Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Laminator

Lamination is a common print finishing technique that is unique due to how complex it truly is. While it may seem simple on the surface — plastic sealing over paper to protect it— there is such a huge variety of uses for lamination that special care should be taken before investing in a laminator.

Before you buy a laminating machine, here are some key considerations:

• Volume (both per batch and over time)
• Minimum and maximum size you need to laminate
• The space you have to store the machine
• The price and versatility of consumables
• The initial equipment investment
• The look and visual appeal you want
• The feeling you want to emit
• How often your documents will be handled
• Who will be handling the documents (i.e. professionals or children) and in what setting (i.e. retail store, business, school)

In this comprehensive laminator buyer’s guide, we will help you understand everything from the basics to the complexities of the most popular kinds of laminating machines, including:

1. 1. Hot vs Cold Laminators
   2. Pouch Laminators
   3. Roll Laminators
   4. Wide Format Laminators
   5. Automatic Laminators
   6. Cartridge Laminators
   7. Mini Laminators and Sticker Makers

Hot vs. Cold Laminators

Before getting into different laminator types it is important to understand the difference between thermal, aka “hot”, and pressure-sensitive, aka “cold” lamination. This refers to how the laminating film is applied. Every laminator will be capable of one or both types. The functionality of the machine you choose will decide what laminating film you can use among other things. Let’s dive into those key differences

Thermal “Hot” Lamination

Thermal lamination is the most popular way to laminate. This method uses heat to activate the adhesive in the laminate film and attach it to your document. Thermal laminators cater to a wide range of needs, from occasional home use to demanding office and print shop environments.

Thermal laminating film comes in a wide array of finishes, and you will likely find more variety than the pressure-sensitive alternative. From gloss, matte, and even specialty finishes, like textured or UV-resistant you are bound to find thermal options.

The film is also typically inexpensive compared to other options, saving you money in the long run. This makes thermal laminating a great choice for those looking to laminate often with a variety of looks and feels.

However, there are some reasons that someone wouldn’t opt for this type of laminating. Mainly, if you are looking to laminate delicate prints, this probably isn’t the way you would want to do it. Many archivists and even some artists and photographers prefer to use cold lamination as heat could potentially damage water-based inks and other heat-sensitive materials.

TLDR for Thermal Laminators: Key Takeaways & Things to Note

• Lots of versatility and compatible supplies
• Inexpensive consumables
• Delay for warm-up time
• Not suitable for laminating heat-sensitive/delicate materials
• Most popular type of lamination

Pressure-Sensitive Laminators

Pressure-sensitive or “cold” laminators allow for quick lamination without waiting for your machine to warm up. These machines apply even pressure across the laminating film adhering it to your document. Cold laminators are particularly valuable in environments where precision and protection are essential, offering the ability to laminate various items without worrying about heat damage. Since the adhesive on pressure-sensitive film only needs to be pressed into place, it is a much more delicate process and is ideal for achieving lamination without compromising the quality or integrity of the original materials.

Cold laminators are special in that not only do they not require heat, but in some cases, they also don’t require electricity. This allows for easy set-up and makes it a more eco-friendly option. However, as it is a less popular method, you may notice fewer options for pressure-sensitive film and because of the lower demand, the consumables may sometimes have a higher price tag.

TLDR for Pressure Sensitive Laminators: Key Takeaways & Things to Note

• Doesn’t require heat, allowing for delicate lamination
• Cheap up-front but can be costly over time
• Fast laminating with no wait for warm-up
• Some machines don’t require electricity, making them eco-friendly

Pouch Laminators

Pouch laminators are typically desktop machines that let you laminate one document at a time using lamination pouches. The controls are usually fairly simple and they have an opening on the front where you feed your document. The internal rollers will automatically grab your sheet and pull it through. Thermal pouch laminators have heating rollers and/or heating plates (sometimes called "heat shoe") that activate the adhesive in your pouch. Cold pouch laminators only apply pressure to activate the adhesive. Your finished, laminated document comes out of the back.

Pouch Laminating Supplies

Pouch laminators work with laminating pouches, a pre-sized and cut piece of film that is also pre-sealed on one side. They are very easy to use, as you just insert your document into the pouch and center it. When you run it through your pouch laminator, the adhesive will bond to your document and to itself around the border of your page. To have a true encapsulation, you will want to choose a pouch size that is at least 1/2 an inch taller and wider than your sheet. This will ensure you have at least a 1/4 inch border around your page for the most effective seal.

