Best Laminator for Foiling to Buy in 2024

In 2010, foiling was the next best thing in crafting. 10 years later, it still is. Today, having a laminator for foiling handy is a boon. Even more than a printer. You may want to laminate your important photographs or documents for preservation or simply engage in foil application for your side craft project.

How about some lovely invitation cards or maybe a side hustle by selling fancy greeting cards to the kids in your neighborhood?

Whatever may be your requirement, having a laminator at home can save you a lot of effort and dollars.

• Akiles ProLam Plus 330
• Fellowes Voyager 125
• Scotch TL906
• Xyron Glaminator
• Swingline GBC Inspire

A foil laminator is a desk machine that allows you to emboss or print fancy designs using foil paper (usually gold and silver) on paper, cardboard, and cloth. It is a way to embellish boring-looking cards and products, add some shine, and make them instantly attractive.

Around the world, designers and crafters use such machines to add some zing to their work. Foiling is common in wedding invitation cards, home décor, and miscellaneous craft and art projects.

Regardless of your needs, when you decide to get a foiling machine, you should go with the best. So, here are the best laminators for foiling available to buy online.

How to Choose a Laminator for Foiling?

This is one of the most important questions that may arise when buying a foil laminator. A more precise question is: what type of laminator should you go for?

The answer lies in the capability and modes of the pouch laminator. Here’s a quick guide.

Consider the Critical Parameters

• Temperature Setting – Can you control the temperature? If yes, what is the control range? Opt for those that have a range upwards of 300 degrees Fahrenheit
• Speed – This is important if you are a prolific user. Anything in the range of 300 mm/min to 600 mm/min is a good bet
• Width of Pouch – The laminator should be able to press pouches that are at least 10 mm wide. This will allow you to hot press not only papers but cardboard, book covers, and cloth
• Rollers – Check the number of rollers. A minimum of 2 is recommended
• Safety – This is important both for beginners and professionals. Make sure the machine is built with proper safety covers to avoid burns and shocks
• Feed Width – This is the horizontal area where you feed the sheet. Opt for machines that have at least 12 inches of feed area

Best Budget

Swingline GBC Laminator, Inspire Best Cheap Laminator For Foiling

See at Amazon →

Fix Your Needs

Answer these three questions and you will automatically know what type of machine to get.

1. Do you want a laminator machine only for laminating?
2. Are you a beginner in the world of lamination and foiling?
3. Are you a prolific user or a craft professional?

Here you will realize the range of your needs, your usage, and the volume of your needs. Keep those three things in mind while you browse the reviews below.

What Manufacturer/Brand to Choose?

We recommend going with the Make in America sentiment. Most of the machines that we have reviewed below are made in the USA by local, homegrown manufacturers. But if you were to select one or two brands, go with the ones that you are already familiar with.

For example, Scotch is an internationally renowned brand. On the other hand, Akiles and ABOX are popular in the country.

Best Laminator for Foiling Reviews 2024

Here’s everything you need to know about the top six foil laminators in detail. Read individual model reviews and pick your choice. Don’t forget to check out the pros and cons to make a quicker decision if you are in a hurry or have a dilemma about any two models.

#1 – Akiles ProLam Plus 330 Laminator

Akiles is an American small-time manufacturer of binding and laminating machines. Its ProLam series is perhaps the most popular brand, with its plastic laminators and binders in wide use around the world.

Foil Laminator Review

Think of a regular foil laminator. Now think of another laminator that is 5x better than that from all aspects. You have the ProLam Plus 330. It has silicon heat rollers that supply uniform heat, detailed control and indication panel, dual heat system, and gradual temperature control to suit all types of lamination projects.

But the USP is its ability to laminate through both hot and cold press. For those projects where you need to be more careful, you can use the cold-press technique (laminates using pressure and adhesive) and avoid any mistakes that may arise.

Although, the temperate range of 176°F to 320°F is useful enough even if you depend on the hot press mode.

We also like the temperature control bit which allows you to increase/decrease the heat depending upon the project. It also has a sturdy enclosure and anti-shock build that make it safer to use. You don’t need to be skilled in laminating to start with the ProLam.

