Best Laser Printer for Small Business: Mono and Colour Picks
The best laser printer for small business use in most UK offices is a mono Brother all-in-one in the DCP-L2620DW class. It handles printing, scanning and copying quickly, without high running costs.
The best laser printer for small business use in most UK offices is a mono Brother all-in-one in the DCP-L2620DW class. It handles printing, scanning and copying quickly, without high running costs.
For colour printing and a document feeder, the Brother MFC-L3740CDWE is the better fit. If you already have a scanner and only need to print, the Brother HL-L2400DW is the budget option.
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Quick picks
Best for most (mono AIO): Brother DCP-L2620DW, available on Amazon UK.
Check price on AmazonBest mono with stronger ADF class: Brother DCP-L2660DW, available on Amazon UK.
Check price on AmazonBest colour AIO in stock: Brother MFC-L3740CDWE, available on Amazon UK.
Check price on AmazonBest budget print-only: Brother HL-L2400DW, available on Amazon UK.
Check price on AmazonBest higher-volume colour: Brother MFC-L8390CDW, available on Amazon UK.
Check price on AmazonBest colour print-only Ethernet: HP LaserJet Pro 3202dn, available on Amazon UK.
Check price on AmazonBest Canon colour MFP: Canon i-SENSYS MF657cdw, available on Amazon UK.
Check price on AmazonAlso worth considering is the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdw, available on Amazon UK. Stock availability was unclear at the time of checking, so verify the listing before placing an order.
Check price on AmazonOne thing to bear in mind when reading US reviews: Wirecutter's top pick is the Brother DCP-L2640DW, which is a US model. In the UK, the same printer family is listed as the DCP-L2620DW and DCP-L2660DW.
Pick by pages per month
First, consider how many pages your office prints each month. Then decide if you need colour, scanning or an automatic document feeder (ADF). The table below helps narrow down the options.
| Office type | Recommended printer | Mono or colour | ADF | Maker monthly / duty note | Standard toner pages | High-yield toner pages | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo, print-only mono | Brother HL-L2400DW | Mono | No | Use Brother family duty guidance; confirm on listing | Confirm on Brother supplies page | Confirm on Brother supplies page | 5 Nov 2026 |
| Solo or 2 people, scan and copy | Brother DCP-L2620DW | Mono | Flatbed (ADF on L2660DW class) | Duty cycle up to 2,500 pages (Brother UK L2620DW) | TN2510: 1,200 | TN2510XL: 3,000 | 5 Nov 2026 |
| 2 to 5 people, mono docs with ADF | Brother DCP-L2660DW | Mono | Yes (confirm sheet count on listing) | Same mono laser family as L2620DW | Same TN2510 family (confirm) | TN2510XL (confirm) | 5 Nov 2026 |
| Colour marketing and scans | Brother MFC-L3740CDWE | Colour | 50-sheet ADF (Brother UK L3740CDW) | Print duty on Brother page; 18 ppm | TN-248: 1,000 each | TN-248XL BK 3,000 / colour 2,300 | 5 Nov 2026 |
| Higher volume colour office | Brother MFC-L8390CDW | Colour | Confirm on listing | Confirm on Brother listing | Confirm on Brother supplies | Confirm on Brother supplies | 5 Nov 2026 |
| Colour print-only with Ethernet | HP LaserJet Pro 3202dn | Colour | No | Confirm HP recommended volume on HP UK | Confirm HP toner page | Confirm HP toner page | 5 Nov 2026 |
| Mono AIO with fax class features | HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdw | Mono | Confirm on listing | Confirm HP docs | Confirm HP toner page | Confirm HP toner page | 5 Nov 2026 |
| Compact colour laser MFP (Canon) | Canon i-SENSYS MF657cdw | Colour | Confirm on listing | Confirm Canon UK | Confirm Canon toner page | Confirm Canon toner page | 5 Nov 2026 |
Laser vs inkjet for a business
For routine office paperwork, a laser printer is generally the more dependable choice. Wirecutter recommends laser printers for their reliability, particularly because toner cannot dry out or clog print heads in the way ink can when an inkjet sits unused.
