Best Laser Printer for Home Use: The Complete Guide

On this page (28 sections)

1. How to use this guide
2. Laser printer or inkjet for home: the short answer
3. How a laser printer works, in plain terms
4. Black and white or color: which laser printer
5. The best black and white laser printers for home
6. All-in-one laser printers for home
7. Wireless laser printers and two-sided printing
8. Brother laser printers, model by model
9. Brother versus HP and other brands
10. Reviews of individual Brother and HP models
11. How long a home laser printer lasts
12. Toner, drums and care for a laser printer
13. Laser printer cost per page at home
14. Which laser printer for home use should you buy
15. Questions to answer before you buy a laser printer for home
16. Common mistakes when buying a laser printer for home
17. Laser printer versus other printers for your desk
18. The three features a home laser printer needs
19. Who should buy which laser printer for home
20. Brother and HP for printing and toner at home
21. Setting up a laser printer at home
22. The laser printer buying checklist
23. Warranty and support across home laser printers
24. Paper and media for home laser printers
25. Printing from phones and laptops
26. Maintenance that keeps a home laser printer running
27. Choosing between two Brother models
28. Which laser printer for home use to buy

The best laser printer for home use is a black and white model with automatic two-sided printing, dual-band Wi-Fi and a toner yield that fits how much you print, such as the Brother HL-L2460DW. If you need color, the Canon imageCLASS LBP646Cdw is the print-only choice to start with.

This guide covers the whole home laser printer question in one place. It explains how laser printers work, which type to buy, how to compare toner costs and which models suit which homes.

Every model guide we publish is linked from here, so you can go deeper on any topic.

How to use this guide

Start with the decision that matters most to you. For most homes that's the choice between black and white and color, then between print only and all-in-one.

Each section below answers one question and links to the detailed guide for it. The model guides cover the specs, the trade-offs and who each printer suits.

If you're still deciding whether a laser printer is the right type at all, begin with the next section.

Laser printer or inkjet for home: the short answer

A laser printer uses dry toner and suits text-heavy printing, which covers most home work. An inkjet uses liquid ink and can suit photos and occasional color, so the job decides the type.

Our laser vs inkjet printer for home use guide compares the two side by side on running cost, speed and paper. For a broad look at how the two differ, the how does a laser printer work guide explains the process.

Laser printers do not dry out the way inkjets can when they sit idle. Our do laser printers dry out guide covers that point in more detail, and what happens when you print rarely.

How a laser printer works, in plain terms

A laser printer forms the page on a drum, using light. Toner, a fine dry powder, sticks to the charged areas of the drum and then transfers to the paper.

Heat then fuses the toner into the paper, which is why laser output is sharp and dry on arrival. The cartridge holds the toner, and the drum unit carries the image.

If you want the full process step by step, read how does a laser printer work. It goes through each stage without the jargon.

Black and white or color: which laser printer

Most home printing is text, so a black and white laser printer covers the bulk of the work at a lower running cost. Our black and white laser printer guide compares the six strongest mono models for home use.

Color earns its place when color is part of the work, such as school projects, flyers and colored forms. Our best color laser printer for home use guide ranks the color models, and are color laser printers worth it helps you count the color pages you print.

For the trade-off in one place, color vs black and white laser printer sets the two side by side. A laser printer isn't the usual choice for photos, so check can laser printers print photos before you decide.

The best black and white laser printers for home

The mono picks cover print-only, all-in-one and budget models. Our black and white laser printer guide is the place to start, since it ranks the models by score.

Budget buyers should read the best budget laser printer guide, which covers the lowest-cost options that still print well. For a small office or a desk that runs a side business, see the best laser printer for home office and best laser printer for small business guides.

If you'd rather compare Brother models by number, the best Brother laser printer guide takes them one at a time.

All-in-one laser printers for home

An all-in-one prints, copies and scans, and some models add fax. Our best all-in-one laser printer for home use guide ranks the strongest models for home.

For the feature checklist behind that ranking, read the all-in-one laser printer buying guide. It covers feeders, fax, duplex and size before you buy.

A home office that scans and copies often usually needs an all-in-one. A home that prints mostly should stay with a print-only model and save the space.

Wireless laser printers and two-sided printing

A wireless laser printer lets every device in the house print to one machine. Dual-band Wi-Fi and a phone app are the features to check, and our wireless laser printer guide ranks the wireless picks.

Two-sided printing saves paper on long jobs. The best duplex laser printer guide explains automatic and manual duplex and the differences that matter at home.

Every model in this guide connects over Wi-Fi, so the connection question is usually about the band and the phone app. Duplex is where the real daily difference shows up.

Brother laser printers, model by model

Brother makes most of the home models we cover, so many of our guides focus on its models. Our best Brother laser printer guide lists the models one by one.

