The Best Printers For Teachers in 2020
Last Updated on February 27, 2020 by Christian Ralph
School teachers have a lot of printing to do, from preparing resources for lessons to creating wall displays. Because of the importance that printing has in the classroom and how much use school printers get, taking the time to choose the best printer for teachers instead of rushing into the decision is sensible.
Read our guide to the best laser printers for teachers to help make your decision.
What does a school printer need? We’ll be looking at laser printers rather than inkjet, as they’re more fitting for use as a school printer due to their faster printing speeds and lower long-term running costs.
The main strengths that a school printer needs are:
Fast black and white printing speeds
School teachers need to be able to quickly print and distribute worksheets, exam papers, and other education hand-outs to minimise the amount of time that’s wasted in class. Colour printing is less important, as most of these documents come in black and white anyway, but fast monochrome printing speeds are essential.
Low running costs and high toner capacity
School budgets are restricted to begin with, without taking into account the hidden expenses of a printer that uses costly resources. Laser printers are thought to be the least expensive printers to run in the long term thanks to the comparatively low cost of toner as opposed to ink.
Making sure that the printer you choose for school also has a high toner capacity means you won’t have to put as much organisation into staying stocked.
Wi-Fi connectivity
As schools begin to use more and more modern technology like computers, tablets, and mobile devices in lessons, the ability to print wirelessly becomes more important. We’d consider Wi-Fi connectivity an essential feature for school printers for easy use with multiple devices in a classroom.
Multi-functionality
Scanning and photocopying are both used in schools for various purposes, such as creating digital copies of completed exams and reproducing worksheets. Rather than having to buy individual scanners and copiers, choosing a multifunction printer with these features built in can save money and valuable classroom floorspace.
Good colour reproduction
Good colour reproduction is essential for any school printers that’ll be used to create materials for classroom displays. These displays play a vital role in creating an engaging and immersive learning environment, but they can be let down by poor print quality making them hard to read or understand.
Best printers for teachers
Lexmark B2546dw A4 Mono Laser Printer
The B2546dw is a compact yet powerful mono laser printer designed to be an affordable workhorse for your school or college. With fast print output speeds of up to 44ppm and the ability to produce a first print out as fast as 6 seconds, this capable printer supports classroom needs with ease. Featuring award-winning security and ENERGY STAR compliance, this printer protects your information and the environment.
Xerox VersaLink C400DN
This Xerox model can print in both colour or monochrome, making it perfect for classrooms where both worksheets and classroom display materials need to be printed regularly. It reaches speeds of up to 35 pages per minute and has a 550-sheet input tray which means you can load up enough paper to provide worksheets for the whole class in one go.
Lexmark MC2425adw
The Lexmark MC2425adw has a lot of printing power in a relatively small body. It features strong printing speeds, with first page coming out in less than 12 seconds and up to 23ppm, and the specially formulated Unison toner uses 46% less power than alternatives.
A host of additional tools including a 50ppm scanning capacity, colour ink regulation and dual-sided printing work together to keep cost per page prices low, while efficiency remains high. There’s also a handy option to extend your input tray by 650 pages should your workflow demand it.
Xerox VersaLink C405DN
The Xerox Verslink C405DN is a great multi-function option, with a scanner and copier built in to the design. This makes it perfect for use in schools looking to replace bulky photocopiers with more seamlessly integrated versions. With printing speeds of up to 35ppm and a 550-sheet input tray, this is a great all-rounder.
It also comes with a free lifetime on-site warranty, future-proofing it for any faults that might occur down the line.
OKI C823N
The final printer on our list for teachers is the OKI C823n, an A3 LED model. Although it can print in paper sizes up to A3, this printer still has fairly compact dimensions making it ideal for small classrooms. It can print large worksheets and displays at speeds of up to 23ppm in both colour and monochrome and has all of the energy saving qualities that come with LED technology.