Wirecutter describes its top pick as fast, reliable and inexpensive to run. Those are useful qualities for offices that print several documents at once, then leave the printer idle for a few days.
Inkjet printers still make sense for photo printing. TechRadar's selection of small-business printers includes Canon MAXIFY ink tank models as well as laser options.
The picks
Brother DCP-L2620DW
Who it is for: people working alone or in pairs who mainly print documents, with occasional scanning and copying.
Who it is not for: offices that need colour printing or an automatic document feeder.
According to Brother UK, the DCP-L2620DW prints up to 32 pages per minute in mono. It also supports automatic duplex printing, 5GHz Wi-Fi and USB. Scanning is handled through a flatbed, with no document feeder.
Brother gives it a duty cycle of up to 2,500 pages. The toner supplied in the box lasts about 700 pages. Replacement options are the TN2510, rated for 1,200 pages, and the TN2510XL, rated for 3,000 pages.
The drum is a separate component. Brother rates the DR2510 drum for 15,000 pages.
This model belongs to the same UK printer family as Wirecutter's top US pick. Stock was low at the time of checking.
Check price on AmazonBrother DCP-L2660DW
Who it is for: small teams that regularly scan multi-page contracts, invoices and forms.
Who it is not for: offices that only scan single pages, where the L2620DW is sufficient.
The DCP-L2660DW is part of the same mono laser family as the DCP-L2620DW. The important difference is its document feeder, which makes it better suited to scanning several pages.
Check the product listing for the ADF sheet capacity before ordering.
It should use toner from the same TN2510 family, although the listing should be checked to confirm compatibility. Stock was limited when checked.
Check price on AmazonBrother MFC-L3740CDWE
Who it is for: businesses printing colour flyers, price lists and reports, particularly those that also scan documents in batches.
Who it is not for: offices that only print in mono and would be paying for colour they never need.
The specifications on Brother UK's MFC-L3740CDW page include printing at up to 18 pages per minute in both mono and colour. There is also a 50-sheet ADF, Gigabit Ethernet, 5GHz Wi-Fi and USB.
The supplied toner provides about 1,000 pages per colour. Standard TN-248 cartridges are rated for 1,000 pages each.
For longer-lasting replacements, TN-248XL cartridges deliver 3,000 pages in black and 2,300 pages in colour.
The MFC-L3740CDWE is the closest UK alternative currently in stock to Wirecutter's US colour upgrade pick, the MFC-L3780CDW.
Check price on AmazonBrother HL-L2400DW
Who it is for: solo offices that only print mono documents and already have a scanner.
Who it is not for: anyone needing scanning, copying or colour printing.
The HL-L2400DW is a single-function mono laser printer. It is also the budget entry point among these recommendations.
It was in stock when checked.
The available sources do not provide toner yields or a duty cycle for this particular model. Check both figures on Brother's supplies page or the product listing before buying.
If scanning might become useful later, the DCP-L2620DW is a more sensible choice.
Check price on AmazonBrother MFC-L8390CDW
Who it is for: busier workplaces producing colour documents regularly, where a compact colour all-in-one is no longer enough.
Who it is not for: lighter users who can manage comfortably with the MFC-L3740CDWE.
Brother markets the MFC-L8390CDW as a professional compact colour LED all-in-one. It was available in stock when checked.
The available sources do not establish a duty cycle or toner yield for this model. Those figures need checking on Brother's listing.
Once confirmed, compare them with the MFC-L3740CDWE specifications above. That should help establish whether the upgrade makes sense for your monthly print volume.
Check price on AmazonHP LaserJet Pro 3202dn
Who it is for: offices that need colour printing over a wired network but have no need for scanning.
Who it is not for: anyone requiring Wi-Fi connectivity or an all-in-one printer.
The HP LaserJet Pro 3202dn is a colour laser printer with Ethernet connectivity and automatic two-sided printing. It is a print-only model.
Its UK model name corresponds to the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw class featured in TechRadar's small-business printer recommendations.
The wireless 3202dw was unavailable on Amazon UK when checked, making the 3202dn the option to buy for now.
