Printers are annoying. All of them. But if you want to keep your annoyance to a minimum, we recommend a laser printer: Not only do laser models print sharp text and crisp graphics, but they also run more reliably than inkjets and won’t clog if they sit unused for weeks between jobs. The best laser printer is the powerful, versatile HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw. It’s easy to set up and simple to use, and it produces great-looking results, both in color and in black and white.
Global supply chain issues have made it more difficult to find some of our printer picks, and have caused the price of others to jump. If you’re considering other printers in this series, just be aware that the letters after the number indicate key features: D for duplex printing, F for faxing, and W for wireless printing. Some models drop one or the other, so be sure to check before buying.
Our pick
HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
The HP M255dw has an intuitive touchscreen interface, great apps, and a low cost of operation. It produces great results, too: crisp black text and vibrant color graphics. A fall 2020 software update locked out non-HP toner, so be prepared to have to pay full price when you need to replace the cartridges.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $300.
If you’re looking for a laser printer that can handle everything from book reports to corporate reports without driving you crazy in the process, the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw is the one to get. It stands out from the competition with an easy-to-use, smartphone-style touch interface and 21st-century mobile and PC software that makes daily use far less frustrating than on other printers we’ve tried. In our tests, it produced sharp black text, vibrant full-color graphics, and even photos good enough for a school report. It’s fast, topping out at around 17 pages per minute, and it can print on envelopes, labels, and other odd-size media thanks to a handy bypass slot.
Budget pick
Brother HL-L2350DW
With low operating costs, quick operation, and useful features, the HL-L2350DW is the best laser printer you can get for around $100.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $110.
Some people just need a cheap laser printer for occasional black-and-white print jobs. For them, we recommend the Brother HL-L2350DW. Setup is painless, and the machine is compatible with all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Its cost per page is a reasonable 3.3¢, it sticks to Wi-Fi like glue, and its price generally hovers around $100. Its print quality is merely adequate right out of the box, but you can improve that with a simple tweak to the toner density setting. Just be aware that the HL-L2350DW can’t scan or copy; if you need that functionality, look to our monochrome all-in-one pick.
Also great
Brother MFC-L2750DW
This multifunction printer adds a flatbed scanner and an automatic document feeder to the HL-L2350DW, significantly upping its home-office utility.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $200.
If you like the sound of our budget pick but want the ability to scan and copy documents and photos too, the Brother MFC-L2750DW should fit the bill. At its core it’s a very similar printer—and it’s just as easy to set up—but it also has a flatbed scanner and a fast, single-pass duplexing automatic document feeder on top. Its print quality is slightly better out of the box, and you get the same operating costs, the same print speed, and the same connectivity options as you do with the HL-L2350DW. For home offices this model is a great do-it-all option—as long as you don’t need color.
Upgrade pick
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw
This business-class machine checks all the boxes for a home office or small business: It’s faster, sharper, more durable, and more secure than our other picks. Like our top pick, it requires you to use official HP toner.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $450.
For a small business with more serious productivity needs, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw is a worthwhile upgrade over our other picks. It prints and scans more quickly and more reliably than inkjet alternatives, produces sharper results, and includes robust admin and security settings designed for situations that may involve sensitive data. All-in-one color lasers like the M479fdw cost more and are more expensive to operate than inkjet printers with comparable features, but they deliver high-quality color prints, copies, and scans at a quicker pace than cheaper models. They’re also sturdier and more reliable than inkjets.