Ink tank or laser: which printer actually costs less to run

Ink tank and laser printers solve different problems, and the cheaper machine on the shelf is very often the more expensive machine over three years.

Print volume decides it

Under roughly 200 pages a month, an ink tank is usually the better buy: lower entry price, and a bottle refill costs a fraction of a cartridge. Above that, a monochrome laser pulls ahead on both cost per page and speed.

What you print matters as much as how much

If the answer is invoices, forms and letters, a monochrome laser is faster, sharper on small text, and the toner does not care how long it sits. If you need colour photographs or marketing pieces, an ink tank will do it far more cheaply than a colour laser.

Idle time is the hidden variable

Inkjet heads can clog if the machine goes unused for weeks, and clearing them consumes ink. A printer that prints twice a month is a better fit for laser almost regardless of volume.

Check the duty cycle before you buy

Every printer lists a recommended monthly page volume, which is separate from its maximum. Running consistently near the maximum shortens the life of the machine considerably.