For most households, a compact Brother color laser such as the MFC-L3720CDW (all-in-one) or HL-L3220CDW (print-only) is the easiest fit, while buyers who print a lot of color pages and want faster output should look at Canon’s imageCLASS line or HP’s Color LaserJet Pro series. A color laser makes sense when you print mostly documents, school handouts and the occasional chart or label, and you want toner that does not dry out between jobs. If photo prints are your priority, an inkjet is still the better tool, and the inkjet guide on this site covers that. This page is a plain buyer guide to color laser printers for home use, built from maker specifications and independent reviewer comments rather than a personal test.
Color Laser Printers for Home Use — Top Picks on Amazon
Compare the current top-rated Color Laser Printers for Home Use with live pricing and verified customer reviews.
Check Price on AmazonPrice & availability shown on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Color Laser Printers at a Glance
| Model | Type | Stated speed | Key stated specs | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother MFC-L3720CDW | All-in-one | Up to 19 ppm, color and black | Auto duplex, dual-band Wi-Fi, 50-sheet document feeder, 250-sheet tray, AirPrint | Slower engine; 1-year warranty |
| Brother HL-L3220CDW | Print-only | Up to 19 ppm | Auto duplex, dual-band Wi-Fi, 250-sheet tray, 1,000-page starter toner per color | No scanner or copier |
| Brother MFC-L3780CDW | All-in-one | Up to 31 ppm | One-pass duplex scanning, 3.5-inch touchscreen, Gigabit Ethernet, optional second tray | Bigger and costlier tier |
| Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw | All-in-one | Up to 22 ppm | Auto duplex, 50-sheet feeder with one-pass duplex scan, 5-inch touchscreen, 3-year warranty | Canon’s US store has listed it as unavailable |
| Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw | All-in-one | Up to 35 ppm | 1200 x 1200 dpi, 850-sheet maximum paper capacity, 3-year warranty | Reviewers flag toner cost; also listed as unavailable by Canon US |
| HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw | Print-only | Up to 26 ppm | Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi, 40,000-page monthly duty cycle | Dynamic Security cartridge chips |
| HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw | All-in-one | Up to 26 ppm | High-yield 218X cartridges rated at 3,200 black and 2,500 per color page | Works only with HP-chipped cartridges, per sources |
How Color Lasers Differ From Inkjets for Home Use
A color laser fuses powder toner onto the page with heat. That gives sharp text, quick first pages and no clogged nozzles after a month of sitting idle. The trade-offs are physical size, a fuser that warms up before each job, and color photo output that reviewers generally describe as good for charts and flyers but not as smooth as a photo-oriented inkjet. Most home buyers who choose a laser are printing homework, tax forms, shipping labels, recipes and the occasional presentation.
Color lasers also carry four consumables: black, cyan, magenta and yellow toner. When one color runs out, the printer may stop even if the page you want is mostly black text. Several makers include only starter cartridges in the box, so the first replacement often arrives sooner than buyers expect. For example, Brother lists the starter toner in the HL-L3220CDW at about 1,000 pages per color, and Canon lists the MF656Cdw starter cartridges at 680 pages for each color and 1,350 for black.
Best Wireless Color Laser Picks by Buyer Type
Brother MFC-L3720CDW: balanced all-in-one for a family desk
Brother lists the MFC-L3720CDW at up to 19 pages per minute in both color and black, with automatic duplex printing, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), a 250-sheet tray and a 50-sheet document feeder. Several 2026 roundups name it their top pick for home offices, citing its mix of scanning, copying and printing in one compact body. Brother states that macOS printing uses AirPrint and that Mac printer drivers are not provided, which suits most people because setup is driverless.
The limits are speed and warranty. Nineteen pages per minute is fine for a few pages at a time but slower than the Canon and HP engines below. Brother lists a 1-year limited warranty.
Brother HL-L3220CDW: print-only, smaller footprint
If you already own a flatbed scanner or use your phone for scans, the HL-L3220CDW removes the scanner and its cost. The maker lists the same 19 ppm engine, automatic duplex, dual-band Wi-Fi, AirPrint, Mopria and Wi-Fi Direct support, and a 250-sheet tray. One roundup describes it as a sensible choice for a home office for its wireless connectivity and operating costs. It is the one to consider when the machine will sit on a shelf or a small desk and mostly print text.
Brother MFC-L3780CDW: step up for scan-heavy households
Brother lists this model at up to 31 ppm, with duplex printing, scanning and copying, a 50-sheet document feeder that scans both sides in a single pass (58 ipm black and 34 ipm color, per the maker), a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, dual-band Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet and a 30-sheet multipurpose tray. An optional lower tray raises capacity to 500 sheets. One roundup picks it because it is the only model in its comparison that duplex-scans and duplex-copies in one pass. It fits a home where paperwork, school forms or a side business generate stacks to scan.
Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw and MF753Cdw: stronger warranty and screens
Canon lists the MF656Cdw at up to 22 ppm, with automatic duplex printing, one-pass two-sided scanning from a 50-sheet feeder, AirPrint, Mopria, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Gigabit Ethernet and a 5-inch color touchscreen. Its warranty is three years, which is longer than most competitors. The MF753Cdw is the faster, larger sibling at up to 35 ppm and 1200 x 1200 dpi, with an 850-sheet maximum capacity when the optional cassette is added.