For the two Brother models that most buyers compare, read the Brother HL-L2460DW vs HL-L2405W guide. It explains which one fits a print-only desk.

If you're weighing a Brother all-in-one against a print-only model, the Brother DCP-L2640DW vs HL-L2480DW guide covers copy, scan and feeder differences.

Brother versus HP and other brands

Brother and HP both make strong home laser printers. Our Brother vs HP laser printer guide compares the two brands on models, toner and phone printing.

HP says some of its models work only with cartridges that have HP chips, so check that rule before you buy toner. Brother's Mobile Connect app and HP's Smart app cover phone printing for their own models.

Canon also makes home laser printers, with imageCLASS models that print in black and white and color. The Canon models here use Canon Genuine Toner cartridges.

Reviews of individual Brother and HP models

Single-model reviews go deeper on one printer at a time. Each one covers the specs, the setup and who should skip the model.

Our Brother DCP-L2640DW review covers the wireless all-in-one that prints, copies and scans. The Brother HL-L2460DW review covers the compact duplex print-only model.

For a budget Brother, read the Brother HL-L2405W review. For a compact HP all-in-one, see the HP LaserJet M140w review.

How long a home laser printer lasts

A home laser printer lasts years when the page volume is steady and the parts are replaced on time. Our how long do laser printers last guide explains what affects the life of the machine.

Heavy use and worn drum units shorten the life of a printer. Brother rates its drum units for a set number of pages, so keep count of the pages the drum has printed.

Keep the printer in a stable spot, away from dust and direct heat. Clean paper paths help the machine run longer and reduce misfeeds.

Toner, drums and care for a laser printer

Toner is the cost you pay again, and it's the part most buyers overlook. Our Brother laser printer toner guide explains the cartridge codes and yields for the Brother models here.

The drum unit is the second consumable. Our Brother laser printer drum replacement guide covers when to replace it and how to do it.

When the printer says no toner, the cause is often the cartridge seating or the model match. Our Brother laser printer no toner error guide walks through the checks in order.

Laser printer cost per page at home

The cost per page is the number that matters most over the life of a printer. It's the cartridge price divided by the page yield, and it depends on how much you print.

Our laser printer cost per page guide works through the math for home printers. It's the best place to compare the running cost of two models side by side.

Subscriptions can change the cost too. Our laser printer no subscription guide explains Brother's Refresh plan, how billing works and how to check the terms before you join.

Which laser printer for home use should you buy

Most homes should start with a black and white laser printer that prints on both sides and connects over Wi-Fi. The Brother HL-L2460DW covers print only, and the Brother DCP-L2640DW adds copy and scan.

Choose a color model if color is part of the work you do each week. The Canon LBP646Cdw is the print-only color choice, and the Brother MFC-L3720CDW is the color all-in-one that includes fax.

Choose a budget model if the budget is the main limit and you print lightly. The Brother HL-L2405W and the HP LaserJet M207dw lead our budget list.

Questions to answer before you buy a laser printer for home

Start by counting the pages you print in a typical month. That number tells you how much toner you'll buy and whether a high-yield cartridge pays off.

Next decide between black and white and color, and then between print only and all-in-one. Those two choices narrow the list to a handful of models.

Last, check the connection and the duplex. Dual-band Wi-Fi and automatic two-sided printing make the daily work easier on most home networks.

Common mistakes when buying a laser printer for home

The most common mistake is buying color for mostly black text. A mono printer covers that work at a lower running cost.

Another is ignoring the cartridge. The toner cost is the one you pay again, so check the yield before you compare speeds.

A third is skipping duplex. Automatic two-sided printing saves paper and time on long jobs, and it's easy to add up over a year.

Laser printer versus other printers for your desk

A laser printer covers most home text work, but it isn't the only option. Inkjets and multifunction printers have their own strengths, and the right pick depends on the jobs you do.

Our laser printer vs inkjet for home use guide compares the running cost, speed and paper handling. For the cost per page itself, see the laser printer cost per page guide.

If you print only a few pages a month, the choice matters less than the toner cost and the warranty. Check both before you buy any printer.

The three features a home laser printer needs

Look for automatic two-sided printing, dual-band Wi-Fi and a toner yield that fits your page count. Those three features cover most of the daily work at home.

Speed matters for long jobs, but most home printing finishes quickly on any model in this guide. Paper tray size matters more for busy homes that print in batches.

Check the warranty, the phone app and the toner availability before you buy. The brand you pick should support the printer and the cartridges for years.

Who should buy which laser printer for home

Best laser printer for home use by household

Students and families who print school work each week should buy a black and white printer with automatic duplex. The Brother HL-L2460DW covers that job in a print-only body.

