If you're constantly printing off multi-page forms or lengthy articles, a laser printer can be a quick and efficient way to process a high volume of pages. Unlike inkjet printers, these printers use beams of light to heat up and melt powder within their toner cartridges to produce text and images. In most cases, the result is a higher page yield and a faster print time. Although the cost of laser printers can be more expensive to start, they're also generally more economical in the long term as their cartridges need to be replaced less often.
We've tested over 75 printers, and below are our recommendations for the best all-in-one printers you can buy. You can also check out our recommendations for the best wireless printers, the best all-in-one printers, and the best home printers.
The best laser printer for a small or home office we've tested is the Canon imageCLASS MF743Cdw. It has impressive scanning features, including a flatbed with hinges that can be raised to accommodate thicker documents, and a sheetfed scanner that can automatically process double-sided scans. Thanks to its remarkable, user-friendly design, toner cartridges and paper jams are easy to access.
It yields a large number of pages for both its black and color toner cartridges, so you shouldn't need to replace the toner often, even if you print a lot. Its cost-per-print is excellently low, especially for black-only prints, but it's still quite affordable if you mostly print in color only. Even though it has great printing speed, black documents are somewhat on the slower side, while color documents are exceptionally fast.
Unfortunately, photo quality is mediocre at best, although this isn't surprising for a laser printer. Also, while it has fantastic connection options, it doesn't support Bluetooth, which may be disappointing if you prefer using this type of connection. It's a fairly bulky printer with a display screen that sticks out on its right side, so you can't place it flush against a wall on this side. Nevertheless, this is an incredible laser option for small or home offices, and it's among the best all-in-one printers we've tested.
If you want an alternative with better scanner features, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw is a superb option. While its page yield isn't quite as high and its cost-per-print is marginally worse than the Canon imageCLASS MF743Cdw, it prints black-only documents significantly faster, plus its flatbed scanner has better resolution and color depth. Otherwise, it also features an automatic document feeder that can perform double-sided scans, and it has the same fantastic connectivity options. It's compatible with the HP Smart app, from where you can print, scan, and copy photos and PDFs, as well as verify ink levels.
If you prefer a printer with a higher page yield and you don't need an exceptional scanner, go with the Canon. If you need a scanner with high resolution and color depth, get the HP.
The best monochrome laser printer we've tested is the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw. It's an incredibly well-built all-in-one that provides easy access to paper jams and toner cartridges. It has impressive scanner features, including a flatbed scanner, an automatic document feeder that performs duplex scanning, and fax capabilities. The scanner lid stays open on its own, so you don't have to hold it up while placing a document on the flatbed.
The page yield for the black toner is exceptionally high, which keeps the cost-per-print very low since you won't have to replace the toner often. It's very fast at printing the first page, and subsequent pages come out even faster. It has fantastic connectivity options, and you can even print directly off a USB thumb drive. It's also compatible with the Canon PRINT Business app, where you can print, scan, copy, and perform maintenance tasks right from your smartphone.
Unfortunately, like most laser printers, it's terrible at printing pictures, and it can't print on glossy photo paper. Also, since it's a monochrome model, you need to make sure you won't need color before committing to buying it. Overall, this is a great monochrome laser option, and it's among the best printers for small businesses that we've tested.
The Brother HL-L2390DW is the best laser printer in the budget category that we've tested. This excellently-built, all-in-one model provides easy access to paper jams, and its paper tray can be expanded to accommodate different sizes. Its outstanding cartridge system yields a high number of pages, which helps keep the cost-per-print remarkably low.
It has a flatbed scanner with high resolution and color depth, and the lid hinges can lift high enough to scan a thick document or textbook. While the first page comes out a bit slower, the subsequent pages print amazingly fast, with a 30-paged document taking only one minute. It has decent connectivity options, so you can print via USB cable, Wi-Fi, or through Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service.
Unfortunately, it lacks an automatic document feeder, and it can't perform double-sided scans. Also, it doesn't support Bluetooth or external storage devices. It has terrible photo quality, although this is expected of laser printers. All in all, if you're looking for something to print in black and white and occasionally scan small documents, this is a great laser option.
If you want something even cheaper, check out the Lexmark B2236dw. While it doesn't feel as well-built and it doesn't have a scanner, it prints faster and costs less than the Brother HL-L2390DW. It has an exceptionally low cost-per-print thanks to its very high page yield, and it also accepts XL and XXL high-yield cartridge sizes, which should last you even longer, although we haven't tested them. It has an ethernet port in case you want to connect it directly to your router, but sadly it doesn't have Bluetooth or external storage support. Since it's a monochrome laser printer, it doesn't print in color, and photos look terrible, so it isn't recommended if you need either of these two things.
If you want a great laser printer with a scanner, get the Brother, but if you want a cheaper option and you need to print only, go with the Lexmark.
01/14/2021: Updated text for clarity and structure, no changes in product picks.
12/16/2020: Added the Brother HL-L2370DW to Notable Mentions.
10/22/2020: Moved the Brother MFC-L3770CDW to Notable Mentions, added the Canon imageCLASS MF743Cdw as 'Best Small/Home Office Printer', changed 'HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw' to 'Alternative With Better Scanner Features'.
09/25/2020: Added the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw as 'Best Monochrome Printer' and moved Brother MFC-L2750DW to Notable Mentions.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best laser printers for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all our laser printer reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no printer is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.