Printers are indispensable devices in homes, offices, and schools. The two most popular types of printers are laser and inkjet printers. When deciding which type of printer to buy, print speed is often an important consideration. In this article, we’ll compare the print speeds of laser and inkjet printers to help you determine which is faster.
How Print Speed is Measured
Print speed is typically measured in pages per minute (ppm). This refers to the number of pages a printer can produce in one minute. Print speed specifications usually refer to black-and-white, letter or A4 sized pages with minimal coverage. Here are some key points about print speed measurements:
- Print speed is faster for text-only pages versus full graphics or photo pages.
- Speeds are faster for smaller page sizes like letter (8.5 x 11 inches) versus larger sizes like legal (8.5 x 14 inches).
- Maker’s specifications refer to optimum conditions. Real-world speeds may vary.
- Duty cycle refers to the maximum number of pages a printer can handle per month.
Laser Printer Speeds
Laser printers use laser beams and toner to create images on paper. They work by charging a drum unit with static electricity patterns based on the print job. Toner particles stick to the charged parts of the drum. Paper passes below the drum, transferring the toner to the page. Then the paper passes through heated rollers called a fuser to bond the toner. Here are some typical print speeds for low, medium and high volume laser printers:
| Laser Printer Type | Typical Print Speed Range |
|---|---|
| Personal/home office laser printer | 18 – 30 ppm |
| Mid-range office laser printer | 35 – 45 ppm |
| High-volume office laser printer | 55 – 75 ppm |
As shown, basic home laser printers print around 18 to 30 pages per minute. Moving up to mid-range office models boosts speed to 35 to 45 ppm. Heavy duty models designed for high volumes can print 55 to 75 pages in a minute.
Inkjet Printer Speeds
Inkjet printers work very differently from lasers. They have print heads with hundreds of tiny nozzles that spray ink directly onto the paper. The print head makes multiple passes across the page, building the image line by line. Here are typical print speeds for various classes of inkjet printers:
| Inkjet Printer Type | Typical Print Speed Range |
|---|---|
| Basic home inkjet printer | 5 – 10 ppm |
| Home office inkjet printer | 15 – 25 ppm |
| Professional inkjet printer | 25 – 35 ppm |
Consumer-grade basic inkjet printers tend to have speeds of just 5 to 10 pages per minute. Home office models can print faster, between 15 to 25 ppm. Professional-grade photo inkjets can reach speeds of 25 to 35 ppm thanks to extra print nozzles.
Comparing Laser and Inkjet Speeds
When directly comparing print speeds, laser printers are decidedly faster across all product classes. Even a cheap $100 laser can print double the pages per minute of a similarly priced inkjet. The speed advantage for lasers widens when looking at workplace-oriented printers. Fast lasers boast speeds of 55 to 75 ppm, while professional inkjets top out around 35 ppm.
There are several reasons why lasers achieve much greater print speeds:
- Laser printing involves a single pass of the drum transfer unit versus multiple passes of an inkjet print head.
- Toner particles in laser printers bond almost instantly versus ink that takes time to dry.
- Laser printers have fewer mechanical parts in motion during printing.
One area where inkjets match or even exceed lasers is printing photos or graphics with high print coverage. The multipass printing lets inkjets lay down overlapping colors and tones for better image quality. But for everyday text or document printing, lasers achieve much higher page per minute speeds.
Factors Impacting Printer Speed
While manufacturers’ ppm ratings highlight peak speeds, real-world printer performance is affected by other factors:
- Page coverage – More blanks space means faster printing. Complex graphics and photos slow down printing.
- Print resolution – Lower DPI resolution settings equal faster speed. Higher resolution prints slower but delivers better quality.
- Page size – Letter and A4 print faster than larger page sizes.
- Paper type – Plain paper prints fastest. Glossy paper, cards and other media may print slower.
- Print job size – Large 100+ page jobs may slow down midway through printing if printer memory is limited.
- Operating conditions – Temperature, humidity and dust levels can affect printer components and speed.
Also, as printers age, print heads get clogged and parts wear out. Regular maintenance and cleaning is required to maintain factory-rated print speeds over the life of a printer.
Final Verdict – Laser Printers Are Faster
When comparing the two major printer technologies, laser printers have a decisive advantage in print speed over inkjets. While inkjet technology has improved, it simply can’t match the raw speed of laser printing.
Lasers achieve speeds ranging from 18 ppm for basic models up to 75 ppm for enterprise printers. Consumer inkjets max out around 35 ppm for top-end professional photo printers. Basic inkjets only reach 5 to 10 ppm.
Of course, print speed isn’t the only deciding factor when purchasing a printer. Inkjets offer excellent photo printing and lower upfront costs. But if you want to optimize for speed, get a laser printer. Even an entry-level monochrome laser delivers faster print speeds, making it ideal for efficient document printing.