If you have recently purchased a high-performing printer for your home office, you may be wondering what paper to buy. You may also be curious about the laser printing process. There are many different types of paper that can be used with a laser printer, and you want to ensure you get the right one for your individual needs.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Laser printers can handle most paper types, with an exception being coated paper.
- When choosing a paper type for a laser printer, be aware of the overall weight of the paper. Heavier paper grades are better for printing out resumes and other important documents.
- Choosing pre-colored paper is a less expensive option to make your documents stand out.
Choose the Best Paper for Laser Printers
There is no one universally accepted paper type for use with laser printers, as these devices are built to function with a wide variety of paper types. There are, however, certain things to consider as you shop for paper for use with a laser printer. Since there are different types of printers, they also work with a wide variety of paper types. Additionally, you should learn about print paper sizes like the A3 print size.
A Helpful Guide to Picking Paper
Here are a few things to consider when choosing the paper to be used by a laser printer.
Color Reproductions
Though laser printers are not especially known for printing color reproductions, certain models are certainly up to the task. If your laser printer can handle colors, we strongly recommend you choose the brightest paper available. Using bright paper will help these colors “pop” as they appear on the page. We tend to recommend at least 95 brightness when it comes to printing visual images, illustrations, and photos. Of course, high-grade bright paper can be on the expensive side, so take that into account before making a purchase. Color reproductions are one of the things to consider if you keep asking, ‘what kind of printer should I buy?’.
And, if you’re still stuck on which printer to get, start by reading our OKI MC573DN review.
Insider Tip
If you use a laser printer in a highly trafficked office environment and print hundreds of pages daily, you will likely want lighter paper, under 20 pounds.
Paper Weight
Another key consideration when it comes to choosing is the overall weight of the paper itself. If you use a laser printer in a highly trafficked office environment and print hundreds of pages daily, you will likely want lighter paper, under 20 pounds. If you are using the best laser printer to print out a resume or important forms of documentation, you should err on the heavier side. For important printing tasks, we recommend going with 24 pounds or heavier. The heaviest paper types do tend to cost more money, so save them for special occasions.
Keep in mind that you can use heavy papers on some laser printers, as you’ll find in our Lexmark MC2535ADWE review.
Colored Paper
If you don’t want to spend the extra money on thick, heavy paper when printing a resume or a related document, you can make the reproduction stand out by using standard colored paper. Printing paper is available in a wide variety of different colors, suiting nearly any taste. This could also come in handy for arts and crafts projects. When using a laser printer, stay away from coated paper, as it may not work. Another guide worth looking at is how to assign a port for your wireless printer to ensure that it can communicate with your other gadgets.
Warning
The heaviest paper types do tend to cost more money, so save them for special occasions.
F.A.Q.
Are the packs that contain a large number of papers worth it?
They can be. Take a look at the paper grade before purchasing, including the overall weight and thickness of the paper itself.
Are photo papers different from regular ones?
Yes. Photo paper tends to have a completely different material makeup from traditional paper. Photo paper, for instance, tends to have a glossy finish. Coated paper types may not work with laser printers.
Will I be able to use regular sheets with laser printers?
Yes, in most cases. Standard printer sheets can be used in a laser printer so long as they are not coated.
STAT: Paper use in an average business grows by 22% a year, meaning paper costs double every 3.3 years. The average office worker in the US goes through roughly 10,000 sheets of paper each year. (source)
