The 10 Best Laminators of 2024

When it comes to protecting important documents, nothing beats the best laminators money can buy. These protective items play a crucial role in keeping your documents safe for a very long time. They are not like folders, plastic envelopes, or file cabinets that may render your valuable items vulnerable.

Laminators assure you of quality that you can always trust. They are durable, reliable, and convenient in every aspect of your lifestyle. But not every laminator will give you the best results. That’s why you must take into account certain things when purchasing these protective products.

At the same time, you need to strike a balance between the size, speed, thickness capacity, and the price-tag to know which laminator will work best for you. Other features may come in later, especially when trying to choose several models or two similar laminators.

This task of looking for the right laminating product is not a complex one if you have the right information. Below is a review of our top ten laminators and their buying guide that will help you get started with your laminating project.

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Fellowes-5736606 Laminator Saturn 3i

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With its stylish and sleek design, the 5736606 Laminator Saturn 3i is one of the most trusted office equipment from Fellowes. This high-quality laminator boasts of cutting-edge technology and innovation that gives it an edge over other products.

It features a thermal as well as a cold seal functionality, making it more versatile and efficient. InstaHeat Technology comes in handy to warm up the machine quickly and evenly, saving you precious time and effort.

Better still, the one-minute quick lamination cycle makes it ideal for your small business. This is because it produces top-quality work throughout. Besides, it can accommodate documents of different sizes provided that they don’t exceed a width of 12.5 inches.

Due to its high-performance construction, this laminating machine can easily handle multiple laminations in just a few minutes. On top of that, it can stay for a while without overheating. This is made possible with the help of an inbuilt Auto Shut feature that is designed to prevent overheating as well as preserving energy.

Contrary to other models of laminators, the 5736607 Laminator Saturn 3i gives you absolute control thanks to its ergonomic release level that makes adjustment of documents easier. This feature ensures that every document fits properly in a laminating machine. The 10 laminator pouches on this office equipment make its operation easy and timeless while giving you a great start.

Scotch Brand-Pro Thermal Laminator

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The Scotch Brand-Pro Thermal Laminator is like a hot cake that everyone wants to have a share. This means that you should go for it while it is still hot. Despite its price tag, this laminator is all that you have been looking for this while. The machine is superb in the sense that it can provide you with professional looking results in a matter of minutes. This is attributed to its Never Jam technology that promises you a hassle-free operation throughout your lamination process.

It is designed to handle 15 inches of lamination per minute. The dual roller design comes as a great addition to other features of importance. It feeds the document in the laminator gently and smoothly.

Unlike other types of laminators, this machine can comfortably cope with different lengths of documents. That is why it is a perfect choice of laminating machine for signs and banners including other important documents.

The automatic shutoff comes in handy to keep everyone around you safe from sustaining injuries or burning their fingers. In addition to that, the auto- shutoff feature helps conserve energy by switching off the laminator after an hour of not being used.

You can use this machine only on a grounded 120 volts outlet. Meaning that you should not use it with an outlet converter so as to keep it in good working condition longer.

Crenova-13 Inches Laminator

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Crenova-13 Inches Laminator comes with the most notable features not found in most laminators. It features a 2-minute warm-up time to get you started with your laminating task as soon as possible. This is considered one of the fastest preheating times for similar machines. And it works best for 2 by 80 to 123micro thermal laminating pouches.

Additionally, this machine can support up to 13 inches inlet fits, making it a perfect choice of laminators for multipurpose home and office laminating tasks. For that reason, the Crenova-13 Inches Laminator is considered a suitable machine for training materials, menus, cards, photos, tags, bookmarks, kid’s artworks, and many others.

The machine comes fully equipped with an easy and quick-to-move ABS lever designed to remove jammed papers during the laminating process This way, your laminator can significantly improve productivity for each day’s workflow.

Plus it has a corner rounder which helps you to make sharp corners round in order to protect your hands when handling the already laminated documents.

GBC-Thermal Roll Laminator

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At a distance, the GBC-Thermal Roll Laminator looks simple in design but at a closer look, things are different. This simple laminator boasts of high-quality laminating tasks in addition to great features. Speaking of features, this machine gives you clear results for all tasks. It features a wide 27-inch laminating width that makes it perfect for the office or school heavy laminating projects.

Also, it comes with the state-of-the-art auto speed that makes every task easier and perfect. This laminator takes less than ten minutes to warm up in order to have you get started with your project at the right time. The one-touch auto speed helps you to choose the optional speed that works well with your documents to ensure consistency in quality lamination throughout.

