Best Silent Printer by Print Speed and Weight

The best silent printer for most homes is the HP DeskJet 2955, because its 7.5 ppm black print speed and 7.55 lb body mean a small motor doing slow work rather than a fast one hammering a heavy paper path. If you need long unattended jobs instead, the Brother DCP-L2640DW claims up to 36 ppm and takes a 250-sheet load. Here is the misconception worth clearing first: shoppers compare page-per-minute figures as a proxy for quiet, and the relationship runs the other way. Fast printers move paper harder. None of these five listings publish a decibel rating, so nobody, including me, can promise you silence.

Best silent printer at a glance

How the picks were screened, and on what

I set three criteria before looking at any listing, weighted in this order.

1. Mechanical restraint, weighted heaviest. Slower stated speeds and lighter bodies mean less mass being driven and fewer sheets being pulled per minute. That is the closest thing to a noise proxy the published data offers.
2. Paper path complexity, weighted second. Automatic duplexing flips a sheet mid-job. An automatic document feeder drags originals across a glass. Each mechanism is one more moving assembly.
3. Footprint and placement, weighted third. A printer you can move off the desk and onto a shelf behind you is quieter at your ear than one bolted to your workspace, whatever its motor does.

Those weights are in that order because the first two are the only ones tied to a figure I was actually given, and the third is the one a reader can act on immediately.

What got cut: anything without published dimensions and weight, since placement advice without measurements is guesswork. Anything where the listing offered no paper capacity or speed claim at all also went, which is why the field here is five and not fifteen.

What survived is a spread across both printing technologies, two price positions at the entry end, one in the middle and two at the top, and weights from 7.55 lb to 25 lb. That range matters more than it sounds, because a 25 lb machine and a 7.55 lb machine do not belong in the same part of a room.

Does a low ppm figure make a printer quieter?

A low ppm figure does not guarantee quiet, and this is where the best silent printer search goes wrong. Page speed is a throughput number, not an acoustic one. What it tells you indirectly is how hard the feed rollers and the carriage are working per unit of time.

Compare the two ends of this set. The DeskJet 2955 claims up to 7.5 ppm black and 5.5 ppm colour. The DCP-L2640DW claims up to 36 ppm. That is roughly a fivefold difference in stated throughput. The Brother is also 25 lb against the HP's 7.55 lb, because a laser engine carries a fuser, a drum assembly and a heavier chassis.

Here is the practical reading. A slow inkjet spends longer making noise but makes less of it at any moment. A fast laser makes a shorter, sharper burst. Which one bothers you depends entirely on whether the person next to you is concentrating or asleep.

Three things in the data actually predict a noisier machine:

• Higher stated ppm, meaning faster roller and carriage movement
• Automatic duplexing, which adds a reversing path
• An automatic document feeder, which adds a second sheet-transport system

The DeskJet 2955 has none of the three. That is why it leads.

Inkjet or laser: which paper path suits a shared room?

Three of these five are inkjets and two are lasers, and the split is not cosmetic. An inkjet moves a print head back and forth across the page. A laser rotates a drum and pulls the sheet through a heated fuser.

For a shared room, the deciding question is duty cycle. Inkjets here carry smaller trays: 60 sheets on the DeskJet 2955, 225 on the OfficeJet Pro 8125. The two Brother lasers both take 250 sheets. If you print rarely, the small tray is fine and the machine stays idle. If you print in long runs, the laser finishes sooner and then goes silent, while the inkjet keeps working.

Colour is the other fork. Both Brother picks are monochrome only. The DeskJet 2955, the PIXMA TS6520 and the OfficeJet Pro 8125 all print colour. If a child's homework or a photo ever needs to come out of this machine, the lasers are off your list regardless of anything else.

Weight tracks the technology closely. Both lasers sit at 15.1 lb and 25 lb. The lightest inkjet is 7.55 lb.

1. HP DeskJet 2955 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer — Best overall

The slowest stated speed and lightest body in this set, which is exactly what you want beside a desk where someone else is working.

