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40 Best Laminators for Teachers, Office and Home Use (2021 Update)

Home / 🏆 Best
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (10 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Last updated: January 30, 2021 by Yuliya Skryp

Best laminating machines

The laminator is not a new device among stationery products, but it is a gadget which requires the user being familiar with all the features and laminating abilities which can be done with it. Thus, more than 54 hours were spent in order to find and test each laminator carefully in order to create these reviews of the top-rated portable and desktop devices which covers your documents with plastic. Stay with WoWPencils and you will definitely find the best option just for you.

Best Laminating Machine

RankReviewNameTypeMax
Paper Wide
Rating
1Fellowes Jupiter 2 125 laminatorFellowes
Jupiter 2 125

View Details
Hot / cold12,5 inches10.0
2Eficentline YE381 laminatorEficentline YE381

View Details
Hot / cold13 inches9.9
3AmazonBasics laminatorAmazonBasics Thermal Laminator

View Details
Hot9 inches9.8
4Blusmart OL288 laminatorBlusmart OL288

View Details
Hot / cold9.45 inches9.7
5JIEZE laminatorJIEZE

View Details
Hot / cold13 inches9.6
6Fellowes Saturn 3i 125 laminatorFellowes
Saturn 3i 125

View Details
Hot / cold12,5 inches9.3
7Swingline Inspire Plus laminatorSwingline
Inspire Plus

View Details

Hot / cold9 inches9.2
8Swingline GBC laminatorSwingline GBC

View Details
Hot / cold12 inches9.0
9Apache AL9 laminatorApache AL9

View Details
Hot9 inches8.8

Fellowes Laminator Jupiter 2 125

Fellowes Jupiter 2 125 laminator

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The Fellowes brand has released one more laminator, so what’s interesting about it? First of all, it comes with pre-installed up-to-date programs that protect the device from overheating and early breaks, and customers – from injuries. Another important detail is that the user shouldn’t bother adjusting the rollers according to the thickness of the pouch every time they change since the laminator does it automatically once the project is placed in a slot. Besides, it is capable to process even 10 mil thick plastic cases that not every competitor can deal with.

There are a few more features that are worth mentioning. First of all, it’s an awesome processing speed that is equal to 10.78 inches per minute. It is also capable to seal the paper sheets up to A3 format. The sheet will be evenly sealed and will never curve thanks to a 6-roller heating system. Moreover, everything will be done perfectly in cold or hot mode. Once they are ready – the projects will be carefully placed in a retractable tray that is at the back side.

The Fellowes brand never cheats on itself and always stands for proper and fast operation. So Jupiter 2 125 warms up in 1 minute that is signified by the lighting up of an indicator that is between 2 buttons on the top side of the machine. The first button turns the device on, the second one is an ABS lever that returns the pouch back if something went wrong.

Pros

  • It warms up very fast
  • The user interface is pleasant and easily understandable
  • The processing speed is fast
  • The machine adjusts setting automatically according to the project type

Cons

  • It tends to overheat
  • It may produce noise once in a while
Learn more about the best Fellowes laminators. We have made a list of the coolest laminating machines from this brand for you.

YE381 Thermal Laminating Machine for A3/A4/A6

Eficentline YE381

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What can be more convenient than a laminating device that has all the related instruments already built-in? For example, there is a YE381 that meets all expected requirements. In particular, there is an installed trimmer, that has 3 options of edge cutting: straight, wavy and perforated. For sure, all of them will come in handy for various cases. Besides, the cutting process requires special attention since the trimmer itself is in a plastic body that is attached to a removable metal bar. The trimmer goes along the bar and trims the project evenly. In addition, there are two guides and a grid that helps place the project right in the middle.

There is one more auxiliary tool – a corner rounder that is designed to make the corners of a project less sharp.

As for the laminator, as usual, the user should wait for 3-5 minutes till it gets hot enough to start working. There are 2 light indicators on the top: the green lights up when the machine is ready for use, the red one – when the device is plugged in and connected to electricity. On the back side, there are two switches (one for power on and off, another for cold and hot laminating), and an opening from where the ready project comes out.

As it was mentioned, this laminator is capable to work in hot and cold mode. Moreover, the maximum width of the paper you can place in it is A3 that is stunning for the device of such grade. By the way, the processing speed is quick – 9.84 inches per minute, and it is compatible with thickness up to 5 mm. Another pleasant detail is that the device is supplied with the 50 pouches of two sizes: 25 of A4, and 25 of A6 format.

Pros

  • Fast processing
  • It supports A3 format
  • There is a built-in trimmer and a separate corner rounder
  • There are guides and a grid for an even cut

Cons

  • It warms up slowly
  • The top side becomes too hot

AmazonBasics: Best Thermal Laminator

AmazonBasics best laminator

Check Price on Amazon

Once you start to think about laminating a picture made by one of your kids or some important documents, you may want to have a laminator at home. AmazonBasics appeared to be the most popular thermal laminator which will work with this purpose the best.

Let’s have a look at the technical specifications of this device carefully. As was already mentioned, AmazonBasics is available only with the hot type of laminating which is performed by a 2 roller system, thus, in order to get started it needs to be warmed up – which takes 4 minutes. It wraps up paper or images up to 9 inches wide in plastic. In fact, there are 2 levels of hotness for 3 mil and 5 mil thick plastic pouches.

It has the shape of a rectangular block with slightly rounded corners. The cover is matte and the dominant cover is white, but the bottom and the sides are black. The top side shows (from left to right): the brand logo, the warning message as the surface also warms up, then 3 indicators with the description, and 2 light indicators which shows that the device is switched on and it’s ready for use.