This machine is compatible with EZload gray Cap-NAP I Film as well as the standard NAP I Film up to 3 millimeters. These features ensure that you avoid costly mistakes by showing you the right way to load films on the machine. Its open design is a plus in making the film loading easier and timeless.

On the other hand, the AutoGrip shafts help you remove or add standard films quickly to save your time and energy. The front and backstop buttons enable you to pause lamination when loading or cutting the document to its right size to reduce wastage of film. At the same time, the footage counter allows you to track the remaining film for use in order to save you some money in the process.

Overall, this laminator is user-friendly and comes fully loaded with enhanced safety features to keep you safe and save energy.

Fellowes-Laminator Venus 2-125 Laminating Machine

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Here comes another laminator from Fellowes. The Venus 2-125 Laminating Machine features a unique AutoSense system to help detect thickness in a matter of seconds. The same feature enables the machine to self-adjust to optimal laminating settings. As such, the machine saves you time and energy you would waste trying to figure out the thickness of your documents.

Using InstaHeat technology, this sleek laminator can warm up within a short time. As matter of fact, it takes between 30 and 60 seconds to be ready for lamination. Thus it stands out among the fastest and most efficient laminators found on the market today.

Once ready, this machine can laminate at a speed of up to 31 inches per minute. Besides, it uses an auto shut-off feature to save energy and prevent overheating just in case you let it stay idle for some time.

The robust six-roller system is another feature that makes Venus 2-125 Laminating Machine a great product. This is because it helps promote superior lamination that provides you only the best quality. On that note, this machine can laminate hot pouches measuring up to 10 mil thickness. It can also handle cold pouches easily and efficiently. So if you are a busy person with less time to perform other duties, this is the best laminator for you.

Professional 6-in-1 Laminator Machine

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For premium performance, shift your attention to Professional 6-in-1 Laminator Machine from GoGo Gadgets. This latest model uses the best technology in the lamination to deliver outstanding results. It also features a double roller to give you a lightning-fast warm-up for a great start. What you need to do is to flip the switch, insert the document and everything else will fall in place for you.

This classic laminator comes fully equipped with a perfect combo to make your office, home, or classroom projects a reality. The combo comprises every gadget needed for different sizes of laminating tasks whether small or large. They include 25 thermal pouches, hot and cold laminating functions, wide mouth corner rounder, and a multi-pattern paper trimmer. Each gadget plays a special role to ensure that every document is well laminated.

An integrated 3-in-1 paper cutter comes in handy to provide you with maximum versatility. This cutter gives you several options to choose from. These options range from wavy to straight all the way to perforated trims for your documents. Furthermore, these options make tickets to be more tearable in addition to cutting your photos and craft papers nicely. There is also a bonus corner rounder designed to cut away undesirable pointy edges. This feature gives your document a beautiful finish as well as making it safe to handle.

Built-in safety features are included to protect your family. One of the most important features on this machine is the anti-blocking switch (ABS) which quickly releases the foil and pouch to prevent jamming.

Apart from that, the paper-cutter and corner rounder play the role of minimizing blade exposure and risk of personal injury by making the sharp edges safe for every laminated document. Backed by a 1-year unlimited warranty, the Professional 6-in-1 Laminator Machine is a must-have brand if you want a world- class thermal laminator for your business.

Laminator, Crenova-A4 Laminator 4-in-1 Thermal Laminator

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Versatile for the home and office use, Laminator, Crenova-A4 Laminator 4-in-1 Thermal Laminator is what you need to make your work better and faster. The user- friendly starter set on this laminator comes with useful tools for all your projects. The tools include a laminator, corner rounder paper trimmer, and 20 laminating pouches. Additionally, the optimized and extremely simplified operations make this basic laminator the perfect machine for home, school, and office projects.

The impressive 3 to 5 minutes heat-up time assures you of faster warm-up to get your project going on as soon as possible. Apart from that, the remarkable 250mm/mm laminating speed delivers an effective yet efficient production with the best quality ever. This machine can laminate up to 50 sheets (A4 papers) per hour. It is also compatible with 2×2.5 mills to 2x4mill pouches.

With this machine, you should say goodbye to paper jams. This is because the ABS lever will easily release the stuck up paper jam and make the work as efficiently as possible. All you will need to do is to push the lever a little bit to release the stuck pouches or papers and everything else will work in your favor. This practical function allows you to experience a rapid and smooth lamination of documents for any heavy workload.

