When you’re shopping around for a printer, print speed often tops the list of considerations. But understanding printing speeds involves more than just looking at the pages per minute (PPM) rating on the box.
This guide will explain PPM in further detail and help you find the right balance between performance and cost.
What is PPM and why does it matter?
Pages per minute (PPM) is a common printing speed metric. It measures the number of pages a printer can output in one minute under optimal conditions.
However, this rating represents the maximum theoretical speed for continuous printing of identical pages, typically measured using simple text documents. Real-world printing speeds often differ significantly from advertised PPM rates.
The importance of print speed extends beyond mere convenience. Faster printing speeds can:
- Reduce employee/client waiting time
- Improve overall office productivity
- Handle peak printing demands efficiently
- Support time-sensitive document requirements
Printing speed factors
How fast your printer actually performs in daily use depends on a few factors. Here’s what affects real-world printing speeds and why these considerations matter when choosing your next printer.
Document complexity
The type of document you print can impact the actual printing speed. Simple text documents print fastest. Graphics-heavy files, colour documents, and high-resolution images require a tad more processing time. We’ve seen printers that claim 40 PPM for basic text crawl to just 15 PPM when someone tries to print a detailed chart or photo.
First page out time (FPOT)
FPOT basically measures how long you’re standing around waiting for that first page to come out after you hit print. If your office is constantly printing single pages or small batches (think invoices, letters, quick reports), this number might actually matter more than the overall PPM. In our experience, modern mono laser printers or colour printers typically offer the fastest FPOT.
Duty cycle considerations
A printer’s duty cycle represents the maximum number of pages it can handle per month without affecting performance or lifespan. For example, a budget printer with a 1,000-page monthly duty cycle will struggle and break down quickly in an office that prints 3,000 pages monthly, even if it can technically print that volume initially.
Matching print volumes to printer capabilities
Not all businesses have the same printing needs, and your printer choice should reflect your actual usage patterns. Below, we’ll take a look at low, medium, and high volume operations.
Low-volume operations (under 500 pages/month)
If you’re running a small office, you can usually get away with something in the 15-25 PPM range. These environments prioritise cost savings over speed, making budget-friendly options with reasonable print quality more attractive than high-speed models.
Recommended specifications:
- PPM: 15-25 pages per minute
- Duty cycle: 1,000-3,000 pages per month
- FPOT: 8-12 seconds
Medium-volume operations (500-2,000 pages/month)
Mid-sized offices requiring consistent daily printing benefit from printers offering 25-40 PPM. These businesses need reliable performance without the premium cost of enterprise-level equipment.
Recommended specifications:
- PPM: 25-40 pages per minute
- Duty cycle: 3,000-8,000 pages per month
- FPOT: 6-10 seconds
High-volume operations (2,000-5,000+ pages/month)
Large offices, departments, or businesses with intensive printing requirements need high-performing printers offering 40+ PPM. These environments justify higher equipment costs through improved productivity and reduced downtime.
Recommended specifications:
- PPM: 40+ pages per minute
- Duty cycle: 8,000+ pages per month
- FPOT: 4-8 seconds
Speed of a laser printer
Laser printers generally outperform inkjet models in speed, especially for text documents. Most business-grade laser printers offer PPM ratings between 20-60 pages per minute, with some high-end models exceeding 100 PPM. The laser printing process allows for consistent speeds regardless of document content, making it ideal for offices with predictable printing needs.
How to conduct a print speed test
To accurately assess a printer’s real-world performance:
- Prepare diverse document types: Include text-only pages, mixed text and graphics, and image-heavy documents
- Use actual business documents: Test with the types of files your office prints regularly
- Measure different scenarios: Single-page jobs, small batches (5-10 pages), and larger jobs (50+ pages)
- Time multiple aspects: FPOT, sustained printing speed, and total job completion time
Interpreting results
Compare your test results against advertised specifications to understand real-world performance expectations. Remember that initial print jobs may be slower as the printer ‘warms up,’ while subsequent jobs often achieve closer to rated speeds.
Advanced speed considerations
Network printing impact
Network-connected printers may experience slower speeds due to data transmission limitations. Ensure your network infrastructure can support your printer’s maximum capabilities, especially for high-volume operations.
Print server performance
Dedicated print servers can improve overall printing efficiency by managing print queues and processing jobs more effectively than individual computer connections.
Making the final call
When selecting a printer based on speed requirements:
- Calculate your monthly print volume accurately
- Consider peak usage periods and ensure your printer can handle demand spikes
- Factor in growth projections to avoid outgrowing your printer too quickly
- Balance speed with other features like print quality, connectivity options, and total cost of ownership
- Test printers with your actual documents when possible
The fastest printer PPM rating isn’t always the best choice for every business. Instead, choose one that handles your current volume comfortably with room to grow—you’ll get the productivity boost without the unnecessary expense.
Find high-speed printers at Copysonic
From high-speed printers for large businesses to modest machines for small offices, you can find it all at Copysonc. Still have questions about print speeds or finding the right printer? The Copysonic team loves talking shop – reach out and let’s find your perfect printing solution.
