The best color laser printers are a great investment that can save you time and money compared to cartridge-based inkjet printers. Laser printers use toner, which lasts a long time, delivering a low cost per page for monochrome documents and incredibly fast color prints. The best color laser printers offer high-quality prints and reliability that help keep your home office or small business productive.
If you need to scan documents for record-keeping and photo capture or want the convenience of a color copier, an all-in-one color laser printer is an essential tool for your small business or personal use. For a small added cost, you get expanded capabilities. That's why we include several all-in-one models from the best printer brands.
Best all-in-one color laser printer
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw
- Lightning fast print and scan speeds
- Good print quality
- Two paper trays
- Easy setup and use
- Reliable operation
- Color cost per page is just OK
- No borderless printing
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 16.6 x 17.1 x 15.1 inches |
| Weight | 45 pounds |
| Print speed | 35 ppm (black), 35 ppm (color) |
| Print resolution | 600 x 600 dpi |
| Paper capacity | 250 sheets (main tray), 50 sheets (media tray), 550 sheets (optional tray) |
With blistering fast print and scan speeds, the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw makes short work of challenging jobs. It prints 35 pages per minute (ppm) for monochrome and color documents and scans with its ADF at 31 ppm. In my testing, I found it to be among the fastest color printers I’ve ever used.
Color documents look great and photos come out nice even on plain paper. While HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw can blast through high-quality plain paper photos rapidly, it can't compete with the best photo printers that can output lab-quality borderless photographs on glossy paper.
A USB port allows walk-up printing via a thumb drive, making the LaserJet Pro 4301fdw an excellent all-in-one printer for home and office. It's not the most affordable option on the list, but in this case, you definitely get what you pay for.
The LaserJet Pro 4301fdwprinter is built to last . HP boasts a duty cycle of up to 50,000 pages per month with more environmentally-friendly TerraJet toner cartridges that supply up to 5,500 pages. It's a great choice for busy small businesses and fast-paced home offices .
Best budget color laser printer
Canon imageClass MF653Cdw
- Affordable price
- Excellent color document quality
- Fast performance
- Nice photo quality
- Media tray for easy envelope printing
- No ADF for multi-page copies
- High color toner cost
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 17.8 x 18.2 x 14.2 inches |
| Weight | 39.7 pounds |
| Print speed | 22 ppm (black), 22 ppm (color) |
| Print resolution | 1200 x 1200 dpi |
| Paper capacity | 250 sheets (main tray), 1 sheet (media slot) |
If all you need is a printer that's fast, reliable, and has an affordable price, Canon's imageClass MF653Cdw offers great value. On sale, it can be found as low as $370, a nice bargain for a color laser printer with great color graphics quality. With a slight tweak to settings, you can set photos to print at 1200 dots-per-inch, resulting in good plain paper pictures.
At 22 pages-per-minute, it's not the fastest color laser printer, but it's quicker than most inkjet printers. In my testing, it rolled out the first page in as little as 10 seconds if the printer was already warmed up. That's as fast as many more expensive models for shorter documents. However, it could feel too slow in a high-volume office.
The Canon imageClass MF653Cdw a well-designed printer at a great price, but it's not perfect. While it has a quick flatbed scanner for color copies and digitization, it lacks an ADF for multi-page copies. Color toner costs are also somewhat expensive.
Color laser printers tend to be large and boxy, but Canon made this printer series more sporty by lowering the front and adding a dark stripe for the output tray. The 5-inch color touchscreen makes operation simple and a USB-A port at the top left allows for walk-up printing.
Best deal on a color laser printer
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw
- Fast print and scan speeds
- Great color document quality
- Media tray for envelopes and labels
- Easy to set up and use
- Reliable operation
- More expensive than better HP models
- Photo prints lack detail in shadows
- Starter cartridges run low quickly
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 16.5 x 16.5 x 13.4 inches |
| Weight | 37.7 pounds |
| Print speed | 26 ppm (black), 26 ppm (color) |
| Print resolution | 600 x 600 dpi |
| Paper capacity | 250 sheets (main tray), 1 sheet (media slot) |
A nice HP color laser printer usually costs a lot more than this. The list price is $529 but new sale prices make the Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw closer to the cost of a budget model.