From the back side there is a switch for selecting the type of plastic pouch, which is also the setting for the temperature of heating. There is also a button for releasing paper from a jam inside the device, and a hole where the laminated document comes out.

On the front side there is only a hole where you should place the project to be laminated. In order to place it in correctly, there is a special frame indicator.

The warranty is standard for AmazonBasics products which covers 1 year of use, and the description can be freely downloaded from Amazon.

Pros

  • It is quite easy to use
  • There is a release lever
  • It is affordable
  • It can laminate lots of projects in a row

Cons

  • It processes projects too slowly
  • It takes a long time to warm up

Blusmart OL288: Ideal for Business Cards

Blusmart OL288 thermal laminator

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The Blusmart is a multipurpose device which combines a laminator and trimmer in one body. This is a cool finding for anyone who want to laminate an id card, business card, photo, or other small thing – all these features will make your project not only safe from damage but also safe from accidentally cutting someone’s fingers.

The trimmer is on the top of the device. There are rulers, angles, and clips for correct placement of the project. The trimmer itself has 3 settings of cutting the edge: perforated, waved, and straight, which can be used as an additional decoration. Additionally, there is a corner rounder which makes corners roundish; it is built in the body of laminating machine but it’s removable.

As for the device, there are 2 types of laminating: hot and cold, and both of them are performed by the 2 roller system. The second type allows self-adhesive pouches to stick to the project. It can work with up to 9.45 inch wide projects. The maximum thickness which can be processed in this device is 250 mic (2 sides of 125mic), and unfortunately, there is no switch for choosing the needed thickness. However, before starting processing the project you should wait about 3-5 minutes in order to warm up the device. By the way, the speed of processing is standard and is 250 mm per minute.

The design is quite complicated due to having a trimmer on the top of the body; in addition, there are 2 light indicators for power and readiness to work. The body itself is black. On the right side there are 2 switches for turning the device on and turning proper setting for laminating: hot or cold. On the front side there is a hole for inserting the project. On the back side, there is a hole where the ready project comes out, a removable corner rounder, and a release lever for removing the stuck-in project.

There is a bonus from a manufacturer – the device is supplied with 10 plastic pouches, thus you won’t need to buy extra cases in order to test it. If something happens within 12 months of purchase – you can contact the manufacturer since a warranty is also supplied.

Pros

  • There are a built-in corner rounder and a trimmer with rulers
  • It comes with 10 plastic pouches
  • There are 2 laminating modes: cold and hot
  • There is a release lever

Cons

  • The cutting bar obstructs seeing where the cutting line should be
  • It’s relatively slow

JIEZE: Best Machine for Laminating Photos

JIEZE professional laminator

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For professional laminating photos of large size, the Jieze laminator would be a wonderful gadget. The main advantage is that there is enough space for an A3 paper sheet.

As most modern laminating gadget, this Jieze also has hot and cold modes of laminating. And, as it was mentioned above, it can accommodate a paper sheet up to 13 inches wide, moreover the processing speed performed by the double roller, is fast enough – 10.2 inches per 1 minute. For better sealing, you can adjust the settings by choosing the proper thickness of the laminating pouch, it supports up to 5 mil. For hot mode, it needs between 3 to 5 minutes in order for the 2-roller system, which provides laminated documents, to become warm enough to work.

For safe usage, there is a release lever button, and in case of something happens with this device, the 1.5 year warranty should cover all the issues. There is a bonus pack of 20 plastic pouches of different sizes.

The Jieze laminating machine has a sleek design and the major color of the housing is white, except some details, which are black. On the top cover are 2 light indicators for power and readiness for use. On the right side of the machine there are 2 switches which are responsible for turning it on and off, and choosing laminating mode. And finally, there is a release lever button on the back side.

Pros

  • Processes big-size paper sheets
  • It comes with 20 free plastic pouches
  • It is relatively cheap

Cons

  • When it gets too hot, the laminated document tends to curve at the ends
  • It doesn’t shut off automatically

Fellowes Saturn 3i 125: Popular Item for Office

Fellowes Saturn 3i 125 popular laminator

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The Fellowes Saturn 3i 125 is an advanced device which would be a nice alternative to commercial devices for office, especially if you have lots of paperwork.

The first thing that you should know is that the Fellowes Saturn works in 2 modes: hot and cold, and both of them are performed by 2 rollers. The maximum width of a project is 12.5 inches which is enough for quite big documents. If you need a hot laminating mode then you don’t need to wait too long for it to warm up, since it gets ready for laminating in a minute, thanks to branded InstaHeat technology. In addition, you can also choose the thickness of the plastic film, there are 3 modes: for 3, 4, and 5 mil.

The time for laminating one piece of standard A4 paper is also not very long; it takes about 35-40 seconds. Otherwise, if the time is longer you can contact the manufacturer, since the device is covered with a 2-year warranty.

The sound of readiness along with the light indicator on the body of the machine is quite useful if you don’t want to waste your time waiting. There is one more useful feature of automatic shut-off which prevents the machine from overheating. As a bonus, the device comes with 10 plastic pouches.

The Fellowes Saturn has a futuristic design. The body is silver and black. In fact, the top cover which has a roundish shape is silver with convex letters which form a brand name, while the other parts of the body are black.

On the front side, there is a hole for inserting the paper sheet with the plastic cover, as well as the indicator lines which help to identify how the particular size of document should be placed in order to avoid messing everything up. Above the hole, there are 4 buttons: 3 of them are the modes for selecting the thickness, and the fourth is for turning on cold mode. On the back side there is a button for the release lever.