Reviewer notes on the MF753Cdw are mixed on cost: Tom’s Guide measured about 26.5 ppm on the II version and lists expensive toner as a drawback, Digital Trends calls color cost per page only okay, and TechRadar says cost per page is slightly above average. Canon’s US store has listed both the MF656Cdw and MF753Cdw as no longer available, so use the maker’s product page to see which current successors or remaining stock exist before you commit to a name from a review.
HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw and MFP 3301sdw: speed and a clear catch
HP rates both at up to 26 ppm. The 3201dw is print-only with Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Wi-Fi Direct, a 40,000-page maximum monthly duty cycle and a recommended 150 to 2,500 pages a month. Digital Trends calls it small, fast and good for a low-cost home office printer, but also describes the experience as awkward and points to the HP 4201dw as a step up. TechRadar says it printed quickly and well.
The catch is supplies. HP’s datasheet describes both models as Dynamic Security enabled, meaning the printer may prevent cartridges with non-HP chips from working. HP lists the 218A black at about 1,300 pages and the 218X high-yield black at about 3,200 pages; the 3301sdw cartridges are described as roughly 1,200 per color for standard and 2,500 for high yield. If you plan to shop for third-party toner, this is the family to avoid.
Running Cost: What to Compare Instead of Price
Look at the toner yield of the cartridge you will actually buy, not the starter set. Maker figures are measured under standard test conditions, and real yields depend on coverage; a page of color charts uses far more toner than a letter. As a quick comparison, Canon lists its 067 standard cartridges at about 1,350 black and 1,250 per color, and 067H high-yield at about 3,130 black and 2,350 per color according to one independent review. For the MF753Cdw, the 069 standard is listed at about 2,100 black and 1,900 per color, and the 069H high-yield at about 7,600 black and 5,500 per color.
High-yield cartridges generally cost less per page than standard ones, so a household that prints regularly benefits from them, while a household that prints a few pages a month may find the toner ages before it is used up. Divide the cartridge cost by its page yield for each color, then compare that across models.
Setup, Size and Compatibility Notes
- Mac and iPhone: Brother, Canon and HP list AirPrint support, so printing from Apple devices needs no driver install. Brother states Mac drivers are not provided and AirPrint is used instead; features such as advanced tray selection can be limited compared with a full driver.
- Network band: Dual-band Wi-Fi support, listed by Brother and HP, helps if your router separates 2.4GHz and 5GHz devices.
- Size and weight: A color laser is heavier than an inkjet because of four toner cartridges and a fuser. Digital Trends lists the HP 3201dw at about 30 pounds, and one retailer-style listing for the Canon MF656Cdw gives a weight that differs from another source, so confirm the shipping weight on the maker page if lifting matters.
- Warranty: Brother lists 1 year; Canon lists 3 years on the models above; read each maker’s terms.
Pick X If… Decision Table
| Pick this | If you | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Brother MFC-L3720CDW | Want one machine that prints, copies and scans, mostly at a desk or in a family room | 19 ppm speed, 1-year warranty |
| Brother HL-L3220CDW | Only need printing and want to avoid paying for a scanner | No scan or copy function |
| Brother MFC-L3780CDW | Scan double-sided paperwork often and want a touchscreen | Larger and more expensive tier |
| Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw | Value a 3-year warranty and a large touchscreen | Availability; confirm what the maker still sells |
| Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw | Print larger color jobs and need faster output | Toner cost per page flagged by reviewers |
| HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw or 3301sdw | Want a fast 26 ppm engine and will use HP cartridges | Dynamic Security blocks non-HP chips |
Alternatives to Consider
- Monochrome laser: If your color printing is rare, a black-and-white laser with a high-yield cartridge usually has a lower running cost. See the black and white laser guide on this site.
- Ink tank printers: Models such as Epson’s EcoTank line or Canon’s MegaTank G series use refillable ink bottles and suit photo and school-project color printing better than most lasers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are color laser printers good for home use?
Yes, if you print documents and graphics regularly rather than glossy photos. Toner does not dry out like ink, and text stays sharp. They are larger and heavier than inkjets, so check the space you have.
Is a print-only color laser better than an all-in-one?
It depends on whether you use a scanner. A print-only model such as the Brother HL-L3220CDW or HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw is smaller and simpler, while an all-in-one adds a flatbed scanner and a document feeder for copying paperwork. If your phone scans well enough for your needs, a print-only model can be enough.
Do I need special drivers on a Mac?
Often no. Brother states that macOS printing uses AirPrint and that Mac drivers are not provided, and Canon and HP also list AirPrint support. Your Mac should find the printer on the same Wi-Fi network without a download.
Why does the toner run out so quickly after setup?
Many makers ship starter cartridges that hold fewer pages than the retail ones. Brother lists about 1,000 pages per color on the HL-L3220CDW, and Canon lists 680 pages per color on the MF656Cdw. Standard and high-yield replacements are rated higher.
Can I use third-party toner?
That varies by brand. HP’s datasheet says its Dynamic Security printers may stop cartridges with non-HP chips from working, so read the maker’s terms before buying compatible toner. Using non-maker supplies can also affect support, so follow the manual.
How often should I print to keep a laser printer healthy?
Lasers tolerate idle time better than inkjets because toner is dry. Still, follow the maker’s guidance on recommended monthly volume, which HP lists as 150 to 2,500 pages for the 3201dw, and keep the printer in a dry, ventilated spot as the manual describes.
