The 8 greatest colour laser printers for 2025: examined and reviewed

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.

There are many factors to consider, so we’ve collected our top 10 recommendations for the best color laser printers. While every model fills a wide range of needs the general categories are: best for home, best for business, best under $1,000, best over $1,000, best with a scanner, best wireless, best photo quality, best cloud-ready, best EPEAT-registered, and best all-in-one.

Best color laser printer for home use

Canon imageClass MF653Cdw

If all you need is a printer that’s fast, reliable, and has an affordable price, Canon’s imageClass MF653Cdw offers great value.

Canon’s imageClass MF653Cdw is a compact color laser printer that delivers fast, high-quality output — perfect for a home office or even a family that prints often. It has great speed, crisp color prints, and a rock-solid design.

You get print, scan, and copy functionality, but no fax and no automatic document feeder (ADF). That’s the only real omission, and it matters if you’re scanning multi-page documents often. In a home setting, that isn’t a dealbreaker.

The imageClass MF653Cdw offers excellent print quality and good speed at up to 22 pages per minute. With a slight tweak to settings, you can set photos to print at 1200 dots-per-inch, resulting in good plain paper pictures. The first page comes out in under 11 seconds. Duplex printing is automatic, and that works smoothly too.

That said, if you scan a lot of multi-page documents, or need to digitize forms frequently, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. The flatbed scanner is fine for one-offs, but without an ADF, it’s not built for volume scanning.

The five-inch touchscreen is adjustable and easy to navigate. Setup is quick and easy and at under $400, the MF653Cdw offers great value for home use.

Best color laser printer for businesses

HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw

A top-of-the-line HP color laser printer usually costs a lot more than this. The list price is $570, but sale that prices make the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw a bargain.

If you’re setting up a small business or upgrading an office, HP’s Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw is exactly the kind of machine you want on your side. It’s fast, produces excellent prints, and streamlines the entire experience with a clean, intuitive interface.

In my hands-on testing, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4201dw output the first page in a speedy 9 seconds and sustained print speeds of up to 35 ppm. That among the fastest available for small business printers and triples the color document speed of many inkjet printers. And yet, photo quality is great for a laser printer. Fine print remains sharp, and graphics look great.

A clever push-button dial makes controlling the Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw not only easy, but even tactile and fun. It also features a USB-A port on the top so you can plug in a thumb drive for easy walk-up printing. That’s great for business use when you need to print but don’t want to install drivers or apps on a new device.

Automatic two-sided printing saves paper on long documents and high-yield toner cartridges cut the cost per page to 2 cents for black and 12 cents for color prints. Setup is quick and easy with the HP Smart mobile app, or you can connect the LaserJet Pro MFP 4201dw directly to a Windows PC or Mac.

Best color laser printer for under $1,000

HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw

A nice HP color laser printer usually costs a lot more than this. The list price is $529 but sale prices make the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw closer to the cost of a budget model. For small businesses, home offices, or anyone looking for a reliable all-in-one color laser printer without spending a fortune, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw is a great pick. It has everything you need for fast and professional results.

The Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw handles printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, with support for automatic duplex printing and a 50-sheet duplex ADF. It prints at up to 26 pages per minute in both black-and-white and color, with first-page-out times under 11 seconds. 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.

Note that color print costs are a bit high, so it’s best to choose high-yield toner cartridges to lower the cost per page down significantly. HP includes starter cartridges that can print 600 monochrome pages and 500 color pages, so you don’t need to replenish supplies immediately.

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 over $1,000

HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP 5800dn Printer

When high-volume, high-efficiency printing is a critical part of your business, entry-level solutions fall short. That’s where the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP 5800dn earns its keep — it’s built for speed, scalability, and long-term savings, making it arguably the best printer over $1,000 for demanding workgroups.

The upfront cost is significant, but it has quick, reliable performance you can count on. Print speeds reach up to 45 ppm in both black and color, and the first page shoots out in just under seven seconds, keeping workflows smooth and teams on task.

The value isn’t all about speed. The Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP 5800dn has a recommended monthly page volume of up to 10,000 pages and a maximum monthly duty cycle of 80,000 pages. It’s also scalable, expanding the 100-sheet multipurpose tray and 550-sheet main tray, with an optional trays to a maximum 2,300-sheet capacity.

HP’s Enterprise series is an investment that pays off in the long-term with low running costs. Extra high-yield toner cartridges, printing up to 18,000 black and 7,500 color pages, reduce the cost per page to two cents monochrome and 10 cents in color.

Its scanning and copying functions are just as robust. With single-pass duplex scanning and a large automatic document feeder (ADF), it makes digitizing large files or processing forms fast and hassle-free. Add in advanced security features like HP Wolf Enterprise Security — including real-time threat detection and self-healing firmware — and this printer not only performs but also protects your data.

