You buy a cheap printer for $71. You print 100 pages. The ink runs out. Replacement cartridges cost $53. You print another 100. After a year you have spent more on ink than on the printer, and you wonder if it makes sense to continue like this. It’s the oldest business model in consumer technology: give away the razor and sell the blades.
After testing printers of all ranges — from a $58 HP DeskJet to a $354 Brother MFC laser — I can say that the right choice depends on just one factor: how much you print per month. If you print fewer than 50 pages, a cheap inkjet can do the trick. If you print more than 100, a laser pays for itself in months. And if you print less than 10, the copy shop wins by a landslide.
According to data from IDC, the home printer market fell by 12% in 2024 in Europe, but the average cost per original cartridge rose by 8%. In Q3 2025, Epson unseated HP as the global leader in inkjet printer market share, confirming the shift towards refillable tank systems. The business of manufacturers is no longer in printers — it’s in consumables that cost up to 30 cents per milliliter of ink, more expensive than luxury perfume.
Laser vs. Ink: The Decision That Changes Your Experience
Laser Printer (Monochrome) Ideal for text documents at medium-high frequency. Toner lasts 1,000–5,000 pages vs. 100–300 for ink cartridges. Cost per page: 2–5 cents vs. 8–15 cents for ink. Initial investment $118–$236, but enormous medium-term savings.
Ink Printer with Tank (EcoTank, MegaTank) Models like Epson EcoTank, Canon MegaTank, or HP Smart Tank eliminate cartridges. They cost $177–$295, but the included ink yields 4,000–7,000 pages at just 0.3–1 cent per page. Best if you print photos or color documents regularly.
Ink Printer with Cartridges Cheapest to enter ($47–$94) but most expensive long-term. Only makes sense if you print very little. Warning: if you don’t print for weeks, printheads can clog from dry ink.
What If I Don’t Buy a Printer?
For those who print fewer than 10 pages a month, a copy shop is cheaper than maintaining a printer. Printing from your mobile phone at FedEx or local store print points is another option for one-off documents. If your files are in the cloud, you can access them from any print point.
What to Look for When Shopping
- Speed: 15+ ppm for laser, 10+ ppm for ink are sufficient for home use.
- Connectivity: WiFi is a must in 2026. AirPrint (iPhone) and Mopria (Android) support are key.
- Integrated Scanner: Multifunction printers cost just $24–$35 more — worth it for digitizing documents without a third-party app.
My Recommendation
| Use Case | Recommendation | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 30–200 pages/month | Epson EcoTank ET-2860 | ~$236 |
| Text-heavy, high volume | Brother HL-L2445DW (laser) | ~$142 |
| Fewer than 10 pages/month | Skip it — use a copy shop | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are color laser printers any good?
For documents and presentations, yes. For photos, no — ink still offers better quality. Color lasers cost $236–$472, and a color toner set runs $59–$94. If you print photos regularly, an EcoTank is a better investment.
Why does my printer say “empty ink” if it still prints?
Manufacturers use conservative estimates to protect printheads — and to get you to buy ink sooner. Some Brother and Canon printers let you ignore the alert. HP is notoriously aggressive with blocks.
Original or compatible cartridges?
Compatible ones cost 50–70% less. Acceptable for text, inferior for photos. Risk: HP can lock out non-genuine cartridges via firmware updates. If you buy compatible, turn off automatic firmware updates. Brother and Canon are more tolerant.
