10 Best Laminators for Teachers

Are you tired of waiting for hours to laminate your documents? I suggest these laminators in the article below. Most of them come with many benefits that are convenient, high-quality, and will stay within your budget.

Let’s explore the detailed reviews below!

Our Top Picks:

The versions below cannot press large items such as posters and signs. However, they are the ideal choice to meet teachers’ needs.

1. Scotch Thermal Laminator Professional: Best for Overall

Specifications

• Brand: Scotch
• Color: Silver/Black
• Dimensions: 15.2 x 6 x 4.5 inches

Product Highlights

Scotch Thermal Laminator gave me a great impression of its performance. It heats up quickly and perfectly squeezes every picture and document I put it in.

The included pouches are very convenient. They meet my different pressing size needs well. In particular, the finished products are high quality without any wrinkles, holes, or bubbles.

Since having this machine at home, I no longer have to get up earlier to make those pesky document trips to Staples. So if you, like me, want to laminate at home quickly and conveniently, this machine is a solid choice.

Today’s Best Deals:

Reason To Buy

• Durable
• Good price
• Easy to use
• Fast heating performance

Things to Consider

• The unpleasant plastic smell in the first press

2. AmazonBasics 12 Inch Thermal Laminator: Best for Budget

Specifications

• Brand: AmazonBasics
• Color: White
• Dimensions: 17.87 x 4.41 x 2.64 inches

Product Highlights

The AmazonBasics 12 Inch is the most affordable I’ve ever had. I use it for almost every plastic project I work on, which works fine without any problems.

I also tried squeezing out cheer or event banners for students, some as wide as 12 inches, and everything went smoothly and precisely as I expected.

So far, I haven’t had the paper jams, except for the one time I tried to use it before the indicator light was ready.

This machine is heavier than other versions at the same price. For me, it’s not a big deal because I keep it fixed at my desk most of the time and rarely have to carry it with me.

Today’s Best Deals:

Reason To Buy

• Good price
• Reasonable size
• Easy to assemble
• Extended lifespan

Things to Consider

• Heavyweight

3. Scotch Brand PRO Thermal Laminator: Best for Ease to Use

Specifications

• Color: White, Green
• Dimensions LxWxH: 17.44 x 6.22 x 6.14 inches
• Item Weight: 4.27 Pounds

Product Highlights

I selected Scotch Laminator TL906 to laminate several documents, photo cards, banners, and more. It is straightforward, easy to use, and does not require the user to have prior experience or expertise.

Yet, I encourage you to refer to the ki’s manual to ensure a better lamination. The machine takes longer to start up than expected, and the ready light goes off about 5 minutes after I connect it to the mains.

Compensating for this limitation, it provided the perfect heat to create the firm adhesion to the laminate I needed. Most of my displays after plastic lamination last a long time and don’t show any peeling.

Today’s Best Deals:

Reason To Buy

• Simple, easy to use
• Eye-catching design
• Many color options
• Good pressing quality
• Creates strong adhesion

Things to Consider

• Long heating time

4. Swingline Thermal Laminator 1703079: Best for Heating Speed

Specifications

• Item Weight: 3.5 Pounds
• Warm-Up Time: 1 minute
• Dimensions LxWxH: 17.91 x 5.32 x 6.18 inches

Product Highlights

I’ve been buying the Swingline Thermal Laminator 1703079 for a while now, but I am still impressed with its warm-up time. In less than a minute, the machine is ready to go and laminate whatever I put in, faster than my old products.

I was also impressed with how fast it worked, and I laminated nearly 30 sample titles in 1 hour. Furthermore, photos and fonts from the original are preserved with no signs of fading or disappearing.

After one month, I had a problem with the laminator. I contacted this brand’s customer support, who quickly answered my question and sent me a new replacement.

Today’s Best Deals:

Reason To Buy

• Fast heating time
• A large amount of heat
• Great product service
• Great value for money

Things to Consider

• Laminating bags are less durable

5. Swingline Thermal Laminator 1703072BF: Best for Flexibility

Specifications

• Item Weight: 2.95 Pounds
• Warm-Up Time: 4 minutes
• Dimensions LxWxH: 16.38 x 5.28 x 4.17 inches

Product Highlights

If you are looking for the most compact laminator, the Swingline Thermal Laminator Laminating 1703072 is the solid choice.

At 2.95 pounds, I easily carry it around to laminate photos and documents whenever I want. Plus, the 13″ per minute laminating speed helps me keep up with all my plastic projects without a hitch.

I love the EZUse bags that are about ten letters in size. It makes it easy for me to access and align the document to ensure my molding projects don’t wrinkle or get stuck.

The most obvious advantage of this machine is the cold rolling setting. It offers many laminating options, suitable for those who need to work with different document projects.

Today’s Best Deals:

Reason To Buy

• Pretty light
• Fast speed
• User-friendly
• It comes with a helpful warranty

Things to Consider

• Instructions are not detailed

6. Fellowes Callisto 125 Laminator: Best for Reliability

Specifications

• Color: Silver/Black
• Item Weight: 6.3 Pounds
• Dimensions LxWxH: 4.25 x 6.25 x 22.5 inches

Product Highlights

I chose Fellowes Callisto 125 because it is an outstanding product from a reputable brand, Fellowes.

So far, I have used it on over 100 molding projects, including document molding and bulletin board decoration. It does all the work well, especially it smooths and clears some spotty prints.

This machine has performed better than I expected for such an affordable price. It produces prints without bubbles, air bubbles, or anything.

The heating time of this machine is quite long, about 5 minutes or even more. In addition, it also makes quite a noise when I work in relaxed mode.