Laminating pouches come in various thicknesses, typically measured in mils (thousandths of an inch). Common thicknesses range from 3 to 10mil. 3mil is for lightweight protection and is suitable for flexible items like photos or documents. 10mil, on the other hand, is ideal for heavy-duty protection, and is best utilized on frequently handled items like ID cards or signs. The choice of thickness depends on how rigid and durable you need the final laminated item to be.

In addition to thickness, pouch laminate is available in different finishes, playing into the overall finished look and feel. This includes gloss, matte, textured, and even colored laminate. Pouches come in a wide range of sizes, from small business card to poster-sized, and there are even some wide format pouches available. This versatility of size options highlights how versatile pouch laminators can be. You can laminate everything from a bookmark to a retail sign.

Laminating sheets, in contrast, are single-sided and are often used for applications where only one side of the document needs protection. Common applications include posters, maps, and book covers. They offer a simpler, quicker laminating option but don’t provide the full encapsulation that pouches do.

If your laminator accepts 10mil pouches, you can also use a pouch carrier when you laminate. This is an adhesive-resistant folder that goes around your pouch while laminating. It keeps the adhesive from leaking onto your laminator which can cause damage or lead to the hassle of having to clean the adhesive off the rollers. It also protects your page from making direct contact with the heated rollers.

If your machine can handle pouch carriers, reaches a minimum temperature of 300°F, and has adjustable speed, then you may also be able to use thermal reactive foil to add metallic, iridescent, and pigmented accents to your documents. This is perfect for invitations, cards, certificates, and other projects you want to stand out with an extra professional and eye-catching finish. For more information on foiling with your laminator, you can check out our article on how.

What you Need to Laminate with a Pouch Laminator

1. 1. Pouch laminating machine
   2. Compatible laminating pouches
   3. Pouch carrier (optional)
   4. Your material to laminate

Great Equipment Features to Look for & Why

1. 1. Reverse Functionality: The reverse function is a key feature to prevent and easily remove jams. If a page starts to go through incorrectly, reversing it out can stop it from causing a jam and potentially damaging your machine.
   2. 10 mil compatibility: This allows you to use virtually any pouch thickness and use a pouch carrier to keep your rollers safe and clean. It also opens the doors to foil compatibility.
   3. Adjustable Temperature: Adjusting your temperature allows you to fine-tune your lamination for the best results. Plus, if your machine can reach 300°F you may be able to use laminating foil.
   4. Adjustable Speed: Just like temperature, tweaking the speed allows you to get the best finished results.

How to Pouch Laminate

1. 1. Turn on the machine
   2. Allow to heat up
   3. Insert your page into a correctly sized laminating pouch
   4. Place the pouch into a carrier (if applicable)
   5. Run the pouch through the laminator, sealed edge first
   6. Allow to cool on a flat surface

Who Uses Pouch Lamination

Pouch laminators are a popular choice for users of all kinds due to their ease of use and versatility. As long as you are planning on laminating within the standard sizes — there are about 40 to choose from — pouch laminators make the process straightforward for any user.

Pouch laminators are popular for everyone from at-home DIY'ers to large businesses. Crafters enjoy the ability to create anything from custom bookmarks to protected scrapbook pages. Schools make helpful visual aids and educational flashcards. Businesses save time and money creating business cards, IDs and protecting documents all in house.

What are the most popular applications for pouch laminators?

1. 1. Document protection
   2. Tags
   3. Laminating badges & ID cards
   4. Laminated cards
   5. Recipe cards
   6. Foiling
   7. Office signs
   8. Homemade bookmarks
   9. Kids crafts

Recommended Pouch Laminators

• Swingline Inspire Plus - For those who laminate sparingly, such as crafters or small offices, the Swingline Inspire Plus provides an affordable and reliable solution. It ensures your documents, photos, and crafts are well-protected without a significant investment.
• Akiles Prolam Ultra X6 - If you are looking to laminate semi-frequently, a couple of times a month, and achieve a superior finish, laminators like the Akiles Prolam Ultra X6 have got you covered. With mounting capability, 13” capacity, and the ability to laminate almost 1 inch per second it is the perfect choice for offices and small businesses.
• Speedy-Lam 330R-10 - For more demanding environments, where laminating is a daily task, models like the Speedy-Lam 330R-10 are the epitome of quality. These laminators are built for speed and have top-quality components with adjustable settings so you can fine-tune the machine to each unique project you run. They are perfect for businesses or schools that require quick turnaround times and consistent, high-quality results.

