8 Best Monochrome Printers (November 2026)

Choosing a monochrome printer is a decision to stop paying for color you never use. If your pages are contracts, homework, shipping labels, and boarding passes, a black-and-white laser skips the dried-out color cartridges and the per-page ink anxiety that come with an all-purpose inkjet. The real choices left are print-only versus all-in-one, how fast and how big the paper tray needs to be, and whether you want duplex printing and fax in the same box.

This guide is for home offices, students, small shops, and anyone whose printer sits idle for weeks and then needs to work on the first try. We compare eight monochrome laser models from Brother and HP, drawing on what each title states: wireless support, duplex, scan and copy functions, fax, tray capacity, and Ethernet. The list reflects what shoppers can find in 2026, and no speed or page-yield numbers are quoted beyond what the titles give.

Quick Picks

Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa

One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.

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Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Printer, Copy, Scan, Duplex, Mobile Printing

One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.

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HP LaserJet M207dw | Monochrome | Laser Printer | Duplex | Fast Black-and-White Printing | Wireless Printing | Automatic Two-Sided Printing

One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.

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Brother HL-L2460DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Duplex, Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa

One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.

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Brother MFC-L2820DW Wireless Compact Monochrome All-in-One Laser Printer with Copy, Scan and Fax, Duplex, Black & White | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa

One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.

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HP LaserJet MFP M235sdw | Monochrome | Laser Printer | All-in-One | Duplex | Fast Black-and-White Printing | All-in-One | Print, Copy and Scan | Wireless Printing | Automatic Two-Sided Printing

One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.

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Brother Laser Printer, Monochrome Duplex Wireless Printer, HL-6210DW | 520-sheet tray, 100-sheet multipurpose feed, Gigabit Ethernet, and dual-band wireless for a black and white printer

One of the bed sheets options compared in this guide.

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Brother HL-L2460DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Duplex, Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), (Renewed Premium - Refurbished)

One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.

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How to Choose

Print-only or all-in-one

A print-only laser, like the HL-L2405W, HL-L2460DW, M207dw, or M110w, is smaller and simpler, and it avoids paying for a scanner you will not use. An all-in-one such as the DCP-L2640DW, MFC-L2820DW, or M235sdw adds copy and scan, and the MFC adds fax. If you digitize receipts or copy ID cards even a few times a month, an all-in-one saves a trip to a copy shop. Otherwise, the print-only model is the leaner buy. Consider where the machine will sit as well: scanners need lid clearance, and a flatbed on a high shelf is awkward to use.

Duplex printing and paper handling

Automatic duplex, labeled by the “dw” in many model names, prints on both sides without you flipping the stack. It halves paper use for long documents and is worth having if you print more than a few pages at a time. It also makes stapled handouts and contracts slimmer, which matters when you mail them. Tray capacity matters for busy offices: the Brother HL-6210DW lists a 520-sheet tray and a 100-sheet multipurpose feed, which means fewer refills than the compact home models.

Connectivity beyond Wi-Fi

Wireless and mobile printing appear on almost every title, so treat them as baseline. What separates models is wired networking: the HL-6210DW lists Gigabit Ethernet and dual-band wireless, a better fit for a shared office network. For a single desk, Wi-Fi alone is fine. Check that your phone or laptop supports the printing method the listing names before you rely on it. A wired link also avoids the occasional dropped connection that wireless printers can suffer when a router is far away or crowded with devices.

Know where budget lasers cut corners

Entry-level lasers ship with starter toner that may cover fewer pages than a standard cartridge, and small trays fill up quickly. Several Brother titles mention a refresh subscription trial, which is a toner-delivery plan; decide whether you want it before the trial ends. Starter toner is a point worth checking on the product page before purchase. Ignore buzzwords like “fast”; titles give no pages-per-minute figure here, so judge by tray size, duplex, and function instead.

The 8 Best Options

Brother HL-L2405W

The HL-L2405W is a wireless compact monochrome laser that supports mobile printing and black-and-white output, and the title mentions a refresh subscription trial. It is built for people who print text from a laptop or phone and want a small footprint. Because the title lists no duplex, it suits light volume where flipping a page by hand is not a hardship. Anyone sending a boarding pass or a school form from a phone will find the mobile printing mention reassuring, and the small body fits on a bookshelf.

• Strength: compact wireless design with mobile printing.
• Strength: straightforward monochrome output with no color supplies to manage.
• Trade-off: no duplex is named in the title.

Skip it if you print long documents and want automatic two-sided output.

Brother DCP-L2640DW

This is a wireless compact monochrome multi-function printer that copies, scans, and prints two-sided, with mobile printing. It fits a home office where one machine must handle forms, scans, and copies. The title does not mention fax or a document feeder, so it stays in the practical middle of the range. A freelancer who signs, scans, and returns paperwork several times a week is the natural buyer, and the two-sided printing helps when a client wants a long agreement on paper.

• Strength: copy, scan, and duplex printing in one compact body.
• Strength: wireless and mobile printing support.
• Trade-off: no fax is listed.

Skip it if you need fax or only want a print-only machine.