Its compact size and ultra-lightweight give you super-convenient portability all the time. Plus it fits nicely on every desktop thanks to its size. This machine works best on AC 110-120volts and 60Hz and consumes 265 watts of power. The heating system is a 2-roller system that assures you of great work and good quality lamination.

5-in-1 Bluesmart Laminator Set

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If you want to fulfill your everyday school, home, or office lamination needs, 5-in-1 Bluesmart Laminator Set has you covered. This machine comprises a full set of one laminator, one corner rounder, one paper cutter, 20 laminating pouches, and 10 photo frames. All these components are included to maximize your laminating convenience all the time.

With its fast and smooth laminating, this product lets you enjoy a well- organized laminating process throughout. This is attributed to its rapid 3 to 5 minutes warm-up time with a 250mm per minute laminating speed.

The hot and cold modes are also included for the machine to handle a variety of laminating pouches. And the anti-blocking switch (ABS) button ensures that paper jams are resolved quickly and effectively.

The wider inlet plays a significant role in handling multiple sizes. This is made possible with the help of a 230mm or A4 size throat entry that works well with 160mic to 250 mic pouches. For that reason, you can use this wider inlet for laminating professional letters, legal documents, business cards, photo size papers, and so on.

The easy-to-handle flash paper cutter provides you with a neat and good looking cut to your laminate document. On the other hand, the fine-quality laminating photo frames are perfect for versatile do-it-yourself (DIY) projects and crafts.

In general, this laminator can support both hot and cold laminates, making it suitable for various types of laminating pouches. For the cold mode lamination, remember to use the self-adhesive pouches to get the best results.

YE381-Laminator Machine for A3/A4/A6

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At a glance, the YE381-Laminator Machine for A3/A4/A6 looks like an ordinary laminator. But this product comes loaded with features that give it an edge over other similar products. It is compatible with different sizes of pouches ranging from the normal business card all the way to A3 papers.

Also, the machine boasts a quick warm-up in addition to fast laminating speed. These two features play an active role in boosting your efficiency, protecting the machine, and preserving your most crucial documents. That is why it is considered the best laminator for your office, home, or school laminating tasks.

As a 5-in-1 laminator machine, this product operates in absolute silence, creating a quieter environment around you. It also includes a corner rounder and paper trimmer. The corner rounder ensures that all sharp edges on documents are rounded and safe to handle.

The three different patterns paper cutter provides you with the option of choosing the right cutting pattern to make your document more appealing. These patterns include straight, wave, and perforated, and each works perfectly for different documents.

With a speed of 250mm per minute, this newly upgraded laminator machine assures you of efficiency that is second to none. This feature provides you a smoother and faster-laminating speed to help you laminate as many documents as possible in a short time.

The ABS button ensures that no paper gets stuck in the machine during the laminating process. This is due to its ability to easily remove the stuck documents or pouches from the machine. A one-touch paper exit is all that you need and your machine will remain intact to laminate other documents.

A built-in two-roller heating system helps to control the temperature in order to protect your laminator. The system is supported by thermal and cold laminating tasks, giving you an option to choose the right temperature for your projects. Besides, the intelligent temperature control system ensures that the machine maintains the right temperature to help it last longer.

ABOX Laminator-13 Inch Thermal Laminator Machine OL381

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As an incredible 4-in-1 versatile laminator, ABOX Laminator-13 Inch Thermal Laminator Machine OL381 has everything you need to make your project a success. In the real sense, this product is a perfect combination of several features such as the laminator, corner rounder, paper trimmer, and many others. Together, these features make crafting work incredibly effortless and convenient for school or office use.

The unique paper cutter comes with a locking design to enable you to trim up to eight A3 sheets at once. This is not a common feat with other laminators that have paper cutters. For the safety of your kids, you can lock the trimmer when not using it.

With its advanced double roller design, you can trust that this machine will serve you better. First, it is less noisy and won’t interfere with anyone around you. This is because the double roller design provides you with a faster and smoother lamination of your documents.

Also, this product can help you perform both cold and thermal lamination on different types of documents. This feature is coupled with a steady speed of 250mm/min to give you only the best lamination you can think of.

The innovative heating system adds more value and functionality to this laminator machine. The system includes a built-in bubble heating system and a thermal conductivity pipe. These two elements are crafted from pure aluminum to make the laminating materials be evenly heated to prevent wrinkling, curling, and blistering.

On the other hand, the machine’s two rolls of silicone combine with a high- quality motor to laminate 1W-W2 of your documents for longer periods of time.

