While it isn’t a staple in every office, the best laminator can be a valuable tool that allows you to protect important items such as documents, photos, ID cards, and other valuable items securely between two sheets of plastic, otherwise known as a laminating pouch.
The best laminators in 2022 can provide you with plenty of options for any need you may have from small, everyday projects to even commercial uses.
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So, let’s buckle up and get ready to laminate everything!
The 10+ Best Laminators in 2022
- Fellowes Laminator Saturn3i 95 — The best laminator in 2022 overall (Editor’s Choice)
- Swingline Inspire Plus Thermal Laminator — The best budget laminator
- Amazon Basics 12-Inch Thermal Laminator Machine — The best value laminator
- Scotch Pro Thermal Laminator — The best laminators for educators
- GBC Thermal Laminator Machine Fusion 7000L — The best laminator for commercial use
- Crenova A4 Thermal Laminator — The best laminator for beginners
- Fellowes Jupiter 2 125 — The best laminator for speed
- Fellowes Laminator Saturn3i 125 — The best large width laminator
- GBC Thermal Laminator Machine Fusion 3000L — The best heavy-duty laminator
- Vevor 39 Inch Cold Laminator Machine — The best manual laminator
What is the best laminator in 2022?
For our money, the best laminator is a combination of price and features which means that the Laminator Saturn3i 95 from Fellowes is our choice for the best laminator overall. If you would like to see some more detail regarding our top picks, check out our table below.
Top 3 Most Popular Laminator
These are the three best selling laminators on Amazon right now:
How to Choose the Right Laminator
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When you think of a laminator, you wouldn’t think that there would be a lot that you would need to consider before picking one up for your home office or arts and crafts with the kids but you’d be wrong (so were we).
Come with us won’t you as we take a closer look at what you should consider when you buy a laminator.
Type
The most common type of laminator is a hot laminator as they work best with most applications. If you’re going to be laminating heat-sensitive materials like old photographs or vinyl, then you may want to choose a cold laminator. Cold laminators are also great for any project with kids as the laminator doesn’t get too hot.
Pouch laminators are great for home use because they are generally designed to laminate smaller items. If you’re doing any kind of business or commercial laminating, roll laminators are a better option because they can handle larger projects such as maps and posters.
Capacity
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When it comes to the capacity of a lamination machine, they are referring to the thickness or the gauge of the plastic film that the laminator can handle. Laminating film is measured in mils while film or pouches that have a higher gauge tend to be thicker as well as more rigid.
- Standard capacity
The standard capacity is three mils. Best for most home applications, this can include photos, crafts, and in many cases restaurant menus where having slight flexibility isn’t a problem.
- Medium capacity
Medium capacity measure in at five mils. If you’re laminating items such as legal files, photos, or maybe even recipe cards, this is a good choice.
- Rigid capacity
At seven mils, rigid capacity is a great choice for ID cards, calendars, luggage tags as well as marketing materials.
- Extra rigid capacity
Finally with a mils number of 10, extra rigid capacity works well for durable items such as posters, reference documents, and signs.
Width
Depending on the size of the items that you’re planning to laminate, choosing a laminator that can handle your project can save you not only time but money as well.
From photo size laminators to commercial, the variety of laminators out there that can handle just about anything you need to do is only limited by your budget.
Adjustable temperature control
While it varies from machine to machine, some hot laminators provide adjustable temperature controls. This ability allows you to pick a precise temperature for your project. While many high-end laminators will come with digital controls, many machines will come with a dial.
There are also laminators available that let you turn off the heat, giving you the option to use the machine as both a hot and cold laminator.
Reverse Function and jam release
Like any piece of technology, there are going to be hiccups. Many laminators released on the market today come with some method of reverse function. This option allies you to reverse the direction of the rollers so that you can slide the plastic out of the laminator easily.
Other laminators may also come with a jam release that works by slacking the tension on the rollers, allowing you to pull the film or pouch free.
