Guide · Updated 2026-10-08

Inkjet, Ink Tank or Laser? Cost Per Page Compared

How to compare printers by true cost per page, with a worked example of a cartridge inkjet against an ink tank printer, the monthly volume where each wins and what the yields really mean.

The price of a printer tells you very little about what printing will cost. Most of the money goes on ink or toner, and printers that are cheap to buy are often the most expensive to run. The fix is to compare cost per page and total cost over the years you will use it, not the sticker price.

How to work out cost per page

Divide the price of a cartridge or refill by the number of pages it is rated to print (its "yield"). Add black and colour together for a colour page.

• Black page cost = black cartridge price ÷ black yield.
• Colour page cost = black page cost + colour cartridge price ÷ colour yield (a colour page uses both).
• Average cost per page = black cost × share of black pages + colour cost × share of colour pages.

A worked example: cartridge inkjet against ink tank

Take someone printing 80 pages a month, 20 percent in colour, planning to keep the printer for four years. Both options use example prices, so replace them with the real figures for the printers you are considering.

The ink tank printer costs £160 more to buy but saves about £109 a year, so it pays for itself in around 1.5 years and saves roughly £275 over four years. The Printer Ink and Toner Cost Comparator runs the same sum with your prices.

The volume where each option wins

The answer changes completely if you print very little. At 10 pages a month the same two printers cost about £116 (inkjet) and £222 (ink tank) over four years, so the cheap inkjet wins. Using these example figures, the break-even is about 30 pages a month: above that, the more expensive printer with cheap ink saves money; below it, the cheap printer is better value.

What about laser printers?

Laser printers use toner, which does not dry out, so they suit people who print occasionally but need sharp black text. Mono lasers are often the cheapest option for documents. Colour lasers can have a high upfront price and four toner cartridges to replace. For photos and graphics, an inkjet or ink tank printer usually gives better results.

What the numbers do not show

• Yields are measured on light pages. Page yields are tested using standard test pages with low ink coverage, around 5 percent. Photos and dense graphics use far more ink.
• Ink dries out. If you print only now and then, cartridges can dry and clog heads, and printers use ink for cleaning cycles. This pushes real costs up.
• Subscriptions. Some makers offer a monthly plan that includes a set number of pages. Compare the monthly fee with your pages: a plan with 100 pages for a few pounds can beat buying cartridges, but unused pages may not roll over, and the printer may stop printing if you cancel.
• Third-party ink. Compatible cartridges and refills can be cheaper. Quality and warranty terms vary, so check reviews and the printer maker's terms.
• Chip and firmware restrictions. Some printers refuse certain cartridges after an update. Check before buying.

How to choose

1. Estimate your monthly pages honestly, and how many are colour.
2. Look up the real price and yield of the ink or toner for each printer you are considering.
3. Use the comparator to see cost per page and the total over the years you will keep it.
4. Check connectivity, duplex printing, scanner needs and size.

Other printing costs

Paper, electricity and replacement parts add a little. For shipping labels and other special printing, a thermal printer needs no ink at all; see the Label Printer Finder and Cost Calculator. For the same "price plus running cost" thinking applied to other appliances, read Is a More Efficient Appliance Worth the Extra Cost?.

Frequently asked questions

Are ink tank printers worth it? If you print more than about 30 to 40 pages a month, usually yes, because the ink is so much cheaper per page. At very low volumes the lower purchase price of a cartridge printer wins.

Why does my ink run out faster than the yield says? Yields are measured on light test pages. Heavy colour, photos and frequent cleaning cycles use more.

Prices and yields here are examples to show the method. Always check the current figures for the printers you are considering.