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Choose a monochrome laser printer when almost everything you print is black text or grayscale. Choose a colour laser printer when colour charts, presentations, labels, forms, or other colour documents are a recurring requirement. The right choice is driven by the work you actually print, not by a universal rule that one category always costs less.
Compare the complete ownership picture for the specific model and region: printer price, included cartridge yields, replacement toner prices, drums or waste-toner parts, duplexing, paper capacity, connectivity, workload rating, warranty, and current availability. Rated page yields are useful for a standardized comparison, but they are not a promise of the pages your own files will produce.
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Monochrome or colour: the decision in one minute
| If your routine work is… | Start with… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Letters, invoices, reports, shipping documents, web pages, and grayscale drafts | Monochrome laser | You pay for one toner system and avoid buying colour capability you rarely use. |
| Slides, colour charts, branded forms, labels, classroom materials, or customer-facing documents | Colour laser | Colour is a recurring output requirement rather than an occasional exception. |
| Mostly black text, but with a few colour pages each month | Monochrome plus an alternate colour workflow, or colour laser if convenience matters | Compare the cost and delay of sending those jobs elsewhere with the extra cartridges and maintenance of a colour machine. |
| High-volume black text with no colour requirement | Business-class monochrome model | Higher paper capacity, faster rated speed, and larger toner options can matter more than headline purchase price. |
This is a needs-based recommendation, not a claim that every monochrome printer is cheaper to run. Cartridge prices, yields, maintenance parts, electricity, warranty terms, and regional availability vary by model.
What the two printer types actually do
Monochrome laser printers
A monochrome laser printer is designed to place black toner on the page. It can print photographs and graphics as grayscale, but it cannot produce coloured text, fills, or images. For a home office or small business whose documents are predominantly text, that limitation is often a benefit: the supply system is simpler, and there are fewer cartridges to track.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
Monochrome does not automatically mean slow or low-capacity. Business models can offer high monthly duty cycles, large input trays, automatic duplexing, wired networking, and high-yield black cartridges. Check those features on the exact model rather than inferring them from the category.
Colour laser printers
A colour laser printer normally uses black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toner. It can print black-only pages as well as colour documents, but it adds four-cartridge management, colour calibration, registration, and model-specific maintenance behaviour. Colour output is useful when the colour carries meaning—for example, a chart series, a warning label, or a branded customer document—not merely because the printer is capable of it.
Colour quality is intended for crisp business graphics and durable office documents. If your priority is exhibition-quality photographs, compare the printer’s stated media support and image quality with a photo-oriented process instead of assuming that a colour laser is a universal photo printer.
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Running cost: compare the whole supply system
The printer’s purchase price is only the first line of the budget. For every shortlisted model, record the local street price, what cartridges are in the box, replacement cartridge prices and declared yields, and any drum, belt, fuser, or waste-toner items that the manufacturer lists as user-replaceable. A colour model requires this exercise for black and each colour cartridge separately.
A practical worksheet
- Write down the exact model number and the country or region in which you will buy supplies.
- Record the included cartridge type and its declared yield. Introductory cartridges may contain less toner than standard replacements.
- Record the price and declared yield of each compatible replacement cartridge currently available in your market.
- List model-specific drums, imaging units, transfer belts, waste-toner boxes, or maintenance kits, including their stated replacement intervals and prices.
- Estimate your monthly mix of black-only pages and colour pages. Do not treat every page as a full-coverage page.
- Calculate a rough cartridge-only estimate with
cartridge price ÷ declared page yield. For colour, keep black, cyan, magenta, and yellow calculations separate. - Add the expected cost of periodic maintenance parts and the practical cost of unused or expired supplies before declaring one model cheaper.
This calculation is a standardized starting point, not a guaranteed cost per page. A printer with a low purchase price can become expensive if its cartridges are small or its maintenance parts are costly; a more expensive machine can make sense when it uses high-yield supplies and handles a heavy workload reliably.
Why a toner yield number is not a page-count promise
Manufacturers publish yields so buyers can compare supplies under a common test method. HP explains that monochrome yield is described under ISO/IEC 19752 and colour yield under ISO/IEC 19798 in its LaserJet Page Yields guidance. Those two methods are not interchangeable, so a black yield and a colour yield should not be treated as a direct prediction of how many pages one household or office will print.
HP states: “Page yield data should be used as a starting point for comparison purposes, and not to predict the exact yield you will get from your HP printer and cartridge.” The same caution applies when you compare other manufacturers’ published figures.
Brother identifies page coverage, paper size, font size, and graphics as factors that can change actual yield in its guidance on toner yield not being as expected. A page of small, lightly printed text consumes far less toner than a full-page dark graphic. Large posters, solid spreadsheet fills, bold fonts, and repeated logo areas can therefore make a cartridge run out much earlier than a simple pages-per-month estimate suggests.
Introductory cartridges need a separate check
Some printers ship with introductory cartridges that yield less than the replacement cartridges sold for the same model. Check the box contents and the model-specific replacement yields before forecasting your first year. Otherwise, the first replacement can arrive sooner than your budget assumes even when your monthly volume is stable.