Safety features
Safety features are of the utmost importance, especially if you’re using a laminator with kids around. Look for a laminator that comes with an auto shut-off feature that will keep the laminator from overheating.
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Some models will come with double-walled insulation. This helps prevent the exterior of the laminator from getting too hot and possibly causing burns if it happens to be touched by a curious child.
The 10+ Best Laminators in 2022
1. Fellowes Laminator Saturn3i 95 (Editor’s Choice)
The best laminator in 2022 overall
Nice and compact, the Saturn3i 95 from Fellowes is at the top of our list of the best laminators and with good reason. The compact design won’t take up a lot of the valuable real estate on your desk but this doesn’t mean that it can’t handle a multitude of document sizes with its 9.5-inch entry width makes laminating office documents a breeze.
Able to accommodate pouches up to 5mm in thickness, the Saturn3i can easily handle both thermal laminating pouches and even self-adhesive pouches, using the convenient cold setting.
With buttons to help you select three different lamination thicknesses, the machine comes with handy guides for feeding A4 paper and photos and if fed incorrectly, a release button is a nice feature.
If your office needs a laminator for day-to-day tasks, you can’t go wrong here.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Quick warmup | ➖ Not fast enough for use commercially |
| ➕ Both hot and cold laminating |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Rapid Warm-Up: Ideal for the office or classroom, our advanced thermal lamination machine features a rapid 1-minute warm-up with InstaHeat Technology
- Versatile: Perfect for use as a professional or personal laminator, this small laminator features a 9.5-inch wide entry and easily accommodates documents of multiple sizes
- Hot and Cold Settings: The ideal laminating machine for home, work, or school, this mini laminator features hot lamination for 3-mil or 5-mil and cold setting for self-adhesive pouches
- Energy Efficient: Laminating machine comes equipped with an automatic shut off function that helps save energy and prevents overheating
- Easy To Use: Our laminators come equipped with a jam release level that allows you to easily disengage pouches for re-centering or removal
Fellowes Laminator Saturn3i 95 Review
Want a closer look at this fine laminator? Check out this Fellowes Laminator Saturn3i 95 Review video.
2. Swingline Inspire Plus Thermal Laminator
The best budget laminator
Ready to go in under four minutes, the Inspire Plus Thermal Laminator from Swingline provides quick and easy one-step lamination at a great price. At a laminating speed of 9 inches per minute, it’s not going to set any world records but if you need an affordable laminator for the office or crafts with the kids, it does the job better than many others.
Compatible with lamination pouches of either 3 or 5 mil thickness, the Inspire Plus includes a cold setting so that you can safely laminate heat-sensitive materials. Included with the laminator are five letter-sized pouches making this an incredible deal. Plus, if you do run into jamming issues, a jam release lever makes clearing things up as easy as it can be.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Great price | ➖ Warmup may be slow for some |
| ➕ Jam release lever |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- PERSONAL USE: Both compact and stylish, this white and gray laminator is perfect for any home, school or small office. It’s great for photos, handouts or any creative laminating needs
- SIMPLE START UP: Get started on projects right away. The laminator warms up in as little as 4 minutes for quick and easy use, and has a convenient ready indicator light. Laminate at 9 Inches per...
- QUALITY RESULTS: The 9 Inches document width allows for a variety of projects, while smooth rollers help items stay wrinkle free. Compatible with any 3 and 5 mil laminating pouches
- USER FRIENDLY: Lamination is simple with the single power setting, which lets you switch pouch thickness quickly and easily. Plus, the jam release lever quickly clears any jammed pouches
- WARRANTY & POUCHES INCLUDED: Laminator comes with a 90 day warranty and 5 letter size, standard thickness thermal lamination pouches, which provide a clear, glossy finish
3. Amazon Basics 12-Inch Thermal Laminator Machine
The best value laminator
If there is one thing that Amazon’s brand of products is known for is their value and that is evident with the 12-inch Thermal Laminator Machine. Designed to give you a laminator that does the basics well at an affordable price, the Amazon Basics laminator is a great option for home use, especially if you’re doing arts and crafts with kids or homeschooling your children.
