When you shop for a printer, you might care about eco-friendly features or long-term running costs. A printer with duplex printing can check both boxes. This feature saves paper, cuts clutter, and makes everyday printing a little easier. That’s why it has become a must-have in many homes and offices, not just big corporate setups. This is the basis of duplex printing meaning.
If you're asking what is duplex printing, this guide has the answers. In this post, we’ll walk through what duplex printing means, how it works, and why it matters. You’ll get a clear idea of how this simple feature can save time and money without asking you to change your printing habits. We’ll also share a few popular printers that support duplex printing, so you know what to look for when choosing your next device.
Contents:
- What Is Duplex Printing?
- What Is Duplex in Printer?
- How Does Duplex Printing Work?
- Types of Duplex Printing
- Popular Models with Duplex Printing
- Final Thoughts on Duplex Printing
What Is Duplex Printing?
Duplex printing, also known as two-sided printing, works on both laser and inkjet printers. It lets your machine print on the front and back of a sheet without any extra steps from you. Many printers that support this feature include a letter “d” at the end of their model names, such as Brother DCP-L3560CDW, which makes it easier to spot when you’re shopping. This is essentially what is print duplexing.
Compared with single-sided printing, duplex print helps you save money and use your paper more wisely. You’ll go through fewer sheets, your files will take up less space, and your printing routine will become more efficient overall. It’s a small feature, but once you start using it regularly, it can make everyday printing faster, cleaner, and a lot more budget-friendly.
What Is Duplex in Printer? Understanding Duplex Printing
If you print double-sided documents often, a duplex unit is a very handy feature to have. It takes the hassle out of flipping pages by hand and keeps your workflow smooth, especially when you’re dealing with long reports or multi-page forms. So, what exactly is a duplex unit? It’s a built-in component that flips the page for you during printing. The printer pulls the sheet back in, rotates it, and prints on the other side — all without you touching anything. A duplex printer is designed for this purpose.
Its exact location depends on the printer model and brand. In many cases, it sits inside the main body of the printer, close to the paper feed path where the sheet travels. Some printers place it toward the back, and a few models have it in a clearly marked section that you can access when performing maintenance. No matter where it’s installed, the idea is the same: it makes double-sided printing simple, automatic, and much more efficient. Once you try a printer with a duplex unit, you’ll probably never want to go back to manual flipping again. This is how printer duplex printing works in practice.
How Does Duplex Printing Work?
To understand how to duplex print, follow these steps. Here’s how automatic duplex printing usually works:
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Step 1: Setup
First, you choose the duplex printing option in the printer settings. After receiving the print command, the printer pulls one sheet from the tray and sends it through the paper path. This is the first step in duplex print. -
Step 2: Front Side
The printer prints the first side as the sheet moves through. Once the front side is done, the paper is held in place for a moment. -
Step 3: Flip Mechanism
The duplex unit flips the sheet or routes it back into the printer. -
Step 4: Back Side
The printer then prints the second side.
Finally, the finished sheet comes out into the output tray with content on both sides.
Types of Duplex Printing
There are two ways to print double-sided: automatic duplex printing and manual duplex printing. Automatic duplex printing flips the paper on its own, which saves time and effort. Manual duplex printing requires you to turn the paper yourself and reload it. If your printer doesn’t support automatic duplex, manual duplex is still a practical option. These methods define duplex printing printers.
1. Automatic Duplex Printing
When it comes to how to duplex print automatically, it is straightforward. No matter what device you use, you only need to find and select the duplex printing option. If you don’t need it, you can turn it off in “Print Settings” or “System Settings.”
(1) How to Print Double-Sided on a Computer
Before you start, make sure your printer supports duplex printing. If it doesn’t, the printer cannot flip the pages automatically. In that case, you’ll need to print manually. You can check the instructions in the next section.
Duplex on Windows
- Open your document, click File, then Print. You can also press Ctrl + P. Select Duplex Printing, choose Flip on Long Edge or Flip on Short Edge, then click OK.
- If you’re printing a webpage, the steps are slightly different. Press Ctrl + P to open the menu. Click More Settings, find the Duplex Printing option, turn it on, choose a flip option, and then click Print.
