Black-and-white laser printing is the most cost-efficient way to print text documents. Monochrome laser printers are faster than inkjets, never have toner dry out, cost $0.01–0.02 per page with high-yield cartridges, and last for years. The sub-$200 black-and-white laser market is excellent in 2026 — here are the best picks across each use case.
Brother HL-L2350DW
BEST BUDGET B&W LASER~$119
The definitive budget black-and-white laser printer. 32ppm, auto duplex, Wi-Fi, compact design. TN760 high-yield toner at ~$0.015/page genuine or ~$0.007/page with compatible toner. No scanner (get the L2395DW for that). The fastest printer in its price class and the cheapest per-page. Everything you need for document printing, nothing you don't.
Pros
- Cheapest quality laser at ~$119
- ~$0.015/page — lowest toner cost
- 32ppm — fastest at this price
Cons
- No scanner or copier
- No Ethernet
Brother HL-L2395DW
BEST WITH SCANNER~$159
Adds flatbed scanner, copy function, Ethernet, and 2.7" touchscreen. Identical print engine to the HL-L2350DW — same TN760 toner, same 32ppm speed. For $40 more, you get scan/copy/Ethernet. Most users should buy this version. The scan quality is good for documents and decent for photos.
Pros
- Adds scan, copy, Ethernet
- Same fast engine + low toner cost
- Only $40 more than base model
Cons
- No ADF (single-page flatbed scan)
HP LaserJet Pro M404n
BEST HIGH-SPEED MONO LASER~$250
HP's LaserJet Pro M404n is a fast, no-frills monochrome laser at 40ppm — faster than the Brothers. Built for business use with a 250-sheet paper tray, Ethernet, and robust paper handling. Uses HP 58A/58X toner. Toner cost is higher than Brother (~$0.03/page for 58A), but build quality and speed are excellent for high-volume offices.
Pros
- 40ppm — fastest in this guide
- Ethernet for office networking
- Excellent reliability for high volume
Cons
- ~$0.03/page — higher than Brother
- No scanner
Brother MFC-L2710DW
BEST FULL-FEATURE B&W LASER~$179
Print + scan + copy + fax in a monochrome laser package under $200. 32ppm, auto duplex, 250-sheet tray. Uses TN730/TN760 toner — same family as the HL models. ADF supports up to 50 pages for multi-page scanning. The most complete black-and-white laser package under $200.
Pros
- Print + Scan + Copy + Fax
- 50-sheet ADF
- Same low TN760 toner cost
Cons
- Bulkier than print-only models
FAQs
What is the best black and white laser printer?▾
Brother HL-L2350DW (~$119) for print-only. Brother HL-L2395DW (~$159) if you need scanning. Both use TN760 toner at ~$0.015/page — the best value in monochrome laser printing.
How much does toner cost per page for a black and white laser?▾
With genuine high-yield toner: ~$0.015–0.03/page. With compatible third-party toner (which Brother allows): as low as $0.007/page. At 300 pages/month, that's $2–5 per month in toner costs.
Can I print photos on a black and white laser printer?▾
Technically yes, but poorly. Monochrome laser printers render photos as grayscale dots — no gradients, no color. For photos, use an inkjet. Laser printers excel at text, graphs, and documents.
How long does laser toner last?▾
Indefinitely — laser toner powder doesn't dry out or expire. A TN760 cartridge yields ~3,000 pages. The drum unit (DR730) lasts ~12,000 pages. At 300 pages/month, you replace toner every ~10 months and the drum every ~3 years.