Printers for primary schools

As the sun sets on Summer and the 2024-2025 school year draws closer, many schools prepare for the tough month of August.

Between new school supplies, books, onboarding new teachers, hiring staff, and doing your best to keep schools safe and clean for students, it can be difficult easing back into the busy Fall season.

One of the bigger expenses you may be considering for the upcoming year is office equipment, printers, and scanners for your staff and students. This can be a big hurdle for some schools, especially when you consider how many copier printers you need to keep your school running optimally.

For example, if you need a copier printer in every classroom, plus one or two large multifunction machines in teachers’ lounges, administrative offices, and some heavy-duty printers for school computer labs, the costs can really add up. That’s why it is best to choose a good printer brand to work with from the get-go. 

There are over 25,000 printer companies in the United States, and that can make choosing the right printer brand a bit complicated.

You may be wondering what the difference is between a big brand and a smaller one or whether you should you buy locally or globally.

Luckily, STPT has been in the printer industry for almost 40 years, and we want to use our expertise to help make the start to the new school year a little easier for you.

In this article, we will explain the differences between 3 of the top printer brands for schools this year, and we’ll tell you the big questions you need to ask before choosing your school’s printer brand.

3 Questions Schools Should Ask Before Choosing a Printer Brand

At STPT, we want our customers to be informed. Our goal is to use our industry expertise to arm you with the knowledge you need to make the best buying decision for you.

So, before jumping into our list, let’s go over the 3 main questions you need to ask when choosing a printer brand to work with.

1. Is the Printer Brand Reputable?

Have you ever heard the term “brand loyalty?”

This term is generally used to mean that customers tend to stick with big, well-known brands. There are many reasons why customers practice brand loyalty, but a big one is reputation.

When choosing a printer brand, you may want to consider the following questions about its reputation:

•    How long has the brand been in the industry?
•    Are other customers satisfied with their equipment?
•    Are they communicative, responsive, and easy to work with?

The brands on our list are all big companies that are known for being trustworthy. They have all been big players in the printer industry for decades, so choosing one of the brands on this list guarantees you’ll be working with a printer brand that is known for excellence.

2. Does the Brand Offer Specialized Features Suitable for Schools?

Naturally, you want to choose a printer brand that offers features, products, and services that are best designed for the school ecosystem.

Some products and services we considered when making this list were: managed print services, printer multifunctionality, product offerings, such as office and large production machine availability, as well as dedicated scanner options. We also considered the known effectiveness of the brand’s features by reading product reviews.

Large school ecosystems are likely to benefit from managed print services. It is also possible you’ll require a range of copier printers in different sizes with various output capacities and capabilities to support all the printing needs of your school.

Pro Tip: In our professional opinion and based on our experiences, school districts should not buy used equipment. Schools tend to use their copier printers to their maximum capabilities. Buying used machines for this level of use can lead to high rates of service calls and device failure. 

3. Does The Printer Brand Offer Products That are Easy to Use?

This question is one any consumer should ask, particularly if they want machines that are intuitive and easy to use.

Because schools need printers that are usable for administrators, teachers, and students, it is best to consider machines that are easy to understand. You don’t want to choose office printers that are so hi-tech they can’t be utilized by staff members or unfamiliar students.

This means that it is best for schools to consider printer usability as a key feature when choosing which printer brand to use.

3 Best Printer Brands for Schools

Important note: this list represents the top 3 best printer brands for schools in 2024, but the brands are not listed in any particular order.