Best Laminators In 2024 To Buy For Office And Home Use

Types of Best Laminators In 2024 To Buy

Hot vs. Cold Laminators

1. Hot laminators: 

Hot laminators use heat to melt the adhesive backing on the pieces of plastic film. This bonds the plastic film around the item you are laminating to completely seal the item.

2. Cold Laminators:

Cold laminators, sometimes known as pressure sensitive laminators, use pressure to seal the pieces of plastic film around the item.

The plastic film used with a cold laminator already has a slightly tacky texture to make the pressure adhesion easier.

Roll vs. Pouch Laminators – Best Laminators In 2024

1. Roll laminators:

Roll laminators use rolls of plastic film. These laminators work best for larger items.

2. Pouch laminators:

Pouch laminators use pouches of plastic film that you slip the item you want to laminate inside. These laminators are better suited for smaller pieces of paper or fabric.

What To Look For When Buying Best Laminators In 2024

1. Type

Hot laminators are the most common type, and they work well for most applications. However, a cold laminator is a better option if you’re laminating heat-sensitive materials, such as vinyl or vintage photographs.

You may also prefer a cold laminator if you’re going to use the laminator with children. With a cold laminator, you don’t have to worry about the machine getting too hot.

Pouch laminators are the best option for home use because you’re usually laminating smaller items. For business or commercial use, a roll laminator may be more effective because it can handle larger projects, such as posters and maps.

2. Capacity

A laminator’s capacity refers to the thickness, or gauge, of the plastic film that the machine can handle. The gauge for laminating film is measured in mils. Film or pouches with a higher gauge are thicker and more rigid.

• Medium capacity: Medium capacity is five mils. This works well for legal files, photos, and recipe cards.
• Extra rigid capacity: Extra rigid capacity is 10 mils. This works well for items that must be durable, such as posters, signs, and reference documents.
• Rigid capacity: Rigid capacity is seven mils. This works well for ID cards, luggage tags, calendars, and sales or marketing materials.
• Standard capacity: Standard capacity is three mils. This works well for most home applications, including photos, menus, crafts, and checklists, because its slight flexibility isn’t an issue.

3. Width

The appropriate width for a laminator depends on the size of the items you plan to laminate.

• Small/medium: Small/medium laminators, or document laminators, can accommodate items that are up to eight-and-a-half to nine inches in width.
• Medium/large: Medium/large laminators can accommodate items that are up to 13 inches in width.
• Commercial: For items that are larger than 27 inches in width, you’ll need a commercial laminator.
• Photo: Photo laminators can accommodate photos and other items that are up to four inches in width.
• Extra wide: Extra wide laminators can accommodate items that are up to 27 inches in width.

4. Adjustable Temperature Control – Best Laminators

Some hot laminators offer adjustable temperature control, which allows you to choose how hot the machine gets.

The type of temperature control varies from laminator to laminator. Some laminators offer two or more heat settings, while others have a dial, so you can choose a more precise temperature.

Higher-end models have digital controls that allow you to type in a specific temperature for the laminating process.

You can also find laminators that enable you to turn off the heat, so you can use the machine for both hot and cold laminating.

5. Reverse Function and Jam Release

It’s not uncommon for the plastic film or pouch to get jammed in the laminator. To make it easier to remove the jam, look for a model with a reverse function.

This allows you to reverse the direction of the rollers to easily slide out the plastic. Some laminators also have jam release, which slacks the rollers’ tension, so you can pull the pouch or film free.

6. Safety Features – Best Laminators

If you choose a hot laminator, look for a model with safety features to prevent accidents. An auto shut-off feature keeps the machine from overheating if you forget to turn it off.

Some laminators have double-walled insulation, which prevents the exterior from getting hot. This is an especially important feature if you’re buying a laminator to use with children.

NB: For Your Safety

How Much Should You Pay For Best Laminators In 2024?

Laminators vary widely in price based on type, size, and features, but you can typically expect to spend between $19 and $450.

• Inexpensive: For a basic laminator that can handle smaller projects, you’ll usually pay between $19 and $25.
• Mid-range: For an intermediate laminator that can handle mid-size projects, you’ll usually pay between $80 and $280.
• Expensive: For an advanced laminator that can handle larger projects, you’ll usually pay between $220 and $450.

Tips And Tricks For Using A Laminator

• Use a Good Printer if you’re printing out items to laminate. It’s best to use fresh ink cartridges to ensure the colors are as saturated as possible.
• While you can laminate thicker paper items like card stock and poster board, regular paper items are just as durable once laminated.
• When you’re new to using a laminator, practice on the machine with pieces of scrap paper. That way, you’ll be confident when it comes time to laminate important items.
• Allow a hot laminator to fully heat up before laminating items, or the film might not properly seal.
• If you have a hot laminator, don’t use it with thermal paper. Thermal paper reacts to heat, so all the images will likely turn out black.
• You can use scissors to cut items once they’re laminated. This allows you to run multiple items through the laminator at once and separate them after you’re finished.

FAQ – Best Laminators To Buy In 2024

Q. What’s the Most Common Mistake When it Comes to Buying Laminators?

A. The most common mistake is Buying a laminator that’s not large enough to handle the projects you plan to laminate.

For home use, machines that laminate items up to 12 inches in width are usually sufficient.

However, for office or commercial use. Where you may need to laminate posters, signs, and other larger items. You should upgrade to a larger machine.

Q. What Type of Laminator is Best for Fragile Items?

A. For fragile items, it’s best to avoid Hot laminators. The heat may damage fragile photos, documents, or other items. Instead, opt for a cold laminator that uses pressure to seal the plastic film around the documents.

Q. Are Laminators Safe For Children To Use?

A. Laminators are well-suited for a variety of projects that children enjoy. However, because they use heat or pressure to seal the film, children under the age of 12 shouldn’t use a laminator on their own.

With adult supervision, kids can use a laminator as long as proper safety procedures are followed. Best Office Laminator for 2023