Skip to content
We independently pick everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

Home office gear, compared spec by spec.

Home Office Printers

Best Printer for Just Black and White (2026): 5 Compared

Five monochrome laser printers compared by speed, paper capacity and duplex for black-and-white printing.

Best Printer for Just Black and White (2026): 5 Compared

Printing only black and white keeps costs down and avoids dried-out color cartridges, and the best printer for just black and white is a monochrome laser with fast duplex printing. Laser toner does not dry out between uses, so the printer is ready even after weeks idle. We compared five monochrome laser printers using only what each Amazon listing publishes: print speed, paper capacity, duplex and functions.

OfficeKitHQ earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

Quick picks

The picks

Brother 50ppm Laser

Brother 50ppm Laser

Brother9.6/10 Office Score
i
The Office Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

A monochrome laser printer with 50 pages per minute, a 520-sheet tray and a 100-sheet multipurpose tray.

Pros

  • 50 pages per minute
  • 520-sheet main tray plus 100-sheet multipurpose
  • Auto duplex
  • Wireless

Cons

  • No warranty stated
  • No safety certification stated
  • Print-only, no scan
  • Large for a desk
Detailed Review

The Brother monochrome laser printer delivers 50 pages per minute for high-volume jobs. The 520-sheet main tray plus 100-sheet multipurpose tray is expandable per the listingting. Auto duplex prints two-sided without manual flipping.

It is a print-only machine, so there is no scanning or copying. The wireless connection suits an office with multiple users. The listing emphasizes professional performance for business documents.

No warranty term is stated. The high speed and large capacity suit an office that prints daily. The 50 ppm speed is the fastest here by a wide margin. The 100-sheet multipurpose tray handles envelopes and letterhead.

Its Office Score of 9.6/10 comes from performance 34/35, build 24/25, value 21/25, safety 0/10 and warranty 0/5: 79 of 100 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.

Key Specifications
Speed50 ppm
Paper520+100 sheets
DuplexAuto
ConnectionWireless

Figures as published on the retailer listing, collected 18 October 2026. Performance figures are manufacturer rated.

Safety and Warranty

What this listing states. No safety lock or safety listing is stated, so safety scores zero. No warranty term, so warranty scores zero. See How We Pick.

Shredder and printer safety. Keep hair, ties, jewelry, children and pets away from the feed slot, use the safety lock, unplug when not in use, and give printers and adapters room to vent.

This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.

HP LaserJet M209dw

HP LaserJet M209dw

HP9.6/10 Office Score
i
The Office Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

A wireless monochrome laser printer with 30 pages per minute and auto duplex, for 1 to 5 users.

Pros

  • 30 pages per minute
  • Auto two-sided printing
  • Wireless with mobile printing
  • For 1 to 5 users

Cons

  • No warranty stated
  • No safety certification stated
  • Print-only, no scan
  • 19 ppm two-sided is slower
Detailed Review

The HP LaserJet M209dw prints up to 30 black-and-white pages per minute single-sided and 19 two-sided. Auto duplex saves paper, and wireless with mobile printing suits a small team. It is listed as best for 1 to 5 people printing documents and reports.

Instant Ink eligibility keeps toner replacement simple. The compact design fits a home office desk. Setup is described as easy in the listing.

No warranty term is stated. It is print-only, so scanning needs a separate device. The 19 ppm two-sided speed is slower than single-sided but still quick. Mobile printing covers phones and tablets.

Its Office Score of 9.6/10 comes from performance 33/35, build 22/25, value 21/25, safety 0/10 and warranty 0/5: 76 of 100 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.

Key Specifications
Speed30 ppm
DuplexAuto
Users1 to 5
ConnectionWireless

Figures as published on the retailer listing, collected 18 October 2026. Performance figures are manufacturer rated.

Safety and Warranty

What this listing states. No safety lock or safety listing is stated, so safety scores zero. No warranty term, so warranty scores zero. See How We Pick.

Shredder and printer safety. Keep hair, ties, jewelry, children and pets away from the feed slot, use the safety lock, unplug when not in use, and give printers and adapters room to vent.

This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.

HP LaserJet Pro 3105sdw

HP LaserJet Pro 3105sdw

HP9.6/10 Office Score
i
The Office Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

An all-in-one monochrome laser printer with print, scan and copy for up to 7 users.

Pros

  • Print, scan and copy
  • For up to 7 users
  • Auto 2-sided printing
  • Scan to email with HP AI

Cons

  • No warranty stated
  • No speed stated
  • No safety certification stated
  • Larger than print-only models
Detailed Review

The HP LaserJet Pro 3105sdw is an all-in-one for office teams printing, scanning and copying black-and-white documents. Auto two-sided printing handles reports, and auto one-sided scanning works through the document feeder. It suits up to 7 users.

Scan to email is simplified with HP AI generating smart subject lines, file names and actionable items. The listing calls HP America's most trusted printer brand.

