This article was published in 2011 and updated in October 2026.
Printers are still a basic tool in almost every office and many homes: reports, invoices, forms, shipping labels, school work. If most of what you print is text, a laser printer is usually the smartest choice — it is fast, the print does not smudge, and the cost per page is low. Here is how laser printing works, where it beats inkjet (and where it doesn’t), and what to check before you buy.
How a laser printer works
A laser printer draws the page as an electrical charge pattern on a rotating, light-sensitive drum. Where the laser hits the drum, the charge changes. The drum then picks up fine toner powder only on those spots, rolls it onto the paper, and a heated fuser melts the toner into the paper. That is why laser prints come out dry and smudge-proof straight away.
Suggested Reading: Choosing the best photo printer
Laser vs. inkjet: which one fits you?
Laser printers were once a big-office purchase; today small mono laser printers cost about as much as a mid-range inkjet. The real differences are in how you print:
- Text and documents: laser wins — sharp text, fast, smudge-proof.
- Cost per page: high-yield toner usually makes laser pages cheaper than cartridge inkjets. Ink-tank inkjets (refillable bottles) can match or beat laser on running cost, especially for colour.
- Occasional printing: toner does not dry out, so a laser printer that sits unused for weeks still prints the first page cleanly. Inkjet nozzles can clog.
- Photos: inkjet wins. Even colour laser printers are not made for glossy photo paper.
- Purchase price vs. running cost: colour laser printers cost more to buy and their four toners are expensive — worth it only if you print a lot of colour documents.
Printer languages: PCL, PostScript and driverless printing
Laser printers receive pages in a page description language. The two classic standards are still around:
- PCL (Printer Control Language, from HP) — fast and widely supported, ideal for everyday office printing.
- PostScript (from Adobe) — exact, device-independent output, preferred for graphics and print shops.
Most current network printers also support driverless printing (AirPrint, Mopria and IPP Everywhere), so phones, tablets, Macs and Linux PCs can print without installing a manufacturer driver.
Checklist: how to choose the right laser printer
- Mono or colour? If you mainly print text, a mono laser is cheaper to buy and to run.
- Cost per page: compare the price of a toner cartridge with its rated yield (page yields are measured to ISO/IEC 19752 for mono and 19798 for colour). High-yield toner usually pays off.
- Automatic duplex: double-sided printing saves paper and is standard on most office models.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and driverless printing for phones and laptops.
- Speed and monthly volume: pages per minute matter less than the recommended monthly page volume for your workload.
- Paper handling: a straight paper path or manual feed slot helps with envelopes, labels and thick card stock; a second tray helps in busy offices.
- Toner subscriptions and original cartridges: some models only accept original or subscription toner — check before you buy if you want to use compatible cartridges.
- Warranty and service: compare warranty length and whether on-site service is available.
FAQ
Is a laser printer cheaper than an inkjet?
For text documents usually yes: the printer may cost a little more, but the cost per page is lower and toner does not dry out. Ink-tank inkjets are the main exception.
Can a laser printer print photos?
Colour laser printers can print images on normal paper, but for real photo quality on glossy paper an inkjet or photo printer is the better tool.
Does toner expire?
Toner keeps for a long time if stored sealed and dry, which is why laser printers suit people who print only occasionally.
Dana
Feb 22. 2011
I really love the laser printer result and really hope the price become lower so I can afford it for private usage.
admin
Feb 22. 2011
Even I too love… but price itself is the major drawback
Hostgator Review
Mar 26. 2011
Nice post buddy.
It was pretty informative.
TechCrates CoAdmin
Jul 30. 2011
laser printers have good quality but the price will be somewhat higher…
admin
Jul 30. 2011
Yep that’s true …
Tracy Ann
Sep 22. 2011
Laser printing is much clearer than the ordinary printing. And it is very useful for people today.
junaid
Nov 14. 2011
great the printer is really a great stuff now a days and a required one also.
bilal
Jan 05. 2012
the results on laser printer are very close to the actual image and printing is very fast
Michael
Jan 20. 2012
The cost of per page printing is definitely a plus over inkjet
Chintan
Feb 03. 2012
yes, we have to choose laser printer for effecting printing compared to ink jet printer.
Saikrishna
Feb 10. 2012
InkJet printers have the problem of getting dry very soon. At least every two days we need to make a print out to keep the ink undry. That’s the reason why many people choose Laser printing instead of Inkjet and its very efficient when compared to Ink jet.
