Difference Between Inkjet Paper & Laser Paper

by Steve Lander; Reviewed by Michelle Seidel, B.Sc., LL.B., MBA; Updated January 14, 2019

Inkjets and laser printers don't technically require different paper. You can use a ream of cheap office copy paper and get results that are adequate for most uses. However, the different technologies underlying the two types of paper mean that getting the best performance requires special papers. In addition, laser printers can actually be damaged by using the wrong media.

Inkjets and Liquid

Moisture and paper don't always mix well, but inkjets work by spraying liquid onto paper. With a regular piece of paper, the liquid sinks in, spreads like a watercolor, and gives you images with blurry edges. Special inkjet papers have coatings or special formulations that promote rapid drying and prevent the ink from blurring.

Laser Printers and Heat

Laser printers melt a solid powder called toner onto a piece of paper. The challenge in selecting a laser printer paper comes from the high level of heat generated by the printer's fuser rollers. This is why laser printer-specific papers are highly heat-resistant. They also have few, if any, coatings, since anything applied to the paper could melt in the printer, ruining the sheet and, potentially, the printer.

Special Media for Laser or Inkjets

Special media, like labels or transfer sheets, are frequently labeled as to whether they are designed for inkjets or laser printers. Media for laser printers is usually designed for heat resistance. For example, laser labels have the wax backing paper covered to prevent the wax from melting. While inkjet papers don't have special laser-friendly design, many also have special coatings or paper technology for better print quality. Since ink is see-through, many inkjet papers also have higher brightness so that the paper doesn't interfere with the vividness of the printed image.

ColorLok Papers for Laser and Inkjet

Some papers bear a special "ColorLok" seal. Designed to enhance inkjet print quality, these papers have chemical properties that separate the liquid from the colorant in ink, leaving the colorant on the paper's surface and sucking the liquid away. At the same time, they also feature less dust and lower friction to extend the life of laser printers.

Plain Office Paper

If your goal is to print on whatever paper you have laying around or find for the lowest price, laser printers are superior. As long as a paper won't damage it, a laser printer can usually generate excellent image quality on any type of paper. Inkjet printers can also do a better than adequate job of printing on general purpose paper, although it won't be the best choice for prints where quality is of the utmost important.

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