Home offices that scan and file documents should buy an all-in-one. The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the most complete choice, and our all-in-one laser printer guide explains the feature checks.

Small businesses that run from home need more capacity and reliable toner supply. Our best laser printer for small business guide covers the models that fit that work.

Brother and HP for printing and toner at home

Brother uses its own TN830 and TN830XL cartridges across several home models here. They come in standard and high-yield sizes.

HP uses HP cartridges and says some of its printers block cartridges without HP chips. Check that rule before you buy toner for an HP printer.

For a direct comparison of the two brands, see the Brother vs HP laser printer guide.

Setting up a laser printer at home

Place the printer on a stable shelf close to the Wi-Fi router. Leave room behind and above the unit for the paper to feed out and the lid to open.

Connect the printer to your network using the printer's touchscreen or the maker's app. Keep your Wi-Fi name and password handy, since most setups ask for them.

Print a test page before you start a big job. That step confirms the connection, the toner and the duplex setting in one go.

The laser printer buying checklist

Start with the printer type: black and white or color. Then choose print only or all-in-one, based on copy, scan and fax needs.

Check the duplex type, the Wi-Fi band and the phone app next. Those three decide the daily experience.

Finally check the toner yield and cost per page. The cartridge decides the running cost for years, so compare it as carefully as the printer.

Warranty and support across home laser printers

Warranty terms are one of the simplest ways to compare two printers. Brother lists a 1-year limited warranty on the HL-L2460DW and HL-L2405W, Canon lists 1 year on the LBP6030w, and the Canon MF662Cdw carries 3 years.

Support matters as much as the warranty. For the HL-L2460DW and HL-L2405W, Brother says its support covers online, phone and live chat help for the life of the printer.

Keep the receipt, the model number and the warranty card together. Those three items make a claim faster and settle the question of coverage.

Paper and media for home laser printers

Most home laser printers take standard office paper in the sizes the tray lists. Check the paper range before you buy, since heavier stock and thin paper can need the manual feed slot or can jam.

Several Brother models here have a manual feed slot for envelopes and specialty paper. A tray for regular paper and a slot for specialty media covers most home needs.

Duplex printing works best on standard paper in the weight the maker lists. Paper that's too heavy or too thin can fail to feed through the second side, so keep to the listed range.

Printing from phones and laptops

Every printer in this guide connects over Wi-Fi, so phones and laptops can print to it from the same network. Each brand has a phone app, and the Brother models use the Brother Mobile Connect app.

Install the app before you need it, and sign in once so the printer appears in the list. A printer that's set up in advance is quicker to use on a busy morning.

Maintenance that keeps a home laser printer running

Run a test page every few weeks, even when you don't need one. A printer that sits idle can surprise you when a big job arrives.

Keep the paper path clear, and clean the dust off the outside as the manual shows. Most of the upkeep is simple, but skipping it lets small problems grow.

Track the drum and the page count, and replace the drum when the printer or the manual says to. A drum that runs past its rating can cause print quality problems.

Keep a short log of page counts and cartridge dates. It makes the next purchase easier to plan.

Choosing between two Brother models

If you're torn between two Brother models, compare the features you'll use each week. The HL-L2460DW and DCP-L2640DW both print with automatic duplex and use the TN830 family of cartridges, so copy and scan decide most of the difference.

Check the weight and footprint next. The DCP-L2640DW weighs 25 pounds against 15.6 for the HL-L2460DW, so a heavier unit needs a steadier shelf.

Which laser printer for home use to buy

Buy a black and white laser printer with automatic two-sided printing if you print mostly text. The Brother HL-L2460DW is our top-scoring pick, and the Brother DCP-L2640DW adds copy and scan.

Buy a color model when color is part of the work each week. The Canon LBP646Cdw covers print-only color, and the Brother MFC-L3720CDW adds copy, scan and fax.

For the models in detail, follow the guides linked above. Every one of them is written to help you choose the best laser printer for home use for your own jobs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best laser printer for home use?

For most homes, the Brother HL-L2460DW is the best pick. It prints 36 pages a minute in black and white with automatic two-sided printing, and the DCP-L2640DW adds copy and scan.

Is a laser printer better than an inkjet for home?

For text-heavy home printing, a laser printer usually costs less per page and handles long jobs faster. An inkjet can suit photos and occasional color, so the choice depends on what you print most.

How much toner does a home laser printer use?

It depends on the pages you print and the cartridge yield. Brother rates the TN830 standard cartridge at up to 1,200 pages and the TN830XL high-yield at up to 3,000 pages, so the yield decides how often you buy.

Do laser printers need a subscription?

Not always, since Brother offers an optional Refresh toner plan on several models that you can cancel at any time. Check the current terms before you enroll.