Laser Printers Price Comparison 2026
Compare 305 laser printers from HP, Brother, Lexmark and more. Find the best price across top UK retailers and cut your cost per page.
Laser printers remain the workhorse of any serious office setup — and the numbers bear that out. With 305 models tracked across dozens of UK retailers, the market spans everything from a compact monochrome unit starting at 79 £ to high-throughput workgroup machines pushing well past 559 £. The spread is significant, and choosing the wrong tier can mean either overspending on capacity you'll never use, or burning through consumables on an underpowered machine.
HP dominates the catalogue with 109 models, though its average price sits noticeably higher than Brother's 54-strong range — and that gap tells a story. Brother has quietly become the go-to choice for SMEs and home offices that want reliable, low-cost-per-page printing without the premium badge. Lexmark, meanwhile, targets the enterprise end hard: just 49 products but an average price that towers above the rest, reflecting its focus on high-duty-cycle workgroup machines. KYOCERA and Canon round out the serious contenders, each with a strong reputation for drum longevity and consistent output quality.
The monochrome versus colour decision is where most buyers trip up. A colour laser opens the door to professional-looking presentations and marketing materials, but the four-toner CMYK running costs can be two to three times higher than a mono setup. If your workload is 90% text documents and internal reports, a fast monochrome model with a high-yield cartridge will almost always deliver a lower cost per page — and that's what matters over a three-year ownership cycle. For teams that genuinely need colour, models like the Brother HL-L8360CDW or the HP Color LaserJet Pro range hit a sensible balance between upfront cost and running economy.
Connectivity is no longer a differentiator at the top end — Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPrint and Mopria are standard on anything above 197 £. Where it still matters is at the entry level: some budget models ship with USB-only connectivity, which is a dealbreaker for any shared office environment. Automatic duplex printing is another feature worth insisting on; it cuts paper consumption by up to 50% and pays for itself quickly. You can compare the full range of multifunction printers if you also need scanning and copying, or browse inkjet printers if your priority is photo-quality colour output rather than volume throughput. For specialist output needs, large format printers cover A3 and beyond.
One practical note for UK buyers: check whether the listed price includes VAT, and factor in toner costs before committing. A printer that looks cheap at 79 £ can become expensive if the replacement cartridges are proprietary and short-yield. Retailers like Currys, Amazon.co.uk and John Lewis frequently run promotions around Black Friday and the January sales — worth timing a purchase if you're not in a rush.
How to Choose a Laser Printer: What Actually Matters
Most buyers focus on the upfront price and miss the bigger picture: a laser printer's true cost is dominated by toner yields and duty cycle compatibility. Our analysis of 305 models shows a wide spread between brands — here's how to cut through the noise and pick the right machine for your workload.
Monochrome or Colour: Get This Right First
This is the single most consequential decision. Colour laser printers cost significantly more to run — four toner cartridges (CMYK) versus one — and the gap compounds over time. If your output is predominantly text, invoices, or internal documents, a monochrome model will deliver a dramatically lower cost per page and a longer-lasting fuser unit. Colour becomes genuinely worthwhile if you regularly print presentations, client-facing materials, or anything where visual impact matters. Don't buy colour 'just in case' — the running costs will punish you for it.
Toner Yield and True Cost Per Page
The sticker price is almost irrelevant compared to the cost per page (CPP) over a three-year lifespan. Always check the cartridge yield at 5% page coverage — the industry standard. High-yield cartridges (3,000–5,000 pages) and extra-high-yield options (5,000–10,000 pages) cost more upfront but reduce CPP significantly. Brother and KYOCERA are particularly strong here; their high-yield toners are competitively priced and widely available. Be wary of printers that ship with 'starter' cartridges — these are often half-yield and skew the apparent value.
Monthly Duty Cycle vs Your Actual Volume
Every laser printer has a rated duty cycle — the maximum recommended monthly page volume. Exceeding it consistently degrades the fuser unit and imaging drum, and can void your warranty. A light-use office printing 500 pages a month has very different needs from a busy accounts department running 5,000. As a rule, aim for a printer whose duty cycle is at least three to four times your expected monthly volume. Entry-level machines typically handle 10,000–20,000 pages/month; mid-range workgroup models push to 50,000+. Lexmark and KYOCERA tend to offer the most headroom at the upper end.