Cindy
Apr 10. 2012
In our office, we upgraded to a laser printer last year. Apart from the initial costs, the actual cost to run it seems to be lower and the quality of the print [not to mention the speed] is much better.
admin
Apr 11. 2012
Thanks for stopping by and commenting …
Jeff
Apr 13. 2012
Laser printing is simply fast, accurate, precise and in the long run much cheaper operating cost compared to inkjet printers. agree?
Maria
Mar 13. 2014
I Have one Laser printing in my Office, It hink Laser Print is good for Work. But if Laser Printer Erorr we must call a Customer Services. Becuase Maintenance this Laser Printer Is Dificult
Path
Mar 21. 2014
This article was quite interesting. I am going to read more on your blog. I do agree with everything you are saying.
Donald
Apr 02. 2014
I love my laser printer. I feel like the quality of image is much better than most of the other printers I have used, even for printing images. I am currently getting into photography and want a printer that will print my images out in a professional quality, what type of printer would you suggest for that?
Gary
May 10. 2014
Great tips on selecting the right printer. This will help tremendously in my business printing efforts. I am right board with choosing a laser printer. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Leonora
Nov 16. 2015
You need to be a part of a contest for one of the finest blogs on the
net. I am going to highly recommend this website!
Rohan
Apr 07. 2016
I personally think and prefer to use laser printer for the effective printing as this is the secure way to use your important documents in a cleanly manner without having the fear of dark prints.
Scott Adams
Oct 31. 2017
I didn’t know that laser printers have a lower running cost over time. I have been looking for a new printer to use this year. I can see how it would be nice to try laser jet because if I use it enough I’ll eventually save money.
Steven Devane
Dec 13. 2019
I am looking to buy a printer this month. I had no idea basically which one will be suitable for printing between a laser printer or the inkjet one. But after reading this content I get to know that laser will be best for printing. Not only that the quality of printing will be good as well as cost-effective.
David Johnson
Feb 11. 2020
In this article, I appreciate how you explain that you can use a printer for so many things, including publishing newsletters or printing reports. My boss is looking at ways to improve our efficiency this year with marketing and printed materials. We’ll have to find the right laser printer.
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May 27. 2020
This is a really good tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere.
Brief but very precise info… Thanks for sharing this one.
A must read article!
Zachary Tomlinson
Aug 06. 2020
Great article. I had no idea that laser printers can print text, and graphics in high quality! My friend is looking for a reliable printer that he can use for his new business, and since he owns a law firm, I believe that a laser printer can solve his needs. I’ll share this with him, so he’d consider owning one of these printers.
Ben
Oct 06. 2020
I really like and appreciate your article post. Much thanks again. Really Cool.
Dough
Mar 09. 2021
Wonderful gadgets. Laser printers are the best 🙂
Sven
Mar 22. 2021
A round of applause for your blog post.Really thank you!
Fred
Jul 01. 2021
Awesome article.Really thank you! Really Great.
Hannah
Feb 19. 2022
My brother suggested I might like this web site for printer knowledge.
He was entirely right. This post actually helped me with my details needed for my laser printer.
Thanks!
Fidelia
Feb 20. 2022
Wonderful article for laser printers! This is the kind of info that are supposed to be shared across
the net.
Thanks =)
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Dec 08. 2022
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Dec 11. 2022
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Dec 21. 2022
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Maybelle
Aug 07. 2023
Great article, just what I was looking for.
Benny
Feb 01. 2024
Thanks for this well-researched post. Just what I was looking for. Thanks guys!
David
May 10. 2024
Nice post! Thank you 🙂
Mauriello
Nov 06. 2024
Great explanation on how this technology works 🙂 Thank you Tech Team!
Alfons
Mar 06. 2025
Agreed, there’s no better printing than laser printing 🙂
Thomas
Mar 15. 2025
Laser printers are simply the best 🙂
Werner
Jun 15. 2025
Cool! 🙂
Cliff
Aug 04. 2025
Laser printers are the best printers and super fast 🙂
Nemo
Apr 30. 2026
Great insights for laser printer tech. Thanks
Sam Heata
Aug 15. 2026
Laser tech is very interesting. Thanks
Eric
Aug 18. 2026
Cool – Looks really good 🙂