Although color printers are relatively affordable, many people only print in black and white. So why pay more for color if you work in an office that only prints invoices or if your household prints the occasional return label? Laser printers are the technology of choice for monochrome printing, as they tend to be much cheaper in the long run. Toner cartridges generally last much longer than inkjet cartridges, and laser printers don't clog like inkjets do, which is great if you often go weeks between print jobs. They also tend to print faster and often have a higher page yield. Whether you're looking for the best black-and-white laser printer for home use or for your office, you'll find a good option here that fits your printing needs.
Below are our recommendations for the best black-and-white printers. You can also check out our picks for the best laser printers, the best printers for small businesses, and the best all-in-one printers.
We've tested over 170 printers since 2020 with one goal in mind: to give you reliable, unbiased reviews that help you choose the right printer for your needs. To keep things fair, we purchase every product ourselves from major retailers, just like you would. Each printer then goes through a thorough, standardized testing process that evaluates all the key factors you should consider when buying a new model. From build quality and cost per print to color accuracy and overall performance, we provide as much detail as possible to guide your decision.
Want to learn more about our methods? Look at our How We Test Printers article for a deep dive into our testing procedures.
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Best Black-And-White Printer
Set-And-ForgetSmall OfficeScanningPage YieldBlack & White DocumentsCost-Per-PrintEstimated Black Page YieldprintsSee all our test resultsBlack-Only Printing CostUS$/printThe best black-and-white printer we've tested is the Brother MFC-L2820DW. This all-in-one monochrome laser model is the ideal choice for a small office. It's great for printing large documents quickly, as it pushes up to 33 pages per minute, and its print quality is excellent; documents look sharp with easy-to-read text and great detail in fine elements like lines on a graph. It also has an ADF-equipped scanner that scans up to seven pages per minute. The printer is easily accessible from a wide variety of devices, as you can connect to it via Wi-Fi, USB, or Ethernet and use the Brother companion app for additional functionality.
Its page yield is good at around 1,300 prints, and you can get a high-yield XL cartridge that'll last even longer. The drum is a separate unit you'll have to replace at extra cost, though it's usually good for about 15,000 prints, so you won't need to change it too often. It's also very easy to install, so the process should be smooth. There are other variants with more features. For example, the Brother MFC-L2880DW has duplex scanning, single-tap NFC support, and prints a little faster at 36 pages per minute; print quality remains the same, so you'll get sharp-looking documents. The issue is that this model can be hard to find in North America. See our review for more details about variants.
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Best Budget Black-And-White Printer
Set-And-ForgetSmall OfficeScanningPage YieldBlack & White DocumentsCost-Per-PrintEstimated Black Page YieldprintsSee all our test resultsBlack-Only Printing CostUS$/printIf you want something cheaper and smaller and don't need a scanner, we recommend the Brother HL-L2460DW or one of its variants as the best monochrome laser printer at a budget price. This monochrome laser print-only model gets the job done quickly, pushing out 34 pages per minute, and it also supports automatic duplex printing. The build quality is impressive, and the power cord is removable, making it easy to replace if damaged. Another positive feature is its small footprint, making it a great option for those with space constraints. You get the usual Wi-Fi and USB connectivity, plus support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service.
As for its page yield, you can expect about 1,300 prints from a standard toner cartridge. If you think you need more than this, high-yield cartridges are available that'll yield around 3,300 pages. Like the Brother printer we recommend above, you'll have to replace the drum on this model separately. Again, you won't need to do it all that often, and it's a simple process. If you have a very tight budget, our full review also covers cheaper variants with more limited connectivity options or slightly slower print speeds.
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Best Cheap Black-And-White Printer
Set-And-ForgetSmall OfficeScanningPage YieldBlack & White DocumentsCost-Per-PrintEstimated Black Page YieldprintsSee all our test resultsBlack-Only Printing CostUS$/printIf the Brother HL-L2460DW above costs more than you want to spend, consider the Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w, which often sells for less than $100. Like the Brother, it's a laser printer, so its toner won't clog while sitting unused. However, the Canon requires less attention thanks to its higher page yield. Its included starter toner is rated for 700 pages, which could last an occasional user a very long time, while a full replacement cartridge yielded nearly 3000 pages in our testing. That's more than the Brother's standard cartridge and gives the Canon an outstanding cost per print.
Unfortunately, its document quality is terrible, with faint-looking text and graphs that lose fine lines and other important details. While it prints at a respectable 19 pages per minute, it takes a full 22 seconds to print its first page, and it lacks automatic duplex printing. The Brother is well worth the extra money for most people, as it prints much faster, produces far sharper documents, feels sturdier, and offers more flexible connectivity. Still, if you only need basic black-and-white pages and want a printer that rarely needs a new cartridge, the Canon is cheaper to own.
Notable Mentions
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Brother MFC-L2750DW [L2710DW, L2717DW, L2730DW]:
The Brother MFC-L2750DW is a good alternative to the Brother MFC-L2820DW if you scan many double-sided documents. Its 50-sheet ADF captures both sides in a single pass, whereas the newer model requires two passes. However, the L2750DW has been discontinued and now costs far more, so the L2820DW offers much better value for most people.
See our review -
Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw:
The Canon imageClass LBP122dw is a decent alternative to the Brother HL-L2460DW. While generally more expensive, this no-frills model occasionally goes on sale for less. When it does, it's not a bad choice; the print quality isn't as good as Brother's, and our unit produced crooked prints.
See our review
Recent Updates
Aug 12, 2026:
We added the Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w as the 'Best Cheap Black-And-White' pick, and we removed the HP LaserJet Tank MFP 2604sdw from the picks as it's no longer available.
Jun 01, 2026:
We confirmed that all current picks are relevant and available, and made some minor text changes to help better highlight the pros and cons of laser printers.
Feb 16, 2026:
We removed the Pantum P3012DW from the Notable Mentions as it's become very hard to find since our last update. Our other picks are still valid, and we haven't tested any new monochrome printers.
Apr 14, 2025:
Small text changes for conciseness and clarity. No change in recommendations.
Jan 20, 2025:
Added the Canon imageClassLBP122dw to the Notable Mentions for anyone looking to spend as little as possible. We also made small edits for clarity.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best monochrome laser printers for most people. In addition to testing results, we factor in price, visitor feedback, and availability.
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of our printer reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no printer is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.