Will a Laser Printer Have a Higher Quality Print Output Than an Ink Jet Printer?

When considering buying a new printer, you should consider a few things, such as the volume you expect to print and the quality you are looking to achieve. For high-volume printing, laser printers are faster, but inkjet printers usually have higher quality output in the lower price ranges. All financial figures are as of November 2010.

Laser Printer Output

• For laser printers in the home office budget (less than $400), expect an output of about 20 pages per minute, depending on the complexity of the documents being printed. Printers in this price range have maximum resolutions of 1,200 dpi (dot per inch). It's a big jump in money to get a higher resolution out of a laser printer. Printers that print at 2,400 dpi begin in the $1,000 range.

Inkjet Printer Output

• Inkjet printers have a wider variety of final output options and range in price from as little as $40 to more than $400, depending on the functions and manufacturer. Inkjet printers in this price range are capable of black printing at a similar level as laser printers, but really shine in color: some printers can print upwards of 4,800 dpi on photo paper and print photographic-quality prints.

Making a Choice

• If print quality is your top concern and your budget is small, an inkjet printer is the better choice --- you can achieve high-quality prints easily. If you're willing to spend a little (or a lot) more, you can look into color laser printers, which can handle big print jobs quickly and in high quality.