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The best laminators machines can help you protect fragile papers and photos, make worksheets for classes, or help your business grow. The best tabletop laminators are among the tools, and they can keep all of your materials, like art and photos, clean and dust-free. If you have the best laminator, it will be easy to keep your important papers, pictures, and files safe from accidents. When you laminate a paper, you put it between two sheets of plastic and seal it for good. With this laminating bag, if anything goes wrong, you can just wipe the plastic clean and nothing will happen to what’s inside.
When looking for the best laminator, you want to find a good mix between speed, size, thickness capacity, and, of course, price. You can choose between two similar laminators based on their extra features, such as their ability to stop jams and turn off by themselves. Some laminators only have thermal technology, which means they use heat to seal the laminating film and papers together. Others can also cold laminate, which means they can press the film and papers together. If speed is important, you should get a laminator that heats up fast and can laminate more inches per minute.
Best Laminators Comparison Table
Model | Maximum Lamination Width | Maximum Pouch Thickness | Warm-Up Time | Laminating Speed | Automatic Shut-Off | Jam Release | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scotch TL901X Thermal Laminator | 9 inches | 5 mil | 5 minutes | 15 inches/minute | Yes | Yes | $39.99 |
ABOX OL381 Thermal Laminator | 13 inches | 5 mil | 3-5 minutes | 250 mm/minute | Yes | Yes | $59.99 |
Fellowes Saturn 3i | 12.5 inches | 5 mil | 1 minute | 12 inches/minute | Yes | Yes | $129.99 |
Buyounger 4 in 1 Thermal Laminator | 9 inches | 3 mil | 3-5 minutes | 250 mm/minute | Yes | Yes | $39.99 |
Swingline Inspire Plus Thermal Laminator | 9 inches | 5 mil | 4 minutes | 9 inches/minute | Yes | Yes | $27.49 |
Amazon Basics 12-Inch Thermal Laminator Machine | 12 inches | 3 mil | 4 minutes | 270 mm/minute | Yes | Yes | $31.99 |
Apache Thermal Laminator | 9 inches | 5 mil | 3-5 minutes | 9 inches/minute | Yes | Yes | $21.96 |
Scotch TL901X Thermal Laminator
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Dimensions | 15.5 x 6.75 x 3.75 inches |
Maximum Document Width | 9 inches |
Warm-Up Time | 5-6 minutes |
Laminating Speed | 15 inches per minute |
Number of Rollers | 2 |
Temperature Settings | 2 (for 3 and 5 mil pouches) |
This Scotch 2 Roller System Thermal Laminator offers a solution that is both quick and simple for use with projects at home or in the classroom. The machine has a two-roller mechanism and two different temperature settings, and it has the capacity to laminate materials up to 9 inches wide.
The machine is perfect for laminating pictures, recipe cards, arts and crafts pieces, and a variety of other items because it features settings for both 3 mil and 5 mil thermal pouches. In addition, the lamination process consists of only four steps, which makes it a breeze to laminate high-quality documents.1
The Good
- It’s small and easy to store.
- Short time to warm up
- Can laminate different sizes of papers up to 9 inches.
- It comes with a set of pouches for laminating.
The Bad
- The speed of laminating is not the fastest.
- Only 3 mil and 5 mil pouches can be used for laminating.
ABOX OL381 Thermal Laminator
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Dimensions | 16.5 x 7.3 x 3.5 inches |
Maximum Document Width | 13 inches |
Warm-Up Time | 3-5 minutes |
Laminating Speed | 250 mm per minute |
Number of Rollers | 2 |
Temperature Settings | 2 (for 3 and 5 mil pouches) |
This ABOX 4-in-1 heat laminator is very useful because it can also cut paper and round the corners of all your work or school projects. With the lock on the paper cutter, you can cut up to eight A3 sheets at once. This is something that laminators with paper trimmers can’t do. The machine has a hot and cold laminating method that makes it quiet, fast, and smooth at 250 mm per minute.
Even better, this thermal laminator has a bubble heating system built right in. This means that it will heat fused materials evenly and won’t cause them to wrinkle. Just wait three minutes for the machine to get hot, and then you can laminate papers up to 13 inches wide or put together postcards, business cards, pictures, and other documents. You will also get 16 bags of four different sizes for laminating.
The Good
- Can laminate documents that are up to 13 inches long.
- Short time to warm up
- Includes a corner rounder and pouches for laminating.
- It can be laminated both hot and cold.
The Bad
- The speed of laminating is not the fastest.
- Only 3 mil and 5 mil pouches can be used for laminating.
Fellowes Saturn 3i
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Dimensions | 4.25 x 20.94 x 6.25 inches |
Maximum Document Width | 12.5 inches |
Warm-Up Time | 1 minute |
Laminating Speed | 12 inches per minute |
Number of Rollers | 2 |
Temperature Settings | 3 (for 3, 5, and 7 mil pouches) |
The Fellowes Saturn 3i Laminator is at the top of my list of the best laminators because it takes only one minute to get ready to use and laminates an A4 sheet of paper in less than that. This large laminator has the added benefit of being able to handle A3 documents. This makes it a great laminator for artists who want to keep their photos and art pictures clean and safe.
Jams can be annoying, and while other good laminators on this list have switches and levers to clear them, the Fellowes Saturn 3i Laminator has a more unique “jam-free” system. Its auto-reverse mechanism makes sure that documents that aren’t lined up right are automatically turned and lined up right. On the other hand, this only works well with Fellowes’ own laminating bags.
The Good
- Short time to warm up
- Can laminate documents that are up to 12.5 inches wide.
- Has a lever that makes it easy to clear misfed documents.