Pros

  • It warms up in 1 minute
  • It has a sound indicator that the machine is ready for use
  • It switches off automatically if it’s not used for a long time
  • It has a beep sound when the document is finished laminating

Cons

  • In a while, the machine starts producing some annoying sounds while working
  • It tends to jam

Perfect for Personal Use: Swingline Inspire Plus

Swingline Inspire Plus perfect laminator

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The Swingline Inspire Plus is a universal laminating machine which works with any type of documents, whether you have them at home, in the office, or at school. In fact, the design and simplicity in use are valuable features for personal use, too.

The Swingline Inspire also works in hot and cold modes, and both of them can deal with up to 9 inches wide paper sheet. As for the speed of processing, the Swingline Inspire, thanks to a 2-roller system, can process 9 inches per minute. According to the thickness of plastic film there are 2 modes: 3 and 5 mil. If you need to work with hot laminating, you should wait about 4 minutes until it gets warm enough. There is a light indicator which helps to identify whether this machine is ready. This manufacturer also supplies this machine with a bonus: 5 plastic pouches, which can be used for tests.

The Swingline is covered with a 90-day warranty, thus if something happens you should contact the manufacturer.

The design is quite simple; there is a white top and a gray bottom. 2 light indicators of power and high temperature along with the brand logo are on the top. On the right side of the machine there are 2 switches: one for turning it on or off, the second one is for turning on cold or hot mode. And, finally, on the back side there is a jam release lever.

Pros

  • It comes with 5 bonus pouches
  • It works fine even when folding 2 pieces of paper together
  • It’s affordable

Cons

  • It produces waves on a surface
  • It tends to jam

Top Cold Lamination: Swingline GBC

Swingline GBC laminating machine

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If you are a repeat user of cold laminating, you might like this model of laminating machine called the Swingline GBC. It would be an ideal option for regular officeworks which will cover all workers’ needs.

The Swingline GBC combines 2 modes for the best results: hot and cold laminating. The width of the slot allows it to work for up to 12” wide documents and adjust the thickness by choosing 3 or 5 mil mode. The speed of processing documents is pretty fast, thanks to the 4-roller system: 19 inches per minute, so you can process multiple-page documents faster than with regular laminating machines, particularly: 17 pages in 10 minutes. Isn’t it the fastest machine?

Additional features of this gadget are the release lever and program which shuts off the device automatically if it’s not used for some time. Moreover, the gadget is supplied with a 3-year warranty, and, as a bonus, 30 standard letter size plastic pouches.

That’s not all! Read about the top GBC laminators right now to protect your important documents properly.

The Swingline GBC has a sleek design, as the body is covered with silver and black finish. On the top cover there are the brand logo and main operation buttons: power, thickness mode for 3 and 5 mil, and a release lever button. Furthermore, there are 3 light indicators: first for power, the red cross shows that it’s not ready for use (in hot mode) and it also serves as error indicator accompanied by beeping sound, while the green tick shows up when the gadget is hot enough for use.

On the front side, there is a slot for inserting the document, moreover, there are markings for how each type of document should be placed. In addition, there are 2 plastic fit guides which hold the document straight while it’s being pulled by the rollers. There is also a retracted tray for ready documents with a special metal stand.

Pros

  • There are plastic fit guides
  • It is supplied with 30 bonus plastic pouches
  • Fast processing

Cons

  • The documents come out inward-warped
  • The jam detector is very sensitive and it may show an error even without a real jam issue

Great A4 Class Laminator: Apache AL9

Apache AL9 thermal laminator

Check Price on Amazon

Apache AL9 is a good laminating machine for A4 paper, and in fact it works nice for up to 9-inch wide documents. Intuitively easy for use, this machine would be the best option even if you are not familiar with these devices.

There is a hot laminating mode, which is performed by the 2-roller system. And as usual with laminating gadgets, it also requires some time to heat the motor up, and in this device, that time doesn’t exceed 1 minute. For the user’s comfort, there is a special light indicator which lights up when the device is ready for work.

The design requires special attention because the shape of the Apache is one of the sleekest among modern laminators; in addition, it’s quite compact – its height is only 3.3 inches. Its dimensions also influence its weight, and as a result, the Apache AL9 is one of the most lightweight laminating devices.

As a bonus, the manufacturer supplies this device with 20 free plastic pouches of different thicknesses. However, unfortunately, there are no adjustments according to the thickness of the plastic pouch. But, if something happens to it, the 6-month warranty may be applied.

It has a whole-black housing with some minimum operating switches. Indeed, there are only 2 indicator lights and one switch which turns it on and off. On the back side is only one button for ABS, which releases a document when it’s jammed inside.

Pros

  • It warms up very fast
  • It is easy to use

Cons

  • It tends to curve the edges
  • The smaller documents tend to be pulled to one side

Best Laminating Machines in 2020 (Unavailable Now)

ReviewNameTypeMax
Paper Wide
Purple Cows laminatorPurple CowsHot / cold9 inches
Scotch TL901C laminatorScotch
TL901C
Hot9 inches
Scotch PRO TL906 laminatorScotch
PRO TL906
Hot9 inches

Purple Cows: High-Quality Device for Teachers

Purple Cows laminator for teachers

If you are looking for a high quality laminator for teachers then you should take a look at Purple Cows. In fact, this device would be a perfect fit for schools especially if you have lots of things to laminate.

Firstly, it has two modes: hot and cold. Both of them can be adjusted by choosing the proper mode depending on the thickness of plastic film, for 3 and 5 mil. And, the maximum width of a project which can be placed into the device is 9 inches which is enough for a standard A4 paper sheet.

If you choose hot mode, then you should wait between 3 to 5 minutes in order to allow the machine to heat up properly, so you won’t experience any unexpected deformation of the surface. As for additional features, Purple Cows has environmentally-friendly technology which saves up to 50% more electricity power than standard machines. In addition, there is ABS (Anti Blocking System) for releasing jammed documents from the machine. Otherwise, if something happens with the 2-roller system or device itself – then you can contact the manufacturer immediately, since its work is guaranteed and covered by a 1-year warranty.

