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High-quality prints still matter, and technological advancements in the printer industry are making it easier for offices to achieve them.
Although office page volumes are not as high as they once were, the broader printer market is still growing. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global printer market was valued at $53.02 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $71.09 billion by 2034.
And amid all this, inkjet printers will only further widen their edge over laser printers in market share.
So, does this mean that laser printers are becoming obsolete?
We don’t believe so. In fact, we believe that laser printers are becoming more specialized. Offices today have more options, so laser is no longer the automatic answer for every workplace. But for many businesses, especially those that print often, share devices, and depend on speed and consistency, laser still makes a lot of sense.
Table of Contents
- Are Laser Printers Becoming Obsolete?
- Why More People Are Asking This Question
- Why Laser Printers Are Still a Smart Investment
- Where Inkjet Has Gained Ground
- Laser vs. Inkjet: What Actually Matters
- What Offices Still Benefit Most from Laser
- How Laser Technology Is Still Evolving
- Final Verdict
- FAQ
Are Laser Printers Becoming Obsolete?
Laser printers are not becoming obsolete, but they are facing more competition than they used to. Today’s office buyers have more printer options than before.
Recent market reports indicate that the inkjet printer segment will dominate the market in terms of revenue by 46.53% in 2026. This growth is largely due to the popularity of inkjet printers in smaller offices, hybrid work setups, and color-heavy environments.
Nonetheless, the laser segment remains strong in office and enterprise environments and is projected to grow steadily into 2034. Laser printers still serve important office needs in places like schools and government offices that rely on fast document printing.
Laser printers still solve real office problems, especially in environments that print often and depend on speed, consistency, and durability.
Why More People Are Asking This Question
People are asking this because office printing has shifted.
As businesses adopt digital tools and workflows, they print fewer pages daily than they used to. In fact, one report says office print volumes have dropped by 20% since before the pandemic. Physical documents once stored in file cabinets are now uploaded to cloud storage, and even signatures are increasingly digital. The rise of hybrid and remote work has further reduced the need for traditional office printing.
Inkjet printers are becoming popular in office environments because they’re often cheaper, offer strong color output, and are a better fit for hybrid and smaller workspaces.
And then there is a headline that got a lot of attention in the industry.
In 2022, Epson announced it would phase out laser printers globally by 2026 and shift entirely to inkjet. The company pointed to sustainability concerns, specifically the higher energy consumption of laser printing due to heat-based processes.
Having a major manufacturer step away from a category only makes people wonder more if the technology itself is on the way out. But Epson’s decision reflects its own strategy rather than the direction of the entire market. Other manufacturers like Xerox continue to invest in laser technology, and many businesses still rely on it every day.
So, while there are valid reasons why this question keeps coming up, those reasons actually reflect changes in the market rather than the end of laser printing.
Why Laser Printers Are Still a Smart Investment
Laser printers are still a smart investment because there are things laser printers just do best. Laser printers deliver speed, consistency, durability, and cost control at higher print volumes.
The clearest proof is in multifunction market data. Laser-based MFPs accounted for about 61.8% of unit shipments in 2024. Enterprises and large offices prefer laser printers because they offer higher print speeds, lower per-page costs, and more reliability for high-volume workflows.
A small team that prints just a little each week may not need laser, but a busy office that prints invoices, contracts, reports, handouts, packets, or intake documents every day still benefits from the strengths laser brings. Laser printers also remain practical for shared business workflows.
Monochrome laser printers, especially, remain strong in text-heavy environments. They are ideal for recurring business documents and offices that prioritize long-term efficiency over initial cost.
That is why laser still works well in places like law offices, accounting firms, schools, healthcare admin teams, and medium-sized businesses.
Security and control are also reasons why laser remains relevant. Stand-alone laser engines are preferred in security-sensitive environments like banks and government agencies, even as companies adopt multifunction fleets.
Where Inkjet Has Gained Ground
The inkjet market segment has grown for a few reasons.
First, inkjet printers tend to be smaller and therefore cheaper. With the rise of remote and hybrid work, inkjet-based color MFPs have become a top choice for home office setups where print volume is lighter, and flexibility matters more.
