The printer's noise level is an important parameter

Just like household appliances produce a certain level of noise during operation, the same is true for printers. These devices, of course, also produce noise of varying intensity. The noise intensity can often vary depending on the model or printing technology.

Are inkjet printers noisier?

In general, it has long ceased to be true that inkjet printers are noisier than laser printers. In both printer categories, quieter and noisier models can be found. However, this does not change the fact that when working in the office, you want to feel comfortable and do not want to be disturbed by excessively noisy printing, so the noise level will be an important parameter that must not be overlooked when choosing the right printer.

A noisy printer at home is not a problem, but in the office it is

When choosing a printer, we usually focus only on the price, printing technology, its quality, performance, resolution, or other sophisticated features, and we generally pay almost no attention to the printer's noise level.

We may not need to pay attention to printer noise when printing at low volumes at home. Printing several text pages a day or a few graphic presentations will probably not be a disruptive element, not only in a home environment but also in a work team.

A diametrically different situation arises when you need to print frequently and in large volumes. Then the noise level of the printer starts to become important, and if you have this personal experience, you will certainly agree with us that a high printer noise level can be quite an annoying matter.

Disturbance caused by loud printing can indeed be a significant problem, especially in larger work teams. Under certain circumstances, the printer's high noise level can be addressed by placing the printer in a separate room. This would actually be the best solution. Of course, but it is not always possible. Similar to printing text documents during work breaks.

If a quieter working environment matters to you, or if you simply want to choose a printer with lower noise levels for your home office, the easiest solution is to pay attention to the printer’s noise level specifications when making your purchase.

Printer noise level information

Every printer manufacturer specifies this parameter, and it is the most reliable way to determine the actual noise level of a printer. When buying a printer in a store, you most likely will not have the opportunity to try printing with a specific printer model and thus find out how noisy it is. Similar to buying a printer online. You will only find out the printer's operating noise level after receiving it and testing specific print jobs. The noise level specified by the manufacturer can therefore be a decisive factor when purchasing a printer.

Noise level in decibels

The printer's noise level is currently specified in decibels (dB). The vast majority of today’s printers, as is expected of them, feature, among other things, considerably quieter printing. Even at maximum operation. Their noise level usually ranges somewhere between 40 and 50 decibels, so there can be no question of any extremely disturbing noise.

For comparison, we can mention that a washing machine or a cooker hood operate at a noise level of 60 dB, and some vacuum cleaner models even at 80 dB. If we continue comparing noise levels among household appliances, we find that the same noise level as a printer, namely 40–50 dB, is reached in the home environment by a high-quality dishwasher or refrigerator. However, the aforementioned noise level of quality printers is generally considered to be more than acceptable.

When the noise level is higher than stated by the manufacturer

In practice, it may happen that the noise level stated by the manufacturer does not correspond to reality and the printer's noise level is somewhat higher.

There is no need to look for fraud behind it. Higher noise levels may be caused by an unsuitable type of paper, high print speed, or incorrect print settings.

We must not forget the placement of the printer. If you place the printer in generously sized or minimally furnished spaces without home accessories, the noise level during printing may seem apparently higher. Conversely, in a “fuller room,” the printer may seem quieter during operation.