As the title suggests, the body has purple parts, but the main color is white. On the top cover and on the right side, there are the brand logo and 2 switches (one for choosing the heating mode “Hot” or “Cold,” and one for selecting the thickness mode), and 2 light indicators (for power and ready for use).

On the back side there is a retracted tray for holding the laminated document and a release lever; on the front side there is a hole for inserting the document to be laminated.

Pros

  • It handles laminating 2 pages simultaneously
  • It has a release lever
  • There are 2 light indicators for showing that it is turned on and ready for use

Cons

  • The ready documents come out with a curved edge
  • Due to the curved edge, the document can’t get through the particularly designed slot but twists and stays in the machine housing

Good for Professional Finish: Scotch TL901C

Scotch TL901C good laminator

The Scotch TL901C is another device which will make your projects tear-resistant and waterproof. It is also an inexpensive version of the device which will keep your documents safe and you don’t need to worry about them anymore.

This laminator works in a setting with hot temperature only; however, there are 2 buttons which make the temperature appropriate according to the thickness of the plastic case. Warm-up time also depends on the selected setting and it varies from 1 to 6 minutes. Once it’s ready, you can insert the document which mustn’t exceed 9 inches, otherwise it will be stuck inside the device. Fortunately, if it happens, there is a release button which will help you to get the document out.

The laminating speed allows the processing of 1 letter size piece of paper in 1 minute – it is the standard time of laminating. And if something happens with the 2 built-in rollers which provides you with a smooth surface of the laminated document, then you should contact the manufacturer, since as the warranty covers parts of the device.

The design is very simple for this device, but it’s quite comprehensive for use. The body is mostly silver with black parts, and there are no acute angles except at the bottom, since it needs to be flat in order to stand on a flat surface. On the body there are the brand logo, indicators, and switches for selecting particular modes and a button for releasing the document from the device.

Pros

  • It is durable
  • It has a release lever
  • There are 2 temperature settings for 3 mil and 5 mil accordingly

Cons

  • It works badly with layers of paper
  • Some documents require more than 1 passes through

Cool Home Laminator: Scotch PRO TL906

Scotch PRO TL906 thermal laminator

There is another representative of the Scotch brand, the PRO TL906. Its performance doesn’t require many efforts to produce a laminated project at home. It would be an ideal helper for a homeschool situation or a craft made by your child, since the manufacturer claims it has “Never Jam Technology” which prevents you from an unexpected error or damage of your project.

This item works only in high temperature mode, which is supplied by a 2 roller system.

The maximum width of the plastic pouch which can be placed in the laminator for processing is 9 inches, and 15 inches per minute will be processed. However, once you plug it in you should wait for about 5 minutes before you start processing the project, otherwise you will get an unexpected result. For best results you should choose the appropriate thickness of the laminating film, and in fact there are only 2 types: 3 and 5 mil.

There are some extra features. Firstly, it has a retractable tray for the laminated project to come out, and the second one is an automatic shut off if it is not used for more than an hour.

The design is very simple and eye-friendly. The body itself is white with a small light green and grey details. It has a roundish shape of body and all the main indicators and switches/buttons on the top side. In fact, there is a line which combines all the buttons together, from left to right: power button, indicator of temperature readiness, and 2 buttons for choosing the thickness of plastic film; at the other end there is a button for releasing lever. There is a light green hole for placing the project into the laminator, and on the back side is the hole where the laminated project comes out with the retracted tray, and both of them are light green as well.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • It’s relatively compact
  • It doesn’t jam the projects

Cons

  • The small pieces of paper may slide down, thus they will be laminated incorrectly
  • The warming-up time is too long

Laminators Worthy of Your Attention

ReviewNameFeatures
3M Scotch kit laminator3M ScotchHot lamination
Max project width 9 inches
Supplied with 70 pouches of various size
2 rollers
Limited warranty on parts
ABOX thermal laminatorABOX

View Details
Max project width 13 inches
2-roller system
Comes with 16 pouches
Hot and cold modes
Built-in trimmer and corner rounder
3-minute warm up
12-month warranty
Xyron creative station laminatingXyron
Creative Station

View Details
Works with 9- and 5-inch projects
2-rollers
Comes with Permanent Adhesive Cartridge
Non-electric, hand-operated
Cold laminating
12-month warranty
Intey laminatorInteyHot and cold modes
It processes 250 mm of project per 1 minute
2-roller system
Supports up to 5 mil thick plastic pouch
18-month warranty
JZBRAIN 13-inch laminatorJZBRAIN
13-inch
2-roller system
Hot and cold modes
Supports up to 13-inch wide paper sheet
Built-in trimmer and corner rounder
3-5 minute warm-up
20 frew pouches
No warranty
AmazonBasics 13-inch laminatorAmazonBasics
13-inch

View Details

Supports up to 13 inch documents
4-minute warm-up
Hot lamination
2 rollers
2 thickness modes (3 and 5 mil)
Jam release lever
Processes 270 mm per 1 minute
1-year warranty
JZBRAIN 9-inch laminatorJZBRAIN
9-inch
2-minute warm-up
Supports up to 9 inches wide project
It processes 400mm for 1 minute
Cold and hot modes
ABS jam release system
Double rollers
Comes with a trimmer
ABOX 13-inch A3 laminatorABOX
13-inch A3
3-5 minute warm-up
Hot laminating
2 rollers
Processes 300 mm in 1 minute
Removable trimmer and corner cutter
It comes with 16 free pouches
2-year warranty
ABOX 9-inch A4 laminatorABOX
9-inch A4
Supports up to 9 inches wide paper
Hot laminating
2 rollers
2-4 minute warm-up
Processes 400 mm in 1 minute
Comes with 12 pouches
12-month warranty
Laminator corpTLC (Thermal
Laminating Corp)