At 2.6lbs, the laminator is very portable and can handle laminating material up to 12 inches wide which gives you a lot of room to laminate photos, legal documents, or whatever else you may need to do. Warmup takes about four minutes, and while there isn’t a cold laminating function, the laminator does have a jam release lever as well as a switch to choose either 3mm or 5mm paper. While it’s a basic option, the laminator from Amazon provides incredible value.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Lightweight design | ➖ Missing more advanced features |
| ➕ Excellent value |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Laminates documents up to 11x17 inches; compatible with letter, legal, business-card, and photo-size papers
- Works with any 3-mil or 5-mil thick laminating pouch; includes (2) 3-mil thick, 8.9 x 11.4-inch laminating pouches
- 2 heat settings: 3-mil (best for normal documents, photos, and card stock) and 5-mil (best for thinner papers)
- Quick 4-minute warm up with Ready LED indicator light; jam release lever for easy clearing
- Dimensions: 5 x 16.85 x 2.68 inches (LxWxH); ships in Certified Frustration Free packaging
4. Scotch Pro Thermal Laminator
The best laminators for educators
Teaching can be a very rewarding career but at the same time, it can also be an expensive one with the cost of supplies needed to help mold young minds. That’s why we love the Pro Thermal Laminator from Scotch. Not only does it come at a great price but the laminator offers incredible reliability without the risk of overheating or malfunctioning.
In about three to five minutes, the laminator is ready to go and through the use of two heated rollers, can laminate material up to 9 inches wide. The quality of the laminations is great without any bubbling or wrinkles in the final product and the machine jamming up is a pretty rare occurrence. Easy to use, with an auto shut-off after an hour of inactivity, the laminator from Scotch is a great choice for any classroom or arts and crafts project at home.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Reliable performance | ➖ A bit heavy |
| ➕ Easy to use |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 5 minute warm-up time. Light signals when machine is ready
- Never Jam Technology automatically prevents misfed items
- Two roller system with two temperature settings
- Laminates at speed of 15 in/min.
- Use with 3-5 mil thick thermal pouches, up to 9" wide
5. GBC Thermal Laminator Machine Fusion 7000L
The best laminator for commercial use
Working in a business setting, you may have to do a lot of laminating quickly and for those types of projects, there isn’t a better option than the Thermal Laminator Machine Fusion 7000L from GBC. While it’s certainly not the most affordable option on our list, the 7000L can laminate 45 documents in 10 minutes which is a blazing speed for heavy-duty professional and business laminating.
Ready to go in just under a minute, the 7000L has six rollers inside for smooth, high-quality results every time. With a neat little feature dubbed ‘advanced auto pouch thickness detection’, the laminator can identify the thickness of your pouch and document to adjust accordingly and provide a perfect seal.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Very fast performance | ➖ Not intended for home use |
| ➕ Auto-thickness feature |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- HIGH PRODUCTIVITY – Our sleek, modern laminators are best in class and will keep up with all of your projects. Perfect for busy offices or any environment with heavy laminating needs.
- LIGHTNING SPEED – Get more done in less time. Laminator warms up in just 1 minute for quick and easy use. Laminate up to 45 documents in 10 minutes, with 55" per minute laminating speed.
- PROFESSIONAL RESULTS – With 6 rollers, projects remain smooth and wrinkle-free. The 12" laminating width allows greater speed and variety on projects. Compatible with any 3, 5, 7 and 10 mil pouches.
- THICKNESS DETECTION – Advanced auto pouch thickness detection identifies the mil thickness of your pouch and document. It automatically adjusts to the optimal settings to create a perfect seal.
- WARRANTY & POUCHES INCLUDED – Laminator comes with an industry best 3 year warranty and 50 letter size EZUse Premium Speed Pouches, which seal on the longer side to reduce processing time by 22%.
