Who invented the fax machine?

Scottish inventor Alexander Bain received the first patent for fax technology in 1843. Italian physicist Giovanni Caselli built the first commercial fax service in 1865. Xerox Corporation created the first modern office fax machine in 1966. All three are considered key inventors of fax technology.

Was the fax machine invented before the telephone?

Yes — by more than 30 years. Alexander Bain patented fax technology in 1843, and the first commercial fax service operated in 1865. Alexander Graham Bell did not patent the telephone until 1876, making fax one of the oldest electrical communication technologies in existence.

Is fax still used in 2026?

Yes. An estimated 43 million fax machines remain connected worldwide, and over 75% of US healthcare providers still use fax for patient record sharing. Healthcare, legal, and government sectors rely on fax for its compliance and point-to-point security. Modern services like [mFax.to](https://mfax.to) let you send faxes from a smartphone — no machine required.

When did fax machines become common in offices?

Fax machines became standard office equipment in the 1980s after the ITU adopted the Group 3 digital compression standard in 1980. This allowed any fax machine to communicate with any other and cut transmission time to under one minute per page. US fax machine sales peaked in 1997.

What Year Was the Fax Machine Invented? (2026 Guide)

The fax machine was invented in 1843 — 33 years before the telephone. Learn who invented it, how the technology evolved, and which modern fax solutions still make sense in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year was the fax machine invented?: The fax machine was invented in 1843, when Scottish inventor Alexander Bain received British Patent No. 9745 for his "Electric Printing Telegraph" on May 27, 1843. The first commercial fax service launched in 1865, and the modern telephone-compatible fax machine arrived in 1966 with the Xerox Magnafax Telecopier.
Who invented the fax machine?: Scottish inventor Alexander Bain received the first patent for fax technology in 1843. Italian physicist Giovanni Caselli built the first commercial fax service in 1865. Xerox Corporation created the first modern office fax machine in 1966. All three are considered key inventors of fax technology.
Was the fax machine invented before the telephone?: Yes — by more than 30 years. Alexander Bain patented fax technology in 1843, and the first commercial fax service operated in 1865. Alexander Graham Bell did not patent the telephone until 1876, making fax one of the oldest electrical communication technologies in existence.
Is fax still used in 2026?: Yes. An estimated 43 million fax machines remain connected worldwide, and over 75% of US healthcare providers still use fax for patient record sharing. Healthcare, legal, and government sectors rely on fax for its compliance and point-to-point security. Modern services like [mFax.to](https://mfax.to) let you send faxes from a smartphone — no machine required.
When did fax machines become common in offices?: Fax machines became standard office equipment in the 1980s after the ITU adopted the Group 3 digital compression standard in 1980. This allowed any fax machine to communicate with any other and cut transmission time to under one minute per page. US fax machine sales peaked in 1997.