TLDR for Pouch Laminators: Key Takeaways & Things to Note

• Available in models for low- to high-volume use
• Uses pre-cut laminating pouches that come in 40 standard sizes
• Some thermal machines offer pressure-sensitive settings
• Straightforward and easy to use
• Not ideal for extra-large sizes

Roll Laminators

Roll laminators are essential for large-scale or frequent laminating projects, providing a continuous feed of film that makes them ideal for high-volume environments such as schools, offices, and print finishing companies.

These laminators use rolls of film that are threaded through the rollers as one long sheet. The controls can range from simple to nearly fully customizable. You feed your sheet through the rollers and the machine pulls it through applying the sheet laminate. When it has made its way fully through the machine you cut your project from the feed, leaving you with a beautifully laminated document. This continuous roll and wide feed opening allows you to laminate extra-large documents. Thanks to its customizable nature, roll laminators can handle projects of all sizes from business cards to banners.

Roll Laminating Supplies

As opposed to pouch laminators, roll laminators utilize film in long sheets wrapped around a roll or “mandrel.” These rolls are available in both thermal and pressure-sensitive film and in a variety of sizes, thicknesses, and finishes. This form of laminate has the widest variety to choose from.

The thickness of roll film typically ranges from 1.5 mil to 10 mil, allowing users to choose the appropriate level of protection and rigidity. Thinner rolls (1.5-3 mil) are flexible and perfect for items that need to be easily rolled or folded, such as maps or blueprints. Thicker rolls (5-10 mil) provide a more rigid finish, ideal for materials that require durability, such as outdoor signs, instructional posters, or display graphics.

Roll laminating films come in a wide range of widths, from as narrow as 12 inches to as wide as 60 inches or more, accommodating everything from small documents to large-format banners. Rolls come in tens to thousands of feet in length. After a document is laminated, only then is the film cut to size around the project.

What you Need to Laminate with a Roll Laminator

1. 1. Roll laminating machine
   2. Compatible roll laminating film
   3. Your material to laminate

Great Equipment Features to Look for & Why

1. Mounting Capability: If your machine is mounting-capable, you can mount your project onto mounting boards using specialty mount adhesive, perfect for signs and displays of many kinds.
2. Reverse Functionality: The reverse function is key to preventing and easily removing jams. If you notice your page going through incorrectly, reverse it out instead of running it all the way through, potentially wrapping it around the rollers.
3. Built-in Trimmer: Since your film is attached to a larger roll you will need a way to separate your laminated project from the feed and cut it to size. If your machine has a trimmer built-in you can easily slice through the laminate and get a perfect straight edge.
4. Foot Switch Operation: With foot switch operation you can keep both hands free to ensure you have complete control while feeding your project through the rollers. It also lets you toggle from forward to stop with the tap of your toe.
5. Adjustable Tension: Adjusting the tension ensures you get the perfect lamination finish every time with no warping.

How to Roll Laminate

1. 1. Load film rolls and thread laminate feed
   2. Turn on machine
   3. Allow to heat up (if applicable)
   4. Feed project through the rollers
   5. Trim film edge

Who Uses Roll Lamination

Roll laminators are utilized by professionals and organizations that require the ability to laminate large volumes of materials, especially in larger formats. Schools, for example, use roll laminators to laminate posters, teaching aids, and maps.

Print shops and finishing houses also primarily use roll laminators. They provide the speed and consistency necessary for the more industrial environments. Plus the ability to buy in bulk allows businesses to save money on laminating film.

Corporate offices and government organizations also benefit from the use of roll laminators. These offices often need to laminate oversized documents, presentation materials, and signage that require both protection and a polished appearance. The flexibility to laminate different sizes and thicknesses of materials makes roll laminators a versatile tool that can make anything from business cards to custom displays.

