Best Home Laser Printer · Black and white

Best Black and White Laser Printer for Home Use

For most homes that only print in black and white, the best choice is a compact print-only mono laser with automatic two-sided printing: our top pick is the Brother HL-L2460DW. A mono laser usually costs least per page for text, it is quick, and its toner does not dry out between jobs. Add a scanner only if you copy or scan regularly.

Small black monochrome laser printer on a white shelf beside a stack of printed pages

Our top 3

Top picks at a glance

Best black and white for most homes#1
Brother HL-L2460DW laser printer

Brother HL-L2460DW

Budget price range

Auto two-sided printing, dual-band Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and TN830XL toner rated at 3,000 pages.

See specs ›
Best black and white all-in-one#2
Brother MFC-L2820DW laser printer

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Mid-range price range

Adds a flatbed, 50-sheet document feeder and fax, with the same TN830 toner.

See specs ›
Best for heavy printing#3
Brother HL-L6310DW laser printer

Brother HL-L6310DW

Premium price range

Up to 52 pages per minute and a full 6,000-page cartridge in the box.

See specs ›

In detail

Who each one suits

Specifications and toner yields are each manufacturer’s own; fit notes draw on independent reviews and manufacturer guidance. We have not tested or used these printers ourselves.

Best black and white for most homes#1

Brother HL-L2460DW

A compact, print-only black-and-white laser that does the basics properly: automatic two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and a 250-sheet tray. If you never scan or copy, it covers everyday home printing for less than an all-in-one.

Why it stands out

  • Brother rates it at up to 36 pages per minute with a first page out in under 8.5 seconds.
  • Takes the same TN830 and TN830XL toner as Brother’s compact all-in-ones, rated at 1,200 and 3,000 pages.
  • A one-sheet manual slot takes heavier paper (up to 61 lb bond) than the main tray.
PrintsBlack only, auto 2-sided
SpeedUp to 36 ppm
Scan & copyPrint only
Toner (rated)TN830XL: 3,000 pages
ConnectWi-Fi, Ethernet, USB · AirPrint, Mopria

Good fit if

  • You print in black and white and scan with your phone when you need to.
  • You want auto two-sided printing at a Budget-tier price.
  • Your printer will sit on a shelf and see light, irregular use.

Skip it if

  • You want to copy or scan on the printer itself.
  • You need color pages for school projects or flyers.

The HL-L2460DW XL version ships with a standard and a high-yield cartridge in the box instead of a starter cartridge, which Brother rates at about 4,200 pages in total.

Best black and white all-in-one#2

Brother MFC-L2820DW

For most homes that print mainly black-and-white documents, this is the one to start with. It prints, scans, copies and faxes, prints both sides of the page on its own, and has a 50-sheet document feeder for multi-page scans. Brother rates it at up to 34 pages per minute.

Why it stands out

  • Brother rates it at up to 34 pages per minute, with automatic two-sided printing and a 2.7-inch color touchscreen.
  • High-yield TN830XL toner is rated at 3,000 pages, and the drum is a separate part Brother rates at about 15,000 pages.
  • Prints from phones and laptops over Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB, with AirPrint and Mopria built in; Brother’s toner subscription is optional.
PrintsBlack only, auto 2-sided
SpeedUp to 34 ppm
Scan & copyFlatbed + 50-sheet feeder, fax
Toner (rated)TN830XL: 3,000 pages
ConnectWi-Fi, Ethernet, USB · AirPrint, Mopria

Good fit if

  • You print letters, forms, homework and tickets, mostly in black.
  • You want to scan or copy multi-page documents without lifting the lid each time.
  • You still send the odd fax, or want the option.

Skip it if

  • You need color — look at the Brother MFC-L3780CDW instead.
  • You need to scan both sides of a page in one pass: the feeder here is one-sided.
  • You never scan or copy — the print-only HL-L2460DW costs less.

The box includes a starter cartridge that Brother rates at about 700 pages, so budget for a full-size toner fairly soon. Brother also sells this printer as the MFC-L2820DWXL bundle with extra toner in the box.

Best for heavy printing#3

Brother HL-L6310DW

A business-class black-and-white printer for heavy home printing. Brother rates it at up to 52 pages per minute and ships it with a full 6,000-page cartridge rather than a starter. Consumer Reports picked it as a basic printer for frequent printing, as reported by SlashGear.

Why it stands out

  • A 520-sheet tray plus a 100-sheet multipurpose tray, expandable with optional trays.
  • Takes TN920 toner up to the TN920UXXL, which Brother rates at 18,000 pages.
  • Brother recommends up to 12,000 pages a month, far above home models.
PrintsBlack only, auto 2-sided
SpeedUp to 52 ppm
Scan & copyPrint only
Toner (rated)TN920UXXL: 18,000 pages
ConnectWi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, USB, NFC · AirPrint, Mopria

Good fit if

  • You run a busy home business, print shipping labels and invoices daily, or share one printer across a family.
  • You want to refill paper and toner as rarely as possible.

Skip it if

  • You print a few pages a week — you would be paying for capacity you never use.
  • You need to scan or copy, or need color.
Also worth a look

HP LaserJet M209dw

A small, low-cost black-and-white laser with automatic two-sided printing, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. It is the standard version, not the discontinued M209dwe “HP+” model, and HP’s page for it lists no account or internet requirement for printing.