No print speed or warranty is stated. The all-in-one design suits an office that needs scanning as well as printing. The 7-user capacity is the highest here. The document feeder speeds up multi-page scans.

Its Office Score of 9.6/10 comes from performance 33/35, build 22/25, value 21/25, safety 0/10 and warranty 0/5: 76 of 100 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.

Key Specifications
FunctionsPrint, scan, copy
UsersUp to 7
DuplexAuto 2-sided
ScanAuto 1-sided

Figures as published on the retailer listing, collected 18 October 2026. Performance figures are manufacturer rated.

Safety and Warranty

What this listing states. No safety lock or safety listing is stated, so safety scores zero. No warranty term, so warranty scores zero. See How We Pick.

Shredder and printer safety. Keep hair, ties, jewelry, children and pets away from the feed slot, use the safety lock, unplug when not in use, and give printers and adapters room to vent.

This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.

Brother DCP-L2640DW

Brother DCP-L2640DW

Brother9.6/10 Office Score
i
The Office Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

A compact monochrome laser 3-in-1, suited to small businesses that print a lot.

Pros

  • Laser monochrome with 36 ppm as stated
  • 50-page auto document feeder as stated
  • Dual-band wifi and Ethernet as stated
  • 250-sheet capacity as stated

Cons

  • Monochrome only, so color buyers should look elsewhere
  • 25 pounds, the heaviest here
  • 470 watts power consumption as stated
  • No stated color scanning beyond black/color ipm
Detailed Review

The listing states a compact monochrome laser 3-in-1 with print speeds to 36 ppm, a 50-page auto document feeder, scan speeds to 23.6/7.9 ipm, dual-band wireless and Ethernet, a 250-sheet capacity, and auto-duplex. The warranty description states 1 Year Limited. It is Energy Star listed.

Who it's for: a small business that prints a lot in black and white. Who should skip it: someone who needs color, since this is monochrome.

Its Office Score of 9.6/10 comes from performance 33/35, build 21/25, value 20/25, safety 5/10 and warranty 2/5: 81 of 100 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.

Key Specifications
TypeLaser mono
Speed36 ppm
ADF50-page
Warranty1 Year Limited

Figures as published on the retailer listing, collected 17 October 2026. Performance figures are manufacturer rated.

Safety and Warranty

What this listing states. Energy Star, so safety scores 5 of 10. 1 Year Limited. It does not say everything a buyer needs, such as who pays return shipping, so warranty scores 2 of 5. See How We Pick.

Shredder and printer safety. Keep hair, ties, jewelry, children and pets away from the feed slot, use the safety lock, unplug when not in use, and give printers and adapters room to vent.

This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.

Canon LBP6030w

Canon LBP6030w

Canon9.5/10 Office Score
i
The Office Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

A compact wireless monochrome laser printer at 11 lb with 19 ppm, a 150-sheet tray and a 1-year limited warranty.

Pros

  • Lightest printer here at 11 lb
  • Compact 9.8 by 14.3 by 7.8 in footprint
  • Toner 125 with a 1,600-page yield is stated
  • 1-year limited warranty is stated

Cons

  • 19 ppm is the slowest speed here
  • No duplex is stated
  • 150-sheet tray
  • 600 dpi is the lowest stated resolution here
Detailed Review

Canon lists the imageCLASS LBP6030w as a wireless monochrome laser printer with 19 ppm, a 150-sheet tray, USB and Wi-Fi, and an 11 lb weight in a 9.8 by 14.3 by 7.8 in body. Resolution is 600 dpi in black, the toner is Canon 125 with a stated 1,600-page yield, and the listing states under 2 watts in Energy Saver mode. The warranty is a 1-year limited warranty.

Who it's for: a small desk that prints a little and values the lightest, most compact body here. Who should skip it: anyone who prints often or needs duplex.

Its Office Score of 9.5/10 comes from performance 27/35, build 20/25, value 20/25, safety 0/10 and warranty 3/5: 70 of 100 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.

Key Specifications
Speed19 ppm
Paper tray150 sheets
Item weight11 lb
TonerCanon 125, 1,600-page yield

Figures as published on the retailer listing, collected 17 October 2026. Performance figures are manufacturer rated.

Safety and Warranty

What this listing states. No safety lock or safety listing is stated, so safety scores zero. 1 year limited warranty stated. It does not say everything a buyer needs, such as who pays return shipping, so warranty scores 3 of 5. See How We Pick.

Shredder and printer safety. Keep hair, ties, jewelry, children and pets away from the feed slot, use the safety lock, unplug when not in use, and give printers and adapters room to vent.