Print Speed (PPM) for Your Workflow
PPM matters most in shared office environments where multiple users queue jobs simultaneously. For a single user printing sporadically, the difference between 25 PPM and 40 PPM is barely noticeable. Where it counts is in print rooms or busy reception areas — here, anything below 35 PPM will create bottlenecks. Also pay attention to First Print Out Time (FPOT): some fast printers have slow warm-up times that negate their speed advantage for short, frequent jobs. Look for FPOT under 10 seconds if your team prints in short bursts throughout the day.
Connectivity: Don't Get Caught Out at the Entry Level
Above 197 £, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPrint and Mopria are essentially standard. Below that threshold, check carefully — some budget models are USB-only, which means a single-computer connection and no network sharing. For any office with more than one person printing, Ethernet or Wi-Fi is non-negotiable. Mobile printing support (AirPrint for Apple devices, Mopria for Android) is increasingly expected and saves considerable setup friction. If security is a concern — as it should be in any regulated environment — look for models with encrypted printing and user authentication, features that start appearing reliably from the mid-range upwards.
Paper Handling and Automatic Duplex
Automatic duplex printing (double-sided without manual flipping) cuts paper consumption by up to 50% and should be considered essential rather than optional. It's standard on most models above 306 £, but worth confirming on budget picks. Paper tray capacity is equally important for high-volume users: a 250-sheet tray requires constant refilling in a busy office, while 500+ sheet capacity or multi-tray configurations keep jobs running uninterrupted. If you regularly print on different paper weights or sizes, a multi-tray setup with a dedicated bypass slot is worth the extra investment.
- Entry-level picks (From 79 £ to 197 £) : Compact monochrome machines aimed at home offices and light single-user workloads. The HP LaserJet M110w and Brother HL-L2445DW sit here — capable and affordable, but typically USB or basic Wi-Fi only, with standard-yield toners and modest duty cycles. Fine for occasional printing; not suited to shared office use.
- The sweet spot (From 197 £ to 306 £) : Where most SME buyers should be looking. Brother's colour HL-L8240CDW and HP's Color LaserJet Pro 3202 range occupy this tier — solid build quality, automatic duplex, full network connectivity, and high-yield toner options that keep running costs reasonable. Best value for teams printing 500–2,000 pages a month.
- Serious workgroup territory (From 306 £ to 559 £) : Mid-to-large office machines with higher duty cycles, faster PPM, and more robust paper handling. KYOCERA and Canon i-SENSYS models feature prominently here, alongside Brother's HL-L6410DN. Expect 500+ sheet trays, 1,200 x 1,200 DPI resolution, and security features suited to regulated environments.
- Enterprise and high-volume (Over 559 £) : Lexmark and OKI dominate this tier, with machines built for print rooms and large workgroups running tens of thousands of pages monthly. Exceptional duty cycles, modular paper handling, and advanced security are the norm. Only justifiable if your monthly volume genuinely demands it — the running cost savings at scale are real, but the upfront investment is substantial.
Top products
- HP LaserJet Pro 3002dn Printer (HP) : The most competitively priced HP in the top 15 and a genuinely strong entry-level pick — automatic duplex and Ethernet at this price point is hard to argue with. That said, it's monochrome only and the standard toner yield is modest; budget for a high-yield cartridge upgrade early on.
- Brother HL-L8360CDW laser printer Colour 2400 x 600 DPI A4 Wi-Fi (Brother) : Our top colour laser recommendation in this tier. The 2400 x 600 DPI output is noticeably sharper than its siblings, Wi-Fi is reliable, and Brother's toner ecosystem keeps running costs sensible. A step up from the HL-L8260CDW that's worth the difference if print quality matters to you.
- HP Color LaserJet Pro 3202dw (HP) : HP's answer to Brother's colour mid-range, and a credible one. Wi-Fi, duplex, and a compact footprint make it well-suited to small offices. Running costs are slightly higher than equivalent Brother models, and HP's toner pricing can sting — factor that in before committing.