This machine also boasts a wider range of applications that comprise a free 16 -thermal laminating pouch of four different sizes. The same laminator is built to support a maximum width of 13 inches and can allow larger documents to easily get overlaid to reduce energy consumption.

The quick warm time and anti-blocking switch function make this laminator faster and efficient. The warm-up time takes up to 3 minutes to get the machine ready for your documents. And the ABS function ensures that every document is well aligned for lamination to prevent jamming. Certainly, this is the ultimate choice of the best laminators if you want quality lamination work at home, school, or office.

Best Laminators Buying Guide

Laminating machines were once regarded as the prerogative machines of the printing and publishing companies. Today these useful devices are found in most homes, schools, and offices. With that in mind, it is time to get a clear picture of what constitutes the best laminators and what their buying guide entails.

Even though laminators are designed for the same purpose, these machines vary significantly. Some are small, while others are large and ultimately costly. When looking for your own type of laminator, you should know what to look out for in each device you will come across. For that reason, make sure to consider the following factors before making your final decision on a machine that will work best for you.

Essential Factors to Consider When Shopping for a Laminator Machine

1.Different Paper Size Options

Paper size options should be the first thing to look at when choosing the best laminator. The size is actually the machine’s capacity listings or the size of documents a machine can laminate. It will be needless to spend your hard-earned cash on a machine that will not accommodate the documents you want to be protected. Therefore, take your time and compare different sizes to know which one is suitable for the kind of documents you are going to seal.

Different machines have different sizes of options. For instance, the commonly offered laminators consist of A3(297by 420mm), A4( 210 by 297mm) or A6(105 by 148mm). In rare cases, you may come across a laminator machine that accommodates A5(148by210mm) documents. While it is not necessary to look for a laminator device that handles A5 documents, it is wise to consider something that will accommodate that size should the need arise.

2.The Average Warm-Up Time

The warm-up plays an important role in ensuring that your laminator starts to work as soon as you turn it on. This feature will help you get started with your work as fast as possible and save you time for other things. In this regard, you will have to give your machine some time to get warmer so that your documents can come out well-sealed and protected.

Most laminators on the market today have a warm-up time of five minutes. But a few exceptions do exist and you can find those machines that take less than three minutes to warm up.

3.Laminating Speed

Besides a shorter warm up time, you should think of the laminating speed if you want a faster machine. The speed will determine how fast your machine can seal or protect your documents and this essential, especially for commercial purposes.

Most machines come with a standard 250mm/min speed and this is just enough to make your work easier and faster. But you can go the extra mile and look for other faster machines that will keep your work flowing at the right time.

4.The Roller Count

Check the number of rollers in a laminator to know if it will produce high- quality documents. Just know that the more rollers a laminator machine has, the better the lamination process. This is because a higher number of rollers can easily facilitate the smoother lamination process of your documents. Also, more rollers mean more consistent coating on every document that passes through your machine.

Anyway, you don’t have to worry about the number of rollers in a machine. Two are just enough to make your work better and desirable. Double rollers will ensure that your every seal on your documents turns out as expected. But if you can have a machine with more than two rollers, that will be an added advantage to you because you will have consistent lamination.

5.Anti-Jamming Features

Apart from rollers, you should also consider other features that prevent jamming of papers in the laminator. Most manufacturers include anti-jamming features to ensure that there are no cases of blockages inside the machine.

These jamming prevention features come in different forms. The most common type is the button one which is simply referred to as an anti-blocking system or ABS button. The work of this button is to engage the machine’s anti-locking system in order to free up the stuck documents.

Other machines have a different version of anti-jamming features. They have a feeder designed to reject any document that is not aligned properly. Either way, make sure to choose a machine that will make your work better and easier.

6.Thermal Laminating Options

As you may know, thermal or hot melt lamination is the most preferred technique among different people. This option is widely used when sealing documents. But there are instances where thermal laminating is not applicable.

For professional lamination, look for a machine that can provide either hot single-sided lamination or go for those that offer hot double-sided roll lamination. There are also other types of machines that offer cold lamination. This version of lamination is necessary if you are working on heat-sensitive documents. To be on the safe side, buy a laminator that can handle hot and cold laminations in all situations.

7.The Thickness of the Pouch

Even though getting the laminating temperature right is necessary, having your documents remain intact throughout is a plus. This is where the pouch thickness comes in to save the situation. The good news is that many machines come bundled together with pouches to get you started immediately.

The thickness of any laminating pouch is measured in microns. However, the thicker the pouch is the better lamination it can provide for the documents. The only downside of this feature is that some machines may not be able to handle or accommodate the thickest pouches. For you to be on the safe side, make sure to look for a laminator that is compatible with most laminating pouches you want to use for your project.