View Details
Supports 3-10 mil thick pouches
5-year warranty
Hot and cold modes
Signal for device readiness
4 rollers
Processes 33 inches in 1 minute
Zoomyo Z9-5 laminatorZoomyo Z9-5Supports up to 9-inch wide paper sheets
Eco-PTC technology saves energy
2 thickness modes: 3mil and 5 mil
Hot and cold modes
2 rollers
Xyron EzLaminatorXyron
EzLaminator

View Details
No-pouch laminating
Supports up to 9 inches wide paper
Cold laminating
Hand-operating device - electricity is not needed
2 rollers
WOTERZI laminatorWOTERZI2-roller system
Supports up to 9 inches wide paper
4-minute warm-up
Processes 12.6 inches in 1 minute
Hot and cold modes
10 pouches included
18-month warranty
easyIDea ML450T ID card laminatoreasyIDea ML450T

View Details
ID card laminator
Hot laminating
Supports up to 32 mil thick pouches
Constant 2-hours use
BLACK & DECKER laminatorBLACK & DECKER

View Details
Supports up to 9.5 inches wide project
Processes 12 inches in 1 minute
4 rollers
2.5 minute warm-up
Hot and cold modes
Automatic shut-off after 60 minutes of non-use
24-month limited warranty
Royal Sovereign CL-923 laminatorRoyal Sovereign
CL-923

View Details
Supports 9-inch wide projects
2 modes depending on thickness 3mil and 5 mil
Double rollers
Hot and cold laminating
3-5 minute warm-up
12-month warranty for parts and labour
BSN20873 laminatorBusiness Source
BSN20873
Max-width of supported project 4.4 inches
Max thickness of plastic pouches is 5 mil
2-roller system
Hot and cold laminating
1-year warranty
Aurora LM1330HC laminatorAurora
LM1330HC
Max width of project is 13 inches
Hot and cold modes
2 rollers
Max supported thickness of plastic pouches 3-4 mil
Processes 14.57 inches in 1 minute
5-8 minute warm-up
GBC Pinnacle laminatorGBC Pinnacle

View Details
Max width of document is 27 inches
Max thickness of plastic pouches are 1.2-3 mil
Hot laminating
4 rollers: 2 heating, 2 pulling
Processes 12 feet in 1 minute
6-minute warm-up
1-year warranty
Marigold LM401 laminator | WoWPencilsMarigold LM401Max width of document is 9 inches
2 thickness modes 3mil and 5 mil
Processes 1 letter size sheet in 1 minute
3-4 minute warm-up
Hot and cold modes
2 rollers
Scotch TL901C-20 laminatorScotch
TL901C-20

View Details
2-roller system
Hot laminating
2 rollers
Max width of document is 9 inches
20 pouches included
Supports up to 5 mil thick pouches
1-year warranty
Apache AL13 laminatorApache AL13

View Details
2-roller system
Max width of document is 13 inches
Quality grade motor and heating element
Hot laminating
3mil and 5 mil modes
20 pouches included
6-month warranty
Scotch lS950 laminating dispenserScotch LS950

View Details
Max width of document is 8.5 inches
No-heat, no-electricity laminating device
Comes with 50ft film
Can laminate only 1 side
Hand-operated
Cold laminating
2 rollers
30-day warranty
Fellowes Neptune 3 125 laminatorFellowes
Neptune 3 125

View Details
AutoSense for automatic thickness detection
1 minute warm-up
Processes 31 inches in 1 minute
Hot and cold laminating
4 rollers
Advanced Pouch Tracking System
Supports up to 7 mil thick plastic pouches
Supports A3 size
2-year warranty
Swingline GBC 9-inch laminatorSwingline GBC
9-inch

View Details
Max width of document is 9 inches
7-minute warm-up
Hot laminating
Processes 10 inches in 1 minute
90-day warranty
2 rollers
Fellowes M5-95 laminatorFellowes M5-95

View Details
4-minute warm-up
Max width of project is 9.5 inches
Supports up to 5 mil thick plastic pouches
Hot laminating
2 rollers
1-year warranty
Fellowes Callisto 95 laminatorFellowes
Callisto 95

View Details
1-minute warm-up
Processes 19 inches in 1 minute
Max width of document is 9.5 inches
Supports up to 5 mil thick plastic pouches
2 rollers
InstaHeat technology
Automatic ShutOff
Automatic detection and switch according to thickness
Hot and cold laminating
2-year warranty

What Is a Lamination Machine?

A Lamination Machine is a device which covers and seals any document with transparent film, which protects it from damages and makes everything water- and dirt-resistant.

Types of Laminating Machines

Depending on the purpose and quantity of use, laminating machines are divided into a few types.

The Pouch type is a standard laminator which is often used in household, classroom, or small-size offices. This device is quite simple for use and it laminates documents in special plastic pouches which are sealed in the laminator. Usually, these pouches are of standard thickness of 3 mil or 5 mil, but there can be up to 10 mil, too. Thus, the laminating machines also have modes which adjust according to the thickness. In addition, there can be a pre-installed automatic detecting system which adjusts thickness and temperature automatically.

Pouch type laminatorThe pouches can be of different size, as well as the hole in the laminators. Each document or piece of paper should be covered by an individual plastic pouch. Once it’s placed evenly, you should insert the pouch with the document into the specially designed slot. Be attentive, since you should place the sealed side in first.

Once it’s placed inside the device, special pre-heated rollers start pulling document through them. Therefore, the plastic pouch warms up, sticks to the document and seals the edges. In fact, a standard laminating machine has a 2- or 4-roller system.

