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For a home that mostly prints black text—forms, schoolwork, labels, and reports—a monochrome laser printer is usually the better fit. Choose an inkjet for photographs, smooth color, or glossy and creative media. If you print color regularly and want to limit refill costs, compare refillable ink-tank printers separately from cartridge inkjets. The right choice depends on what you print, how often you print, and the cost of supplies for the specific model.
How inkjet and laser printers differ
An inkjet places liquid ink onto paper. A laser printer uses powdered toner, transfers it to the page, and fuses it with heat. Those different processes help explain why the technologies tend to suit different home tasks: inkjets generally handle photos and nuanced color better, while lasers are often a strong choice for crisp text and document batches.
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These are category-level tendencies, not promises about every printer. Features such as duplex printing, scanning, copying, connectivity, and supported paper depend on the model, not simply on whether it is an inkjet or laser printer.
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Mostly black text: start with a monochrome laser
For forms, homework, reports, and other text-heavy jobs, a monochrome laser is usually the most practical starting point. RTINGS’ comparison found cleaner black text and more than twice the speed on its tested laser model than on its tested photo inkjet; that result describes those models, not every possible pairing. A text-first household should compare toner yield and replacement cost with the number of pages it expects to print.
#1 Best Overall
- BEST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES – Engineered for extraordinary productivity, the Brother DCP-L2640DW Monochrome (Black & White) 3-in-1 combines laser printer, scanner, copier in one compact footprint and delivers high-quality black & white prints
- FAST PRINTER WITH EFFICIENT SCANNING – Produces documents quickly with print speeds up to 36 ppm(2) and scan speeds up to 23.6/7.9 ipm(3) (black/color). A 50-page auto document feeder(4) allows for convenient, time saving multi-page scanning and copying
- FLEXIBLE CONNECTION OPTIONS – Easily navigate the changing demands of your business with secure multi-device connectivity via built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz / 5GHz) and Ethernet. Or connect locally to a single computer via USB interface
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Print, scan, and manage your wireless printer anytime, from almost anywhere from your mobile device. Order Brother Genuine Supplies, track toner usage, and complete more work on-the-go(5)
- CHOOSE BROTHER GENUINE TONER – When it’s time to replace your toner, be sure to choose Brother Genuine TN830 or TN830XL replacement toner. And with Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service, you’ll never worry about running out of toner again and you’ll enjoy savings of up to 50%(6) on Brother Genuine Toner. Get started with Refresh today with a Free Trial(1)
Photos, artwork, and smooth color: start with an inkjet
An inkjet is generally the safer choice for home photographs, color artwork, and glossy media. RTINGS found smoother color transitions from its tested Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 than from its tested Brother MFC-L8905CDW color laser. Check the particular inkjet’s photo-paper compatibility and borderless-printing support before buying; media options vary by model.
A color laser can still be useful for charts, presentations, and document graphics. Its ability to print color does not make it equivalent to an inkjet photo printer when fine gradation and photographic output matter.
Rank #2
- BEST FOR HOMES & HOME OFFICES – Engineered for consistent, premium print quality, the Brother HL-L2405W Monochrome (Black & White) Laser Printer delivers sharp, crisp prints at an affordable price. Prints one-sided documents at speeds up to 30ppm(2)
- COMPACT, CONNECTED PRINTER – Flexible connection options make this an ideal printer for home use and at-home offices. Securely connect to multiple devices with built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz/5GHz) or locally to a single computer via USB interface
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Manage your printer remotely and print from your mobile device anytime, from almost anywhere. Order Brother Genuine Supplies, track toner usage, and complete more work on-the-go(3)
- VERSATILE PAPER HANDLING – Enjoy seamless, reliable everyday printing with the 250-sheet paper tray(4) and a manual feed slot that enables printing on envelopes and specialty pape
- BROTHER IS AT YOUR SIDE – Backed by Brother with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call, or live chat support for the life of your printer
Regular color printing with refill costs in mind: compare ink tanks
Refillable ink-tank printers are inkjets, but their refill economics differ from cartridge models. They can deliver many pages per refill and may reduce ink cost per page, particularly for households that print color regularly. Compare the actual bottle prices and stated yields for the models you are considering rather than treating all inkjets as one cost category.
Very occasional printing: consider what happens while the printer sits
Liquid ink nozzles can dry or clog during long idle periods, and some printers use ink during cleaning routines. Toner does not dry in the same way, so a laser can be a sensible option if printing is rare and mostly text. RTINGS reported a clogged inkjet sample after four days unused in its review; that is an observation about a particular sample, not a rule that every inkjet will clog after four days. If photos are essential, weigh the inkjet’s photo advantage against the maintenance behavior of the specific model.