Best for: light home printing in a room where someone is working or sleeping Skip it if: you print more than a few dozen pages a week

What separates this pick inside the set is restraint. At 7.55 lb it is half the weight of the next-lightest pick and a third of the DCP-L2640DW. Its 6.06 x 12 x 16.7 in body is the shortest here, and the 60-sheet input tray is the smallest by a wide margin. HP states up to 7.5 ppm black and 5.5 ppm colour, the slowest published figures in this group. There is no automatic duplexer and no document feeder, so there are two fewer sheet-handling mechanisms than the OfficeJet Pro 8125 carries.

It prints, scans and copies in colour, and HP describes an AI feature that trims unwanted content from web pages and emails before printing. That claim is the manufacturer's. The control panel is an icon LCD rather than a touchscreen, which is a step down from the 8125's 2.7-inch colour screen.

The trade-off is real. A 60-sheet tray means frequent refilling, and it is the second-cheapest of the five with the least paper capacity to show for it. Two sellers list it, and it is the newer of HP's two entries here at a 2026 release.

Pros:

• Lightest of the five at 7.55 lb
• Slowest stated print speed, 7.5 ppm black
• Shortest body at 6.06 in tall
• No duplexer or feeder to add moving parts
• Colour print, copy and scan in one unit

Cons:

• 60-sheet tray is the smallest here by 165 sheets
• Icon LCD only, no touchscreen
• No automatic duplex printing
• One-year limited warranty against Canon's three

2. Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer Duplex — Best budget pick

The cheapest of the five and the only one with a three-year manufacturer warranty, which is an unusual pairing.

Best for: mixed document and photo printing on a tight budget Skip it if: you need an automatic document feeder

This is the cheapest pick here and the warranty is the standout number: 3 Year Manufacturer, against one year on all four rivals. In a category where the fuser, the rollers and the print head are the parts that eventually rattle or fail, an extra two years of cover is the most useful figure on the listing.

At 15.3 lb and 6.7 x 14.8 x 14 in it is the second-lightest and one of the smaller footprints, though it is roughly double the DeskJet 2955's weight. Canon claims a two-cartridge hybrid ink system for sharp text and vivid colour, plus dual-band Wi-Fi on 2.4GHz or 5GHz. It duplexes automatically, which the DeskJet does not, and that is one more mechanism inside the case.

Canon publishes no ppm figure and no input tray capacity on this listing, so you cannot line it up against the Brothers on throughput. It also sells faster than three of the other four picks here.

Pros:

• Cheapest of the five
• Three-year warranty, triple every rival here
• Automatic duplex printing included
• Dual-band Wi-Fi on 2.4GHz or 5GHz
• Second-lightest at 15.3 lb

Cons:

• No published print speed to compare
• No stated paper tray capacity
• No automatic document feeder
• Duplexing adds a reversing paper path
• Only one seller lists it

3. Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser — Best upgrade

A print-only laser with a 250-sheet tray, so it goes long stretches without you touching it.

Best for: text-only printing with long stretches between refills Skip it if: you need colour or a built-in scanner

This is the only pick in the set that does one job. No scanner, no copier, no colour. That simplicity is the case for it: fewer assemblies means fewer things that whir, and the sheet goes in one side and out the other with no reversing path.

At 15.1 lb it is the lighter of the two lasers by nearly 10 lb, and its 7.2 x 14.2 x 14 in footprint is the narrowest of any pick over 10 lb. The 250-sheet tray matches the DCP-L2640DW's and beats the DeskJet 2955's by 190 sheets. Brother also lists a manual feed slot for envelopes and specialty paper, plus dual-band wireless and Alexa compatibility. It works with the Brother Mobile Connect app for toner tracking.

The honest cost of that simplicity is scope. It is the fourth-cheapest of five, and for that position you get no scanner and no colour, where the mid-priced OfficeJet Pro 8125 gives you both. Brother publishes no ppm figure for this model, and this is the slowest seller of the five.

Pros:

• Print-only design, fewest moving assemblies here
• 250-sheet tray, 190 more than the DeskJet
• Lighter laser of the two at 15.1 lb
• Manual feed slot for envelopes
• Dual-band wireless, works with Alexa

Cons:

• Monochrome only, no colour at all
• No scanner or copier function
• Costs more than two colour all-in-ones here
• No published print speed
• Slowest seller of the five

4. HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet — Best minimal setup

A 2.7-inch touchscreen and an automatic document feeder turn multi-page scanning into a one-touch job.

