5 Best Color Laser Printers for Home Use (October 2026)
The best color laser printers for home use include the Canon Color imageCLASS MF662Cdw for a color all-in-one with a 3-year warranty, the Brother HL-L3280CDW for printing from cloud apps on a touchscreen, and the Canon imageCLASS LBP646Cdw (best budget color printer for print-only use).
On this page (17 sections)
- How we picked these five color laser printers
- The 5 best color laser printers for home use in detail
- Color toner and cost per page on a color laser printer
- When a mono printer is enough for home printing
- Duplex, paper trays and touchscreens on color laser printers
- Which color laser printer fits your home
- Questions to answer before you buy a color laser printer
- Color and black pages on the same printer
- Warranty on a color laser printer
- Setting up a color laser printer at home
- Common mistakes when buying a color laser printer
- Who should choose a color model over mono
- Phone printing for color jobs
- Color printing in a shared home office
- Speed and first page on color printers
- Envelopes and specialty paper on a color printer
- Which color laser printer to buy
The Canon Color imageCLASS MF662Cdw is our top color laser printer for home use, because it prints, scans and copies in color with automatic two-sided printing. If you only need color prints, the Canon LBP646Cdw is the print-only pick at a budget price.
Color adds real value when you print colored documents, school work or flyers. If most of your printing is black text, a mono printer is simpler to run, so read the mono picks too.
Our picks at a glance
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Best for a color all-in-one with a 3-year warrantyCanon Color imageCLASS MF662Cdw
8.4/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
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How we picked these five color laser printers
We compared the specs of each model, including speed in color, two-sided printing, the functions and the connections. We also checked what each maker says about toner and warranty.
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. The scores run from 7.5 to 8.4 because a color printer that also scans and copies covers more home jobs.
| Product | Best for | Functions | Two-sided printing | Connectivity | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon Color imageCLASS MF662Cdw | a color all-in-one with a 3-year warranty | Print, copy, scan | Automatic | Wi-Fi, USB | 8.4 |
| Brother HL-L3280CDW | printing from cloud apps on a touchscreen | Print only | Automatic | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | 8.0 |
| Canon imageCLASS LBP646Cdw | budget color printer for print-only use | Print only | Automatic | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | 8.0 |
| Brother MFC-L3720CDW | color copying, scanning and faxing | Print, copy, scan, fax | Automatic | Wi-Fi, USB | 7.9 |
| Brother HL-L3220CDW | a low-profile color printer | Print only | Automatic | Wi-Fi, USB | 7.5 |
The 5 best color laser printers for home use in detail
Each card below gives the key facts for one model, followed by our notes on who it suits. Badges and scores match the picks list above.
Canon Color imageCLASS MF662Cdw
- Print, copy and scan in color
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 5-inch color touchscreen
- 26 pages per minute in color and black and white
The MF662Cdw is a color all-in-one with a 5-inch touchscreen. It's the most complete color unit here for a home office that scans and copies.
Pros
- Print, copy and scan in color
- 5-inch color touchscreen
- 3-year limited warranty, per Canon
Cons
- 55.1 pounds, the heaviest model here
- No fax
The MF662Cdw is the color all-in-one here. Canon rates it at 26 pages per minute in color and in black and white.
It has a 5-inch color touchscreen, and Canon uses its Genuine Toner 075 high-capacity cartridges in this model. Canon's warranty on the MF662Cdw is 3 years, limited.
At 55.1 pounds it's the heaviest model in this guide, so it needs a strong desk and help to move. It doesn't fax, so the MFC-L3720CDW is the choice if you still send faxes.
Brother HL-L3280CDW
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 2.7-inch touchscreen
- Cloud app printing
- 27 pages per minute
The HL-L3280CDW is a color print-only printer with a touchscreen for cloud apps. It prints at 27 pages per minute and it prints on both sides.
Pros
- 27 pages per minute in color
- Prints from Google Drive, Dropbox and Evernote
- Wi-Fi and Ethernet
Cons
- No copy or scan
- 33.9 pounds
The HL-L3280CDW is a color print-only printer with a 2.7-inch touchscreen. Brother rates it at 27 pages per minute, with automatic two-sided printing.
From the screen you can print from cloud apps, including Google Drive, Dropbox and Evernote. It connects over Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB.
It weighs 33.9 pounds. Brother includes a two-month Refresh trial with this model, so read the trial terms before you start.