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw outputs the first page in a speedy 11 seconds and has sustained print speeds of up to 26 ppm. That's fast enough for most offices, particularly quick for single-page prints, which is handy if you frequently print shipping labels, invoices, and receipts.
A large, adjustable, 4.5-inch color touchscreen at the top left makes navigation easy. Just below, a USB-A port accepts thumb drives for easy walk-up printing. The main paper tray holds 250 sheets and there's also a media slot for envelopes and labels.
HP's Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw is a multifunction printer that can also scan, copy, and fax. The ADF supports full-duplex and scans both sides in a single pass. In other words, it can do it all.
Best color laser printer for low-cost toner
Brother HL-L3295CDW
- Excellent color document print quality
- Fast prints on long documents
- Low toner cost with super high-yield cartridges
- Includes over 1,000 pages worth of toner
- Walk-up USB port for quick printing
- Low noise
- Screen is hard to see when seated
- Touchscreen use is awkward
- Paper curls
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 15.7 x 17.6 x 10.8 inches |
| Weight | 36.8 pounds |
| Print speed | 31 ppm (black), 31 ppm (color) |
| Print resolution | 2400 x 600 dpi |
| Paper capacity | 250 sheets (main tray), 30 sheets (media tray), 250 sheets (optional tray) |
The Brother HL-L3295CDW is a great choice for high-volume printing. It's an affordable color laser printer with surprisingly low-cost toner. One of its standout features is the affordable XXL toner cartridges. Cost per page is as low as 2 cents for monochrome and 10 cents per page for color documents.
In terms of performance, the printer delivers crisp, high-quality prints at a speed of 31 pages per minute. It also features wireless connectivity, allowing for convenient printing from mobile devices and computers. This flexibility makes it perfect for small offices or home workspaces where multiple users need to print documents.
This isn't the best choice for printing photos, but charts and color documents look great. The Brother HL-L3295CDW also boasts a compact design, automatic two-sided printing, and a 250-sheet paper capacity. Overall, the Brother HL-L3295CDW is an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable, affordable color laser printer with low-cost toner.
Best laser printer for photos
Canon imageClass MF753cdw
- Superfast print and scan speeds
- Good print quality
- Two paper trays
- Easy setup and use
- Reliable operation
- Color cost per page is just OK
- No borderless printing
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 16.8 x 18.2 x 17 inches |
| Weight | 48.5 pounds |
| Print speed | 35 ppm (black), 35 ppm (color) |
| Print resolution | 1200 x 1200 dpi |
| Paper capacity | 250 sheets (main tray), 50 sheets (media tray), 550 sheets (optional tray) |
Laser printers are known to be fast and rugged, and the Canon imageClass MF753Cdw fits this description well. This printer is built for speed and durability, blasting through big jobs at up to 35 pages-per-minute. Picture quality is surprisingly nice for a laser printer, with accurate colors and minimal grain. The imageClass MF753Cdw is hard to beat for an office that needs to make or reproduce color documents that feature graphics and photos.
Canon's imageClass MF753Cdw matches the fastest color lasers and offers full-duplex printing, copying, and one-pass duplex scanning from its 50-sheet document feeder. If your business outgrows the 250-sheet paper tray, you can add a 550-sheet cassette to expand capacity.
The only downside to the imageClass MF753Cdw is the somewhat high cost of color toner, a common issue with color laser printers.
Best compact, scalable color laser printer
Canon imageCLASS LBP674Cdw
- Extremely fast print speeds
- Excellent color document quality
- Two paper trays
- Easy setup and use
- Reliable operation
- Tall for a print-only device
- No borderless printing
- Color cost per page is just OK
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 16.8 x 16.9 x 15 inches |
| Weight | 35.5 pounds |
| Print speed | 35 ppm (black), 35 ppm (color) |
| Print resolution | 1200 x 1200 dpi |
| Paper capacity | 250 sheets (main tray), 50 sheets (media tray), 550 sheets (optional tray) |
The Canon Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw is a robust color laser printer made to handle the busy workload of small to medium-sized offices. The print quality is exceptional, with sharp text and vibrant color graphics. I found photo prints to be detailed and vibrant for a laser printer.