What are the most popular applications for roll laminators?

1. 1. Window & floor decals
   2. Signage & displays
   3. Laminating posters
   4. Presentation materials

Recommended Roll Laminators

• GBC HeatSeal Ultima - For smaller operations or limited-size needs the GBC HeatSeal Ultima offers all the functionality you need in a compact size that won’t break the bank.
• Pro-Lam 238WF - For continuous, high-volume laminating, models like the Pro-Lam 238WF are the perfect choice for a print shop that needs full control over their lamination projects.
• Akiles ProLam R27 - “School laminators” act as the middle ground between the compact document laminator and the large shop laminator. Laminators, like the Akiles ProLam R27, are medium-sized thermal laminators and are a cost-effective solution for businesses and schools looking to laminate frequently and across diverse projects but on a budget.

TLDR for Roll Laminators: Key Takeaways & Things to Note

• Ideal for bulk, high-volume laminating
• Allows for custom sizes
• Available in thermal, pressure-sensitive, and hybrid models
• Cheapest laminate per square inch with bulk purchasing

Wide-Format Laminators

Wide-format refers to roll and pouch laminators that are 44” or wider. These machines are ideal for laminating large-scale materials such as posters, banners, signage, and blueprints. While not necessary for the casual home laminator, they are indispensable in industries like advertising, graphic design, and architecture, for protecting and enhancing large documents.

Wide-Format Laminating Supplies

As wide-format laminators are roll laminators, you will use the same roll film supplies, but in those different widths. You will be able to find the same thicknesses and almost all the same finishes at this extended width.

What you Need to Laminate with a Wide-Format Laminator

1. 1. Wide-format laminating machine
   2. Compatible laminating film
   3. Your material to laminate

Great Equipment Features to Look for & Why

1. 1. High Variable Speed: When laminating, sometimes multiple feet at a time, one project can take a long time to run through your machine. The faster the machine the less strain laminating will put on your timeline.
   2. Easy Loading: Having a drop-in or swing-in mandrel system can really make all the difference when dealing with these extra-large laminate rolls. Machines that help you navigate loading heavy and awkward-sized rolls will give you less stress and speed up your production time.
   3. Take-Up Roll: The ability to use a take-up roll helps handle long projects without them loading out across your table and eventually onto the floor.. Your project can seamlessly feed onto a take-up roll so everything stays smooth, organized, and clean.

How to Wide-Format Laminate

1. 1. Load film rolls and thread laminate feed
   2. Turn on machine
   3. Allow to heat up (if applicable)
   4. Feed project through the rollers
   5. Trim film edge

Who Uses Wide-Format Lamination

Wide-format laminators are utilized primarily by print shops that work with oversized materials, such as banners, posters, signage, and other large-scale prints. Whether it's protecting trade show graphics, outdoor banners, or point-of-sale displays, wide format laminators provide the necessary durability and finish to ensure these materials stand out and last longer. They can also be used by universities & museums looking to preserve large items or create displays.

What are the most popular applications for wide-format laminators?

1. 1. Poster laminating
   2. Maps
   3. Banners
   4. Signage and displays
   5. Floor and window graphics

Recommended Wide-Format Laminators

• Xyron 6300 - Cold, wide-format laminators, like the Xyron 6300, are great for laminating signs and banners. You will be able to laminate without worrying about any discoloring of your graphics from heat.
• SEAL 62 Pro - Offering both hot and cold functionality, wide laminators, like the SEAL 62 Pro provide the ultimate versatility. It is compatible with virtually every roll laminate and can handle any project, heat-sensitive or otherwise, up to 61” wide.

TLDR for Wide-Format Laminators: Key Takeaways & Things to Note

• Best suited for print shops
• 44”+ roll laminators
• Ideal for signage & displays

Cartridge Laminators

Cartridge laminators are designed for ease of use and convenience, making them an excellent choice for casual and frequent laminators alike. These machines use pre-loaded cartridges that contain laminating film eliminating the need to thread individual rolls. This allows for easy setup and film switchouts that save the user time and headache.

