Do Laser Printers Use Ink? Know This Before You Buy

Do laser printers use ink? Trust us, you're not alone in asking.

if you're weighing up going for either an inkjet or laser printer, looking for an upgrade, or can't ignore those 'low level' warnings anymore, we're here to help.

Here's everything you need to know, plus, a brief explainer as to how it all works.

Do laser printers use ink?

Laser printers do not use ink, in the sense that they don't use ink cartridges.

What do they use instead? Laser printers actually use toner, which is a fine dye powder that gets 'melted' in the printing process.

Laser printers are actually able to take data from your PC and send it to the drum, which then builds up static electricity in a specific pattern.

Read More: How to fix laser printer smudges

The toner, which is dry, is attracted to the paper and then heated so it stays - one of the reasons those crisp documents come out like a freshly baked load of bread.

What is the disadvantage of laser printer?

If you're deciding which type of printer to go for we'd say it's good to read our inkjet vs laser printers piece, as both have pros and cons.

With laser printers, one of the main disadvantages is that toner can be a little more expensive than ink cartridges.

The cost of a laser printer initially is also higher than what you'd typically get for an inkjet printer, which makes it not the ideal choice if you're sticking to a budget.

Read More:How to clean a laser printer drum

For offices with a ton of people though, they usually work out better from a budgeting perspective.

Does the ink last longer in a laser printer?

The ink, or toner, does generally last longer in a laser printer, meaning that you won't need to constantly buy new toner once you have one...unless you're printing a first draft of a novel every other day.

It's also worth noting that some toner cartridges can last up to two years in their sealed packages, so there's no real rush if you find yourself with more than a few to hand.

What is the best laser printer?

If you're in the market for a laser printer, we've picked a few which we think stand out from the crowd in our best laser printers list.

Check out our top picks for all budgets, plus more answers to some of your most frequently asked questions.