Duplex on MacOS
- Open the document you want to print.
- Click File, then Print. You can also press Command + P.
- Select a printer that supports duplex printing.
- Click Copies & Pages, then choose Layout. You’ll see a Two-Sided option.
- Choose Long-Edge Binding or Short-Edge Binding.
- Finally, click Print.
Web pages work a little differently when you print them.
- Click File at the top, then choose Print.
- Select Print using system dialog...
- In the print menu, turn on Two-Sided next to Copies. Then choose Long-Edge Binding or Short-Edge Binding.
- Finally, hit Print and your pages will start printing.
Keep in mind that the wording may vary depending on your printer brand or model. Look for key terms instead. For example, some menus show options like “Two-Sided (Long Edge Mirror)” or “Two-Sided (Short Edge Mirror).” If you’re unsure, check your printer’s user manual—most manuals include clear step-by-step guides.
Tip:
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Long-edge flip / long-edge binding: This means the page turns along the long side of the paper, similar to a book.
- Short-edge flip / short-edge binding: This means the page turns along the short side, similar to a calendar.
(2) How to Print Double-Sided on a Phone
Whether you’re using Android or iOS, you can print double-sided through your printer’s mobile app. Common apps include Canon PRINT, Brother iPrint&Scan, Epson iPrint, HP Print Service, and Samsung Mobile Print.
- First, make sure your printer supports automatic duplex printing and is connected to the app.
- Open the app, pick the file you want to print, and tap Print to enter the print settings.
- Choose your paper size, print quality, color mode, and number of copies. Then select Two-Sided. Some apps also let you pick the flip direction: Long Edge or Short Edge.
- Finally, tap Start or OK, and wait for the duplex print to finish.
2. Manual Duplex Printing
For printers without an automatic feature, how to do duplex print manually? If your printer doesn’t support automatic duplex printing, don’t worry—manual duplex works on most models. The main difference is simple: you flip the pages yourself instead of letting the printer do it.
(1) Manual Two-Sided Printing
- Open the document, click File, then choose Print.
- Select Manual Duplex, then click Print. The printer will print the first side of each page.
- Follow the on-screen instructions: remove the printed stack, flip it the right way, and place it back in the tray.
- Click Next or OK. The printer will print the second side, and your double-sided document is done.
(2) Print Odd Pages Only
- Open your document, click File, then Print.
- Click Custom Print, scroll down, and choose Print Odd Pages Only. Then click Print.
- After the odd pages finish printing, flip the stack and place it back into the tray.
- Switch the setting from Odd Pages Only to Even Pages Only, then print again. Now each sheet will have content on both sides.
Still confused? The video below used Brother HL-L3220CDW printer as an example to show you how to do duplex printing:
Duplex Printers: Popular Models with Duplex Printing
Here are some well-known printer models that handle automatic duplex printing very well. We also listed the compatible toner cartridges for quick reference. Here are some popular duplex printers that support automatic duplex printing:
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Printer Model |
Toner Cartridges |
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Brother TN248, TN248XL |
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Brother TN2510, TN2510XL |
|
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Brother HL-L5210DW |
Brother TN3600, TN3600XL |
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Canon 067, 067H |
|
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Canon 069, 069H |
|
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Canon i-SENSYS MF461DW |
Canon 070, 070H |
|
HP 207A, 207X |
|
|
HP 415A, 415X |
|
|
HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M554DN |
HP 212A, 212X |
|
Kyocera ECOSYS M5521CDN |
Kyocera TK-5220 |
|
Kyocera ECOSYS M5526CDN |
Kyocera TK-5240 |
Final Thoughts on Duplex Printing
Duplex print means saving resources and improving efficiency. Printing on both sides of the page cuts paper waste, keeps your files thinner, and helps you stay a bit more organized. It also feels more professional, whether you’re putting together reports, school notes, or simple home projects.
In summary, what is duplex printing? It's a smart printing method that benefits everyone. Now that you’ve gone through this guide, you should have a clearer idea of how it works and why it matters. And once you get used to it, you’ll probably wonder why you didn’t switch to double-sided printing sooner. It’s one of those small features that quietly make your printing life easier — and your wallet a little happier.
