Best Low Noise & Silent Printers for The Office Workspace

Every office has one. The printer that clatters into life mid-call, whirs through a 40-page report while you’re trying to concentrate, or wakes up with a grinding cleaning cycle at 9am. In an open-plan office, a reception area or a small shared room, a loud printer quickly becomes the thing everyone notices.

No printer is completely silent, but some are far quieter than others. So, we’ve gone through the printers we stock and picked out 15 of the quietest: five laser printers, five inkjet printers and five label printers. For each one you’ll find the noise level in decibels where the manufacturer publishes it, along with the functions, duplex support, size and weight, so you can compare them properly.

How Loud Is A Printer? Understanding Decibel Ratings

Printer noise is measured in decibels (dB). Most manufacturers quote sound pressure in dB or dB(A), which is roughly what a person sitting next to the printer will hear. Some also quote sound power in B(A), which measures the total noise the machine gives off. However, the two numbers aren’t interchangeable, so only compare like with like.

To put the figures in context:

• 30 dB: a whisper. For example, many printers sit around here, or are inaudible, when idle.
• 40 to 45 dB: a quiet library. Indeed, this is where the best quiet modes land.
• 46 to 50 dB: a quiet office or light rainfall, and therefore a quiet printer while printing.
• 51 to 55 dB: background office chatter. This is also typical for a busy business printer.
• 60 dB and above: a normal conversation. Especially noticeable in a small room.

In fact, the decibel scale is logarithmic, so small differences matter. A 10 dB rise sounds roughly twice as loud, and even 3 dB is a clear step up. As a result, a printer rated at 46 dB is noticeably quieter than one at 52 dB.

How Printer Noise Is Measured

In most cases, manufacturers test to ISO 7779, the international standard for measuring noise from IT equipment. Even so, test conditions vary between brands, so treat small gaps of 1 or 2 dB as close to equal. None of the printers here come anywhere near the levels covered by the HSE’s noise at work regulations. Instead, the issue in an office is distraction, not hearing damage.

What Makes A Printer Noisy?

In general, most printer noise comes from moving parts rather than the printing itself. The main sources are:

• Paper feed: rollers picking up and pulling each sheet through. In fact, this is the main noise from a laser printer.
• Printhead carriage: on an inkjet, the printhead moves back and forth across every page, which creates a repetitive, higher-pitched sound.
• Fans and fusers: laser printers heat the toner onto the page, and the cooling fan can run for a while after the job finishes.
• Duplex units and document feeders: flipping paper or scanning from an ADF also adds mechanical noise.
• Cleaning cycles: inkjets run maintenance routines when they wake up, even when you haven’t printed anything.

Are Laser Or Inkjet Printers Quieter?

It’s often said that inkjets are quieter than lasers, or the other way round. However, the published figures don’t support either rule. In our list below, the quietest laser printers are actually quieter than the quietest inkjets while printing. Speed matters too. For example, a faster printer may be slightly louder, but it finishes the job sooner. If you’re still deciding between the two technologies, our guide to laser printers vs inkjet printers covers running costs and print quality in more detail.

Also, look out for a quiet mode. It slows the paper feed and print speed to cut noise by 3 to 5 dB, which is ideal during calls and meetings.

Best Quiet Laser Printers For The Office

Brother dominates this list for a simple reason: it publishes clear noise figures for both normal printing and quiet mode, and its current models are among the quietest we stock. In addition, every laser printer here has a quiet mode.

1. Brother DCP-L3520CDW

The quietest laser printer we found, and it’s a colour multifunction model. Because it runs at 46 dB while printing and 43 dB in quiet mode, it’s a good choice for a small team that needs colour copies and scanning without the noise.

• Functions: Print, scan, copy (colour)
• Print speed: Up to 18 ppm
• Duplex: Automatic 2-sided printing
• Size (W x D x H): 410 x 444 x 355 mm
• Weight: 18.6 kg
• Noise: 46 dB printing, 43 dB in quiet mode, inaudible when ready

2. Brother HL-L3240CDW

If you only need to print, this single-function colour laser is faster than the DCP-L3520CDW and almost as quiet. Its compact, low profile also makes it easy to place on a desk or shelf.