6. Crenova A4 Thermal Laminator
The best laminator for beginners
The last thing anyone wants when using a laminator is frustration and the Crenova A4 Thermal Laminator makes things easy for anyone using it, making it a great option for beginners. Providing you with many of the tools you need, the laminator comes with a paper trimmer, corner rounder, plus 20 pouches, giving you everything you need to get started.
Complete with a portable, lightweight design, the Crenova laminator is ready to go within three to five minutes and has a top laminating speed of 250-millimeters per minute, which produces up to 50 sheets per hour. With an ABS lever that easily prevents paper jams, the Thermal Laminator is a great, basic machine for smaller projects with a simple three-step process for great results.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Light overall weight | ➖ Not designed for office use |
| ➕ Comes with great accessories |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 🆗Fast Warm-up, Vivid Color: Crenove laminating machine only takes 90 sec to preheat. It laminates up to 50 A4 laminating sheets and compatible with 2 x 80-125mic laminating pouches. CL01 preserves...
- 🆗Hot Mode: Hot modes is specially designed for different items . which is suitable for old photos and documents.
- 🆗Ultra Portability, Multi Accessories: This laminator features 230mm inlet (9 in, A4 size), perfect to fit any desktop. This great set includes 1 laminator, 1 paper trimmer, 1 corner rounder, 1...
- 🆗Jam Prevention, Save Important Docs: To clear paper jam issues and protect your important documents, switch off the machine first, push and hold the ABS lever. Pull the stuck paper and pouch out,...
- 🆗One Button Operation, Widely Uses: Move the switch to HOT or COLD to auto work. Crenova CL01 laminator provides easy, quick, bubble- and wrinkle-free lamination. It is ideal for home, office and...
7. Fellowes Jupiter 2 125
The best laminator for speed
Taking only a minute to warm up, the Jupiter 2 125 from Fellowes can laminate sizes up to 12 x 18 inches, making it a great option for a busy office or a newly-formed Etsy shop. With a design that not only heats up quickly but helps keep heat away from the surface.
With an auto-detection system that works in two different ways. It automatically detects the thickness of the laminating pouch, accepts pouches between three and ten millimeters, and obtains the perfect seal by being able to make adjustments. The laminator is also able to detect the alignment of the envelope and if there is an issue, will automatically reverse the process.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ InstaHeat technology | ➖ Expensive |
| ➕ Auto shut-off |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Unique AutoSense system detects pouch thickness and self-adjusts to the optimal laminating setting
- Rapid warm up in 60 seconds with InstaHeat technology
- Rapid laminating speed of 47" per minute, Advanced Pouch Tracking System detects and automatically reverses pouch in case of mis-feeds
- Robust 6-roller system for superior lamination quality
- Laminates hot pouches up to 10 mil thick; as well as cold pouches.Item H x W x D (inches):5.06 x 21.25 x 8.19
8. Fellowes Laminator Saturn3i 125
The best large width laminator
While the Saturn3i 95 was our best overall choice, naturally you would assume that its bigger brother, the Fellowes Laminator Saturn3i 125 is just as good, if not better. While it does offer a larger width than its smaller brother, the overall higher price keeps it from being our best overall but does make it our best laminator for wide projects.
Heating up in under a minute, a green indicator light will let you know when it’s ready and with a 12-inch per minute laminating speed, it can make laminating multiple sheets in a short amount of time easy.
