Laser printers are the most common type of printer used in offices today. They come with many benefits and a few disadvantages, but some of the laser printer’s disadvantages are more common than others, so they are worth knowing about before you go out and buy one of these workhorses.
We are listing some disadvantages of laser printers and explaining them deeply as well.
Contents
Waste of Paper
One disadvantage of laser printers is waste because they often generate a lot of paper that doesn’t get used. The best way to prevent printer waste is to be choosy about what you print. If you know for sure you will use a document again later, print it out. If you don’t need it in hard copy, just read it online or look at it on your computer screen and then delete it from your system.
However, if you do choose to print something, make sure there is no recycle bin icon next to it (or if there is one, click on it) so you won’t mistakenly recycle something that needs printing. You might also want to check if there are any settings within your application software program (like Adobe) where all documents automatically go into a save mode rather than an open mode when saving them, which makes everything permanent until deleted.
For example, do not select save as draft only. Make sure all files go directly into Save once completed; otherwise everything gets saved into your hard drive instead of printed out. And remember—when no longer needed—always erase files after printing!
Paper Jamming
One disadvantage of laser printers is that they tend to jam, sometimes causing pages to be lost. This can be extremely frustrating and even lead to wasted ink and paper. If you choose a laser printer, keep the extra paper on hand to use in case of a jam. For maximum efficiency, print important documents double-sided, so that if one page gets stuck in your printer you’ll still have a backup. It might seem like a bit more work at first, but it will ultimately save time when things are running smoothly.
Be aware that trying to force jammed papers through will damage your printer and may void any manufacturer warranty protection on parts or service costs. Also, remember never to shake or hit an automatic document feeder; doing so could cause damage and is almost always futile since air pockets are usually what cause paper jams in such devices anyways!
Space
Laser printers take up a lot of space. They may be smaller than copiers, but they’re bulkier and more expensive. The biggest disadvantage to laser printers is that they require their room in your office. If you want to store them on an upper shelf or cabinet, make sure you know how much weight they can handle before doing so.
Printers are not suitable for small spaces unless you invest in vertical storage options such as bookcases or towers with glass doors. Don’t purchase floor-to-ceiling shelving for your printer; if it does topple over, it could damage both itself and other equipment around it as well as injure anyone nearby when it hits them or falls on them.
Slow Speed
Though laser printers are faster than inkjet printers, they are not as fast as most other types of printers. If you need to print several pages at once or regularly, a laser printer is not right for you. For example, if you want to make copies of several documents in one sitting, an inkjet printer can do so much more quickly.
On average, it takes approximately 3 minutes to fully print only one page in color on a laser printer; however, that same task would take approximately 15 seconds with an inkjet model and less than 10 seconds with an all-in-one model such as an AIO (all-in-one) HP OfficeJet Pro. In addition to printing speed and productivity, paper handling is also another important characteristic that should be considered when purchasing a new printer; some HP Officejet printers have higher paper capacity options which makes it easier to replace your supply without having to refill often.
Expensive Cartridges
A standard laser printer toner cartridge can cost you anywhere from $60 to $200 depending on where you buy it and how much yield it has. If you’re printing a lot, those costs add up quickly, especially if you’re buying more than one at a time. The more printing pages your laser printer can produce, the less expensive each page will be.
There are ways to reduce your cartridge costs though! For example, there are generic replacement cartridges available that might save you 20% or more. Alternatively, some companies sell remanufactured inkjet cartridges that claim to work just as well as name-brand ones for significantly cheaper prices. Some users report issues with these products but others swear by them; either way, it’s worth exploring whether they’re an option for you. Either way—you should probably be using both types since laser printers tend to clog when used with cheap inkjet cartridges.
See also: The Best Printer for Sticker Printing in 2022
Poor Quality Printouts
Laser printers are excellent in terms of speed and efficiency, but they tend to have a narrow range when it comes to their printouts. Images often appear grainy, lines appear thin and text is usually hard to read. Unfortunately, many businesses that use laser printers may not be able to afford high-quality image processing. To prevent poor quality printouts, always make sure you’re using good toner cartridges when printing documents.
For example, if your document includes pictures or graphs, try adjusting the resolution settings on your printer. Increasing resolution can help images become crisper and clearer; remember to reset them before printing text. For professional-looking documents, consider investing in a color laser printer for business use.
Color inkjet printers are less expensive than their color laser counterparts but still produce clean images with every page just don’t expect them to offer extensive control over a photo or document features such as contrast and saturation levels. Color lasers can do all of that while also offering you increased versatility over cover sheets (and all sorts of other options). If your office has multiple types of users who need different levels of control over an array of printout options, color lasers are probably your best bet.
Also read: The Best Printer For Waterslide Decals 2022
Final Thoughts
That were a few disadvantages of laser printers hope you are well aware of that now. In short, laser printers are expensive, so you may have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for one. Over time, a laser printer’s costs will increase, as they use toner cartridges that wear out over time. A laser printer can be quite bulky, so it can take up a lot of room in your office space or home, making them impractical for small spaces.
