Restaurants print menus and specials (color laser) and labels or receipts (label/thermal printers). Every pick here costs under $500. Here are the 8 we recommend from our catalog, ranked for restaurants under $500.
What to look for
- Color laser for menus
- Heavier paper for menu cards
- Label printer for food labels
- Small footprint for back offices
Our picks
| Printer | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| KYOCERA ECOSYS PA2101cwx Color Laser Printer | Laser printer, color, 22 ppm, Wi-Fi | see product |
| HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Color Laser Printer | Laser printer, color, Wi-Fi, auto 2-sided | see product |
| Canon Color imageCLASS MF663Cdw Wireless | Laser all-in-one, color, print/scan/copy, Wi-Fi | see product |
| HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw Color Printer | Laser printer, color, Wi-Fi, auto 2-sided | see product |
| Canon Color imageCLASS LBP647Cdw Wireless Laser Printer | Laser printer, color, Wi-Fi | see product |
| Canon imageCLASS MF462dw II Wireless | Laser all-in-one, color, print/scan/copy, Wi-Fi, auto 2-sided | see product |
| Canon Color imageCLASS MF665Cdw Wireless | Laser all-in-one, color, print/scan/copy, Wi-Fi | see product |
1. Kyocera ECOSYS PA2101cwx
Why it fits: color, prints from phones and laptops over Wi-Fi, 22 pages per minute, in stock, ships in 1–3 days.
2. HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw
Why it fits: color, prints from phones and laptops over Wi-Fi, prints two-sided automatically, in stock, ships in 1–3 days. Toner: Toner for HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw.
3. Canon Color imageCLASS MF663Cdw
Why it fits: color, scans and copies, prints from phones and laptops over Wi-Fi, in stock, ships in 1–3 days.
4. HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw
Why it fits: color, prints from phones and laptops over Wi-Fi, prints two-sided automatically, in stock, ships in 1–3 days. Toner: Toner for HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw.
Still deciding?
Compare: laser vs inkjet · toner vs ink · cost per page. Buying several printers? Ask for a volume quote. More: all buying guides.
Related guides
Understanding the Kyocera ECOSYS PA2101cwx
What kind of printer this is
A color laser printer fuses toner powder onto paper. It is fast, crisp on text and good for business color such as charts, flyers and logos. Toner never dries out, so it is reliable even if you print only now and then.
What the specs mean
- 22 pages per minute
- Measured on standard text pages (ISO/IEC 24734). The first page takes a few seconds longer. That's fine for one person or a small office.
- Color
- Prints in color using four cartridges (black, cyan, magenta, yellow), each replaced separately.
The real cost of a printer
The price tag is only the start. Over 3 years most printers cost more in toner than to buy. Before choosing, compare:
- Cost per page: cartridge price ÷ page yield.
- Recommended monthly volume: the pages per month it handles comfortably. The bigger duty cycle number is a maximum, not a target.
- Starter cartridges: many printers ship with setup cartridges that hold less than a full one. Plan your first order early.
Setting it up
- Unpack it and remove all orange tape and packing pieces, including inside the covers and paper tray.
- Install the toner cartridge(s) and load paper.
- Power on and follow the screen to pick your language.
- Install the driver or app from Kyocera's website. Avoid driver CDs, which are often out of date.
- Print a test page, then register the printer to activate the warranty.
Who it's best for
- Offices printing color documents, charts and flyers
- Real estate, schools, churches and marketing material
Keep it running well
- Keep a spare cartridge on hand so a busy day never stops.
- Use good, dry paper and fan the stack before loading to avoid jams.
- Install firmware updates from Kyocera for fixes and security.
- Faded pages, streaks or jams? Start with our troubleshooting guides.
Printer terms, explained
Laser vs inkjet
Laser printers use toner powder. They are fast, crisp on text, have a low cost per page and never dry out. Inkjets use liquid ink and are best for photos, at a lower purchase price. Full comparison
Mono vs color
Mono (black-and-white) printers use one cartridge and cost less per page. Color printers add cyan, magenta and yellow cartridges for charts, flyers and photos.
All-in-one (MFP)
A printer that also scans and copies, and sometimes faxes. MFP stands for multifunction printer.
ADF
Automatic document feeder: a tray on top that pulls a stack of pages through the scanner, so you don't scan page by page.
Duplex (auto 2-sided)
Prints on both sides of the paper automatically, which saves paper. On many model names, a "d" means duplex and a "w" means wireless.
PPM
Pages per minute on standard text pages. A team of 5–10 people is comfortable from about 30 ppm.
Duty cycle vs monthly volume
Duty cycle is the maximum a printer can survive in a month. The recommended monthly volume, usually much lower, is what it handles comfortably. Choose by the second number.
DPI
Dots per inch: print sharpness. 600 dpi is crisp for text, and 1200 dpi or more matters for fine graphics and photos.
Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet
Wi-Fi joins your network. Wi-Fi Direct lets a phone connect to the printer without a network. Ethernet (cable) is the most reliable choice for shared office printers.
Starter cartridges
Many new printers include setup cartridges with less toner or ink than a full replacement. Order your first full cartridge early.
Buying for several offices, or reselling? Get a volume quote or apply for wholesale pricing →
