Laser vs Inkjet Printer for Home: Which Should You Buy?
Quick answer: choose a laser printer for home if you mainly print black text, print in bursts with gaps of weeks, and want fast, sharp pages that do not smudge. Choose an inkjet if you print photos, need good colour on a budget, or print only a little. An ink tank inkjet is best if you print lots of colour. Laser toner does not dry out, while inkjet nozzles can if the printer sits unused.
Laser and inkjet printers work in completely different ways, and that affects speed, quality and running costs. Here is a side-by-side comparison to help you choose for your home.
Laser vs inkjet at a glance
| Laser | Inkjet | |
|---|---|---|
| How it prints | Fuses powdered toner onto paper with heat | Sprays tiny drops of liquid ink |
| Black text | Very sharp, fast and smudge resistant | Good, slower |
| Photos and colour | Fine for documents, weaker for photos | Better colour blends and photos |
| Speed | Usually faster for multi-page documents | Slower on long jobs |
| Running cost | Low per page for black | Higher with cartridges, very low with ink tanks |
| Drying out | Toner does not dry out | Nozzles can dry if unused |
| Upfront price | Mono lasers are affordable, colour lasers cost more | Usually the cheapest to buy |
| Size | Often larger and heavier | Compact models available |
Which should you buy?
- Students and home workers printing documents: a mono laser. Try the Brother HL-L2400DWE (£113.99), 30 pages per minute with automatic 2-sided printing.
- Families printing a bit of everything: an all-in-one inkjet such as the Brother MFC-J4350DW (£158.99).
- Heavy colour users: an ink tank, such as the Brother DCP-T580DW (£228.99).
- Small businesses needing colour documents: a colour LED or laser such as the Brother HL-L3220CWE (£198.99) or the all-in-one Brother MFC-L3740CDWE (£328.98).
- Occasional printers on a budget: a compact inkjet such as the Brother DCP-J1260W (£88.98).
What about LED printers?
LED printers work like lasers, using toner, but use an LED array instead of a laser to create the image. In practice they behave like laser printers: sharp text, toner that does not dry out and reliable performance.
Running costs explained
Laser toner cartridges cost more each, but they print many more pages, so black pages are usually cheaper. Standard inkjet cartridges are cheap to buy but print fewer pages. Ink tanks reverse this with large, low-cost bottles. Compare by cost per page, which you can work out from the stated page yield. See our best printer with cheap ink guide.
Paper and media
Lasers handle plain paper and labels made for lasers. Inkjets suit photo paper and glossy media. Check the printer's supported paper weights if you print cards or thick stock. Browse printer paper.
See all laser printers, inkjet printers, or read our guide to the best printer for home use.
Frequently asked questions
Is a laser printer better than inkjet for home use?
A laser is better if you mainly print black text. An inkjet is better for photos and colour, and an ink tank for lots of colour.
Do laser printers dry out?
No. Toner is a dry powder, so laser printers cope well with long gaps between printing.
Can a laser printer print photos?
Colour lasers can print images, but inkjets produce better photo quality on photo paper.
Are laser printers more expensive?
Mono lasers are affordable. Colour lasers cost more upfront but can be cheaper per page than cartridge inkjets.