Cartridge Laminating Supplies

As you might expect, cartridge laminators require their corresponding cartridges to work. Most of these machines use a specific compatible cartridge. They come in all different thicknesses and gloss, matte, and adhesive finishes. You can even find some craft machines, like the Xyron Creative Stations with magnet cartridges and more. The only thing to keep in mind is that you will be limited to the cartridges that the brand makes so double-check that they offer what you are looking for before you invest in a machine.

What you Need to Laminate with a Cartridge Laminator

1. 1. Cartridge laminating machine
   2. Compatible laminating cartridge
   3. Your material to laminate

Great Equipment Features to Look for & Why

1. 1. Diverse Laminate Selection: The wider the variety of film cartridges offered for your machine the more you will be able to accomplish with it.

How to Cartridge Laminate

1. 1. Insert cartridge
   2. Turn on the machine (if applicable)
   3. Feed project through

Who Uses Cartridge Lamination

Cartridge laminators are perfect for users who want convenience, simplicity, and speed. They are great for crafters and at-home users for quick lamination projects. They are also a great solution for schools and offices where multiple employees use the machine with little to no prior knowledge. The cartridge’s simple installation requires minimal training and learning curve. It can be particularly great for educators and those needing to utilize a lot of different finishes, as swapping out film types is much easier than replacing an entire film roll.

What are the most popular applications for cartridge laminators?

1. 1. Crafts
   2. Stickers
   3. Documents
   4. DIY Projects

Recommended Cartridge Laminators

• Scotch LS960 - a great at-home and in-office laminator the Scotch LS960 is compact easy-to-use.
• Revo-Office - an automatic laminator that can laminate projects in bulk, ideal for schools and businesses with heavy laminating needs.

TLDR for Cartridge Laminators: Key Takeaways & Things to Note

• Easy to use with little to no training
• Come in all shapes and sizes from manual to thermal, to automatic
• Requires compatible cartridges; supplies variants often limited
• Easy film replacement and swapping

Automatic Laminators

Automatic laminators are designed to laminate and cut bulk projects without human intervention. This allows laminating to be a fully hands-free, set-it-and-forget-it process. Some can laminate and trim standard-sized documents automatically and then can be switched to manual for unusual sizes. Others can be fully programmed with custom border trimming. Some can even accommodate foiling. Automatic laminators are perfect for schools, offices, or print shops that need to laminate large batches of documents quickly and easily, ensuring a smooth workflow and reducing the time spent on manual tasks.

Automatic Laminating Supplies

Automatic laminators take up film in one of two different ways: a laminating roll or cartridge. Roll film gives you all the options and versatility of any other roll laminator. Cartridges’ all-in-one design makes it easy to load the machine and begin laminating with minimal setup time. The only downside of cartridges is that they may have limited finish options.

What you Need to Laminate with an Automatic Laminator

1. 1. Automatic laminating machine
   2. Compatible laminating roll or cartridge
   3. Your material to laminate

Great Equipment Features to Look for & Why

1. 1. Cold Lamination: Automatic laminators are typically thermal, but some models also offer cold lamination settings. This allows you to easily work with standard documents or color-sensitive photographs.
   2. Custom Job Memory: The ability to not only create custom parameters but also save them for later use can save a lot of time when it comes to repeat jobs. Once you have found the perfect settings, save them for the next time you need them.
   3. Single & Double-Sided Lamination: Most automatic laminators are compatible with double-sided lamination. If you ever foresee yourself wanting the ability to only laminate one side of a document, this feature will unlock a lot of versatility for your machine.

How to Automatic Laminate

1. 1. Insert cartridge or thread laminate
   2. Turn on machine
   3. Set trim size
   4. Run a test sheet
   5. Load paper tray
   6. Set page amount
   7. Run machine

Who Uses Automatic Lamination

Automatic laminators are an incredible time saver for anyone who laminates in large quantities. Offices and schools are perfect candidates for creating handouts, documents, and worksheets en masse. In print shops and commercial environments, automatic laminators are indispensable. These machines are capable of laminating large batches of materials, such as brochures, marketing collateral, and product packaging, with little to no human supervision. The automated process reduces the risk of errors and ensures consistent quality while allowing the user to easily multitask.

What are the most popular applications for automatic laminators?