You should know that this is a pouch laminator, one of the most common types in the world. Here you insert a paper or the desired element into a plastic pouch (cover) and insert it between the rollers.

The 13-inch wide mouth is sufficient for most projects. The ProLam is easy to use, creates bubble-free lamination, will last for decades with proper care, and works with most standard pouches and paper types.

With two heat rollers, two cold pull rollers, a heat plate system for those foil crafting projects, and a speed of 540 mm/min, this beast comes out as the most powerful and best laminator for foiling currently in the market. And it is priced like a steal.

#2 – Fellowes Laminator Voyager 125

Fellowes is an American conglomerate of office and technology equipment. It has been around for more than 100 years, which automatically proves its reputation in the market. The Voyager 125 is one of its bestsellers. It sells government-approved and TAA-compliant products.

Foil Laminator Review

Sometimes you need some sweet extras in your machines that you use daily to make your life easier. If you are an office administrator or a prolific art professional, getting an advanced foil laminator machine makes sense. You need to do the basic stuff but you also need to do it faster and better to stand out in the crowd.

The Laminator Voyager 125 by Fellowes is the perfect machine that you can gift yourself. It’s a pouch laminator with the basic stuff but with a lot of fresh features.

We like the auto-sense feature, which Fellowes calls the AutoLam technology. Here, the machine sets itself according to the type of paper, type of pouch, and length of the material supplied to it to execute perfect lamination.

The belt-drive system is another great feature, which solves the problem of lags and jams. Never will you find yourself hunching over your machine, trying to remove a stuck plastic pouch from between the rollers. Not when you are using the Voyager 125.

Its 4 rollers supply uniform heat and pressure and allow pouch thickness of up to 10 mm. The 12.5-inch opening is enough for most projects which can be laminated via both cold and hot press.

And no need to worry about all the adhesive stuck in the rollers. This Fellowes machine is also easy to clean and maintain.

But we did find that owing to the inclusion of several features, the machine tends to wear off quite easily. You will need to maintain it with the utmost care if you are looking for long-term use, which is the case with most office users and professionals.

But if you are confident about your usage and know that you can handle it better, the Voyager 125 will serve you for years. It heats up in less than 4 minutes and is built using HeatGuard technology that makes it easier to handle, even for beginners.

#3 – Scotch Pro Thermal Laminator TL906

From the inventor of the transparent tape comes a laminator that is equally great and easy to use. The Scotch brand has been around since the early 1900s.

Foil Laminator Review

If you have been laminating for years, you know that the biggest peeve is a sheet jamming or getting stuck between the rollers.

Whatever you do and how much ever patience you supply, that thing never gets corrected. The TL906 by Scotch is the answer to that worry.

We know we reviewed the Fellowes Voyager above that does the same thing, but this one here does it like it’s a walk in the park.

You switch on the machine, wait for it to warm up (it signals using a light indicator), feed your sheet, and voila! It adapts to the inserted sheet and manages the heat and pressure to prevent jamming.

You don’t have to worry about your important documents getting stuck in there, even if they are decades old. This bad boy will take care of them.

We love the distraction-free interface by Scotch which makes it both easier and safer to operate. There are no gaps or “open heat areas” where you could put your hands or fingers by mistake. It does get extra points for design as well as its speed, but we found the machine to be a bit noisy, especially if you are working it for more than an hour.

Plus, the opening area is just 9-10 inches long, which is a limitation if you have large sheets to laminate. The auto shut-off is a great feature but it’s nothing special because we have found it in all the other three models so far.

But perhaps the plug-and-play nature of Scotch and its beginner-level operation are what makes it a crowd favorite, especially if you are going to use it in schools and colleges.

Never worry about your sheet jamming in a laminator because Scotch is here to save the day.

Pro Tip – Remove the sheet as soon as you are done with laminating to avoid permanent curl at the end.

#4 – Xyron Glaminator Foil Laminator

Xyron is a part of ACCO Brands and has been around since 1997. It produces craft and art supplies and is one of the leaders in the local US market.

