What Happens If You Use Inkjet Paper in a Laser Printer?

Imagine that: you’re out of laser paper but have a stack of glossy inkjet paper handy. Tempting, right? Before you load it into your laser printer, let’s break down what really happens—and why it’s a gamble you might regret.

Inkjet Paper vs. Laser Paper: What’s the Difference?

Inkjet paper is engineered for liquid ink. It has a special coating designed to absorb ink droplets quickly, preventing smudging and boosting color vibrancy. This coating acts like a sponge, locking ink near the surface for sharp details and rich photos.

Laser paper, though, is built for heat and powder. Laser printers fuse toner (a fine plastic-based powder) onto paper using high heat (up to 200°C). Laser paper is smoother and heat-resistant, with no absorbent coating. It’s optimized for crisp text and graphics without melting or warping.

Will Inkjet Paper Work in Your Laser Printer?

Technically, yes—but expect problems. Here’s why:

1. Heat damage: Laser printers bake toner onto paper. Inkjet paper’s coating isn’t heatproof. It can melt, warp, or even stick to the printer’s fuser roller.

2. Poor print quality: Glossy coating traps inkjet ink beautifully but repels toner. Prints often look faded, smudged, or have uneven patches. Colors appear dull because toner sits on top of the coating instead of bonding with the paper.

3. Muted colors: Unlike inkjet ink, toner is opaque and reflects less light. Even on glossy inkjet paper, laser prints lack vibrancy. Matte inkjet paper fares slightly better but still can’t match laser-specific paper.

Does Inkjet Paper Damage Your Laser Printer?

Short answer: YES. Here’s why:

Your laser printer gets extremely hot inside—like a tiny oven. Its job is to melt toner powder onto paper. Inkjet paper wears a coat that isn’t fireproof to this oven party. Its glossy or matte coating can’t handle the heat.

Here’s what goes wrong:

• Melting coating causes jams: The heat melts the coating like wax. It sticks to the printer’s hot rollers. This sticky gunk traps paper, causing constant jams.
• Gunk buildup damages parts: The melted coating doesn’t disappear. It clings to rollers and gears, collecting dust and toner. Soon, everything inside gets sticky—even regular paper starts jamming.
• Expensive repairs: The sticky mess overheats or breaks internal parts. Repairs cost far more than buying the right paper.

If you must try it, use matte inkjet paper. It’s less prone to melting than glossy, but the result won’t be perfect.

Choose the Right Paper for Your Printer

Don’t risk jams or printer damage. Match the paper to your tech:

• For laser printers: Use untreated, smooth paper. For photos or presentations, invest in laser-specific glossy paper—it has a heat-safe coating that won’t melt.
• For inkjet printers: Stick to coated paper to prevent ink bleeding and boost color depth.

If you don’t want to get stuck in paper mismatch anymore, G&G laser printers stand out — from envelopes to cardstock, models like the G&G M2022NW handle diverse media seamlessly and meet your printing needs all in one. Paired with laser-optimized paper, you get flawless prints every time.

Using inkjet paper in a laser printer is like putting diesel in a gasoline engine. It might limp along briefly, but the damage (jams, melted gunk, sad-looking prints) isn’t worth the risk. Respect the tech—and your wallet. Use a printer made for your printing needs. Keep it happy with the right paper, and it’ll return the favor with perfect prints every time.

Sameer is a writer, entrepreneur and investor. He is passionate about inspiring entrepreneurs and women in business, telling great startup stories, providing readers with actionable insights on startup fundraising, startup marketing and startup non-obviousnesses and generally ranting on things that he thinks should be ranting about all while hoping to impress upon them to bet on themselves (as entrepreneurs) and bet on others (as investors or potential board members or executives or managers) who are really betting on themselves but need the motivation of someone else’s endorsement to get there.