Independent specification catalog for business office equipmentNo rankings · No paid placement · Disclosure
Home / Comparisons / Thermal vs Cold Laminators

Concept · Updated October 2026 · By the OfficeRated team

Thermal vs Cold Laminators: Which Models Do Both

“Check price on Amazon” buttons are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. No prices are shown here, and nothing is ranked or scored. Disclosure

A thermal (hot) laminator uses heated rollers to seal pouches. Cold laminating uses pressure-sensitive pouches with no heat, for items that can be damaged by heat. Some machines do both. Below, every laminator in our catalog, split by whether its maker lists a cold setting.

Hot and cold laminators (4)

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

ModelTypeMaximum widthSpeedTemperatureRollersMaximum pouch thicknessWhere to buy
Formax FlashGuard 18R6Pouch laminator (hot and cold)Up to 18" (457 mm)Up to 47" per minute (1,200 mm/min)Up to 320 °F (160 °C); variable temperature and speed; 2 memory settings6Up to 14 mil (350 mic)Check price on Amazon ↗
Formax FlashGuard 13R10Pouch laminator (hot and cold)Up to 13" (330 mm)Up to 141" per minute (3,600 mm/min)Up to 320 °F (160 °C); variable temperature and speed; 2 memory settings10 (6 heated, 2 cooling, 2 output)Up to 14 mil (350 mic)See model page
Formax FlashGuard 13R6Pouch laminator (hot and cold)Up to 13" (330 mm)Up to 55" per minute (1,400 mm/min)Up to 320 °F (160 °C); variable temperature and speed; 2 memory settings6 (4 heating, 2 cooling)Up to 14 mil (350 mic)Check price on Amazon ↗
Formax FlashGuard 13R8Pouch laminator (hot and cold)Up to 13" (330 mm)Up to 82" per minute (2,100 mm/min)Up to 320 °F (160 °C); variable temperature and speed; 2 memory settings8 (6 heating, 2 cooling)Up to 14 mil (350 mic)See model page

Hot-only and other laminators (9)

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

ModelTypeMaximum widthSpeedTemperatureRollersMaximum pouch thicknessWhere to buy
Akiles ProLam Ultra XLPouch laminator18.9" (480 mm)47" per minute; 9 speed settings32-284 °F; 2 programmable memory settings6 (4 hot / 2 cold)14 mil (350 mic)Check price on Amazon ↗
MBM FoilGlazer IIRoll-fed single-sided laminator and foil fuser; automatic air-suction sheet feederPaper up to 14.37" × 23.62" (laminating min. 11.69" × 8.26"); film width 7.87"-13.38"Laminating 16.4' per minute; foil fusing 9.84' per minuten/an/an/aSee model page
Akiles ProLam PhotoPouch laminator13" (330 mm)Variable, 12"-59" per minute32-320 °F; electronic controln/a10 mil (250 mic)Check price on Amazon ↗
Akiles ProLam Plus 330Pouch laminator13" (330 mm)23" per minuten/a4 (2 hot / 2 cold)10 milCheck price on Amazon ↗
Akiles ProLam Ultra X10Pouch laminator13" (330 mm)142" per minute; 9 speed settings32-320 °F; 2 programmable memory settings10 (6 hot / 4 cold)14 mil (350 mic)Check price on Amazon ↗
Akiles ProLam Ultra X6Pouch laminator13" (330 mm)59" per minute; 9 speed settings32-284 °F; 2 programmable memory settings6 (4 hot / 2 cold)14 mil (350 mic)Check price on Amazon ↗
Akiles ProLam UltraPouch laminator13" (330 mm)53" per minute; 9 speed settingsUp to 140 °C; 7 memory presets; reverse6 silicone (4 heat / 2 cold)14 milCheck price on Amazon ↗
Akiles ProLam Plus 230Pouch laminator9.1" (230 mm)23" per minuten/a4 (2 hot / 2 cold)10 milSee model page
Akiles ProLam Plus 160Pouch laminator6.3" (160 mm)23" per minuten/a4 (2 hot / 2 cold)10 milSee model page

Sorted by maximum width, widest first. "n/a" means the maker didn't state it.