Colour toner can be used during black-and-white work
Do not assume that selecting “black and white” in a print dialog guarantees that a colour printer will never consume colour toner. Brother explains in its support article on colour toner usage when printing in black and white that some models can rotate colour cartridges during initialization, cleaning, calibration, or registration. The exact behaviour depends on the model, firmware, and selected settings.
Rank #2
- 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)
HP also notes in its guidance on toner usage and the impact on print cartridge yield that some printers combine toner colours to improve black output, while a supported black-only setting can use black toner alone. Read the operating guide for the specific printer and identify whether “black toner only,” “monochrome,” or an equivalent option is available and what functions it disables.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThis matters when you are choosing colour for occasional work. A colour printer may still consume some colour supply while it is maintained or while particular jobs are processed, so include that possibility in your ownership estimate rather than assuming colour cartridges will sit unused indefinitely.
Published examples: what the specifications show—and what they do not
The following figures are manufacturer-published examples, not market averages or a recommendation to buy these particular machines. Regional specifications and product status can change.
| Example | Published speed | Included or listed toner yields | Status and context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother HL-L6400DWG | Up to 52 pages per minute | Approximately 12,000 pages included; optional replacement toner up to approximately 20,000 pages | The Brother USA page identifies this monochrome model as discontinued. Do not treat its figures as proof of current availability or as a current buying recommendation. |
| Brother HL-EX470W | Up to 42 pages per minute in simplex and duplex | 15,000 pages black and 12,000 pages for each colour cartridge | Presented by Brother as an enterprise colour printer for mid- to large-sized workgroups; it is not a default home-office choice. |
Brother describes the HL-EX470W as providing “enterprise-level performance, advanced security features, and bold color output in a compact footprint that is ideal for mid to large-sized workgroups.” That description identifies its intended environment, not a guarantee that its size, cost, or features fit a small desk.
Cartridge yields are model-specific
Brother’s TN920-series guidance illustrates how much yields can vary even within one cartridge family: approximately 3,000 pages for standard black TN920, 6,000 for TN920XL, 11,000 for TN920XXL, 18,000 for TN920UXXL, and 25,000 for TN925. These are figures for specific cartridges, not universal monochrome yields. Confirm that a cartridge is compatible with the exact printer and that the quoted yield applies to the version sold in your region.
Compare the specifications that affect daily work
| Decision axis | What to check on a monochrome model | What to check on a colour model |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Black text and grayscale quality; whether grayscale graphics are acceptable | Colour accuracy and consistency for charts, forms, labels, and presentations |
| Consumables | Black cartridge price and yield; drum or imaging-unit schedule | Black plus cyan, magenta, and yellow prices and yields; colour-maintenance behaviour; drum, belt, and waste-toner parts |
| Realistic yield | ISO or manufacturer yield adjusted for your page coverage, fonts, graphics, and paper size | The same adjustment for each cartridge, with colour-page coverage considered separately |
| Workload | Recommended monthly volume, print speed, input capacity, and automatic duplexing | Those same figures, plus whether speed is quoted for colour, black-only, simplex, or duplex output |
| Connectivity | USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, mobile-print protocols, and administrator controls | The same options, plus colour-management and security controls that may matter in a shared office |
| Product support | Current regional availability, warranty, firmware support, and supply compatibility | Current regional availability for all four cartridges, warranty, firmware support, and supply compatibility |
A high pages-per-minute figure is useful only when the printer also has enough paper capacity, an appropriate recommended monthly volume, reliable duplexing, and supplies you can obtain locally. A fast engine with a small tray can still create interruptions in a busy office.
How to choose a printer step by step
1. Audit your actual documents
- Review several weeks of print jobs, including documents sent to an outside print shop.
- Count how many pages genuinely require colour rather than merely containing a logo that could be grayscale.
- Separate black-only pages, mixed documents, full-colour pages, labels, envelopes, and unusual media.
- Record whether users need automatic two-sided printing, wireless printing, scanning, copying, or faxing.
If colour appears only a few times a year, compare the cost and turnaround of an alternate colour workflow with the ongoing supplies and maintenance of a colour printer. If colour is part of weekly or daily work, treat it as a core requirement.
2. Set a realistic monthly volume
Estimate ordinary monthly pages and identify peak months. Use the manufacturer’s recommended monthly volume—not merely a maximum duty-cycle figure—to match the printer to your workload. Leave headroom for seasonal invoices, school terms, campaigns, or end-of-quarter reporting.
3. Shortlist current models in your region
Check that the model is still sold, that its firmware and drivers support your computers and phones, and that replacement supplies are available from legitimate local channels. A discontinued model can have attractive published specifications yet be a poor purchase if cartridges, parts, or warranty service are difficult to obtain.
