser printer for home and home office use in 2024 for the following reasons:
- Compact, space-saving design at only 16.1 x 16.1 x 12.4 inches
- Automatic 2-sided printing helps save paper
- Wireless connectivity and printing from mobile devices
- Prints up to 25 pages per minute
- Crisp print quality with vivid color graphics
- 250-sheet paper capacity expandable to 1,300 sheets
- Low running costs at just 3.7 cents per color page
Weighing only 52.9lbs, the reasonably priced Brother HL-L3270CDW delivers professional quality printing and copying in a compact package designed for the home environment. It‘s the perfect balance of features, performance and value making it our overall best pick for 2024.
2. HP LaserJet Pro M15w – Best Budget Laser Printer
Compact, no-frills B&W laser printer under $150 for basic printing needs
The LaserJet Pro M15w delivers surprisingly good value and performance in an ultra-compact package for well under $150. Key highlights:
- Compact 11.6 x 7.9 x 8.1 inch footprint ideal for tight spaces
- Weighs only 14.5lbs making it very portable
- Prints decent quality B&W pages at 19ppm
- 150-sheet input tray capacity
- Wireless printing from laptops, mobile devices
- Low purchase cost under $150
It lacks extras like a scanner, fax, touchscreen interface or color printing. But if your main goal is basic black and white printing, the HP M15w gets the job done in the most affordable laser printer package we‘ve seen. It‘s ideal for students or home office use with light print volumes.
3. Canon ImageCLASS LBP113w – Best for High Volume
Robust laser printer for demanding home office use with print volumes up to 4,000 pages/month
Home-based entrepreneurs or professionals handling high volume print jobs up to 4,000 pages per month need a workhorse like the Canon ImageCLASS LBP113w with:
- Robust 30ppm monochrome laser printing
- Large 250-sheet capacity expandable to 850 sheets
- Enterprise-level paper handling up to Legal size
- Wireless connectivity for printing from multiple computers
- Room for additional paper tray to become a standalone office printer
- Exceptionally low cost per print – makes it very economical for high print volumes
It may lack extras like automatic duplexing, color prints or scanning. But if you just need a reliable, high-speed B&W printer, this space-saving Canon is built to match office-grade output quality and monthly max print volumes – making it a smart choice.
4. Brother HL-L2395DW – Most Compact Laser Printer
Tiny footprint packed with business-class features and 32ppm print speeds
The Brother HL-L2395DW breaks out of the mold of bulky laser printers by packing an incredible combination of performance and features into a ultra-small 13.7 inch wide frame that can fit into the tightest dorm rooms or small home offices with:
- Desktop-friendly small form factor
- High 32 page per minute print speeds
- Crisp 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution
- 251-sheet combined paper capacity
- Wireless mobile and cloud printing
- Automatic 2-sided printing
- Amazon Dash replenishment ready
It delivers the tools and quality home-based entrepreneurs need, minus the imposing machine sitting on your desk! If you need business-class output without dominating your workspace, this pint-sized printer delivers.
5. HP Neverstop Laser 1001nw – Best All-in-One Laser Printer
Space-saving printer for print/copy/scan needs with innovative toner reload system
The HP Neverstop breaks new ground for home all-in-one printers with an innovative toner reload system that drastically reduces operating costs. Key features:
- Compact 18 x 15 inch (WxD) footprint
- 21ppm print speeds + scan & copy functions
- 150-sheet input, 100-sheet output capacity
- Wireless printing from mobile devices
- Lowest cost per page for print/copy/scan thanks to quick and clean toner reload system – no cartridges required!
- Energy-efficient with low typical electricity usage
For home users with basic print, copy and scan needs, the Neverstop 1001nw delivers maximum value and convenience by eliminating recurring cartridge costs. The mobile app and intuitive touchscreen controls make operation a breeze as well.
And those are our 5 top recommendations for home laser printers in 2024!
What To Look For When Buying a Home Laser Printer
With a wide range of models flooding the market, choosing the right home laser printer for your needs boils down to a few key factors:
Print Volume: Consider your monthly print requirements. Light users under 500 pages/month can save with basic models. But volume of 1,000+ pages or high intensity use calls for upgraded paper handling and duty cycle.
Connectivity: Ensure your printer choice has wireless networking to enable printing from laptops, phones and tablets around the home.
Print Quality: While most laser printers deliver good quality, certain models specialize in graphics and photos with enhanced 2400+ dpi resolution.
Print Speeds: Speeds typically range from 19ppm for basic models up to 30ppm for faster performance. Think about typical printing needs – are multi-page documents common or mainly single page prints?
Running Costs: Laser printer toner costs 2-4 cents per page on average. But differences of even 0.5 cents can stack up with high volumes. Calculate total cost of ownership.
Special Features: Fancy extras like color printing, scanning, copying, dual-sided printing? Figure out must-have vs nice-to-have functions.
Once your key requirements are nailed down, you can zero-in on a tailored laser printer option for your home office that won‘t leave you with buyer‘s remorse down the road.
Tips for Maintaining Your Home Laser Printer
To keep your printer running smoothly for years and avoid costly repairs down the road, be sure to follow these maintenance best practices:
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Use Original Toner – Opt for original manufacturer‘s toner instead of third party cartridges for optimum performance and yield.
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Regular Cleaning – Gently wipe down the exterior and interior to remove dust, paper bits and toner residue buildup using a microfiber cloth.
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Clear Paper Jams – Don‘t force trapped paper that could damage rollers. Open access doors to gently remove jammed sheets.
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Replace Components – Worn rollers, fusers and other components degrade print quality over 3+ years. Swap in new parts.
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Firmware Updates – Download and install the latest firmware update from the manufacturer‘s website to fix bugs and get new capabilities
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Use Printer Regularly – Avoid long idle times. Print a test page monthly if usage is light to exercise the printer.
Investing a little time into routine care goes a long way towards avoiding headaches!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are laser printers safe to use at home?
A: Yes, studies show laser printers meet emissions standards for home use when kept in well-ventilated rooms. Place them away from high traffic areas and do not sit next to operating printer for long durations.
Q: How much electricity do laser printers use?
A: Around 250-500 watts when printing. But special "eco" models enter low 1-3 watt sleep modes when idle, using less energy than a light bulb!
Q: Can I use cheap third party toner cartridges?
A: We recommend using original toner from printer manufacturer instead for best print quality and yield. Third party toners can damage printer or cause defects.
Q: What duty cycle should I look for?
A: Duty cycle indicates max number of prints recommended per month without wearing out printer. Home users around 500 pages/month only need basic 10,000 page duty cycle. Up to 20,000+ duty cycle for heavier 2500+ page/month requirements.
Q: Do laser printers require less maintenance than inkjets?
A: Definitely! No cartridge cleaning required and toner is water-resistant. Just occasional exterior/interior wipe downs to remove dust and replace rollers when worn out.
Final Thoughts
With game-changing speed and efficiency enhancements in recent models, laser printers make an increasingly compelling case for home office use in 2024 – whether your needs call for vivid color graphics or crisp black and white text pages.
Hopefully this detailed buying guide for the top home laser printers helps identify the perfect fit for your requirements among our expert recommendations.
Let us know if you have any other questions in the comments below!
