What is cheaper to run inkjet or laser?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 18, 2026
Inkjets are cheaper to buy than laser printers, but running costs can be higher. This is because of the ink they use during cleaning cycles, meaning it isn't actually used to print. With inefficient inkjets, costs per printed page can be much higher than with laser printers.
What is the cheapest type of printer to run?
Inkjet Printer v Laser Printer. When you work out the cost-per-page value, then Laser printers win every time. Laser Printers use toner cartridges which have much higher page-yields compared to ink cartridges. They are usually more expensive than inkjet printers, but in the long-term, they work out cheaper.
Is a laser printer cheaper to run?
While laser printers are more expensive to buy, they can sometimes be cheaper to run in the long term. Toner cartridges can print a lot more pages than ink cartridges – so if you regularly print high volumes of documents from your home office, a laser printer may be the most economical option.
Is a laser printer better than inkjet?
Laser printers are better for text and documents.
If you are printing a lot of basic documents, a laser printer – even a monochrome laser printer – can churn out page after page with better quality than an inkjet. But inkjets are better at printing photos.
Which printer is best for home use?
Best printers for home use in India in 2022
- Epson M100 Printer. ...
- Canon Pixma G3000 All-in-One Wireless Ink Tank Colour Printer. ...
- HP Laserjet Pro M126nw Laser Printer. ...
- Brother HL-L2321D Laser Printer. ...
- Epson Eco Tank L3250 All-in-One Ink Tank Printer. ...
- HP 410 All-in-One Ink Tank Color Printer.
How long do laser cartridges last?
HP toner cartridges can last up to two years in their sealed packaging. Even after two years you may still get some use out of the cartridge, so it may be worth trying even after the fact. Your printer will display a “low cartridge” message when a specific cartridge needs to be replaced.
Is toner cheaper than ink?
While ink is still relatively expensive to refill or replace, toner powder is much more affordable over time. This also makes it more efficient and less wasteful because inkjet cartridges often force users to refill or replace them before they've been completely depleted.
Do laser printers dry out?
Laser printers use toner which will not dry out the same way an ink cartridge does. Unlike ink, which is liquid-based, toner is a dry powder composed of plastic components so it will not dry out. You can leave a toner cartridge in your printer for weeks untouched and it should still print.
How much does a toner cartridge cost?
However, printer ink cartridge cost can seem frugal compared to the cost of toner cartridges. An ink cartridge might cost $20 while toner will cost $100. The toner cartridge produces more than five times the number of pages, however, making it the overall better bargain.
Which is more expensive inkjet or laser?
Inkjet printers are typically less expensive to purchase while laser printers may cost more to buy initially, but generally have a lower total cost of ownership over time.
What colour laser printer has the cheapest toner?
Laser Printers with the Cheapest Toner
- Budget Laser Printer: Brother HL-L2300D. ...
- Budget Laser Printer: Brother HL-L5100DN. ...
- Small Business Laser Printer: HP LaserJet Pro M402n. ...
- Small Business Laser Printer: Canon ImageCLASS MF247dw. ...
- Small Business Laser Printer: Dell C1760NW.
Can I use inkjet paper in a laser printer?
Short answer: No, not usually. If a pack of paper is labeled for use in an inkjet printer only, it should only be used in an inkjet printer. Using “inkjet only” labeled paper in a laser printer can actually damage your laser printer.
Which printer make has cheapest ink?
Best Printers for Business Use with Inexpensive Ink
- Canon Office and Business MX922 All-In-One Printer. ...
- Epson Expression Home XP-340 Wireless Color Photo Printer. ...
- Canon Pixma TS5051. ...
- Epson EcoTank ET-4760. ...
- HP ENVY Photo 7155 All-in-One Printer. ...
- HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e All-in-One Wireless Printer.
What type of printer uses the least ink?
What Printer Uses the Least Amount of Ink?
- Inkjet Pinrters. You can usually buy an inkjet printer for $50 or less. ...
- Laser Printers. These printers don't actually use ink; they use toner. ...
- Changing Printer Settings. ...
- Finding Affordable Ink. ...
- Buying the Right Printer for Your Needs.
What is black toner?
Toner is a dry powdery substance that won't stain like an ink cartridges, but it can get messy if handled improperly. Monochrome laser printers print with just a black toner cartridge. Color laser printers use four separate black, cyan, magenta and yellow toner cartridges to produce a print.
How often do you replace laser toner?
The standard cartridge is your run-of-the-mill cost savings cartridge. It typically gives you about 10,000–12,000 pages. For a home user that doesn't print constantly, this is a great option.
Do laser printers need to be used frequently?
From a practical standpoint, a laser printer requires no additional maintenance -- and suffers no degradation in performance -- when used infrequently over the course of several years.
Why is laser toner so expensive?
Research and development are often cited as the main reason for the high cost of supplies for inkjets and laser printers. HP claims it spends $1 billion a year on research and development, and holds over 4,000 patents alone on consumables, like toner cartridges for laser printers, and, of course, ink cartridges.
What is the average cost per page for a laser printer?
Cost Per Page: Laser Printers
The average cost to print a page on a laser printer is around 5- to 8-cents for black and white, and between 12- and 15-cents for color laser prints. However, the cost of color print can rise as high as 60-cents per page for photos and heavy graphics.
What is better inkjet or Deskjet?
Inkjet printers are cheaper than Deskjets. However, the quality of ink used in inkjet printers is not as good in comparison with that used by Deskjets. The fonts visible on paper will have smoother edges when printed through a Deskjet printer.
Do you need special paper for a laser printer?
Inkjets and laser printers don't technically require different paper. You can use a ream of cheap office copy paper and get results that are adequate for most uses.
Do laser printers clog up like inkjets?
Related. Unlike inkjet printers, laser print heads don't get clogged with dried ink. However, dust and bits of debris can accumulate on a laser print-head lens, causing many of the same print-quality issues as a clogged print head on an inkjet printer, including blurred or faint text and images.
How many times can a laser printer cartridge be refilled?
Laser printer cartridges can be refilled more than 100 times. There is wear and tear of parts which has to be replaced as they wear out. The body can be used for very long time as the body of cartridge does not have much wear. All parts are mostly replaceable … so you can replace any part when its life gets over.