The distinguishing features of such devices are the relatively cheap price, the variety of brands to choose from, and compact size, moreover, some manufacturers produce mini-size laminators.

Pros

  • Compact devices
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Each document requires a particular size of pouch
  • Usually they support no bigger than the A3 size of document

A film or industrial laminator is the second type, and it is usually a heavy-duty laminator which laminates documents with film supplied by special cartridges. These cartridges look like a roll of plastic which is installed into the laminator. This film can be of different thickness, even thicker which regular pouches have, for instance more than 10 mil. For sure, all of them are equipped with an adjustable slot for each type of film.

Film laminator

In addition, these types of laminators are used for laminating big projects, such as 11*17 inch size, moreover, this can be a full page. The principle of use is the same as with a standard laminator, but here you don’t need to cover the document with plastic film in advance. All you need to do is to place the document according to the layout and run the program.

Inside the device, rollers also start pulling the document, cover the document with plastic, and press and seal the sides. As a result, you receive a document fully covered with plastic.

Believe it or not, but these laminators can be electric or hand-operated. In the latter situation, you need to twist the handle by yourself.

The distinguishing features of the industrial type of laminator are: they can process any size of document and they are more durable. However, they may be too heavy and you can hardly ever find them on sale. Thus, before you buy a laminator, you should compare industrial and standard laminators.

Pros

  • Support any size of project
  • They are more durable and can withstand non-stop work

Cons

  • Expensive
  • They are quite big and heavy

Laminator heating rollers

Besides, the above-mentioned devices can combine or have one of the hot or cold laminating modes.

Hot mode laminator means that the device has to warm-up to a particular degree.

Thus when the document is pulled between the rollers, the rollers heat the plastic up and seal all the edges together. Usually, the warm-up time takes between 1 and 7 minutes and varies in different devices.

Pros

  • More durable sealing

Cons

  • Documents may fade or be damaged

A cold mode laminator doesn’t require heat because their principle is to press the document. The process is also run by a roller which starts pulling the document and then presses it. However, this time, the cold laminator requires self-adhesive film, and usually it is decorating film. Thus, the document is processed by rollers, the self-adhesive part sticks to the document, and the non-adhesive part can be removed easily. In fact, cold mode also can be used in laminating with plastic film, but the film also needs to be self-adhesive.

Pros

  • The sealing process is more safe
  • Can work with decorative film

Cons

  • The quality of sealing may be poor

How to Use a Laminator: Helpful Tips

Use laminator

No matter what type of laminator you have, useful tips will always help if you are not sure if you are doing some steps correctly.

 Switch on!  The first step is common for most standard laminators, and it’s very simple – you need to switch it on and choose appropriate program (if available): cold or hot laminating and the thickness of the plastic pouch or film. Then you should wait until it’s ready. Some models are supplied with special light indicators and/or sounds.

 Check the film.  For industrial machines, refill or check the roll of film according to the instructions, and then turn on the machine.

 Prepare the project.  The second step implies preparing the content you need to be laminated and placing it in the plastic pouch. Make sure that document is placed evenly and it won’t slide during the laminating process. Then, place the pouch with the project inside on the specially designed shelf with markings and move it across the shelf after choosing the size of document you have.

 Mind the correct placement!  Remember that the sealed end should go into the laminator first! Once you see the that the document is being pulled by rollers, you can release it. For industrial machines, you should place the document according to special markings, so it won’t get dislocated and become incorrectly laminated.

 Finishing touches.  When the laminator finishes the laminating project in the pouch, there is nothing else to do, because it’s ready for use – just remove it from the tray. Some standard laminators have a built-in trimmer and corner cutter, so you can adjust the edges as you want.

However, with industrial machines, it is not the same. When you see the document’s end in plastic you have to stop the machine by pressing the button, then trim the document, leaving some space between the content and the line where you want to cut. Some laminators provide a perforated edge, thus you need to tear the project off.

 Turn it off.  If you are going to use the machine more, then repeat the previous steps. Otherwise, you should turn the machine off if it doesn’t have automatic shut off.

If this information is not enough for you, we suggest that you look at the detailed instructions on how to use a laminating machine correctly.

How a Laminator Can Make Life Easier

Laminator application

Even though the laminating machine is not widely spread among average users, it has features and things which can be done with this machine that will definitely make your life much easier. Here are some ideas of how you can apply its features.

 Hand-out materials.  The most frequent usage of laminators are in schools. Teachers make lots of hand-out materials for children. For example, there may some working pads when children learn some new rules. In addition, you can laminate blank paper and children can practice their drawing again and again.

 Make funny things for kids.  It’s not a limit, thus, some table games also can be laminated, especially if they have lots of small cards and flat details. In a while, they may become decrepit but not if they are in plastic film. Moreover, you can print the names of children and their to-dos for week, and if they do something you can rate their job from 1 to 10. In a week, you can calculate their ratings and it can help you decide the winner.

 Make a plan.  The next idea is applicable for both children and adults. You can prepare a schedule pad and then laminate it. With markers you can fill in a to-do list for each day, and when the month is finished you can wipe everything off and the pad is ready for the next month. For more comfortable use, you can post this schedule with a magnet to the fridge, so all the family members can see what they should do or where to go that day. This is also good idea for children, so they know what subjects they have at school each day.

 Product list.  There is another hint: create a standard set of products which should be in the fridge all the time. Gradually, if you run out of something, you can cross this item off the list and you will know what to buyin order to refill your basic set. As you might have guessed, this list can be also placed on the fridge.

 Recipes.  If you are fan of cooking, then you probably have faced the problem of dirty pages in your favourite recipe book. You can prevent this by copying some pages and then laminating them. Remember? They are water- and dirt- proof, so you don’t need to worry about your beloved book now.

