What's the difference between a laser printer and a ink-jet printer?

Question

what's the difference, is one better than the other?

Answer 1

Ink jet printer's initial cost is low. But recurring cost is high. Laser printer's intial cost is high. But recurring cost is low. Laser printers are less problematic, maintainence free, very fast. Go for Laser printers. U always have problems with ink jet printers. Also, HP is the only brand that is good in printers.

Answer 2

a laser uses dry toner and heat burns the power to the paper. It costs more upfront, particularly if it's color and multi-function, but since it prints many pages from a toner, the per page cost is lower. It is faster and sharper on text than an inkjet but not as good for photos. You cant use coated photo paper in a laser printer because the heat destroys it. Toner doesnt evaporate and dry up so if you dont use a laser printer for a while, it's still fine. An inkjet will be cheaper up front, print photos better, and cartridges are cheaper though they dont print as many pages. If you dont use an inkjet for a while, the ink will dry up and could possibly clog the heads and make them unusable. Since each printer is suited for a particular task, I actually have several of each depending on the job needed. If you are only getting one, you have to think about which features are more important to you. You might want to get a multi-function inkjet and a black laser printer.

Answer 3

I've tried both. Let me tell ya, laser printers are soooooooo much better, faster, more efficient. Laser printers are more expensive than ink-jet printers but they are worth the extra money in the long run.

Laser printers : more expensive cartridge but it lasts forever! Mine lasts up to 1000 pages, it prints so many pages per minute, the ink does not run if you accidently smudge it right after it prints (like some some ink jet printers)

The brand I have is HP. It's a perfect size for home use..very compact and easy to use. To be more specific, it's an HP LaserJet 1018.

Answer 4

Laser printers are faster than ink jet.
Laser Printer produces higher quality graphics and text on plain white paper.
The advantage of inkjet is lower costs.
I prefer the laser myself.
In response to KP about the ink not running in the laser: The laser melts toner to the paper which prevent smudges and smears

Answer 5

An inkjet sprays little drops of ink onto the paper. Typically with three colours that combine to produce a colour image. Often there is a black ink as well to produce better black and white documents. Higher quality printers can have extra colours to be able to reproduce a larger range of colours in the picture.

Cheap. Low number of pages per cartridge. relatively cheap cartridges. Can print in colour.


A laser printer puts a fine plastic powder (toner) in a controlled fashion onto the paper, then heats it to melt it permanently onto the paper.

Typically only black and white. Usually a little more expensive. thousands of pages per cartridge but cartridges are much more expensive. Still cheaper per page than an inkjet for b&w. Ink is totally waterproof. Usually faster than an inkjet. The image tends to be crisper on standard paper as there is no absorption of the 'ink' by the paper.

Colour lasers are available, but tend to be expensive and have a higher cost per page compared to an inkjet but will produce nicer images than an inkjet on standard paper.


For printing text a laser printer will be faster, produce a better image and will be cheaper per page.

But as soon as you want to print one thing in colour you either spend $$$ on a colour laser or get an inkjet.

Answer 6

I dont know all the details. both are good but laser is better! and laser doesnt smudge when it comes out of the printer

Answer 7

The Ink Jet runs off ink cartridges and can be very expensive to keep stocked up on and the other doesn't and it will come in handy if you have a project in school due or something very important.