Canon imageCLASS LBP646Cdw
- Print only, in color
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 26 pages per minute
- 250-sheet cassette
The LBP646Cdw prints color and black and white at 26 pages per minute with automatic two-sided printing. It's a budget pick when you don't need to scan or copy.
Pros
- 26 pages per minute in color and black and white
- Automatic two-sided printing
- Canon PRINT app and AirPrint
Cons
- No copy or scan
- 27.6 pounds
The LBP646Cdw is the print-only color model here. Canon rates it at 26 pages per minute in both color and black and white.
It prints on both sides on its own, and the 250-sheet cassette holds plenty of paper. It uses Canon Genuine Toner 075 high-capacity cartridges, and the first page comes out in about 10 seconds.
It weighs 27.6 pounds and has no copy or scan. For a home that only prints in color, it's the budget color pick in this guide.
Brother MFC-L3720CDW
- Print, copy, scan and fax in color
- 50-sheet automatic document feeder
- 3.5-inch color touchscreen
- Wi-Fi Direct
The MFC-L3720CDW is the Brother color all-in-one that includes fax. It has a feeder and a 3.5-inch color touchscreen with shortcuts.
Pros
- Fax, copy, scan and print in color
- 50-sheet automatic document feeder
- Toner level monitoring from the companion app
Cons
- 44 pounds
- Slower than the Canon models at 19 pages per minute
The MFC-L3720CDW is the color all-in-one that includes fax. Brother rates it at 19 pages per minute, and it has a 50-sheet feeder and a 250-sheet tray.
The 3.5-inch color touchscreen has 48 customizable shortcuts, and it gives you direct access to cloud services. The companion app shows toner levels, and Wi-Fi Direct lets phones print without a router.
It weighs 44 pounds. Choose it over the MF662Cdw if fax matters more to you than speed, and you can live with 19 pages per minute.
Brother HL-L3220CDW
- Print only, in color
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 250-sheet paper tray
- Manual feed slot
The HL-L3220CDW is a low color printer that prints at 19 pages per minute. It's a simple color unit for a home desk that prints and nothing else.
Pros
- Low profile at about 9.4 inches tall
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 250-sheet tray
Cons
- 19 pages per minute
- No copy or scan
The HL-L3220CDW is a low color printer that prints at 19 pages per minute. Its height is about 9.4 inches, which makes it the lowest model here.
It prints on both sides automatically, and the 250-sheet tray has a manual feed slot for envelopes. It connects by Wi-Fi or USB and prints from laptops, smartphones and tablets.
At 24.7 pounds, it's the lightest color unit in this guide that prints duplex. It has no copy or scan, so use it only for color printing.
Color toner and cost per page on a color laser printer
A color laser uses four toners, cyan, magenta, yellow and black, so the cost per page can run higher than on a mono model. Check the cartridge codes before you buy the printer.
The Canon MF662Cdw and LBP646Cdw use Canon Genuine Toner 075 cartridges, and the high-capacity version lasts longer. The Brother models here use TN229 cartridges in standard, XL and XXL sizes.
Brother's TN229 range is wide, so pick the size that matches how much color you print. If most of your pages are black text, our black and white laser printer guide covers the mono picks.
When a mono printer is enough for home printing
Most home printing is black text, so a mono printer covers it at a lower running cost. A color model earns its place when color is part of the job.
If you're deciding between the two, read our guide on whether color laser printers are worth it. It covers the cost questions one at a time.
For the mono picks that suit text-heavy printing, see our best laser printer for home use guide.
Duplex, paper trays and touchscreens on color laser printers
All five printers here print both sides on their own, so reports and forms use less paper.
The touchscreens differ. The MF662Cdw has a 5-inch color screen, the MFC-L3720CDW has a 3.5-inch color screen, and the HL-L3280CDW has a 2.7-inch screen for cloud apps.
If you print from a phone often, check the app setup on the model you pick. The Brother models use their Mobile Connect app, and Canon offers its PRINT app.
Which color laser printer fits your home
A color laser printer for home use that copies and scans
The MF662Cdw is the best color pick for a home office that copies and scans. It prints in color at 26 pages per minute and has a color touchscreen.
A color laser printer for color prints only
The LBP646Cdw, HL-L3280CDW and HL-L3220CDW are the print-only picks. The LBP646Cdw is the budget choice, and the HL-L3280CDW adds a touchscreen for cloud apps.
A color laser printer that also faxes
The MFC-L3720CDW is the one to buy if fax matters and you print color often. It's the heaviest Brother here, so plan the space first.