• Functions: Print only (colour)
• Print speed: Up to 26 ppm
• Duplex: Automatic 2-sided printing
• Size (W x D x H): 399 x 399 x 239 mm
• Weight: 15.2 kg
• Noise: 47 dB printing, 43 dB in quiet mode, inaudible when ready

3. Kyocera ECOSYS PA2101cwx

Kyocera builds its ECOSYS printers around long-life drums, so you replace toner and very little else. On top of that, the PA2101cwx adds a quiet mode to that low-maintenance design, making it a sensible colour printer for a busy shared office.

• Functions: Print only (colour)
• Print speed: Up to 21 ppm
• Duplex: Automatic 2-sided printing
• Size (W x D x H): 410 x 410 x 329 mm
• Weight: 22 kg
• Noise: 48 dB printing, 44 dB in quiet mode, 30 dB when ready

4. Brother HL-L2445DW

A small, fast mono laser for offices that mostly print black text. It’s the most compact laser in this list and one of the lightest, so it suits a desk in a home office or a corner of a small team room.

• Functions: Print only (mono)
• Print speed: Up to 32 ppm
• Duplex: Automatic 2-sided printing
• Size (W x D x H): 356 x 360 x 183 mm
• Weight: 7.1 kg
• Noise: 49 dB printing, 44 dB in quiet mode, 30 dB when ready

5. Brother DCP-L2620DW

Similarly, this is the multifunction version of the HL-L2445DW, with the same 32 ppm engine and the same noise figures, plus a scanner and copier. As a result, it’s a strong choice when you need scanning but colour isn’t important.

• Functions: Print, scan, copy (mono)
• Print speed: Up to 32 ppm
• Duplex: Automatic 2-sided printing (single-sided scanning)
• Size (W x D x H): 410 x 399 x 272 mm
• Weight: 10.1 kg
• Noise: 49 dB printing, 44 dB in quiet mode, 30 dB when ready

Browse our full range of laser printers to compare more models.

Best Quiet Inkjet Printers For The Office

Canon publishes noise figures for all its current PIXMA and MAXIFY models, and they compare well. Business inkjets from Brother and Epson, on the other hand, are a little louder but print much faster, and they handle heavier workloads.

1. Canon PIXMA TS7650i

The quietest inkjet on our list at around 48 dB(A). It’s a compact home office printer with no document feeder, so it’s best for a single desk or a very small team that prints and scans occasionally.

• Functions: Print, scan, copy
• Print speed: Approx. 15 ipm mono, 10 ipm colour
• Duplex: Automatic 2-sided printing (flatbed scanner, no ADF)
• Size (W x D x H): 374 x 350 x 168 mm
• Weight: 6.3 kg
• Noise: Approx. 48 dB(A) printing

2. Canon MAXIFY GX4050

A refillable ink tank printer built for small businesses, with fax and a 35-sheet document feeder. In addition, running costs are very low, and at 49 dB(A) it’s quieter than many lasers.

• Functions: Print, scan, copy, fax
• Print speed: Approx. 18 ipm mono, 13 ipm colour
• Duplex: Automatic 2-sided printing (35-sheet ADF, single-sided scanning)
• Size (W x D x H): 399 x 417 x 251 mm
• Weight: 9.5 kg
• Noise: Approx. 49 dB(A) printing

3. Canon MAXIFY GX6550

The step up from the GX4050. Above all, it prints faster and keeps the same low noise level, which makes it the better pick for a busy office with higher print volumes.

• Functions: Print, scan, copy
• Print speed: Approx. 24 ipm mono, 15.5 ipm colour
• Duplex: Automatic 2-sided printing, with automatic document feeder
• Size (W x D x H): 399 x 410 x 254 mm
• Weight: 11.5 kg
• Noise: Approx. 49 dB(A) printing

4. Brother MFC-J5340DW

An A3 inkjet multifunction printer at an A4 price. It’s louder than the Canons at 51.5 dB, but it has a quiet mode and prints at 28 ipm, so jobs finish quickly. For this reason, it’s ideal if you need occasional A3 printouts for plans, spreadsheets or posters.