Best for: a home office that scans multi-page documents Skip it if: the printer shares a small desk

The 8125 is the only pick here that combines colour printing, an automatic document feeder, automatic duplexing and a 225-sheet tray. If you regularly feed a stack of pages into a scanner, this is the one that saves you standing over the glass, and the 2.7-inch colour touchscreen means you set the job up on the machine rather than on your laptop.

It is also the physically largest inkjet: 9.17 x 13.3 x 18.1 in and 17.6 lb, the tallest body in the set by more than 3 in over the DeskJet 2955. HP describes fast colour printing and dual-band Wi-Fi that detects and resolves connection problems on its own. A three-month Instant Ink trial is included, after which a monthly fee applies unless you cancel.

Every feature that makes it capable also makes it busier. The ADF is a second sheet-transport system, the duplexer reverses pages mid-job, and HP's own claim is speed rather than restraint. Sitting mid-priced, it costs more than two picks with fewer mechanisms and less than two with bigger trays.

Pros:

• Only pick with colour, ADF and duplex together
• 2.7-inch colour touchscreen for on-device control
• 225-sheet tray, second-largest here
• Dual-band Wi-Fi with self-resolving connection
• Print, scan, copy and fax from the phone app

Cons:

• Tallest body here at 9.17 in
• ADF and duplexer add two moving systems
• Heaviest inkjet of the three at 17.6 lb
• Ink subscription becomes a monthly fee after three months
• One-year limited hardware warranty

5. Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome — Best premium

Up to 36 ppm claimed, which is the fastest figure here and the reason it belongs off your desk rather than on it.

Best for: a small business printing long black-and-white jobs Skip it if: you have no shelf or cabinet to put it on

Brother positions this as a three-in-one: laser printer, scanner and copier. The headline claim is up to 36 ppm printing with scan speeds up to 23.6 ipm black and 7.9 ipm colour. Those are the only detailed throughput figures published across all five picks, and they are Brother's own numbers.

The catch runs straight through this article's premise. At 25 lb and 12.5 x 15.7 x 16.1 in this is the largest and heaviest pick by a clear margin, roughly 3.3 times the DeskJet 2955's weight and more than double its height. A laser engine moving 36 sheets a minute is not a quiet neighbour on a desk. Put it on a shelf, in a cabinet or in the next room and the same speed becomes an advantage, because the job is over faster.

It duplexes automatically, takes 250 sheets, and offers dual-band wireless plus Ethernet, the only wired option in the set. Toner is Brother TN830 or TN830XL. It is the most expensive pick here, it prints only in black and white, and it carries the same one-year limited warranty as the cheaper HL-L2405W.

Pros:

• Fastest published speed, up to 36 ppm claim
• Only pick with an Ethernet port
• 250-sheet tray plus automatic duplex
• Print, scan and copy in one laser body
• Scan speeds published at 23.6/7.9 ipm

Cons:

• Heaviest here at 25 lb, hard to relocate
• Largest footprint, 12.5 in tall
• Monochrome only at the highest price position
• Highest stated speed means the busiest paper path
• One-year warranty, same as far cheaper picks

How much desk does each one actually eat?

Placement is the lever you control, and it does more for perceived noise than any specification on these listings. Measure the shelf before you buy.

• HP DeskJet 2955: 6.06 x 12 x 16.7 in, 7.55 lb
• Canon PIXMA TS6520: 6.7 x 14.8 x 14 in, 15.3 lb
• Brother HL-L2405W: 7.2 x 14.2 x 14 in, 15.1 lb
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8125: 9.17 x 13.3 x 18.1 in, 17.6 lb
• Brother DCP-L2640DW: 12.5 x 15.7 x 16.1 in, 25 lb

The heights are what decide shelf fit. Three picks clear 7.5 in, which fits most standard shelving. The 8125 at 9.17 in and the DCP-L2640DW at 12.5 in need a taller gap, and the Brother's 25 lb means you place it once and leave it.

The DeskJet 2955 is light enough to lift with one hand and stow in a drawer between jobs. That is a genuine noise strategy, not a spec-sheet footnote: a printer in a closed cabinet two metres away is quieter than any machine on your desk.

What the listings do not tell you about noise

Time for the uncomfortable part. Not one of these five listings publishes a decibel figure, an acoustic emissions rating or a quiet-mode specification. So while shoppers search for the best silent printer, the honest position is that no product here can be claimed to be silent, and I will not pretend otherwise.