It’s clear this printer isn’t for the occasional invoice or casual color flyer. It’s meant for businesses that run through reams of paper weekly and can’t afford downtime or spiraling consumable costs. For those teams, the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP 5800dn is an investment that pays off in reliability, speed, and lower long-term operating costs.

Best color laser printer with a scanner

Brother MFC-L3780 CDW

If you’re looking for a color laser printer that delivers sharp, vibrant prints and comes with serious scanning power, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW hits the sweet spot. It’s fast, full-featured, and particularly well-equipped when it comes to duplex scanning — something that sets it apart from many competitors at this price point.

The single-pass duplex ADF that can scan or copy both sides of a page simultaneously. That means no more flipping pages manually or wasting time with multi-step scanning. It handles up to 31 copies per minute (cpm) in color or black-and-white at 600 dpi, which is plenty sharp for business use.

For higher-resolution needs, the flatbed scanner supports up to 1200 dpi, ideal for scanning ID cards, photos, or detailed documents. Whether you’re digitizing paperwork or making quick copies of multi-page contracts, the MFC-L3780CDW makes it fast and painless. The ADF holds up to 50 sheets, and the results are reliably sharp and well-aligned.

On the printing side, this Brother delivers up to 31 pages per minute, matching the scan speed. It fires off the first page in 13 seconds. Color prints come out clean and vibrant, but photo quality isn’t the best.

The 3.5-inch color touchscreen is easy to use but isn’t adjustable, and works best when standing. The front USB provides quick access walk-up printing and scanning.

There are certainly cheaper all-in-ones out there, but few match the scanning capabilities and overall polish of the MFC-L3780CDW. This is the kind of printer you can count on for high-volume scanning, copying, and printing.

Best wireless color laser printer

Canon imageCLASS LBP674Cdw

The Canon Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw is a robust color laser printer made to handle the busy workload of small to medium-sized offices. Wi-Fi connectivity is excellent and features 802.11b/g/n dual-band speed and reliability. 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 laser printer for photos

Canon imageClass MF753cdw

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 cloud-ready color laser printer

Brother HL-L3280CDW

If you’re looking for a color laser printer that blends reliable performance with modern cloud convenience, the Brother HL-L3280CDW stands out. It’s compact, fast, and thanks to Brother Web Connect, it supports seamless integration with services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and more. That makes it a smart pick for home users and small teams who depend on cloud storage for document management.

This is a single-function printer — no scanning or copying here — but what it does, it does well. The HL-L3280CDW prints in good quality at up to 27 pages per minute. That’s fast enough for everything from school reports to business presentations and flyers.

The 2.7-inch color touchscreen is a fixed, but navigation is straightforward, and setup is fast whether you’re using Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or USB. Once connected, you can print from a phone, tablet, or computer.

But what really makes the HL-L3280CDW shine is its cloud-readiness. Brother’s Web Connect system enables direct access to cloud storage platforms right from the printer. Once set up, you can send documents straight to the printer from Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, Evernote, and more.

This is especially useful for users who work across multiple devices or collaborate remotely. You don’t need a computer to print a document stored in the cloud — just log in from the printer, browse your files, and hit print. It’s a modern workflow feature that adds real convenience, particularly in shared or hybrid workspaces.

While it doesn’t have scan or copy functions, that tradeoff keeps the design sleek and makes the HL-L3280CDW a great pick for a digital-first workflow.

Best EPEAT-registered color laser printer

Brother HL-L3295CDW

The Brother HL-L3295CDW stands out as a compact color laser-class printer that delivers high-quality prints while emphasizing environmental responsibility. Its EPEAT certification signifies adherence to stringent environmental performance criteria, including energy efficiency, reduced use of hazardous substances, and design for longevity and recyclability.

Unlike traditional laser printers that rely on heat-intensive fusing processes, the HL-L3295CDW employs LED technology, which eliminates the need for heating elements. This design choice not only reduces energy consumption but also minimizes warm-up times, contributing to faster first-page-out speeds and lower operational costs. LED printers like this model can use less than half the energy of conventional laser printers, making them a more sustainable choice for environmentally conscious users.

I was impressed by the Brother HL-L3295CDW’s great print quality, low print costs, and user-friendly design. With three sizes of toner cartridges, you can balance cost with long-term value. In most cases, the super-high-yield cartridges are the best choice. Cost per page is as low as two cents per monochrome page and 10 cents for color pages.

By combining EPEAT certification with energy-efficient LED printing, the Brother HL-L3295CDW offers a compelling option for users seeking both performance and environmental responsibility in a color printer.

Best all-in-one color laser printer

HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw

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 .

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.