Quick summary: The biggest trap when buying a home printer is ink cost. An $80 printer's cartridge costs can be $200 per year. In this guide, we cover the real cost of ownership, LaserJet vs Inkjet differences, and who should buy which printer.
The Real Question When Buying a Printer: What Is the Cost Per Page?
Before looking at the printer price, you need to ask about cost per page. HP, Canon, and Epson use a deliberate model on some printers: low device price, high ink cost.
| Printer Type | Device Price | Cost Per Page (color) | Yearly Cost at 500 Pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap inkjet | $60-80 | $0.15-0.25 | $75-125 |
| EcoTank inkjet | $180-300 | $0.01-0.02 | $5-10 |
| Laser (black and white) | $130-200 | $0.02-0.04 | $10-20 |
| Color laser | $200-400 | $0.06-0.10 | $30-50 |
Who Should Buy Which Printer?
Very Low Volume (Under 10 Pages Per Month)
HP DeskJet or Canon PIXMA basic models ($60-80). The ink might dry out, but there is no point investing heavily for low use. Alternative: print at the library or UPS Store.
Medium User (20-50 Pages Per Month)
Epson EcoTank ET-2803 ($180): Ink tank system with bottle refill format, very cheap to run. You can go 2 years without buying ink. Wi-Fi, scanner, color printing included.
Home Office / Heavy Use (Daily Printing)
Brother HL-L2350DW LaserJet ($130): Black and white laser, very reliable, long-lasting toner. HP and Canon toner costs are higher. Third-party toner alternatives for Brother are widely available and cheap.
Brother MFCL3780CDW (~$280): Color laser, ADF scanner, duplex printing. Ideal for small business and home office.
HP Instant Ink trap: HP makes the "HP Instant Ink" subscription mandatory on some printers, or applies restrictions without the subscription. Choose HP printers without contracts, or switch to Brother/Epson. When you cancel the HP subscription, the ink cartridge can get locked.
For Photo Printing
A home printer is usually not a good idea for quality photo printing. The cost is high and color accuracy is lower than professional services. At Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart Photo Center, a 4x6 print costs $0.15-0.30 and comes out much better quality.
For heavy photo printing: Canon PIXMA TS9520 or Epson Expression Premium XP-7100. But calculate the cost.
Scanner + Printer Combo (All-in-One)
For most people, All-in-One is the most sensible choice. Document scanning, fax (rarely used anymore), and printing in one device.
- Epson EcoTank ET-4850 ($280): EcoTank with ADF scanner, the best choice for document-heavy use
- Brother MFCL2690DW ($150): Black and white laser AIO, reliable and economical
Practical note for renters: A printer can become a burden you have to carry from house to house. If your usage is low and there is a library nearby, maybe not buying one at all is the best option. New Jersey libraries offer 10 pages of free printing per hour.
Disclaimer: Some Amazon links in this article are affiliate links. Your price doesn't change. I only recommend products I actually use or have personally tested.