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4. Verify paper handling and duplexing
Confirm the supported paper sizes and weights, input and output capacity, manual-feed options, and whether automatic duplexing works at the speed you need. If you print long reports, duplexing reduces paper use and shelf space; if you print labels or envelopes, verify the manufacturer’s media guidance before buying.
Rank #3
- 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.
5. Check connectivity and administration
For a single computer, USB may be sufficient. A shared home office or small business often benefits from Ethernet or Wi-Fi, mobile-print support, user authentication, and firmware updates. Confirm that the printer can join your network and that security controls match your environment.
6. Calculate supplies before placing the order
Use the worksheet above with current local prices. For colour, model separate black-only and mixed-colour scenarios. Ask whether the printer stops when one colour is empty, whether it supports black-only printing in that state, and which maintenance parts are required at the volumes you expect.
When monochrome is the better fit
- Your documents are predominantly text, invoices, forms, shipping labels, or grayscale reports.
- You want one cartridge type and a simpler replacement routine.
- Your users do not need colour-coded charts or branded output at the printer.
- You can send occasional colour work to another device without delaying important jobs.
- You are willing to choose based on current supplies and workload ratings rather than the lowest purchase price.
Monochrome is especially straightforward when every user prints the same kind of black-text document. It becomes less attractive when employees repeatedly export colour slides, marketing proofs, or customer-facing forms and must find another printer each time.
When colour is worth the extra complexity
- Colour communicates status, categories, warnings, or data series in documents people use every day.
- You print presentations, classroom materials, labels, maps, or forms where grayscale changes the meaning.
- External colour printing is frequent enough that waiting, file transfer, or per-page charges disrupt work.
- Several users need colour at short notice and a separate colour device would create a bottleneck.
Before buying, verify the cost and availability of all four cartridges. A colour printer’s value comes from convenient, repeatable colour output; it is not automatically economical for an office that prints almost exclusively black text.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common buying mistakes and fixes
Using the cheapest printer price as the verdict
Problem: The initial price ignores toner, drums, belts, waste-toner parts, and the cost of replacing introductory cartridges.
Fix: Price the first replacement cycle and the maintenance items for the volume you expect.
Treating a declared yield as guaranteed
Problem: Your pages have heavier coverage, larger fonts, or more graphics than the standardized test pages.
Fix: Use the yield as a comparison baseline, then adjust your budget for your document mix.
Assuming black-and-white mode never uses colour toner
Problem: Initialization, cleaning, calibration, registration, or a model’s black-generation method can consume colour supplies.
Fix: Read the exact model’s support documentation and identify its black-only setting and limitations.
Rank #4
- 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
Buying a discontinued model because its specification sheet looks strong
Problem: Parts, firmware, warranty service, or compatible cartridges may be harder to obtain.
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Ignoring duplex and paper capacity
Problem: A fast printer becomes inconvenient when users refill a small tray constantly or manually turn pages.
Fix: Match tray capacity and automatic duplexing to your busiest normal day, not to a single occasional print job.
Assuming a business-class colour model suits a home desk
Problem: Enterprise hardware may be larger, louder, more expensive, and designed for a shared workgroup.
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A final decision framework
- Need colour regularly? If yes, shortlist colour laser models. If no, shortlist monochrome models.
- Print volume high or unpredictable? Prioritize recommended monthly volume, high-yield options, tray capacity, and duplex reliability.
- Supplies easy to obtain? Reject a model whose compatible cartridges or maintenance parts are uncertain in your region.
- Does the ownership worksheet fit your budget? Include black and colour supplies, introductory-cartridge differences, and maintenance parts.
- Does the product remain supported? Confirm current availability, warranty, firmware, drivers, and network compatibility.
The best purchase is the model that meets your recurring output need while keeping its entire supply and maintenance system predictable. For black text and grayscale work, that usually points you toward a current monochrome laser printer. For documents where colour is part of the message, choose a colour laser printer and budget for all four toner channels and the model’s maintenance behaviour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a monochrome laser printer print a colour document in grayscale?
Yes. It can reproduce the document’s light and dark tones with black toner, but it cannot preserve colour distinctions that depend on hue. Check a sample page if charts or shaded areas are important.
What should I do if a colour printer says a colour cartridge is empty during a black-only job?
Follow the exact model’s support instructions. Some printers offer a black-only or continue-in-monochrome setting, while others require the colour cartridge for maintenance or normal operation. The setting and limitation are model-specific.
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Not necessarily. Divide the current cartridge price by its declared yield, then include your actual page coverage, expiration or storage concerns, and any maintenance-part costs. A larger cartridge is useful only if the printer, supply channel, and your print volume support it.
Why can two printers with the same pages-per-minute rating feel different?
Warm-up time, first-page-out time, duplex speed, processor and memory, paper-tray capacity, network latency, and job complexity all affect the time you spend waiting. Compare the full specification set rather than speed alone.
Should a small business buy a multifunction laser printer instead?
Choose a multifunction model only if scanning, copying, or faxing is a real requirement. Compare those functions, their security controls, and their maintenance needs separately from the monochrome-versus-colour print decision.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