Rank #3
- BEST FOR HOME OFFICES & SMALL TEAMS – Engineered for consistent, premium print quality, the Brother HL-L2460DW Monochrome (Black & White) Laser Printer produces documents that are clear, crisp, and easy to review and share, all at an affordable price
- COMPACT, CONNECTED, EXCEPTIONALLY EFFICIENT– Connect with built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz/5GHz), Ethernet, or to a single computer via USB interface. Prints at speeds up to 36ppm(2), plus automatic duplex printing saves time and reduces paper waste
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Manage your wireless printer remotely and print from your mobile device anytime, from almost anywhere. Order Brother Genuine Supplies, track toner usage, and complete more work on-the-go(3)
- VERSATILE PAPER HANDLING – Tackle high-volume black & white printing with the 250-sheet capacity paper tray.(4) The manual feed slot enables printing on envelopes and specialty paper
- BROTHER IS AT YOUR SIDE – Backed by Brother with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call, or live chat support for the life of your printer
Need scanning or copying too? Compare all-in-ones like for like
If you need scanning or copying, first decide whether you want an all-in-one printer. Then compare the scanner, duplex options, connectivity, and other required features on the exact models. Print technology alone does not establish which of those features is included.
Compare the trade-offs before choosing
| Home-printing need | Inkjet, including tank models | Laser |
|---|---|---|
| Text documents | Good; results and speed vary by model. | Usually the stronger fit for crisp text and fast document batches. |
| Photos and smooth color | Usually the stronger fit; photo-paper support varies by model. | Color models can handle document graphics, but photo gradation is generally weaker. |
| Long gaps between print jobs | Ink may dry or clog at the nozzles; cleaning routines can consume ink. | Toner avoids the same drying and clogging issue. |
| Running cost | Cartridge ink can be costly; tank ink can lower refill cost per page. | Often favorable for text-heavy use; include toner and any replaceable drum or other model-specific part. |
| Upfront purchase | Cartridge models often start lower; tank models can cost more. | Often higher than comparable basic inkjets. |
| Paper and media | More choice for glossy photo and creative papers, depending on the model. | Usually strongest on standard office media; verify supported media. |
The table describes common tendencies, not guaranteed specifications. The cited RTINGS print-quality comparison used the Brother MFC-L8905CDW and Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 as examples.
Rank #4
- FAST PRINT SPEEDS: Print up to 19 pages per minute.
- COMPACT DESIGN: Space-saving, compact design fits anywhere in your home, school or small office.
- WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY: Print from almost anywhere in your workspace using your compatible mobile device.
- PAPER CAPACITY: Up to 150 sheets.
- SUSTAINABILITY: Uses less than 2 watts in Energy Saver mode.
How to compare the real cost of printing
Do not rely on a broad “cost per page” claim without checking the supplies for the printer you might buy. HP describes a basic calculation: divide a supply’s price by its stated yield to estimate supply cost per page, then add paper cost per sheet. Apply it to the relevant black or color supplies for an ink tank, or toner and any model-specific drum or other replaceable components for a laser.
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- Identify the compatible supplies. Check the exact printer model’s ink, toner, drum, or other replaceable parts.
- Estimate supply cost per page. Divide each supply’s price by its stated page yield. For mixed-color printing, account for the relevant color supplies rather than using a black-only figure.
- Add paper. Include the cost per sheet, especially if you expect to use photo paper rather than ordinary office paper.
- Estimate your own page mix and ownership period. Count expected black-text, color-document, and photo pages, then include the printer’s purchase price over the time you expect to own it.
Page yields are not promises for every job: coverage and use affect how many pages a supply produces. HP’s undated ink-tank explainer illustrates its method with a $30 black-ink bottle divided by a stated 6,000-page yield, or $0.005 per page before paper. HP also gives model-dependent Smart Tank yields of up to 6,000 black pages and 8,000 color pages. Those are HP examples and product claims, not independent averages.
Yields vary by printer: RTINGS’ comparison, updated December 16, 2025, describes more than 6,500 black-and-white and 3,500 color pages from an Epson EcoTank ET-3950 before refill. Those figures apply to that model in that comparison, not to ink-tank printers generally. Consumer Reports’ March 2017 comparison reported 12–25 pages per minute and 1–5 cents per page for black-and-white laser text printing, and said inkjets cost about 33 percent more to operate on average than black-and-white lasers. Those figures are dated and should not be treated as current prices or universal comparisons.
Quick Recap
A quick decision checklist
- Mostly black text and occasional batches: begin with a monochrome laser and check toner yield and replacement cost.
- Photos or glossy output: begin with an inkjet and verify photo-paper and borderless-printing support.
- Frequent color printing: compare tank models with cartridge inkjets and color lasers using actual supply prices and yields.
- Long periods without printing: account for the inkjet’s potential nozzle maintenance; choose based on the specific printer if photo capability is important.
- Scanning or copying: choose an all-in-one only if needed, then compare those features separately from print technology.
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