Questions to answer before you buy a color laser printer
Ask how much color you print each month. If the answer is a few pages, a mono model is the cheaper choice to run.
Ask whether you need copy, scan or fax. Those features change the choice more than speed does for most home buyers.
Check the cartridge codes and the yield before you buy. Color toner is the cost you pay again, so plan it into the budget from the start.
Color and black pages on the same printer
A color laser printer prints black pages too, and the cost per black page can be higher than on a mono model. For text-heavy work, watch the yield of the black cartridge as the number that matters most.
Set the printer to black and white for documents that don't need color. That habit keeps the color toner for the jobs that need it.
Warranty on a color laser printer
The Canon MF662Cdw carries a 3-year limited warranty, and Canon lists 1 year on the LBP646Cdw. Brother lists 1 year on the MFC-L3720CDW and HL-L3280CDW, and it doesn't give a term for the HL-L3220CDW, so confirm that one with Brother before you buy.
Color printers have more parts and more toner to manage than mono models. Keep the receipt and the model number together in case you need a claim.
Setting up a color laser printer at home
Install all four toners as the manual shows, and check that each cartridge clicks into place. A loose cartridge can trigger a message that looks like a fault.
Connect the printer to Wi-Fi from the touchscreen or the maker's app, then print a color test page. The test page shows whether all four colors print cleanly before a big job.
Set the paper type and the color settings once on each computer. A mismatch between the paper type and the setting can make color pages look off.
Common mistakes when buying a color laser printer
The most common mistake is buying color for mostly black text. A mono printer covers that work at a lower running cost.
Another mistake is buying an all-in-one when a print-only color printer covers the job. Scan and copy add cost and size, so skip them if you don't use them.
A third mistake is ignoring the cartridge codes. Color toner is the cost you pay again, so match the cartridge to the printer before you buy.
Who should choose a color model over mono
Choose a color model when color is part of your work every week, such as flyers, colored charts or school projects. Those jobs don't work well in black and white, so the extra cost earns its place.
Choose mono when color is rare. A black and white printer does the text work well, and you can print the occasional color page elsewhere.
If the color work is client material for a business run from home, our best laser printer for a small home business roundup covers larger color all-in-ones.
Phone printing for color jobs
Color jobs often come from a phone, such as a flyer or a photo of a chart. Set up the phone app before the first color job, so the settings are ready.
Check that the color option is selected in the app before you send the job. A default set to black and white can waste a color page without you noticing.
Color printing in a shared home office
A shared color printer needs a simple rule for who prints in color. Agree on the jobs that need color, so the color toner isn't used for drafts.
Set the default to black and white on the shared printer, and let people switch to color for each job that needs it. That habit keeps the color cartridges lasting longer.
Speed and first page on color printers
The Canon MF662Cdw and LBP646Cdw are both rated at 26 pages per minute in color, while the Brother HL-L3220CDW is rated at 19. A faster rating helps most on batches of color flyers or reports.
Canon says the MF662Cdw and LBP646Cdw print a first page in about 10 seconds. A quick first page matters more on short jobs than on long ones.
Envelopes and specialty paper on a color printer
The Brother HL-L3220CDW has a manual feed slot for envelopes and specialty media, which keeps the main tray clear. Feed one sheet at a time through the slot, and check the paper guide before you send a batch.
The Canon models here use a 1-sheet multipurpose tray for single sheets, so envelopes are a poorer fit there.
Which color laser printer to buy
Buy the MF662Cdw if you want a color laser printer for home use that prints, scans and copies in color. Buy the LBP646Cdw if you only print in color and want the budget route.
Pick the HL-L3280CDW for a touchscreen with cloud apps, the MFC-L3720CDW if fax matters, or the HL-L3220CDW for a low desk unit. Each one is a sound color laser printer, so the right choice depends on the jobs you do each week.
Our top 3 picks at a glance
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Best for a color all-in-one with a 3-year warranty
Canon Color imageCLASS MF662Cdw
8.4/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best color laser printer for home use?
For most home offices, the Canon Color imageCLASS MF662Cdw is the best pick. It prints, copies and scans in color, and it prints on both sides automatically.
Is a color laser printer worth it for home?
It is when you print color often, such as school materials or flyers. If you rarely print color, a black and white laser printer is the cheaper choice to run.
Do color laser printers use more toner than black and white?
They use four toners, cyan, magenta, yellow and black, so each page can draw on more than one cartridge. Check the cartridge codes and the yield of each one before you buy the printer.
