Does your office printer ever jam at the worst possible moment? Or maybe the ink costs more than a small car? You’re not alone. Picking the right printer for your office feels like a big task. So many choices, so many features, and it’s easy to get confused.
The wrong printer can slow down your whole team. It can cost a lot of money in ink and repairs. And when it breaks, your important work stops. But don’t worry! We understand these problems. That’s why we put together this helpful guide.
By reading on, you’ll learn what really matters when choosing an office printer. We’ll break down the confusing jargon and show you how to find a printer that works for your team and your budget. Get ready to say goodbye to printer headaches and hello to smooth, reliable printing!
Top Printers For Office Recommendations
- 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)
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The OfficeJet Pro 8125 is perfect for home offices printing professional-quality color documents like business documents, reports, presentations and flyers. Print speeds up to 20 ppm black, 10 ppm color.
- 3 MONTH TRIAL OF INSTANT INK INCLUDED – Subscribe to the Instant Ink delivery service to get ink delivered directly to your door before you run out, and you save up to 50% on ink; after 3 months, a monthly fee applies unless cancelled
- KEY FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, auto 2-sided printing, auto document feeder, and a 225-sheet input tray
- 2.7-INCH TOUCHSCREEN – Quickly navigate your printer with a large color touchscreen and a phone-like user interface
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The OfficeJet Pro 9125 is perfect for offices printing professional-quality color documents like presentations, brochures and flyers. Print speeds up to 22 ppm black, 18 ppm color.
- 3 MONTH TRIAL OF INSTANT INK INCLUDED – Subscribe to the Instant Ink delivery service to get ink delivered directly to your office door before you run out, and you save up to 50% on ink; after 3 months, a monthly fee applies unless cancelled
- KEY FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, fax, auto 2-sided printing and scanning, auto document feeder, and a 250-sheet input tray
- 2.7-INCH TOUCHSCREEN – Quickly navigate your printer with a large color touchscreen and a phone-like user interface
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues
- AFFORDABLE ALL-IN-ONE FOR HOME AND HOME OFFICE: Print, copy, and scan on one compact wireless printer designed for everyday home office printing, schoolwork, documents, and reports. Produce beautiful prints for results that stand out.
- EASY TO USE WITH CLOUD APP CONNECTIONS: Print from and scan to popular Cloud apps(2), including Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, and more from the simple-to-use 1.8” color display on your printer.
- FULL-SIZE FEATURES IN A COMPACT DESIGN: This printer includes automatic duplex (2-sided) printing, a 20-sheet single-sided Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)(3), and a 150-sheet paper tray(3). Engineered to print at fast speeds of up to 16 pages per minute (ppm) in black and up to 9 ppm in color(4).
- MULTIPLE CONNECTION OPTIONS: Connect your way. Interface with your printer on your wireless network or via USB.
- MOBILE PRINTING MADE EASY: Go mobile with the Brother Mobile Connect app(5) that delivers easy onscreen menu navigation for printing, copying, scanning, and device management from your mobile device. Monitor your ink usage with Page Gauge to help ensure you don’t run out(6).
- Wireless 4-in-1 (print | copy | scan | fax)..Power Consumption: 7W (0.8W Standby / 0.3W Off)
- Print speed up to: 4" x 6" Borderless Photo (PP-201): Approx. 65.0 Seconds / Black Document (Letter/Simplex): Approx. 8.8 ipm / Color Document (Letter/Simplex): Approx. 4.4 ipm
- Designed for easy ink cartridge installation and replacement.
- Auto 2-sided printing and auto document feeder.
- Produce quality documents, photos and boarderless prints up to 8.5" x 11".
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Perfect for small teams printing professional-quality black-and-white documents and reports. Print speeds up to 35 ppm black.
- PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIVITY – Proficiency with every print—bring your business to life with toner designed for sharp, professional-quality prints
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast printing, scanning and copying, auto 2-sided printing, a 250-sheet input tray and 50-sheet auto document feeder
- AWARD-WINNING RELIABILITY – Performance you can count on page after page, and always ready for the high demands of business
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most dependable Wi-Fi, which looks for the best connection to stay online
- PERFECT FOR BASIC PRINTING NEEDS – Print everyday color documents like to-do lists, letters, financial documents and recipes
- KEY FEATURES – Color print, copy, scan, and a 60-sheet input tray, plus mobile and wireless printing
- OPTIMIZE PRINT FORMATTING WITH HP AI – Print web pages and emails with precision—no wasted pages or awkward layouts; HP AI easily removes unwanted content, so your prints are just the way you want
- ICON LCD – Print your basic documents with ease from the intuitive control panel
- PRINT SPEED – Up to 7.5 ppm black, 5.5 ppm color
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Perfect for small teams printing, scanning and copying professional-quality color documents and reports. Print speeds up to 26 ppm black/color.
- PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIVITY – Proficiency with every print—next-generation TerraJet toner brings your business to life with more vivid colors.
- ORIGINAL HP TONER CARTRIDGES – This HP printer uses Original HP 218A standard and 218X high yield LaserJet toner cartridges.
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, auto 2-sided printing, auto document feeder, and a 250-sheet input tray.
- AWARD-WINNING RELIABILITY – Performance you can count on page after page, and always ready for the high demands of business.
Choosing the Right Printer for Your Office
Picking the best printer for your office can make a big difference in your workday. A good printer helps you get tasks done fast and keeps your documents looking professional. Let’s explore what you need to know.
Key Features to Look For
When you shop for an office printer, keep these important features in mind:
- Print Speed: How fast does it print pages? Offices with lots of printing need a speedy printer. Look for pages per minute (PPM).
- Print Quality: How sharp and clear are your prints? This is especially important for important reports or photos.
- Connectivity: How does it connect to your computers? Wi-Fi is handy for wireless printing from anywhere. USB is a standard wired connection.
- All-in-One Capabilities: Do you need more than just printing? Many printers can also copy, scan, and fax. This saves space and money.
- Paper Handling: How much paper can it hold? A larger paper tray means you won’t refill it as often.
- Duplex Printing: This feature prints on both sides of the paper automatically. It saves paper and is good for the environment.
Important Materials and Technology
The parts inside a printer affect how well it works and how long it lasts.
- Ink vs. Toner:
- Inkjet Printers: Use liquid ink. They are often cheaper to buy and great for printing color photos. However, ink can be expensive to replace and can dry out if not used often.
- Laser Printers: Use a powder called toner. They are usually faster for text documents and toner lasts longer. Laser printers are often more expensive upfront but cheaper to run for high-volume printing.
- Build Quality: A sturdy printer made with good materials will last longer.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Several things can make your prints better or worse.
- Resolution (DPI): Dots Per Inch (DPI) tells you how many tiny dots of ink or toner make up an image. Higher DPI means sharper, more detailed prints.
- Ink/Toner Quality: Using good quality ink or toner makes colors brighter and text sharper.
- Paper Type: The paper you use matters. Thicker, smoother paper often leads to better results, especially for photos. Cheap, thin paper can cause jams and blurry prints.
- Driver Software: The software that controls the printer (the driver) helps it communicate with your computer. Updated drivers can improve performance and print quality.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about how you will use the printer most often.
- Home Office: If you work from home, you might need a printer that can handle occasional color printing for presentations and everyday black-and-white documents. An all-in-one with scanning is very useful.
- Small Business: Small businesses often print many documents. Speed and cost per page are very important. A laser printer is usually a good choice here.
- Large Office: Larger offices need printers that can handle heavy workloads. Network connectivity so many people can share it is a must. High print speed and large paper trays are essential.
A user-friendly interface on the printer makes it easy to change settings and fix problems. Easy setup also makes your life simpler.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the difference between an inkjet and a laser printer?
A: Inkjet printers use liquid ink and are good for color photos. Laser printers use toner powder and are faster for text documents.
Q: How important is print speed (PPM)?
A: Print speed is important if you have a lot of printing to do. Higher PPM means faster printing.
Q: Should I get an all-in-one printer?
A: An all-in-one printer can copy, scan, and fax, which can save you space and money.
Q: What does DPI mean for print quality?
A: DPI stands for Dots Per Inch. Higher DPI means your prints will be sharper and more detailed.
Q: Is Wi-Fi connectivity important for an office printer?
A: Wi-Fi lets you print wirelessly from any device on your network, making it convenient.
Q: How can I save money on printer ink or toner?
A: Buying printers that use toner for high-volume text printing is often cheaper in the long run. Also, look for printers with high-yield cartridges.
Q: What is duplex printing and why is it useful?
A: Duplex printing prints on both sides of the paper automatically. It saves paper and is good for the environment.
Q: How do I know if a printer is durable?
A: Look for printers with good build quality made from strong materials. Reading reviews from other users can also help.
Q: Can I print photos on a laser printer?
A: While some laser printers can print photos, inkjet printers are generally better for high-quality photo printing.
Q: What should I consider if many people will use the printer?
A: You need a printer with network connectivity so everyone can share it. It should also be fast and have a large paper capacity.