Buying guide for Best laminators
Whether it’s to protect files and documents at the office or preserve your crafting projects at home, a laminator is a handy tool. When items are laminated, you don’t have to worry about them getting bent, torn, wrinkled, dirty, or damaged by liquids, which means they will last much longer.
However, purchasing a laminator can be a confusing process. There are several different types of laminators to choose from, as well as certain features that can make one model a better fit for your projects than others.
What can you do with a laminator?
Business
At the office, you can use a laminator to laminate:
Home
At home, your laminator can laminate:
Crafts
If you enjoy crafting, you can use a laminator to:
Create bookmarks
Make homemade playing cards
Press flowers
Preserve your children’s artwork
Prepare memory books for your children
For those who laminate large items, we look for roll laminators that can accommodate large rolls of plastic film.
We compare hot laminators to cold laminators in our research. Hot laminators use heat to melt the adhesive backing on pieces of plastic film, whereas cold laminators
use pressure to seal the pieces of plastic film. While hot laminators are more popular, cold laminators work best for vinyl, vintage photographs, and materials that might be heat-sensitive.
We evaluate the maximum thickness of plastic film that can be put through each machine. The gauge for laminating film is measured in mils, and there are four types: standard, medium, rigid, and extra rigid.
We look at each laminator’s maximum width capacity to determine what it can laminate. For example, if you want to laminate a photo, the laminator should be able to accommodate at least 5 inches of width. Documents need 8.5 to 9 inches in width.
When shortlisting hot laminators, we look for machines that offer temperature control. Some machines only have two heat settings, whereas others have a digital control that allows for more specific settings.
Some of the laminators we examine use pouches to laminate. A pouch is a plastic film inside which you slip the item you want to laminate. This method is generally best for small items.
We appreciate laminators with an auto shutoff feature to prevent overheating. We also like machines with double-walled insulation, which helps prevent the outer layer from getting hot—an excellent safety feature if you laminate with kids.
We assess how quickly each laminator heats up. The best laminators tend to heat up in just a few minutes.
We prefer laminators that come with a reverse function. This function will reverse the direction of the rollers so they slide out of the plastic, thereby “unjamming” any paper. A similar feature is a jam release, which loosens roller tension so you can pull the pouch or film free.
We give bonus points to laminators that do not tend to leave inconsistencies in the final product, such as bubbling or wrinkling.
Types of laminators
Hot vs. cold laminators
Laminating items protects them from spills, stains, and smudges. It also guards against fingerprints.
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Roll vs. pouch laminators
What to look for when buying a laminator
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.
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.
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.
Medium capacity: Medium capacity is five mils. This works well for legal files, photos, and recipe cards.
Rigid capacity: Rigid capacity is seven mils. This works well for ID cards, luggage tags, calendars, and sales or marketing materials.
- 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.
Width
The appropriate width for a laminator depends on the size of the items you plan to laminate.
Photo: Photo laminators can accommodate photos and other items that are up to four inches in width.
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.
Extra wide: Extra wide laminators can accommodate items that are up to 27 inches in width.
- Commercial: For items that are larger than 27 inches in width, you’ll need a commercial laminator.
Adjustable temperature control
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.
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.
Safety features
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.
For your safety
For safety reasons, always unplug a laminator when you’re done using it.
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How much should you pay for a laminator?
Laminators vary widely in price based on type, size, and features, but you can typically expect to spend between $17 and $300.
Inexpensive
For a basic laminator that can handle smaller projects, you’ll usually pay between $17 and $65.
Mid-range
For an intermediate laminator that can handle mid-size projects, you’ll usually pay between $70 and $175.
Expensive
For an advanced laminator that can handle larger projects, you’ll usually pay between $180 and $300.
Tips and tricks for using a laminator
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.
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.
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
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.