Today’s Best Deals:

Reason To Buy

• Good price
• Trustworthy brand
• Perfect print quality
• Powerful working performance

Things to Consider

• Rather noisy

7. GBC Thermal Laminator, Fusion 7000L: Best for Design

Specifications

• Brand: GBC
• Color: Black
• Item Weight: 22 Pounds
• Dimensions LxWxH: 26 x 8.7 x 12.6 inches

Product Highlights

GBC Laminator 1703098F is the most beautiful and unique design laminator I have ever had. Moreover, it is also the ideal version in the modern plastic machine segment on the market today.

A 1-minute heat-up time speeds up project completion time and makes my job easier. Within 10 minutes, I laminate up to 45 different documents or banners.

Because it comes with 6 high-quality rollers, this machine ensures smoothness and no wrinkles, air bubbles, or anything for every project I am working on.

Today’s Best Deals:

Reason To Buy

• Fast speed
• Require little heating time
• Unique and beautiful design
• Excellent warranty service

Things to Consider

• Expensive

8. Fellowes Saturn 3i 125 Thermal Laminator: Best for Usage Value.

Specifications

• Item Weight: 5.1 Pounds
• Warm-Up Time: 1 minute
• Dimensions LxWxH: 5.75 x 20.94 x 4.13 inches

Product Highlights

Fellowes Saturn 3i is the best of the 5 that I’ve bought on Amazon in recent years.

Due to Insta Heat technology, it is always ready to go after just a few seconds of warm-up. I use it with 5mm laminates. The press is good and doesn’t make an annoying sound when laminating like other versions.

For those who love the quiet, it’s a great addition. I appreciate its 4 main settings, which allow me to handle various document sizes without problems.

Also, it includes a useful on/off switch, which is excellent for those who need to work continuously for long hours without interruption.

Today’s Best Deals:

Reason To Buy

• Easy to use
• Lightweight
• Good adhesion
• High value for money

Things to Consider

• Not many feeders

9. GBC Laminator 1701857ECR: Best for Services

Specifications

• Item Weight: 2.6 Pounds
• Warm-Up Time: 4 minutes
• Dimensions LxWxH: 10.98 x 11.73 x 13.19 inches

Product Highlights

I reviewed and appreciated the GBC Laminator 1701857ECR for its design.

This machine is compact and lightweight and always gives me consistent results on every project. I pressed some photos and artwork to decorate the bulletin board in my class.

With an 8 “x11” bag, it took me about 45-60 seconds to finish laminating, but with other smaller ones, it only took 2-3 seconds max.

Easy to operate and super quiet is a big plus. All I need to do with this machine to prepare for molding is plug in the power and turn on the switch.

Today’s Best Deals:

Reason To Buy

• User-friendly
• High flexibility
• Excellent warranty service
• Quick and simple start-up

Things to Consider

• Easy to get stuck

10. Fellowes Laminator Venus 2 125: Best for Performance

Specifications

• Item Weight: 15 Pounds
• Warm-Up Time: 60 seconds
• Dimensions LxWxH: 21.25 x 8.19 x 5.13 inches

Product Highlights

I chose Fellowes Laminator Venus 2 125 to handle 10 mils thick cardboard.

Unexpectedly, it did everything well and laminated the project I was working on with ease and consistency. The setup is also straightforward. I plug it in, turn it on to heat up quickly, and it is ready to go after beeping.

I appreciate its squeezing speed. At 31″ per minute, it gets the job done quickly. So, power consumption is significantly reduced compared to other versions.

Last but not least, it allows me to switch between settings to optimize performance easily.

Today’s Best Deals:

Reason To Buy

• Easy to use
• Energy saving
• Heats up quickly
• Limit overheating
• Powerful working performance

Things to Consider

• Expensive

Buying Guide

Size

Most modern laminators allow users to quickly and conveniently handle A4-sized papers. Yet, many people need to work regularly with A3 size.

Therefore, it is wise to take advantage of the opportunity to own versions with a 2-roller system that can flexibly adjust between press sizes.

Start-up and heating performance

The warm-up and warm-up times of each product are different. If you are short on time and have to do many things simultaneously, choose a product with quick start-up performance.

For example, with new and high-end models today, you only need to wait 1 minute after turning on the machine to laminate plastic for your project.

Rolling speed

Lamination speed is an essential factor when choosing to buy any laminator. Agree that slow-pressed versions ensure a thin, quality, and durable laminate.

But they are pretty annoying, especially for impatient people. The good news is that you will quickly achieve 15 inches per minute lamination while ensuring excellent project laminating efficiency.

FAQs

Are all laminators the same?

The short answer is no. Some are available with thermal film, roll, and bag features, while others are not. Also, the way each product works is different.

Is a hot or cold laminator better?

I appreciate the quality and color of the laminating film when using a cold laminator. On the contrary, hot presses can cause colors to fade and reduce hues due to the accompanying great heat. Therefore, the cold-pressed version is the best choice for decals and decorations.

What size is the laminator best?

The best size laminator is 9 inches and 13 inches. It will allow you to easily adjust settings to suit the project you are working on, including the type of bag used and the paper size.

What is the cheapest way to laminate?

Cutting several strips of tape about 1.4 inches wider than the edge of the paper for a brochure is the ideal solution for those looking for a cheap way to laminate. This method helps users save costs and ensures high-quality laminates.

Can I laminate it myself?

It’s pretty easy for you to make laminate yourself. Most press products today are relatively simple, easy to use, and come with detailed instructions.

All you need is to choose one that suits your needs and purposes, then follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Conclusion

This article presents my recommendations on the best laminator for teachers. They are a convenient way to be highly productive at work with your budget.

I recommend the Scotch Thermal Laminator for the best versions, a product worth the money with many advantages for handling tasks.

Choosing the best version is challenging, so check the recommendations and buying guides I’ve covered thoroughly.