It boasts impressive print speeds of up to 35 pages per minute for both black-and-white and color documents, delivering high-quality reports, charts, and graphics for all your business needs. The first page shoots out in just seven seconds, making it a great choice for short and long documents.
The 5-inch color touchscreen makes navigation easy. Canon gave the Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw good paper handling with a 250-sheet main tray, a 50-sheet multipurpose tray, and an optional accessory tray that attaches to the bottom to expand paper capacity to 850 sheets.
Expandability means work doesn't have to slow due to paper outages on hectic days. The imageCLASS LBP674Cdw includes a USB-A port for direct printing from flash drives. Canon alos built in security features and administrative control to safeguard sensitive information.
Setting up the printer is straightforward, with Wi-Fi connecting instantly and compatibility with Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, iOS, and Android devices. Security features such as Secure Print and network authentication are included to protect sensitive documents.
Overall, the Canon Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw is a reliable and efficient choice for businesses seeking high-speed, quality color printing with versatile connectivity and robust security features.
Best color laser printer for shared offices
Brother MFC-L3780 CDW
- Fast, reliable printing at 31 ppm
- Quick, high-resolution scanner
- Duplex printing and scanning
- Includes over 1,000 pages in toner
- Easy setup
- iPhone and iPad app is surprisingly slow
- Photo-quality isn't great
- It's a heavy printer that requires lots of space
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 18.2 x 16.1 x 15.8 inches |
| Weight | 47.8 pounds |
| Print speed | 31 ppm (black), 31 ppm (color) |
| Print resolution | 2400 x 600 dpi |
| Paper capacity | 250 sheets (main tray), 30 sheets (media tray), 250 sheets (optional tray) |
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW is a reliable multifunction color laser printer that's ideal for small businesses in shared spaces. Walk-up printing is simple with the USB thumb drive port, and an NFC card reader controls access to the printer to ensure confidentiality and manage printing costs.
It offers fast print speeds reaching 31 pages per minute on long documents. High-volume isn't a problem thanks to it's sturdy design. Its 250-sheet main tray can be expanded to 500 sheets with an optional accessory tray.
The 3.5-inch color touchscreen makes it user-friendly and setup is quick via the mobile app. Overall, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW combines reliability, multifunctionality, and security, making it a great choice for any small business or home office.
Best color laser printer for medium-sized businesses
HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480f
- Supports 6,000-page toner cartridges
- High-volume, low-cost color prints
- 2 GB RAM holds multiple/larger print jobs
- Expandable paper capacity
- Enterprise security features
- Wi-Fi support is optional
- Slower than newer consumer models
| Specification: | |
| Dimensions | 16.4 x 18.6 x 15.7 inches |
| Weight | 51.2 pounds |
| Print speed | 29 ppm (black), 29 ppm (color) |
| Print resolution | 1200 x 1200 dpi |
| Paper capacity | 250 sheets (main tray), 50 sheets (media tray), 550 sheets (optional tray) |
Workgroups and businesses that print in large volume need a color laser printer like HP's Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480f that won't interrupt operations with frequent paper and toner cartridge swaps. With high-yield HP414X cartridges, the MFP M480f can keep printing through massive jobs of up to 6,000 pages. High-yield cartridges also deliver lower costs per page.
The MFP M480f adds multifunctional features that will help with your office's document needs, including a built-in flatbed scanner, automatic document feeder, and full duplex capabilities to handle double-sided color copies of multi-page documents. The M480f is a well-rounded multifunction printer that can still output up to 29 ppm in black and white or color.