Here is what you can still judge for yourself before you commit:

• Ask the manufacturer for the acoustic figure. All three brands publish full specification sheets on their own support sites, and Brother lists free phone and chat support for the life of the printer.
• Look for a quiet mode in the app. Both HP picks and both Brother picks have companion mobile apps. If a low-noise setting exists, it lives there.
• Weigh the mechanism count, not the marketing. Duplexer plus ADF plus fast laser engine equals more sound sources. The listing tells you which picks have which.
• Judge sleep-state behaviour on arrival. Some printers click and cycle when idle. No listing here says a word about it, so test it in the first week while returns are open.

Treat the noise question as a shopping consideration you resolve yourself, using the specification sheet and your own ears in the first few days. The published data supports a judgment about mechanical load. It does not support a promise of silence.

The verdict

The HP DeskJet 2955 is my default pick in this best silent printer comparison. It has the slowest published speed at 7.5 ppm black, the lightest body at 7.55 lb, the shortest 6.06 in profile and no duplexer or document feeder. That combination means the fewest moving parts working the least hard, which is the strongest inference the published specifications allow. It also prints in colour and copies and scans, so it covers the jobs a household actually asks a printer to do.

Two conditions flip that.

First, volume. If you print more than a few dozen pages a week, the 60-sheet tray becomes the thing that annoys you. Go to the Brother HL-L2405W for a 250-sheet tray and a print-only paper path, accepting mono output.

Second, scanning. If you feed stacks of multi-page documents, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8125's automatic document feeder, 225-sheet tray and 2.7-inch touchscreen do work no other pick here does. It is 9.17 in tall and 17.6 lb, so give it its own surface.

The runner-up's exact advantage is warranty. The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is the cheapest pick and carries three years of manufacturer cover against one year everywhere else, plus automatic duplexing the DeskJet lacks.

FAQ

Is a laser or inkjet the best silent printer choice?

A laser or inkjet decision comes down to duty cycle rather than volume alone. Inkjets in this set move a print head slowly across the page, with the DeskJet 2955 claiming 7.5 ppm. Lasers finish faster and then stop, with the DCP-L2640DW claiming up to 36 ppm. Short bursts suit some rooms, low steady output suits others.

Is a quieter printer worth paying more for?

A quieter printer is not what extra money buys in this set, which is the awkward answer. The cheapest pick here, the Canon PIXMA TS6520, and the second-cheapest, the DeskJet 2955, are also the two with the least aggressive mechanics. Spending more here gets you speed, bigger trays and document feeders, all of which add sheet-handling systems rather than remove them.

What does the 250-sheet tray change day to day?

The 250-sheet tray changes how often you interact with the machine. Both Brother picks hold 250 sheets, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 holds 225 and the DeskJet 2955 holds 60. At the low end you refill constantly, which means opening the tray, seating paper and closing it. Fewer refills means fewer interruptions in a quiet room.

DeskJet 2955 or OfficeJet Pro 8125: which should I pick?

Between the DeskJet 2955 and the OfficeJet Pro 8125, choose on scanning volume. The DeskJet is 7.55 lb, 6.06 in tall, and has no feeder or duplexer. The 8125 is 17.6 lb, 9.17 in tall, and adds an automatic document feeder, automatic duplexing, a 225-sheet tray and a 2.7-inch touchscreen. Multi-page scanning justifies the extra bulk.

What is the biggest mistake when buying a quiet printer?

The biggest mistake when buying a quiet printer is assuming the specification sheet answers the question. None of these five listings publishes a decibel rating. Buyers also ignore placement, which matters more than the printer. A 7.55 lb unit inside a closed cabinet beats a 25 lb laser on the desk, no matter what either machine's paper path does.

Start with the shelf, not the printer. Measure the height of the space you actually intend to use, then read the dimensions above and see which picks fit. If the answer is a low shelf across the room, the DeskJet 2955's 6.06 in body and 7.55 lb weight make it the easiest of the five to tuck away, and its slow 7.5 ppm pace means it never announces itself the way a 36 ppm laser does. Then check the acoustic figure on the manufacturer's support page before your return window closes, because that is the one number no listing here will give you.

Last updated: October 5, 2026. Product availability re-checked.

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