The 6 Best Printers for Black and White Documents, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: A compact mono laser with duplex, wireless and mobile printing and a toner-save mode.

The DCP-L2640DW is a compact monochrome laser with automatic duplex printing, wireless and mobile printing, and a toner-save mode. Because it uses toner, there is no risk of cartridges drying out while it sits idle. It falls in the $200 to $500 range.

For documents, this is the benchmark. Laser output is crisp and resistant to smearing, which matters for contracts, reports and forms. The toner-save mode stretches a cartridge for drafts and internal copies, and duplex printing halves paper use. Because it is an all-in-one, it also scans and copies. The price is higher than a plain printer, and it prints in black and white only.

Buy it if almost everything you print is text. Skip it if you occasionally need color.

Engine

Monochrome laser

Duplex

Automatic

Connectivity

Wireless and mobile

Toner

Toner-save mode, no drying

Our verdict: A compact USB-only mono laser with automatic duplex printing for around $100 to $200.

The M209d is a monochrome laser with automatic duplex printing and a wired USB connection only. It has a compact home office design and no risk of idle toner drying. It sits in the $100 to $200 range.

The lack of wireless is the whole story. There is no network to join, no router password and no printer-offline error on a laptop. You plug in a cable and print. That makes it the simplest and cheapest way to get a real laser on a desk. The cost of that simplicity is flexibility: only the computer connected by cable can print, and phones cannot, and there is no scanner or copier.

Buy it if one computer prints all the text. Skip it if you want to print from a phone or share between several people.

Engine

Monochrome laser

Duplex

Automatic

Connection

USB only

Bracket

$100 to $200

Our verdict: A color laser that handles black and white text at 19 ppm, with a 250-sheet tray and duplex.

The HL-L3220CDW is a wireless color laser that works well in black and white mode, with a 19 page-per-minute print speed, a 250-sheet paper tray, duplex printing and mobile compatibility. It falls in the $200 to $500 range.

It earns third place because it gives you the occasional color page at laser prices without forcing you onto an inkjet. A color laser uses four toners, so the replacement set costs more than a single black cartridge, but toner lasts long. At 19 ppm it is not a fast printer, and for pure text the Brother mono model is cheaper to run.

Buy it if most of your printing is black and white but you need a color page now and then. Skip it if you will never print color.

Engine

Color laser, B&W capable

Speed

19 ppm

Tray

250 sheets

Duplex

Yes

Our verdict: A color laser all-in-one with a 35 ppm print speed, a document feeder and a 3-year warranty.

The MF753Cdw II is a color laser all-in-one that prints in black and white as well, with a 35 page-per-minute speed, an automatic document feeder, duplex printing and a 3-year limited warranty. It sits in the $200 to $500 range.

The speed and warranty are what set it apart. At 35 ppm it is far quicker than the Brother color model, which matters when you print a long report. A three-year warranty is generous for a printer. It ranks fourth because it is an office-class machine with a larger body, and because color toner is costly to replace.

Buy it if you print a lot, scan stacks and want a long warranty. Skip it if you have a small desk.

Engine

Color laser, B&W capable

Speed

35 ppm

Feeder

Automatic document feeder

Warranty

3-year limited

Our verdict: A wireless color inkjet with INKvestment high-capacity cartridges, 2-sided copy and scan and a 2.7 inch touchscreen.

The MFC-J5010DW uses Brother's INKvestment high-capacity cartridges, scans and copies on both sides automatically, and has a 2.7 inch color touchscreen. It is a wireless color inkjet, not a laser, in the $200 to $500 range.

It makes sense here if you mix black and white documents with grayscale graphics and photos, and want fewer cartridge swaps. High-capacity cartridges reduce how often you replace ink, which matters for a busier office. It ranks fifth because an inkjet still cannot match laser sharpness on text or avoid the risk of clogged nozzles after long idle periods.

Buy it if you need graphics and text in one printer and want fewer ink changes. Skip it if you only print text.

Engine

Color inkjet

Ink

INKvestment high-capacity

Copy and scan

Automatic 2-sided

Display

2.7 in color touchscreen

Our verdict: A color inkjet with an automatic document feeder, duplex print and scan and a 3-month Instant Ink trial.

The OfficeJet Pro 9135 is a color inkjet with an automatic document feeder, duplex printing and scanning, and a 3-month Instant Ink trial. It is rated for office use and sits in the $200 to $500 range.

It appears last because black and white text is a job inkjets do adequately but not best. The feeder, duplex scanning and office rating make it a versatile machine, and the ink trial can lower early costs. Still, a user with only text pages is paying for color capability and ink maintenance that a mono laser avoids.

Buy it if you mix text with grayscale pictures and charts and want a feeder. Skip it if documents are your only use.

Engine

Color inkjet

Feeder

Automatic document feeder

Duplex

Print and scan

Ink plan

3-month Instant Ink trial