Laser printer comparison: price and performance

A laser printer is primarily chosen for its print speed and paper capacity, which determine everyday use. Power consumption and response time then distinguish economical models from energy-intensive ones. Price varies according to these performance levels, from entry-level to intensive office use.

What to check

Print speed Print speed measures the number of pages printed per minute in black, normal quality, A4 format. This criterion directly determines your productivity: the higher the rate, the less you wait. In the current market, the slowest models run around twenty pages per minute, the median sits at thirty-three pages, while the most efficient reach fifty pages per minute. The site’s rating positions each printer against these benchmarks: a long bar indicates high speed, ideal for large volumes. Market median: 33 ppm

Tray capacity Total paper capacity indicates how many sheets the printer can hold in its trays. The greater this capacity, the less often you reload, a valuable time-saver for regular use. Entry-level models typically offer one hundred and fifty sheets, the median sits at two hundred and fifty, and office printers can reach six hundred and fifty sheets. The site’s bar extends with capacity: an essential criterion if you print large volumes daily without wanting to interrupt your work. Market median: 250 sheets

Power consumption Weekly power consumption, measured according to the Energy Star TEC standard, reflects your printer’s running cost. The lower this value, the more economical the device, which reduces your bill over time. The least efficient models consume around zero point sixty-two kilowatt-hours per week, the median stands at zero point thirty-four, while the most frugal drop to zero point twenty-three. The site’s rating favours economical printers: a long bar signals low consumption, an asset for controlling your energy costs. Market median: 0.3 kWh/week

Time to first page Time to first page measures the delay between sending the print job and the first sheet emerging, in black and normal quality. The shorter this delay, the faster the printer responds, an appreciable comfort for occasional printing. The slowest models require nearly eleven seconds, the median sits around seven seconds, and the most responsive print in under four seconds. The site’s bar extends as time decreases: a high rating indicates optimal responsiveness, ideal if you often print short documents. Market median: 7 s

Benchmarks based on 30 recent market listings, collected on 4 October 2026.

What you get for each budget

Under €150

Printers in this range suit home or occasional use, with limited but sufficient speeds and capacities for small volumes, and variable consumption depending on models.

€150 to €400

This mid-range offers a good balance between speed, paper capacity and energy efficiency, suited to regular professional use without reaching the highest rates.

Over €400

High-end models combine high print speed, large paper capacity and optimal responsiveness, designed for demanding office environments with significant daily volumes.

Frequent mistakes

Choosing a printer solely on price without checking paper capacity, which forces constant reloading in intensive use.

Neglecting weekly power consumption, which weighs on total running cost over the months.

Ignoring time to first page if you often print a few sheets, which unnecessarily slows down your tasks.

Underestimating your speed requirements by imagining a low rate will suffice, when delays accumulate with volume.