- It comes with a set of pouches for laminating.
The Bad
- The speed of laminating is not the fastest.
- Sometimes, pouches can get stuck or wrinkle.
Buyounger 4 in 1 Thermal Laminator
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Dimensions | 13.8 x 6.7 x 2.6 inches |
Maximum Document Width | 9 inches |
Warm-Up Time | 3-5 minutes |
Laminating Speed | 250 mm per minute |
Number of Rollers | 2 |
Temperature Settings | 3 (for 3, 5, and 7 mil pouches) |
The Buyounger 4 in 1 Thermal Laminator is a great machine that can do almost everything you need. It can laminate A4 and can use both 3 mil and 5 mil, but it doesn’t have a manual switch to switch between the two sizes. The Buyounger also heats up in less than two minutes and can laminate heat-sensitive papers both hot and cold.
This laminator is quiet and works at a speed of 340mm/min. If you’re a teacher or office worker who needs to get through a lot of papers quickly, this is a good tool to use. Just as important, the Buyounger 4 in 1 Thermal Laminator has an ABS jam release button that makes it easy to remove stuck papers. This should make the laminator last longer.
The Good
- It can be laminated both hot and cold.
- Can laminate different sizes of papers up to 9 inches.
- Short time to warm up
- Includes a corner rounder and pouches for laminating.
The Bad
- The speed of laminating is not the fastest.
- Only 3 mil, 5 mil, and 7 mil pouches can be used to laminate.
Swingline Inspire Plus Thermal Laminator
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Dimensions | 3.1 x 13.2 x 5.6 inches |
Maximum Document Width | 9 inches |
Warm-Up Time | 4 minutes |
Laminating Speed | 9 inches per minute |
Number of Rollers | 2 |
Temperature Settings | 2 (for 3 and 5 mil pouches) |
The Swingline Inspire Plus Thermal Laminator is ready to use in less than four minutes. It laminates in one easy step and is a great value. With a speed of 9 inches per minute, it won’t break any world records, but if you need a cheap laminator for the office or for kids’ projects, it does a better job than many others.
The Inspire Plus can be used with either 3 mil or 5 mil laminating pouches, and it has a “cold” setting so you can laminate heat-sensitive items safely. Five bags the size of a letter come with the laminator, making this a great deal. Also, if you do get stuck, a jam release button makes it as easy as possible to get things moving again.
The Good
- It’s small and easy to store.
- Short time to warm up
- Can laminate different sizes of papers up to 9 inches.
- It comes with a set of pouches for laminating.
The Bad
- The speed of laminating is slower than with other models.
- Only 3 mil and 5 mil pouches can be used for laminating.
Amazon Basics 12-Inch Thermal Laminator Machine
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Dimensions | 13.4 x 4.8 x 2.4 inches |
Maximum Document Width | 12 inches |
Warm-Up Time | 4 minutes |
Laminating Speed | 9.8 inches per minute |
Number of Rollers | 2 |
Temperature Settings | 2 (for 3 and 5 mil pouches) |
Amazon’s brand of products are known for being good deals, and the 12-inch Thermal Laminator Machine is a good example of this. The Amazon Basics laminator is a good choice for home use, especially if you do arts and crafts with kids or teach your kids. It is made to do the basics well and costs less than other laminators.
The laminator weighs only 2.6 pounds and can laminate things up to 12 inches wide. This gives you a lot of room to laminate photos, legal papers, or anything else you might need to. Warming up the laminator takes about four minutes. There is no cold laminating function, but there is a lever to clear jams and a switch to choose between 3mm and 5mm paper. Even though it’s a simple choice, the laminator from Amazon is a great deal.
The Good
- Can laminate documents that are up to 12 inches long.
- Short time to warm up
- Has a lever that makes it easy to clear misfed documents.
- It comes with a set of pouches for laminating.
The Bad
- The speed of laminating is slower than with other models.
- Only 3 mil and 5 mil pouches can be used for laminating.
Apache Thermal Laminator
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Dimensions | 17.3 x 5.9 x 3.9 inches |
Maximum Document Width | 9 inches |
Warm-Up Time | 3-5 minutes |
Laminating Speed | 9.84 inches per minute |
Number of Rollers | 4 |
Temperature Settings | Adjustable |
The Apache AL9 is a great deal if you want a cheap laminator that won’t get a lot of use. This thermal pouch laminator can handle papers up to 9 inches wide, and it comes with 20 packs of 5-millimeter and 3-millimeter pouches to get you started.
It’s small and light, so it’s easy to take with you, and it’s very easy to use. All you have to do is wait for the machine to heat up, then feed your document through. In case the laminator gets stuck, there is a small switch that handles the anti-blocking system. However, the unit only has one heat setting.
The Good
- Has four rollers to make laminating more efficient
- Can laminate different sizes of papers up to 9 inches.
- Different types of pouches can be laminated at different temperatures.
- It comes with a set of pouches for laminating.
The Bad
- The warm-up time is a little bit longer than with other models.
- A slightly bigger size might be harder to store.
FAQs
A: A laminator is a device that applies a thin, protective layer of plastic to a document or other item, typically through a process of heat and pressure. Laminating can protect items from wear and tear, moisture, and other damage.
A: A laminator can be useful for protecting important documents, such as identification cards, certificates, or diplomas. Laminators can also be used for crafts, signage, and other creative projects. By laminating items, you can make them more durable, water-resistant, and long-lasting.
A: There are two main types of laminators: pouch laminators and roll laminators. Pouch laminators use laminating pouches, which are pre-sealed sheets of plastic that you insert your document into before running through the laminator. Roll laminators use rolls of laminating film and are often used for larger items.