What is the Best Printer for my Business? Inkjet, Laser, or Thermal?

Are you trying to decide, “what is the best printer for my business?”

We help our customers figure this out all the time. There are so many types of printers and they all do similar things – PRINT! But that does not mean they are all good for your particular printing jobs.

This blog post breaks down how each of these printers works, as well as the types of applications they are best suited for.

Inkjet Printers – Great for color!

Are you manually adding color to your labels using highlighters or color labels? Inkjet printers offer an easy, cost-effective way to print one label with both data and color.  During printing, the inkjet printer deposits thousands of tiny ink droplets onto the paper, where the colors combine to form an image or text. This saves time and money!

Inkjet printers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as water-based pigments, dye-based inks, and UV inks.

IDEAL FOR: moderate to large-scale printing jobs

KNOWN FOR: high quality and versatility

TYPICALLY USED IN: businesses, warehouses, factories, and hospitals

FUN FACT: inkjet labels can be used in situations involving extreme temperature swings.

Related: Color Inkjet Printers with Low-Temperature Adhesive Labels

Ideal for optimizing inventory management, color inkjet labels help with visual organization and identification across applications like retail, hospitals, and warehouses. Inkjet printers can be used for anything from variable-image paper labels to durable film labels that meet regulatory requirements such as BS5609, which requires labels to withstand three-month marine immersion. Customers can choose from stock and custom inkjet labels in a variety of film and paper facestocks that can be custom printed at the point of application.

Laser Printers – Simple yet powerful!

Laser printers are one of the simplest printers on the market. The basic principle behind laser printing is static electricity. When a label is sent to the printer, a laser beam “draws” the text and images onto a selenium-coated drum using electrical charges. This drum is then rolled in toner, a dry powdered ink that adheres to the charged image on the drum. That toner is transferred onto the label, then fused with heat and pressure. This is the reason why the paper is hot when it comes off a laser printer.

IDEAL FOR:  signage applications such as promoting specials or newly stocked items

KNOWN FOR: simplicity and ease of use

TYPICALLY USED IN: small business or retail grocery environments

PRO TIP:  If you need fine detail printing, inkjet may be better than laser printers

Thermal Printers – Variable data and barcodes!

Optimally designed for variable information labels and barcodes, thermal printers are highly reliable and versatile when it comes to printing just one label or up to thousands at a time. With the right combination of ribbon and media, thermal transfer printing results in text and images that are highly durable and resistant to smudges or solvents.

SEVERAL SIZES: Industrial, desktop, or mobile

KNOWN FOR: printing variable data and barcodes

TYPICALLY USED IN: warehouses, factories, and businesses with inventory

FUN FACT:  Direct thermal printers utilize special paper—fittingly called “thermal paper”—that is coated with chemicals, which cause the paper to change color when heated.

PRO TIP: While thermal printers can be extremely small and portable, they are not able to handle color very well and the print quality is low. However, the maintenance of a thermal printer can be minimal due to the lack of ink cartridges and other moving parts.

Related: Asset Labeling: A Great Way to Use Your Thermal Printer

Still wondering What is the Best Printer for your Business?

We are experts in all thermal transfer label printers. Give us a call at 888.972.5234 or email us at info@paladinid.com to discuss your label application. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have and look forward to working with you.