• Functions: Print, scan, copy, fax (A3 printing)
• Print speed: Up to 28 ipm mono and colour
• Duplex: Automatic 2-sided printing (50-sheet ADF, single-sided scanning)
• Size (W x D x H): 530 x 398 x 305 mm
• Weight: 17 kg
• Noise: 51.5 dB printing, with quiet mode available

5. Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5890DWF

Epson’s business inkjets use a heat-free printing process, so there’s no fuser to warm up or cool down. What’s more, the WF-C5890DWF is the only inkjet here with duplex scanning, and at 25 ppm it rivals a mid-range colour laser for speed.

• Functions: Print, scan, copy, fax
• Print speed: Up to 25 ppm mono and colour
• Duplex: Automatic 2-sided printing and duplex scanning (50-sheet ADF)
• Size (W x D x H): 425 x 535 x 357 mm
• Weight: 18.7 kg
• Noise: 52 dB(A) printing

See our full range of inkjet printers for more options.

Best Quiet Label Printers For The Workplace

Label printers are the quietest printers you can buy. Most use thermal printing, which heats the label to create the image, so there’s no ink carriage moving back and forth and no fuser fan. As a result, the only sounds are a small motor feeding the label roll and, on some models, a quick snip from the cutter. If you want to know how it works, read our guide on how a thermal printer works.

Because they’re so quiet, label printer manufacturers rarely publish a decibel figure at all. For instance, we checked Brother, Zebra and DYMO specifications and none list one for the models below. In practice, they’re quiet enough to sit on a reception desk, a pharmacy counter or a hospital ward without anyone noticing.

1. Brother QL-810WC

A fast, compact desktop label printer for address labels, name badges and shipping labels up to 62 mm wide. Also, Wi-Fi lets several people print to it from their own desks.

• Functions: Label printing, direct thermal, automatic cutter
• Print speed: Up to 176 mm per second
• Resolution and width: 300 dpi, labels up to 62 mm
• Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi
• Duplex: Not applicable
• Size (W x D x H): 125 x 243 x 145 mm
• Weight: 1.12 kg
• Noise: Not published by the manufacturer

2. DYMO LabelWriter 550

This is one of the most popular office label printers, and also one of the smallest. In short, it’s a simple USB printer for address labels, file labels and name badges, and it weighs well under a kilogram.

• Functions: Label printing, direct thermal
• Print speed: Up to 62 labels per minute (standard address labels)
• Resolution and width: 300 dpi, labels up to 58 mm
• Connectivity: USB
• Duplex: Not applicable
• Size (W x D x H): 140 x 127 x 188 mm
• Weight: 0.64 kg
• Noise: Not published by the manufacturer

3. Zebra ZD411D Healthcare

This model is built especially for hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, where quiet operation really matters. In particular, the healthcare version has a disinfectant-ready plastic housing and prints wristbands, specimen labels and prescription labels at 300 dpi.

• Functions: Label printing, direct thermal
• Print speed: Up to 102 mm per second at 300 dpi
• Resolution and width: 300 dpi, media up to 60 mm
• Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth
• Duplex: Not applicable
• Size (W x D x H): Approx. 115 x 220 x 151 mm
• Weight: Approx. 1 kg
• Noise: Not published by the manufacturer

4. Brother QL-1100

The wide format option in this list. It prints labels up to 103 mm wide, so it handles 4 x 6 inch shipping labels for couriers as well as smaller address labels. As a result, it’s a good fit for a quiet office that also sends out parcels.

• Functions: Label printing, direct thermal, automatic cutter
• Print speed: Up to 69 labels per minute
• Resolution and width: 300 dpi, labels up to 103 mm
• Connectivity: USB
• Duplex: Not applicable
• Size (W x D x H): 170 x 222 x 151 mm
• Weight: 1.71 kg
• Noise: Not published by the manufacturer

5. Brother PT-P750W

Finally, a desktop P-touch tape printer for durable laminated labels on cables, shelves, files and equipment. Unlike the others, it uses thermal transfer onto tape rather than paper labels, and it’s small enough to sit beside a keyboard.

• Functions: Laminated tape printing, thermal transfer, automatic full and half cut
• Print speed: Up to 30 mm per second
• Resolution and width: Up to 180 x 360 dpi, tapes up to 24 mm
• Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi, NFC
• Duplex: Not applicable
• Size (W x D x H): 78 x 152 x 143 mm
• Weight: 0.8 kg
• Noise: Not published by the manufacturer

Shop our full range of label printers from Brother, Zebra, DYMO and more.