 Collection.  Some people are genuine newspaper lovers, and they tend to collect them. After a while, newspapers become decrepit and you can do nothing with them but throw them away. But when it comes to a family member or friend described in a newspapers, you don’t want to do this. Here, a laminator would be a wonderful helper. You can save all the articles you want!

 Photos.  Finally, laminating photos will save them from aging and becoming difficult to see, especially with modern photos, since not all people follow recommendations and instead print photos on regular printing paper instead of photo paper.

Some Things to Laminate

Some lamination ideas

If you have never had a laminator or you use it only for laminating important documents or photos, then you should take a look at the list of things which can be laminated but you may never have thought about.

Place Things
Everything which contains advertisements and is printed on cardstock or a piece of paper is a potential thing which can be laminated
  • advertisement;
  • event advertisement;
  • booklets;
  • brochures;
  • banners;
  • posters;
  • presentation sheets.
In public places you can also see some instructions
  • restrictions (no smoking, no dogs, etc);
  • marks (drinking water, place to eat, etc);
  • directions (arrows to follow);
  • door and window signs;
  • procedures;
  • chart of data and their meanings.
When you work in a team and the result directly depends on the team’s work, there might be some things which help reach the target
  • list of motivation;
  • list of customers;
  • list of ratings;
  • list of things to do;
  • motivational phrases;
  • monthly, quarterly, yearly reviews.
Things which can be easily made by children only or with the help of adults
  • dried plants and flowers;
  • paintings;
  • photos;
  • calendars;
  • schedules;
  • decoration for magnet;
  • pictures of animals, flowers, birds, etc.
Useful things
  • calendars;
  • schedule;
  • notes;
  • paper sheet with cells for filling in notes or things to do in a day or a week, etc.
Important documents
  • certificates;
  • diplomas;
  • awards;
  • business cards.
For restaurants and cafes
  • menus;
  • price lists;
  • food labels;
  • procedures;
  • recipes;
  • shift chart.
Memorable things
  • photos;
  • children art works;
  • handicrafts;
  • title pages.

In fact, this is not the entire list of things which can be protected with plastic film. But this is a list of ideas that are regularly used by people around the world and can be used by you, as well.

If you value the first art of your child, you should also take into consideration that the type of paper also influences the durability. Thus, if you want to be sure that everything will be OK with drawings and handicrafts, then you should use the best paper for colored pencils, which will definitely improve the results.

Laminating Pouches

If you are using a standard laminator which works with plastic laminating pouches, then sooner or later you will need a refill for future projects. As you know already, they can be of different thickness which should be chosen according to your needs.

We highly recommend Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches, as a pack is comprised of 200 pieces of clear plastic pouches of 8.9 by 11.4 inches which are good for laminating photos, schedules, and kids’ handicrafts.

Scotch thermal laminating pouches

Check Price on Amazon

The AmazonBasics Letter Size is comprised of 100 pieces of 9 by 11.5 inches, 3 mil thick pouches which are also a pretty nice option for any purpose and for any type of laminator which works in hot mode.

AmazonBasics letter size pouches

Check Price on Amazon

Buying Guide

Now if you are ready to have one of these devices which will make your life much easier, then you should have a look at the checklist of things that you need to pay attention to before you purchase one of them.

Tips When Buying Laminating Machine
Type of laminator. As you know already, there are 2 main types of laminators, one of which is standard – they work with plastic pouches and industrial machines, which work with film supplied by installed cartridges. The subtypes are combination of hot and cold laminating, handhelds (mostly applied to cold laminating).

Warm-up time. The shorter warm-up time, the better. The standard time of heating is from 1 minute to 5 minutes. Bigger machines can take more than 5 minutes to warm up.

Adjusting thickness. Depending on the thickness of the plastic film or pouch, the machine should have a mode for that particular thickness. Some models have automatic adjustments. Otherwise, it likely can occur that the laminator doesn’t seal the plastic properly.

Paper size. Of course, you should pay attention to the maximum width device supports, otherwise you will be disappointed if you constantly use A3 paper size, but the maximum width is only for A4.

Roller system. The more rollers the device has, the better. The quantity of rollers which warms and seals the plastic affects the outcoming project.

Handling. It’s good when it’s intuitively clear what to do when you see the device for the first time ever. Thus, make sure that all the buttons and light indicators are marks for what they are responsible for. At least, make sure that the gadget has instructions.

Dimensions and exterior features. The size of the device is also important, so make sure that it doesn’t exceed, let’s say, the parameters of free space on the shelf. Also, check whether it is comfortable to carry if you plan to is to take it with you.

Extra features and bonuses. If the device you’ve chosen is equipped with a trimmer or comes with free plastic pouches – that’s a huge advantage.

Top-Rated Lamination Machine Brands on the Market

If you are still in doubt as to whether you have chosen the ideal laminating device according to your needs, then, probably, this list of the best-selling brands among laminators will help you. The most popular brands are:

  • Scotch, also recognized by the “3M” logo, is a well-known brand which has been providing high-quality products for about 1 century.
  • AmazonBasics are laminators made by the world-known brand Amazon. Particularly, the AmazonBasics brand stands for supplying people with regular everyday things of high-quality.
  • Yatai is a Chinese brand that was registered in 1997 and supplies professional office equipment.
  • Comix is another Chinese brand of professional office equipment which have been produced since 1991.
  • Trulam, or also known as TruBind, is a company which produces laminators, adhesive, and binding supplies.
  • Swingline is a well-known company of office supplies and devices.
  • Staples is a US B2B company-producer of office stationery products and devices.
  • Blusmart is a Chinese company-producer of home and office improvement tools. It was registered in 2001.
  • Apache is a company which particularly specializes in producing laminators and plastic pouches.
  • Pembrook.