HP LaserJet M207dw

HP describes the M207dw as a monochrome laser with duplex, fast black-and-white printing, wireless support, and automatic two-sided printing. It is print-only, so the focus stays on documents. For a desk that produces reports and invoices, automatic two-sided output keeps the paper bill in check. Because it is a print-only design, it also tends to appeal to buyers who keep a separate scanner or simply photograph documents with a phone.

• Strength: automatic duplex printing.
• Strength: wireless printing in a print-only design.
• Trade-off: no scan or copy features appear in the title.

Skip it if you want scan and copy built in.

Brother HL-L2460DW

The HL-L2460DW is a wireless compact monochrome laser with duplex and mobile printing. Compared with the HL-L2405W, the clear addition is duplex, which is what many home office users end up wanting after a month of long documents. Newer-model buyers who want a modest upgrade over the HL-L2405W will find this the more rounded of the two. A refresh subscription trial is also mentioned.

• Strength: duplex in a compact print-only body.
• Strength: wireless and mobile printing.
• Trade-off: it does not scan or copy.

Skip it if you need a flatbed scanner at the same desk.

Brother MFC-L2820DW

The MFC-L2820DW is the most capable compact Brother in the group: a wireless monochrome all-in-one laser with copy, scan, fax, and duplex. It targets offices and home businesses that still receive fax paperwork. If fax is not in your workflow, the DCP-L2640DW covers everything else for less complexity. For a small business that exchanges signed paperwork with clinics or suppliers, having everything in one box simplifies the desk.

• Strength: print, copy, scan, and fax in one unit.
• Strength: duplex printing included.
• Trade-off: fax is wasted if you never use it.

Skip it if you do not need fax or want the smallest footprint.

HP LaserJet MFP M235sdw

This HP is a monochrome all-in-one with print, copy, and scan, duplex, and wireless support. The “MFP” label means multi-function, and the title stresses fast black-and-white printing. It competes directly with the DCP-L2640DW for the home-office slot and suits people who prefer HP’s ecosystem. Households that already use HP apps on their phones may find the setup familiar, though the title does not describe the software.

• Strength: print, copy, scan, and duplex in one machine.
• Strength: wireless printing included.
• Trade-off: the title does not list fax.

Skip it if you want a print-only laser or need fax.

Brother HL-6210DW

The HL-6210DW is the heavyweight of this roundup. Its title lists a 520-sheet tray, a 100-sheet multipurpose feed, Gigabit Ethernet, and dual-band wireless, along with duplex. That tray capacity is far beyond the compact models, so a small team or a print-heavy home business refills less often. A real-estate office, a tutoring center, or a print-on-demand shop that sends hundreds of pages a week would see the benefit of loading a full ream and walking away.

• Strength: 520-sheet tray plus a 100-sheet multipurpose feed.
• Strength: Gigabit Ethernet and dual-band wireless for office networks.
• Trade-off: it is a larger office-class printer, and the title shows no scan or copy.

Skip it if you have limited desk space and low print volume.

HP LaserJet M110w

The M110w is the simplest HP here: a monochrome laser with wireless and mobile printing and fast black-and-white output. It has no duplex in the title, which keeps it basic. It suits a student or a spare-room printer for occasional pages. Its short title is a feature in its own right: there is little to configure and little to explain to a family member borrowing it.

• Strength: wireless and mobile printing in a basic laser.
• Strength: simple monochrome design.
• Trade-off: no duplex named in the title.

Skip it if you print long documents or want scanning.

Which One Fits Your Situation

You print text only, a few pages at a time

The HP LaserJet M110w or Brother HL-L2405W keep things small and simple. Both list wireless and mobile printing, so a phone is enough to send a page, and neither asks you to learn a scanner menu you will never open.

You print long documents and want to save paper

Go for duplex: the Brother HL-L2460DW or HP LaserJet M207dw. Either one prints on both sides automatically, which suits a student binding thesis chapters or a landlord printing lease packets.

You also scan and copy at home

The Brother DCP-L2640DW or the HP LaserJet MFP M235sdw combine functions without a fax line.

You run an office with fax and heavy volume

Pick the Brother MFC-L2820DW for fax, or the Brother HL-6210DW for the largest paper capacity and Ethernet. Teams that share one printer across several desks gain the most from the wired link and the deep tray.

Common Mistakes

• Paying for fax capability that will never be used.
• Skipping duplex and then flipping pages by hand for years.
• Ignoring tray size when printing in volume.
• Letting a toner subscription trial roll over without deciding.
• Buying an all-in-one when a print-only laser would do.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a monochrome laser cheaper to run than an inkjet?

For text-heavy printing, usually yes. Toner covers many pages and does not dry out in storage the way liquid ink can.

Can I print color with a monochrome printer?

No. Color pages are output in black and white. If you need color even occasionally, choose a color model.

What does the “dw” in the model name mean?

It generally signals duplex and wireless. Always confirm in the title, since naming conventions vary between brands.

Do I need Ethernet?

Only in a shared office network where a wired link is more stable. A home desk is fine with wireless.