- Brother HL-L5210DN 1200 x 1200 DPI A4 (Brother) : The best monochrome workhorse in the top 15. 1200 x 1200 DPI, Ethernet, and a duty cycle built for genuine office use — this is the machine to buy if you print high volumes of text documents and want the lowest possible cost per page. No Wi-Fi on this model, so Ethernet-only environments only.
- HP LaserJet M110w Printer (HP) : The cheapest entry in the top 15 and it shows — this is a single-user, light-duty machine, full stop. Fine for a home office printing the occasional document, but the low toner yield and limited paper capacity make it a poor choice for anything resembling regular office use. Don't be seduced purely by the price.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good cost per page for a laser printer?
A good cost per page (CPP) for a monochrome laser printer is under 1p per page using high-yield cartridges; colour laser printing typically runs between 3p and 8p per page depending on toner prices and coverage. To calculate CPP, divide the cartridge price by its rated yield at 5% page coverage. Brother and KYOCERA consistently offer some of the lowest CPP figures in the market, particularly when using XL or ultra-high-yield toners. Always factor this in before buying — a cheaper printer with expensive cartridges will cost more over two years than a pricier model with economical consumables.
Is a laser printer better than an inkjet for office use?
For most office environments, yes — laser printers are faster, produce sharper text, and have lower running costs at volume than inkjets. Toner doesn't dry out between uses the way ink does, which matters if the printer sits idle for days at a time. The trade-off is upfront cost and colour accuracy: inkjets produce richer, more nuanced colour and are far better suited to photo printing. If your office prints primarily documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, a laser printer will almost always be the more economical long-term choice.
How much should I spend on a laser printer for a small business?
For a small business with 2–10 users printing up to 2,000 pages a month, the sweet spot is between 197 £ and 306 £. This range gets you automatic duplex, full network connectivity (Wi-Fi and Ethernet), high-yield toner compatibility, and a duty cycle that won't be stressed by typical SME workloads. Spending less risks buying a machine with a duty cycle too low for shared use; spending more is only justified once your monthly volume consistently exceeds 3,000–5,000 pages.
What does duty cycle mean, and why does it matter?
The duty cycle is the maximum number of pages a printer is designed to handle per month without degrading its components or voiding the warranty. It matters because consistently exceeding it wears out the fuser unit and imaging drum prematurely — two of the most expensive parts to replace. As a practical rule, choose a printer whose rated duty cycle is at least three to four times your expected monthly print volume. A machine rated at 20,000 pages/month is not intended to run at 20,000 pages every month; that figure is a ceiling, not a target.
Should I avoid laser printers that only come with starter toner cartridges?
Yes — starter cartridges are a common trap worth watching out for. Many laser printers, particularly at the entry level, ship with reduced-yield 'starter' toners that may only print 500–1,000 pages rather than the full-yield figure quoted in the spec sheet. This inflates the apparent value of the printer while ensuring you buy a replacement cartridge almost immediately. Always check whether the included toner is a starter or full-yield cartridge, and factor the cost of the first replacement into your total budget before comparing prices.
Do laser printers work well with Mac and mobile devices in 2026?
Yes, the vast majority of current laser printers support AirPrint natively, which means seamless printing from any Mac, iPhone, or iPad without installing drivers. Android users should look for Mopria certification, which provides equivalent plug-and-play mobile printing. Most mid-range and above models from HP, Brother, and Canon also offer dedicated mobile apps with additional features like toner level monitoring and job scheduling. The only models where compatibility can be patchy are some budget USB-only units and certain enterprise-focused Lexmark machines that require specific driver configurations.
Is it worth buying a separate laser printer, or should I get a multifunction model instead?
If you need scanning or copying alongside printing, a multifunction printer (MFP) is almost always better value than buying separate devices. Dedicated laser printers make sense when print speed and volume are the absolute priority and you already have a separate scanner, or when you need a secondary print-only device for a specific location. For most offices and home setups, an MFP covers all bases more efficiently — you can compare the full range of multifunction printers to see whether the price premium over a standalone laser is worth it for your needs.