Quiet Printer Comparison Table

Here are all 15 printers side by side, grouped by type and then ordered by printing noise.

Laser Printers

Inkjet Printers

Label Printers

How To Make Any Printer Quieter

However, you can make even a quiet printer quieter with a few simple changes:

• Turn on quiet mode: on Brother and Kyocera lasers it cuts noise by 3 to 5 dB. Also, you can usually switch it on from the control panel, the printer’s web page or the driver settings.
• Move it away from desks: distance makes a real difference, especially in open-plan offices. For example, a printer in a corridor, alcove or copy room is far less distracting than one beside someone’s keyboard.
• Put it on a solid surface: a wobbly table or hollow cabinet amplifies vibration. Instead, a heavy, level surface or a rubber mat underneath will dampen it.
• Use sleep and schedule settings: set the printer to sleep after a few minutes. This way, fans stop running between jobs and cleaning cycles don’t kick in at random.
• Keep it maintained: worn rollers, dust and paper debris all make a printer louder. So, clean the paper path and replace rollers when they start to squeal.
• Save big jobs for quiet times: print long reports at lunchtime or the end of the day rather than in the middle of meetings.

Choosing The Right Quiet Printer

The quietest printer for your office depends on what you print. For everyday documents in a shared space, the Brother lasers are hard to beat. The DCP-L3520CDW and HL-L3240CDW print at 46 and 47 dB, and drop to 43 dB in quiet mode.

On the other hand, if you print a lot of colour or want lower running costs, the Canon MAXIFY GX4050 and GX6550 ink tank printers stay below 50 dB(A) while printing for a fraction of the cost per page of a cartridge printer. Meanwhile, busy offices that need speed, A3 printing or duplex scanning will get more from the Brother MFC-J5340DW or Epson WF-C5890DWF, and the extra few decibels are a fair trade for jobs that finish faster.

For labels, any of the thermal printers here will barely be heard, so choose based on label width and connectivity instead. Finally, before you buy, check where the printer will sit and how many people work near it, because placement often makes as much difference as the dB rating itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Quietest Type Of Printer?

Thermal label printers are the quietest, because they have no ink carriage, toner or fuser. For document printing, on the other hand, the quietest laser and inkjet printers both print at around 46 to 49 dB, with laser printers in quiet mode dropping as low as 43 dB.

Are Laser Printers Quieter Than Inkjet Printers?

Not always. In general, laser printers make most of their noise feeding paper, while inkjets make a repetitive sound as the printhead moves across the page. In our list, the quietest lasers are slightly quieter than the quietest inkjets, but the difference between individual models matters more than the technology.

What Is A Good Decibel Level For An Office Printer?

Under 50 dB while printing is a good target for a shared office. In other words, that’s similar to the background noise in a quiet office. Also, anything with a quiet mode in the low to mid 40s will be barely noticeable in most workplaces.

What Does Quiet Mode Do On A Printer?

In short, quiet mode slows down the paper feed and print speed to reduce noise. On the Brother laser printers in this guide, it lowers the printing noise from 46 to 49 dB down to 43 or 44 dB. However, the trade-off is that each job takes a little longer.

Is There Such A Thing As A Silent Printer?

No printer is completely silent, as every model has motors and rollers that move the paper. However, many printers are inaudible or around 30 dB when idle, and thermal label printers are so quiet that most manufacturers don’t publish a noise figure at all.

Why Is My Printer Getting Louder?

A printer that gets louder over time usually has worn or dirty rollers, paper debris in the paper path, or a fan clogged with dust. Therefore, cleaning the printer and replacing worn feed rollers will often bring the noise back down. Grinding or clicking noises, on the other hand, can point to a mechanical fault worth getting checked.

What Is The Difference Between dB And B(A) On A Printer Spec Sheet?

dB or dB(A) is sound pressure, which is roughly what you’ll hear standing next to the printer. By contrast, B(A) is sound power, the total acoustic energy the printer gives off. Both are useful, but you can only compare a dB figure with another dB figure, not with a B(A) figure.

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