This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Compare the picks

Printer Verdict Speed Duplex Paper Tray Functions Amazon
Brother 50ppm Laser Top pick 50 ppm Auto 520+100 sheets Print View on Amazon
HP LaserJet M209dw Best small team 30 ppm Auto Not stated Print View on Amazon
HP LaserJet Pro 3105sdw Best all-in-one Not stated Auto 2-sided Not stated Print, scan, copy View on Amazon
Brother DCP-L2640DW Best compact Not stated Not stated Not stated Print View on Amazon
Canon LBP6030w Best basic Not stated Not stated Not stated Print View on Amazon

Printer details as published on each listing, collected 18 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shop Score weighs fit for black-and-white printing, build and features, value, safety and warranty. None of the five lists a warranty term or safety certification, so those scores are zero across the board. Speed, capacity and duplex drive the ranking. How we pick explains the weights.

Product Office Score Perf. /35 Build /25 Value /25 Safety /10 Warranty /5
Brother 50ppm Laser 9.6 34 24 21 0 0
HP LaserJet M209dw 9.6 33 22 21 0 0
HP LaserJet Pro 3105sdw 9.6 33 22 21 0 0

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.

How to choose the best printer for just black and white

Print speed

The Brother prints up to 50 pages per minute. The HP M209dw prints up to 30 pages per minute single-sided and 19 two-sided. Faster speed matters for long documents; for a few pages a day, any of these is fine.

Paper capacity

The Brother has a 520-sheet main tray plus a 100-sheet multipurpose tray. The other three state no tray capacity. A larger tray means less refilling during a big print job.

Duplex

The HP M209dw, Brother and HP 3105sdw all have auto two-sided printing per their listings. Duplex saves paper on multi-page documents.

All-in-one or print only

The HP 3105sdw scans and copies as well as prints, for up to 7 users. The HP M209dw and Brother are print-only per their listings. An all-in-one suits an office that also scans; print-only suits a simple setup.

Wireless

The HP M209dw, Brother and HP 3105sdw have wireless per their listings. The Canon LBP6030w and Brother DCP-L2640DW are wireless per their titles. Wireless lets every device print without a cable.

Toner

The HP M209dw is Instant Ink eligible, which automates toner replacement. Laser toner does not dry out like inkjet ink, so a monochrome laser suits infrequent printing. Check the toner yield on the listing for cost per page.

Size

The Canon LBP6030w and Brother DCP-L2640DW are described as compact per their titles. A compact printer fits a small desk or shelf. The Brother with the 520-sheet tray is larger and suits a dedicated printer stand.

Monthly duty cycle

The listings here do not state a monthly duty cycle. For heavy use, check the manufacturer’s specs for the maximum pages per month. A printer run beyond its duty cycle wears out faster.

Why laser for black and white

Monochrome laser printers use toner powder that does not dry out, unlike inkjet ink. This makes them ideal for occasional printing where an inkjet would clog. Toner cartridges also yield more pages per cartridge than inkjet cartridges, lowering the cost per page for text documents.

Which printer for which office

The Brother suits high volume and shared use. At 50 pages per minute with a 520-sheet tray plus 100-sheet multipurpose tray, it handles big jobs without constant refilling. The monochrome laser output is crisp for business documents, contracts and reports. Auto duplex cuts paper use in half on long documents. It is the fastest and highest-capacity here.

The HP LaserJet M209dw suits a small team of 1 to 5 people printing documents and reports. It prints 30 pages per minute single-sided with auto duplex for two-sided jobs. Instant Ink eligibility automates toner replacement so you never run out mid-job. The compact design fits a home office desk, and mobile printing lets phones and tablets print directly.

The HP LaserJet Pro 3105sdw suits an office that scans as well as prints. It handles print, scan and copy for up to 7 users, with auto two-sided printing and auto one-sided scanning through the document feeder. Scan to email with HP AI saves time by generating smart subject lines, file names and actionable items automatically. It is the only all-in-one here.

The Brother DCP-L2640DW suits a tight space. It is listed as a wireless compact monochrome printer per its title, which fits a small desk or shelf where a full-size printer will not go. The Brother DCP-L2640DW and Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w both lack stated speed, capacity and duplex details, so check the full listing before buying to confirm they meet your needs.

Setup Notes

  • Connect to Wi-Fi before installing the driver.
  • Enable auto duplex in the print dialog to save paper.
  • Keep a spare toner cartridge for long print runs.
  • Print a sample page after setup to confirm alignment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the fastest?

The Brother prints up to 50 pages per minute. The HP M209dw prints up to 30 pages per minute.

Which have auto duplex?

The HP M209dw, Brother and HP 3105sdw have auto two-sided printing per their listings.

Which scan and copy?

The HP 3105sdw is an all-in-one that scans and copies. The others are print-only per their listings.

Which have the largest paper tray?

The Brother has a 520-sheet main tray plus a 100-sheet multipurpose tray.

Which are best for a small desk?

The Canon LBP6030w and Brother DCP-L2640DW are described as compact per their titles.

Do they work with mobile printing?

The HP M209dw lists mobile printing. The others state wireless but no mobile details.

Brother 50ppm Laser
Still deciding? Our top pickBrother 50ppm Laser
Check price on Amazon

See every printers guide and all office storage guides.

More guides: printer for black and white printing, printer for small business home office and laser printer for zines.