Foil Laminator Review

The Glaminator works as a gold foil applicator, a hot press, and a cold press. This three-in-one machine will make for a great addition to your craft garage, with its easy-to-use operation and free interface. Working on this Xyron machine can be learned in less than 10 minutes. It’s as simple as using the Scotch model above.

The 9-inch opening is enough for your craft projects. Use gold or silver foil and add some zing to greeting cards and invitation cards. The reactive foil application works great for perfect embellishment, regardless of the type of sheet you are using.

Just make sure you use toner ink on a laser printer for best results. (Do note that inkjet printer won’t help in foiling.)

While the Glaminator cannot compete with the ABOX model we reviewed below (both are for different purposes), it surely can replace your old MINC. Or if you have ever had your eyes on MINC, this can be a great alternative.

Xyron is known for its craft supplies, so it’s no wonder that the foils come out great from this machine. The embosses are permanent and spotless. And it works on a variety of surfaces like letterheads, thick certificates, and even book covers.

#5 – Swingline GBC Laminator, Inspire

Swingline is also owned by ACCO Brands, but its focus has been on office supplies and stationery. The brand has been around since 1925 and has more recently entered the laminator and binding products industry.

Foil Laminator Review

Finally on our list of the best laminators for foiling is a budget-friendly model. This one by Swingline is intended for homes use and for beginners who may have never used a laminator before.

The GBC is a cheap laminator for foiling so you cannot expect it to move mountains. But for the price, it comes in a nice package and enclosure. The black covering adds to the look and allows for easy operation.

The 9-inch opening is sufficient for most lengths of sheets like greeting cards, handwritten cards, and documents. Just put the sheet in the pouch, feed it into the opening, and the rollers will do the rest. It’s very easy.

It can take sheets of width up to 5 mm and takes about 7 minutes to heat up. This is obviously higher than the average, but we can assure you that once it is heated, you can quickly laminate through your sheets in bulk.

Just the basic features and a hardworking motor here – what more do you need when you are just starting up?

#6 – ABOX Laminator OL381

Owned by Sustanbo, ABOX is an American office supplies company that specializes in thermal laminators and vacuum sealers. It is similar to Fellowes but manages to produce more versatile products, just like this all-in-one laminator.

Foil Laminator Review

If the Voyager 125 seems pricey and if you are looking for a long-term investment, prefer this ABOX foil machine. Here you get a top-class laminator that can do both hot and cold press, a very sharp paper cutter that is attached to the machine, and a corner rounder for those final finishes.

Add up the cost of all that and then compare it with the modest price of the OL381. What more value do you want?

What’s more impressive? The 13-inch wide opening can fit the most common sizes of paper including A3, A4, and A6. The cutter is a major highlight that can trim through paper of up to 50 mm, which is higher even by the standard of cutters that cost about $10 per pop.

It’s also very sharp, which forces us to be cautious, especially around kids. It has a handy lock but you can never be too cautious, right?

The dual-roller system is enough to supply uniform heat and pressure but that is where the above two models take the prize.

They each have four rollers, which provide a better finish. But ABOX makes up for it with its thermal conductivity pipe and bubble-heating system, which are ideal for laminating. It also makes use of aluminum parts, which extend the machine’s lifespan.

ABOX claims that the machine takes about 3 minutes to heat, but we tested and we had to wait for a few more. But once heated, you can get stuff laminated quickly. The heating does not slow, and you can work on it for hours.

However, the manufacturer recommends adding a cool-off period of a few minutes in between sessions.

While the other models on this list give out 2 or 3 free pouches, this one here comes with 16 complementary pouches of different sizes. It’s like a starter system that allows you to begin work on your projects the moment it arrives on your doorstep. Go on, order it now.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Foil Laminator

Answers to some of the most common questions about thermal laminating.

Conclusion

Finding the best laminator for foiling is easier when you only have to choose from a range of six models. We hope that this short guide has helped you find your ideal machine. While each one of them is better than the rest in its own regard, the Akiles ProLam and Swingline GBC Inspire usually come on top of most expert ratings. In our tests too, these were the models that took the most beating and yet continued to do what they do best.

If you are in a dilemma, pick one of them and begin a journey towards the ultimate crafting, foiling, and laminating experience. Buy today!