Why it stands out

  • HP rates it at up to 30 pages per minute.
  • HP 134X high-yield toner is rated at about 2,400 pages.
  • HP lists AirPrint, Mopria and Wi-Fi Direct.
PrintsBlack only, auto 2-sided
SpeedUp to 30 ppm
Scan & copyPrint only
Toner (rated)HP 134X: 2,400 pages
ConnectWi-Fi, Ethernet, USB · AirPrint, Mopria

Good fit if

  • You want a Budget-tier laser with auto two-sided printing.
  • You print small batches of black-and-white pages.

Skip it if

  • You want to use third-party toner: HP says the printer works only with cartridges that have a new or reused HP chip.
  • You fill big print jobs; the input tray holds 150 sheets.
Also worth a look

Canon imageCLASS MF465dw II

A fast black-and-white all-in-one built for heavier paperwork. Canon rates it at up to 42 pages per minute, its 50-sheet feeder scans both sides of a page in one pass, and it comes with a full-size toner cartridge. Canon’s support page and brochure list a three-year limited warranty, though Canon’s online store page mentions one year, so confirm before you buy.

Why it stands out

  • The box includes a standard Canon 070 cartridge rated at about 3,000 pages, not a reduced starter.
  • High-yield 070H toner is rated at about 10,200 pages.
  • A 250-sheet cassette plus a 100-sheet multipurpose tray, expandable to 900 sheets, and a 5-inch touchscreen.
PrintsBlack only, auto 2-sided
SpeedUp to 42 ppm
Scan & copySingle-pass 2-sided scan, 50-sheet feeder, fax
Toner (rated)Canon 070H: 10,200 pages
ConnectWi-Fi, Ethernet, USB · AirPrint, Mopria

Good fit if

  • You scan two-sided documents every week and print only in black.
  • You print several hundred pages a month: Canon recommends 750 to 4,000.

Skip it if

  • You need color.
  • Desk space is tight: Canon lists it at about 34 pounds and nearly 15 inches tall.

Canon’s online store has shown a “Discontinued” label beside “In Stock” on this model, while Canon’s support page lists no successor. Check the product page for current availability before you order.

Also worth a look

Brother HL-L2405W

The simplest way into a Brother laser: Wi-Fi, a 250-sheet tray and the same toner as its bigger siblings, in a small box. The trade-off is that two-sided pages have to be flipped by hand.

Why it stands out

  • Brother rates it at up to 30 pages per minute.
  • Uses TN830 toner (1,200 pages) or TN830XL (3,000 pages), so running costs match the HL-L2460DW.
  • AirPrint, Mopria and Wi-Fi Direct for printing from phones without extra software.
PrintsBlack only, manual 2-sided
SpeedUp to 30 ppm
Scan & copyPrint only
Toner (rated)TN830XL: 3,000 pages
ConnectWi-Fi, USB · AirPrint, Mopria

Good fit if

  • You print a few pages a week, all in black.
  • You want an entry-level Brother laser and do not mind manual two-sided printing.

Skip it if

  • You print long documents double-sided — Brother lists no automatic duplex on this model.
  • You need a wired Ethernet connection; this model has Wi-Fi and USB only.

Mostly printing letters and forms?

Skip color entirely. A black-and-white laser uses one cartridge and keeps text pages cheap.

Read buyer reviews ›

Tips

Three things that make the difference

01

Buy for the high-yield cartridge

Brother rates the TN830 at 1,200 pages and the TN830XL at 3,000, and says the XL lowers per-page cost.

02

Use the manual slot for heavy paper

Brother’s compact mono lasers take up to 61 lb bond through the one-sheet manual slot, heavier than the main tray.

03

Turn on toner save for drafts

Brother lists Toner Save Mode on its models; use it for drafts and switch it off for pages you hand to someone.

Honest note

Black-and-white means no color at all: no colored highlights in school projects, no color charts. If you print color even once a month, look at our color picks before deciding.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Are black-and-white laser printers cheaper to run?

Yes, for text. TechRadar says laser cost per page is often 50% or more cheaper than inkjet, especially in black and white, and a mono laser needs only one cartridge.

Is a black-and-white laser good for occasional printing?

Yes. Toner is a dry powder, and Brother UK says it does not dry out after extended storage, so a mono laser can sit unused for weeks and still print cleanly.

Can a black-and-white laser printer scan?

Only if it is an all-in-one. The Brother HL-L2460DW prints only; the MFC-L2820DW and DCP-L2640DW add a scanner and document feeder.

What speed do I need?

Brother rates its compact mono lasers at 30 to 36 pages per minute, which is more than most homes need. Speed matters for long daily jobs, where the HL-L6310DW’s rated 52 pages per minute helps.

Do black-and-white lasers work with Macs and phones?

Yes. The picks here list AirPrint and Mopria. Brother notes Mac printing on its models works through AirPrint and that it does not supply Mac drivers.

What is the drum, and do I need to buy one?

Brother’s mono lasers use a separate drum, the DR830, that it rates at about 15,000 pages, so you replace it far less often than toner. A drum comes in the box.

Sharp text, cheap pages, no fuss

Want the full picture? See our best home laser printer, compared by how you print, and the FAQ on toner, setup and running costs.