Like other people, I admit that choosing the best laminating machines is never easy. In fact, it’s becoming harder as the days go by. This is because of the stiff competition amongst the manufacturers that is leading to more and more machines and cheaper prices. The consumer is also more knowledgeable and wants to highest quality but at the lowest price. When choosing a product, you need to focus on your current needs. What are you planning to laminate – cards, A4, photos…? You also need to know the frequency of the operations. The demands of a home are not as high as those in an office. Therefore, a small laminating machine will suffice for the home. Other crucial factors include the size, weight, design, portability, cold laminating capability, user-friendliness, and price.
What Are The 10 Best Laminating Machines?
#10 Marigold Fast Warm-up (LM401) 9-Inch Thermal Laminator
Get it now on Amazon.com
By: Marigold
Why do we pick this one?
- Warms up relatively fast
- Simple to use
- One-touch operation
- Easy jam clearance
This is among the simplest laminators I’ve come across. It features a basic and practical design to suit even an inexperienced user. The laminator is very lightweight and easy to carry and comes with minimal controls for improved efficiency. The machine is fairly fast and heats up within 4 minutes. Once warmed up, it will laminate 3 to 5mm pouches without a problem.
#9 Zoomyo Hot & Cold 9-inch Laminator Z9-5
Get it now on Amazon.com
By: Zoomyo
Although I’ve used the Z9-5 laminator a few times, I believe it’s one of the top-quality laminating machines on the market. One thing I like about it is that it supports both hot and cold lamination and this makes it fit for many applications. It has a decent size and takes minimal space on the desk or table. The unit also heats fairly fast (3-4 minutes), and laminates 3 and 5 mm pounces quickly. Adjusting the heating temperature is simple and it also consumes minimal energy.
#8 INTEY Thermal Laminator
Get it now on Amazon.com
By: INTEY
Why do we pick this one?
- Decent size and weight
- Solid construction
- Good heating and speed
- Effective jam release
This laminating machine is quite popular especially for homes and small offices. Many users love its good size and versatility that can support documents, letters, cards, and photos with a thickness of up to 0.02 inches. The unit also warms up fast and keeps the temperature consistent for the best performance. It’s relatively fast and can handle a large volume without overheating or the performance dipping. The laminator comes with both hot and cold modes for improved versatility. More: Best color laser printers
#7 Scotch Thermal Laminator (TL901C-T) 2 Roller System
Get it now on Amazon.com
By: Scotch
Why do we pick this one?
- Feels solid and well-built
- Very easy to use
- Good performance
- Lightweight and portable
Scorch is a name that rarely misses from the best laminating machines reviews. This model is one the best known and is used in homes and offices. It comes with a large 9-inch wide input for accommodating different kinds of documents and effectively works with 3 and 5mm pouches. The fast-heating unit has 2 temperature settings and delivers professional results within seconds. Its 2 roller system improves the feeding and rolling out whereas the user-friendly design makes using it easy.
#6 AmazonBasics Thermal Laminator
Get it now on Amazon.com
By: AmazonBasics
Why do we pick this one?
- Good laminating speed
- High-quality and good price
- Easy to use
- Reliable jam release lever
This laminating machine is very easy to use even by a newbie and features basic controls for the best operation. The unit is designed for documents with a maximum width of 9 inches and is perfect for Legal-sizes, letter-size, photo-size, and business -size. It has adjustable temperature settings and is effective on 3 and 5mil pouches. The compact laminator is ideal for the home, classroom, office and other places and is easy to carry around thanks to the lightweight and portable design.
Related: Top 10 Best Portable Solar Generators in 2021 – Buyer’s Guide
#5 Purple Cows Hot and Cold Laminator, 9-Inch
Get it now on Amazon.com
By: Purple Cows
Why do we pick this one?
- Very practical and easy to use
- Good operating speed
- Useful for both cold and hot lamination
- Easy and quick jam release
If you are looking for the professional laminating machine that delivers professional results, then this one is a good option. It’s very easy to operate thanks to its basic design and user-friendly controls. It occupies minimum space to keep your workplace clutter-free whereas the lightweight makes handling or moving it very convenient. The laminator warms up in less than 5 minutes and works with 3-5 mil pouches. According to the manufacturer, it is based on a new technology that is environmentally safe and is 50% more energy efficient than its rivals.
#4 Swingline Thermal Laminator
Get it now on Amazon.com
By: Swingline
Why do we pick this one?
- Good quality and reliable
- Smooth and silent operation
- Energy efficient
- Good price
I often use the Swingline thermal laminator and it’s without-a-doubt one of the best laminating machines around. It heats up quite fast and keeps the temperature consistent. This produces high-quality work just like a professional shop. The accessory can handle documents up to 9-inches wide and laminates very fast and evenly. It’s designed for 3-5 mil pouches and can run continuously without overheating. It’s perfect for photo size, letter, legal and other types of documents.
#3 Scotch PRO Thermal Laminator
Get it now on Amazon.com
By: Scotch
Why do we pick this one?
- It doesn’t jam
- Works very well
- Energy efficient
- Well-built product
I bought this laminating machine for home use mainly because of its Never Jam Technology. And true to the manufacturer’s claims, this machine doesn’t jam at all. It also works relatively fast and produces nice-looking documents within seconds. The warm-up takes about 4 minutes and once it’s up and running the laminator delivers amazing performance. Feeding the documents as well as removal is very smooth and effortless thanks to the 2 Roller Systems. And in case it isn’t operated for 1 hour, it automatically shuts off to prevent energy wastage.
Related: Top 10 Best Wireless Bluetooth Speakers 2021 Reviews
#2 3M Scotch Thermal Laminator (TL901C) 2 Roller System
Get it now on Amazon.com
By: 3M
Why do we pick this one?
- Simple and easy to use
- Good heating
- Consistent performance
- Solid and stable
Laminating documents will be a breeze when using this laminating machine from 3M. It’s among the easiest I’ve handled and it delivers high-quality results. The compact unit is perfect for home and office use and works amazingly well with 3 -5mm pouches. It has a reliable 2 roller system for smooth operation mad 2 temperature settings for improved performance. The machine has a good size, weight, and handling or carrying it is convenient.
#1 Fellowes Laminator Saturn3i 125 laminating machine
Get it now on Amazon.com
By: Fellowes
Why do we pick this one?
- It is super fast
- Heats up very quickly
- Has a wide entry
- Energy efficient
We have been and still are using this laminator at our office and it’s among the best laminating machine in the market. It has a nice and user-friendly design that makes using it is quite easy. It’s the fastest heating machine I’ve ever come across. I peg this on the InstaHeat Technology that warms it up within a minute. And due to this, the machine consumes lesser energy but is faster. The entry point is also amongst the largest, measuring 12.5 inches wide, and supports most documents and 3-5 mm pouches. The Jam Release lever is very effective whereas the Auto Shut off prevents overheating and also helps to conserve energy.
Final Word
Selecting the right laminating machine isn’t easy. However, with a little bit of research and the right information, you’ll be able to find a good machine despite the so many types. You’ll also spend less time and effort searching and be comparing. In this review, I’ve listed what I believe to be the 10 best laminating machines in 2021. They come in handy sizes, are very easy to use, heat up relatively fast, provide quick performance, and are also very portable. Any of these products will deliver good and reliable service.