1. 1. Marketing Material
   2. Brochures
   3. Flyers
   4. Menus
   5. Labels & Packaging

Recommended Automatic Laminators

• GBC Foton 30 - Great for automatically laminating standard-sized documents, the GBC Foton 30 can sit compactly on a desk and automatically laminate 30 documents without intervention.
• Matrix MX-530DP - Ideal for bulk laminating at a print shop or finishing house, the Matrix MX-530DP is entirely customizable and can laminate anything from business cards to menus at speeds up to 396” per minute.

TLDR for Automatic Laminators: Key Takeaways & Things to Note

• Bulk lamination with little to no supervision
• Ideal for laminating standard documents
• Set it and forget it laminating
• Uses roll or cartridge lamination

Mini Laminators & Sticker Makers

Mini laminators and sticker makers are compact, versatile devices perfect for personal or small-scale projects, offering convenience and ease of use. They are ideal for crafters, sticker hobbyists, and home office users who need to laminate small items like photos, and cards, or create custom stickers with ease.

There are very small thermal pouch laminators made specifically as ID badge laminators that can be a great help for office buildings and others that need to quickly make IDs. However, most mini laminators and sticker makers are pressure-sensitive, cartridge-based laminators. Many of Xyron’s products serve as great examples. These devices are mostly manual, compact, and easy to travel with. This makes them perfect for scrapbooking, DIY crafts, and other small tasks.

Mini Laminating & Sticker Making Supplies

As most of these laminators are cartridge-based you will require the correct cartridge. They can come in double-sided lamination, double-sided lamination/adhesive, or single-sided adhesive. Some sticker makers are also disposable and have a sticker cartridge built in. Once the cartridge runs out you can simply dispose of the maker and replace it at a fairly low price.

What you Need to Laminate with a Mini Laminator & Sticker Maker

1. 1. Mini laminator or sticker maker
   2. Compatible cartridge
   3. Your material to laminate

Great Equipment Features to Look for & Why

1. 1. Large Size: Some sticker makers can come as small as 1.5.” These make for great labels or small stickers. However, a larger width capacity allows for stickers both big and small.
   2. Compact: It can be easy to overlook when buying something “mini,” but think about where you will store your laminator. Make sure that the one you choose is a shape and size that makes sense for your space.

How to Mini Laminate & Make Stickers

1. 1. Insert cartridge
   2. Feed project through

Who Uses Mini Lamination & Sticker Making

Mini laminators and sticker makers are a great addition to any toolkit. They can be used at home or in schools as custom sticker or label makers. Families can use them to make stickers and magnets out of family photos. Similarly, sticker makers can level up your scrapbooking game by applying an even coat of adhesive across photos and paper allowing for easy placement. You can accomplish a lot with custom stickers and the affordable price of these mini laminators makes them a crafting essential.

What are the most popular applications for mini laminators & sticker makers?

1. 1. Custom sticker making
   2. Scrapbooking
   3. Crafts
   4. Label making
   5. Custom magnets
   6. Business cards
   7. IDs

Recommended Mini Laminators & Sticker Makers

• TLC Model 5500 - Able to create over ten badges in one minute, the TLC 5500 allows for fast and easy badge-making.
• Xyron Create-a-Sticker 250 - This small, portable can turn any 2.5” wide sheet into a sticker in seconds.
• Xyron 9" Creative Station - This small but powerful laminator can laminate, and make stickers and magnets with the help of easy-to-use cartridges.

TLDR for Mini Laminators & Sticker Makers: Key Takeaways & Things to Note

• Cheap way to achieve lamination & custom sticker creation
• Usually are manual and utilize cartridges
• Great for on-the-go/portable use

Congratulations, Graduate

If you’ve made it this far, then you can move that tassel to the other side of your cap, because you just graduated from Laminating Machines 101. It was a long guide and covered a lot of topics, so kudos to you for sticking through and getting the knowledge you need to make the most informed decision for your investment. Whether buying for your industrial shop, business, or home, you are now well-prepared to take the next step.

When you buy a laminating machine from MyBinding, you are choosing a company with over 90 years of experience in the industry; a claim that very few companies can make! Our commitment to customer care and getting you truly helpful and human information set us apart from the AI-driven noise you may find elsewhere.

Or call us at 1-800-944-4573 for one-on-one help finding the perfect laminator or supplies for your unique needs.