With two heat settings, the Saturn3i 125 allows you to choose either 3 mil, 4 mil, or 5 mil pouches, which is dependant on what you’re laminating. The laminator also comes with a cold setting for self-adhesive pouches to protect heat-sensitive items. If sheets get jammed, a handy release lever allows you to remove the pouches with ease and start over again in seconds. While on the outside, it’s the bigger brother of our best overall choice, the higher cost keeps it from taking the top spot.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ 12.5-inch entry width | ➖ Not budget-friendly |
| ➕ Quick warmup |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Rapid Warm-Up: Ideal for the office or classroom, our advanced thermal lamination machine features a rapid 1-minute warm-up with InstaHeat Technology
- Versatile: Perfect for use as a professional or personal laminator, this small laminator features a 12.5-inch wide entry and easily accommodates documents of multiple sizes
- Hot and Cold Settings: The ideal laminating machine for home, work, or school, this mini laminator features hot lamination for 3-mil or 5-mil and cold setting for self-adhesive pouches
- Energy Efficient: Laminating machine comes equipped with an automatic shut off function that helps save energy and prevents overheating
- Easy To Use: Our laminators come equipped with a jam release level that allows you to easily disengage pouches for re-centering or removal
9. GBC Thermal Laminator Machine Fusion 3000L
The best heavy-duty laminator
With a warm-up time of just under a minute, the Fusion 3000L from GBC will let you know when it’s ready with a light indicator and audible alert. A laminating speed of 19 inches per minute can help you move through large jobs quickly and easily. Although the maximum width is only nine inches, it shouldn’t keep you from laminating important documents with ease.
As easy as the machine makes it, sometimes some issues arise and the Fusion 3000L is equipped with an intelligent Jam Alert System that notifies you with a beep if there’s a jam. Not to fret though, fixing the issue is simple. With the simple press of a button, you can resolve the jam and continue forward. The 3000L also comes with a cold setting for smooth lamination results for heat-sensitive materials.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Movable guides to help alignment | ➖ Film jams can be a recurring issue |
| ➕ Built-in safety features |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- HIGH PRODUCTIVITY – Our sleek, modern laminators will keep up with all of your projects. Perfect for mid-size offices or any environment with weekly laminating needs.
- QUICK SPEED – Get more done in less time. The laminator warms up in just 1 minute for quick and easy use. Laminate up to 17 documents in 10 minutes, with 19" per minute laminating speed.
- QUALITY RESULTS – The 9" laminating width allows for a variety of projects, while smooth rollers help projects stay wrinkle-free. Compatible with any 3 and 5 mil laminating pouches.
- WARRANTY & POUCHES INCLUDED – Laminator comes with an industry best 3 year warranty and 30 letter size EZUse Pouches, which are designed for easy loading and document alignment.
- USER FRIENDLY – Lamination is simple with auto jam detection. Jammed pouches are released at the touch of a button, and auto shut off provides safety and conserves energy.
10. Vevor 39 Inch Cold Laminator Machine
The best manual laminator
Compared to other manual laminators, the 39-Inch Cold Laminator Machine from Vevor is smaller than many other commercial manual laminators. Equipped with a red roller and black foldable plate, which allows it to take up much less space and is easier to store.
Built with four rubber feet, designed to keep the laminator from slipping, ensuring a stable experience and high-quality lamination. The soft rubber roller ensures that the laminating process is smooth and less prone to bubbles because it is a cold lamination system. Supporting material thickness of up to 1 inch, and while there are other, larger options, this model can handle laminating items up to 39 inches wide.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Sturdy build quality | ➖ Expensive |
| ➕ Lower risk of jamming |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Metal Structure: All metal construction for heavy-duty commercial and professional uses, manual cold laminator uses thick metal materials to make the machine more stable.
- Perfect Laminating Performance: Manual cold roll laminator uses soft rubber rollers, smooth and flat surface with a strong retraction type, film get through without wrinkle and departure.
- Adjustable & Folding: Hand crank laminating machine adapts the adjustable roller position, suitable for various material thicknesses; the folding table is convenient for storage and easy to use.
- Stability & Manual: Manual vinyl laminator with four non-slip rubber feet, more stable to maintain the machine; no power supply, manual operation, control at any time.
- Multiple Application: Cold press laminator machine is widely applied in wedding photography, spraying and painting as well as mounting of a poster, advertising photograph, book cover, document,...
The 10+ Best Laminators in 2022 Summary
Depending on your needs, a laminator can be a great tool to keep important documents, photos, or other memorabilia safe from the elements. Knowing which one works best for your needs shouldn’t be a hard process and our look at the 10+ Best Laminators of 2022 should give you all the options you need. You can also read our blog on best cricut machines through our blog.
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