FAQ

Questions and answers

Now we’ve gotten to the most interesting part of the article. Lots of people after numerous hours of investigating the best devices still have questions without answers. Check this list and you will probably find the answers to your questions.

Laminating Process: How Long Does It Take?

It depends on the device. Usually it takes between 30 seconds to 1 minute to laminate one page. Every manufacturer supplies statistics for each device where you can find out how much the laminator can process in 1 minute.

Why Should You Laminate Documents?

Documents are difficult to restore if something happens to them. Thus, by laminating them they are protected from water, fat, oils, and dirt—the factors which damage documents.

What About Old Photos – Laminate or Not?

Lamination of photosAs you know, old photos are on paper, which tends to tear after some time. Thus, laminating them will likely save them from ruining or accidental damage. However, it’s always up to you.

Best Laminator Type for Fragile Items

If you have fragile things to laminate, then you shouldn’t use thermal laminators or hot mode, since it’s likely to damage it even more.

Thus, cold mode is better for such purposes, because it doesn’t warm the rollers but just presses the plastic.

Is It Safe to Use Laminator for Children?

The laminators has a plastic or metal housing, thus, when it warms up, the housing becomes hot and likely can burn a child’s tender skin. Thus, it’s better to keep children away from this machine.

Can You Cut the Laminated Paper?

For sure you can do whatever you want once the project is laminated, which also mean cutting or trimming. However, if you don’t have a trimmer then you can use your scissors.

And if you still don’t have those, then check this review of the best scissors which are worth your attention.

Easy Ways to Clean a Laminator

In fact, this device doesn’t require much effort to keep it in order and clean. All you need to do is to wipe it once a week for dust. If you need it right now and it’s dusty, then wipe it with a slightly wet duster and wait for a few minutes before switching it on. Once it dries off, you can switch it on and start using.

Why Does Pouch Twisted or Wrinkled After Every Lamination?

When there is an issue where the plastic comes out warped, twisted ,or wrinkled, then likely the problem is with the thermostat and it is not hot enough. It could also be the opposite, meaning it’s not too hot. Make sure that the indicator light or sound shows you that it’s ready for use; if you’ve been using it for more than 30 minutes, shut it off, wait for an hour, and turn it on again; and finally, if the previous steps didn’t work or you don’t have indicators then buy a thermometer and check the temperature. If it’s not as it should be, then contact the manufacturer’s hotline.

Can Laminator Catch Fire?

Laminator catches fireOf course it can, as it is sometimes usual with electrical appliances. In fact, this device tends to catch fire even more due to constant heating. Thus, you should follow the recommendations and instructions, and avoid its overheating.

What to Do If the Film Is Wrapped on the Rollers and Jam the Device?

This issue often appears if the project is placed inside improperly, you don’t use special fit guides, or when you laminate small things. In this case, push the button or lift the release lever and pull the project out. If you are not able to catch the end, then turn the device off and contact the manufacturer.

Can the Appliance Laminate 1.5 mil Pouches?

Unfortunately, the laminators mentioned above are not designed for such thickness. For this thickness there are some specially-designed industrial laminators which are way faster than these and can leave quite thin film unwrapped.

What Is the Cost of a Laminator Machine?

The price is different for each type of laminator. Thus, the cheapest options are for home use or those which doesn’t require constant work. Their price can be lower than $100. For standard laminators, which are good for middle load and supports regular sizes of documents, the price range is higher – from $100 to $500. And the most expensive machines are industrial machines which withstand everyday work. Their range may vary and there is no limit; the lower range is $500.

The Best Online Stores to Buy Laminator

In fact, laminators are not such extraordinary things that can hardly be found. These devices are widely spread among social workers, sales managers, etc. Thus, the demand is quite high and they are easy to be found on large online stores and marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, BestBuy, Walmart, Costco, etc.

Conclusion

Nobody said that choosing the ideal device which will work perfectly and durably is a very simple task to do. In fact, you might be confused after reading lots of things about these machines. But, following the recommendations mentioned in the Buying Guide section is the summarizing checklist of things that you should think about. Thus, be sure that following these recommendations will lead you to the most successful purchase ever.

  • Lamination – https://en.wikipedia.org/
  • How to Use a Laminator – https://www.wikihow.com/
  • Difference Between Hot & Cold Laminating Machines – https://medium.com/
  • Pouch Laminator – https://en.wikipedia.org/
  • 100 Things to Laminate – https://officemachines.net/
  • Choosing a Laminating Machine – https://www.fellowes.com/
  • Swingline™ GBC® Fusion™ 3000L Laminator – https://www.youtube.com/
  • Review of 3m Scotch Thermal Laminator TL901 – https://www.youtube.com/
  • How to Choose Size and Mil Reclosable ClearZip Plastic Bags – https://www.youtube.com/
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About Yuliya Skryp

Yuliya

My name is Yuliya. I am a designer with many years of experience, the mother of a little student, and the author of articles on WoWPencils.com. Writing and drawing tools are an important part of my creations. I write detailed reviews about them for people who want to know what to get. Find the information you need in order to create your best! Also, visit my page on Facebook or contact page to know me better.

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Table of Contents

  • Best Laminating Machine
  • Best Laminating Machines in 2020 (Unavailable Now)
  • Laminators Worthy of Your Attention
  • What Is a Lamination Machine?
  • Types of Laminating Machines
  • How to Use a Laminator: Helpful Tips
  • Some Things to Laminate
  • Laminating Pouches
  • Top-Rated Lamination Machine Brands on the Market
  • FAQ

Reviews of the Best Stationery

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