The rise of e-commerce and premium packaging has increased demand for UV-curable inkjet printers like the HP Indigo V12. These printers offer high-speed, high-resolution short-run printing with features such as spot varnish and white ink to create customized packaging for seasonal and specialized products.
Sustainability and budget concerns are also driving consumers to choose cartridge-free inkjet printers. Ink-tank models help lower the total cost of ownership and reduce landfill waste.
Laser vs. Inkjet: What Actually Matters
When comparing both technologies, it’s best to think about which type of printer will best fit your office. Your choice should depend on factors like print volume, document type, number of users, color needs, network requirements, security concerns, and whether you are optimizing for lower upfront cost or stronger long-term value.
Here is a quick way to compare them:
Laser is best when:
- Your office prints frequently
- Multiple employees use the same device
- Most of your output is text-heavy
- Speed and consistency matter
- You want stronger long-term value at higher volumes
Inkjet is best when:
- Your office prints less often
- Color is a bigger priority
- You want a lower upfront investment
- You need a compact device
- Your workflow is lighter-duty or more hybrid
What Offices Still Benefit Most from Laser
Laser printers remain a strong choice for offices that print often and rely on shared productivity.
Laser-based, high-speed multifunction printers are popular in offices, including enterprises, SMEs, government, education, and legal/finance sectors. These printers can handle high-volume printing with duty cycles of 5,000 to over 100,000 + pages per month.
Offices that benefit most from laser printers often prioritize throughput, durability, and reliable document printing over color printing alone.
How Laser Technology Is Still Evolving
Another reason laser is not obsolete is that it’s still evolving.
The laser market segment is projected to grow steadily between 2026 and 2034.
Modern laser printers offer better security, cloud connectivity, smarter workflows, apps, remote management, and more automation than older office printers ever had.
In response to growing consumer demand for sustainability, major manufacturers are finding ways to reduce the environmental impact of printer manufacturing.
To offset the high cost of toner cartridges, laser printer manufacturers are also planning to launch more eco-friendly, higher-yield toner cartridges.
For example, the 2023 launch of the TerraJet Toner for the HP Color Jet Series aimed to provide energy-efficient, scalable printing for hybrid work environments.
Major printer brands like Xerox, which helped invent laser printing, continue to invest in it. In 2024, Xerox launched the AltaLink C8200 and B8200 series in July 2024, with AI-assisted features that can summarize documents, convert handwritten notes, and automatically redact sensitive information.
The same is true on the portfolio side. Xerox’s recent acquisition of Lexmark expands its A4 color reach and broadens its competitive position.
Overall, manufacturers are still investing in laser printer technology because offices still have print-related problems to solve.
FAQ
Are laser printers going away?
No. Laser printers still have a strong place in offices, especially where businesses need speed, reliability, and higher-volume document printing.
Why are inkjet printers more common in offices now?
Inkjet printers have improved in color quality, multifunction features, and overall office usability. They also appeal to buyers who want lower upfront cost or lighter-duty printing.
Are laser printers better for small offices?
Sometimes. Small offices that print often or share one device may still be better off with laser, while lighter-use offices may prefer inkjet.
Is laser or inkjet better for a medium-sized office?
It depends on print volume, color needs, and workflow. Medium-sized offices with frequent shared printing often still benefit from laser.
Is laser printing technology still improving?
Yes. Modern laser devices continue to improve in security, workflow tools, cloud connectivity, and remote management.
Final Verdict: Obsolete or More Specialized?
Laser printers are not obsolete. They are simply no longer the default answer for every office.
Inkjet has earned a larger role in office printing, especially in lighter-use, color-focused, and hybrid environments. But laser still makes a lot of sense for businesses that print often, share devices, and need reliability over time.
So the better conclusion is this: laser printers are becoming more specialized, not irrelevant.
If your office depends on steady document printing, strong performance, and predictable long-term value, laser may still be the smartest investment. And if you are still weighing laser vs. inkjet, the next step is not to follow a trend. It is to look at your actual print needs and choose the technology that fits them best.
If you want help figuring that out, that is exactly the kind of conversation we have with businesses every day. After 40 years in the industry, helping companies match the right printer to the right environment is still one of the most valuable things we do.