This speedy but compact number has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low-Energy, and mobile printing is supported across a number of devices and platforms. The big limiting factor on this printer is its small 250-sheet paper input tray, though larger offices with bigger print jobs can upgrade to the optional 550-sheet tray. Duplexing is supported to help save paper and the environment. A front-facing USB port makes it easy to print from a storage drive. The printer can print from or scan to a variety of cloud providers, making it easy for digital document archiving. Businesses on a limited print budget can invest in high-yield toner cartridges for a lower per-page print cost.
HP's Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480f isn't the ideal printer for home use, since Wi-Fi support requires an optional upgrade. It's also slower than newer consumer models like the HP's Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw.
What to consider
There are several key factors to consider when choosing a color laser printer. Purchase price matters, but long-term costs can add up quickly. Review the entire list to find the perfect printer.
Laser vs. inkjet: which is better?
For the home and office, the best printers use laser or inkjet technology. Laser printers are ideal for text-heavy documents due to their crisp output and low long-term costs, despite higher upfront expenses. Inkjet printers offer more affordable color printing, environmental benefits, and greater versatility.
While laser printers are built for speed and durability, they tend to be larger and heavier than inkjet printers. Inkjet printers are almost always a better choice for photos and accept various paper sizes and types for creative projects. In general, a laser printer is better suited to office use, while an inkjet printer works well at home. For home offices, either could work, depending on what you need to print.
How much does toner cost?
Toner costs vary for each model, but in most cases, black toner is inexpensive. The cost to print a monochrome document is usually 3 to 5 cents per page. Color documents cost significantly more.
Color laser printer combine cyan, magenta, and yellow toner to approximate a full range of hues and shades. Each color document costs up to three times as much as monochrome since multiple colors are used for each dot. Color toner cartridges also cost more, further increasing expenses. Color documents typically cost 12 to 20 cents per page.
To minimize toner costs, choose a color laser printer that supports high-capacity or high-yield toner cartridges. While you'll pay more upfront for cartridges that hold more toner, the long-term savings is worth the investment.
What should I look for in a color last printer?
If you're choosing color, you need more than a hard copy -- you want your document to look great. You still need razor-sharp text, but it's essential for colors to match what you see on-screen and in photos without banding or streaks.
A laser printer should also be fast and efficient with low running costs. Otherwise, you should choose a more versatile and lower-cost inkjet printer. For an all-in-one, copy speed and duplex capabilities are worth consideration.
Lastly, all-in-one printers include scan, copy, and sometimes fax functions, filling multiple roles in your office. Many printers offer duplex printing (double-sided), an automatic document feeder (ADF), multiple paper trays, Wi-Fi connectivity, and walk-up printing. These details could be critically important when making a purchase decision.
How we tested
Each printer we review is tested over several days, noting convenience, quality, and performance at each step. From the unboxing and setup to software installation, connection, and use, we share our experience with the printer so you know what to expect if you buy a recommended printer. We note any problems during testing and, when possible, tell you how to solve or workaround the issue.
For every printer, we test the manufacturer specifications to make sure the reality matches expectations. The little things add up with printers you'll use for years so we'll warn you if a difficult user interface hurts the usability of an otherwise high-quality printer. We examine print quality for text, graphics, and photos, on a variety of media. Since multifunction printers include scan and copy features, our reviews assess scan quality and copy speed so you can be certain you get a model that meets your requirements.
Finally, we test printers across multiple platforms to find out if everything works as expected on all your devices. The best printer brands offer mobile apps so you can use your iPhone or Android phone for printing and scanning. Still, mobile apps could lack features or limit scan resolution. You need to know all the details to choose the best printer.
Why you should trust us
Digital Trends has been reviewing printers for 20 years and testing them to determine which ones offer the best quality and fastest speeds. We check the long-term value of each printer, so you'll know in advance if a low-cost printer is truly affordable or if it has outrageous toner costs.
Printers are complex machines that require a good understanding of the technology to make a solid recommendation. Our hands-on reviews help you make informed decisions by highlighting compatibility concerns and how well advertised features actually work.