8.How Often You are Going to Use Your Machine

Ask yourself how frequently you will be using your laminator machine. Once you get the correct answer to this question you can decide on the most appropriate model of a laminator that will meet your needs.

A small size laminator is the most ideal laminating machine if you are going to handle a workload of about 10 documents each day. A medium-sized laminator will be the most ideal machine to take care of at least 15 documents per day. Anything beyond that number of documents calls for a bigger laminator.

For example, if you are planning to laminate 25 documents in a day, then a heavy-duty laminator will serve you better. Otherwise, you should decide on acquiring a roll laminator to handle more workload on a daily basis.

9.The Cost

Make sure that the machine you are looking for falls within your purchasing power. Without knowing how much you can spend on a good machine, you can find yourself settling for a substandard laminator without the features you are looking for.

To avoid such last-minute surprises, take your budget into account before setting out to look for your ideal laminator. A good budget will determine your affordability of a particular model of the laminator.

10.Additional Features

Having a more versatile laminator machine is an added advantage if you want your job to be consistently well-done. The versatility of your machine can be determined by extra features or additional components in its design.

Some of the extra features you are likely to find on a laminator are corner rounders and paper trimmers. These additional features are important in adding a few finishing touches to already sealed documents. They can make your documents look more presentable or safe to handle. Other extra features may include frames and extra pouches to make your work more appealing and professional.

Best Laminators Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How do I keep my laminator clean?
A: When it comes to keeping your laminator clean, you should look for the right cleaning equipment. Ideally, you will need a microfiber cloth, cleaning pads, and the laminator cleaning solution.

During the cleaning, turn off your laminator to avoid electrical accidents or damaging the machine itself. Take out the film rolls from the chamber carefully and gently. Before you start the actual cleaning, make sure that your laminator has cooled down.

Using cleaning pads, clean each roll gently, turning it as you scrub all sides. Look out for residue and remove it using the laminator cleaner. Take the microfiber cloth and use it to clean and dry every roll evenly. Then fix the films back to their spindles in preparation for the next project.

Q: Which is better, thermal or cold laminator?
A: Depending on how you are going to use each one of these options, both thermal and cold laminators are built to deliver great results. But hot or thermal laminators are widely used compared to the cold ones. Cold laminators play a critical role in sealing heat-sensitive documents such as photographs.

Q: Why do I need a laminator?
A: You need a laminator to help you seal your most important documents. This machine will help you embellish or protect your documents. It is also fast and convenient as well as being effective when it comes to producing professional results.

Q: Which items should I laminate?
A: You can laminate any of your most important documents which may include ID badges, business cards, book covers, photographs, posters, certificates, scrapbook pages, stickers, programs, and menus among others.

Q: What are the major types of laminators in use today?
A: Laminators are classified as a pouch, roll, cold, thermal, and carrier- free laminators. Each category has its own unique features that make it special.

Q: What is the main reason for laminating documents?
A: The answer is simple and straightforward; to preserve them. Normally, the laminating film provides your documents with protection against moisture or general wear and tear. The primary goal of sealing papers through lamination is to boost their durability.

Q: How long should the lamination process take?
A: On average, it can take up to ten minutes to laminate a paper. This time includes the heating up of the machine and the laminating process for each document.

Q: Is it really possible to fold any laminated document?
A: Yes, it is possible. But folding it using your hands can be a great challenge when the laminating material is hard or thick. You can use a scoring machine to fold your laminated document easily.

Q: Is it possible to cut the laminated document?
A: Yes, you can cut a laminated paper. The only challenge comes in where the thickness or sturdiness of the laminating material is involved. If the laminating material is thicker, you should expect the cutting to be a little bit harder.

Q: Is it possible to laminate my old photographs?
A: You can laminate your old photographs but you will need to do it with the help of a pouch laminator (with cold settings) or a cold laminator.

Conclusion

For you to protect any important document, you must laminate it and for a good reason. Laminated documents have greater resistance to both wear and tear. They also keep away moisture from reaching and damaging your documents. Most importantly, laminating ensures that your items survive frequent handling. What’s more, it helps you convey professionalism to everyone you interact with at work or anywhere.

While some people may not realize the importance of owning laminators, you can rest assured that investing in one of these products is rewarding in many ways. Once you have your own, you will be surprised by how frequent you are using it both at home or in the workplace. So make sure to look for a high-quality laminator that will serve you for a very long time.