Only one unit remained in stock at the time.
Check price on AmazonCanon i-SENSYS MF657cdw
Who it is for: offices that favour Canon or want a colour laser multifunction alternative to Brother.
Who it is not for: buyers who need confirmed duty cycle and toner yield figures before choosing a printer.
The MF657cdw is a colour laser multifunction printer sold in the UK under Canon's i-SENSYS branding. In the US, Canon uses the imageCLASS name for the range.
Before ordering, check the ADF specification, duty cycle and toner yields through Canon UK or the product listing.
Stock was very limited when checked. If this is the preferred model, ordering promptly would be sensible.
Check price on AmazonHP LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdw
Who it is for: mono offices that still need to send or receive faxes.
Who it is not for: businesses requiring colour printing.
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdw is a wireless mono all-in-one. Alongside printing, scanning and copying, it includes fax functionality.
HP promotes its LaserJet all-in-one range for small businesses in its tech-takes guide. Bear in mind that this is marketing material from the manufacturer.
Stock availability was uncertain when checked. Verify availability, ADF specifications and toner yields on the listing before placing an order.
Check price on AmazonToner and subscriptions
Brother's UK mono laser models use separate toner cartridges and drum units.
For the DCP-L2620DW, the DR2510 drum has a rated life of 15,000 pages. That means toner cartridges will need replacing considerably more often than the drum.
Brother also has a toner subscription service called EcoPro. Check Brother UK's website for current subscription terms and the models covered.
For HP, Canon and third-party toner cartridges, it is worth reading the manufacturer's cartridge policy before choosing a printer. Some models are designed to accept only supplies made by the printer manufacturer.
Security and admin
The available sources do not specify security features for the printers covered here. Businesses handling client information, contracts or payroll should check the manufacturer's product page for security details before buying.
Useful features to look for include user lock-outs, secure print release and network administration controls.
Your IT provider can advise which settings are appropriate for your office.
FAQ
Is a laser printer better than inkjet for a small business?
For everyday text documents, usually. Wirecutter favours laser printers for reliability and low running costs. Toner does not dry out or clog print heads like ink can when an inkjet printer goes unused.
Inkjet and ink tank printers remain good options for businesses doing a lot of photo printing.
Mono or colour laser?
Choose mono if most of your printing consists of invoices, letters and forms. Running costs are lower, and there is only one toner colour to replace.
Colour makes more sense for marketing materials, charts and branded documents produced in house. The MFC-L3740CDWE is a reasonable starting point for colour printing.
Do I need an all-in-one with an ADF?
Yes, if you regularly scan documents containing several pages. With a flatbed scanner, each page must be placed on the glass individually.
The DCP-L2660DW adds a document feeder to Brother's mono family. For colour offices, the MFC-L3740CDWE has a 50-sheet ADF, according to Brother UK.
What about chip-locked toner and third-party cartridges?
The available sources do not establish the cartridge restrictions for these particular models.
Check the manufacturer's cartridge policy before buying, especially if you intend to use less expensive third-party toner. Some printers only work with cartridges from their own manufacturer, which can affect running costs over time.
How many pages a month is each printer built for?
Rely on the manufacturer's figures rather than estimates.
Brother UK specifies a duty cycle of up to 2,500 pages for the DCP-L2620DW.
For the remaining printers, check the recommended monthly print volume on the manufacturer's UK website. Choose a model rated above your usual workload rather than one that only just matches it.
Does it need Ethernet as well as Wi-Fi?
Ethernet is useful when the router is close to the printer or the office Wi-Fi connection is unreliable.
According to Brother UK, the MFC-L3740CDW supports Gigabit Ethernet, 5GHz Wi-Fi and USB. The HP LaserJet Pro 3202dn uses Ethernet, while the DCP-L2620DW provides Wi-Fi and USB connections.
Which printers have security settings for sensitive documents?
The available sources do not detail the security features of these specific models.
Check the manufacturer's product page for access controls and secure print release options. Businesses dealing with personal information should also ask their IT provider which security settings need enabling during setup.
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