Look Up the Refill Before Buying the Printer
Find the exact replacement cartridge, toner, or ink bottle for the model you are considering. Note its price and rated page yield, then divide the price by the yield for a rough consumables cost per page. For color printing, account for all the required colors.
Check the manufacturer’s “In the Box” details too. Included ink or toner changes how soon you need to buy a refill. Page yields are estimates; your actual results can vary.
How a $60 Printer Can Cost More Than a $100 One
Here is a made-up comparison for 1,200 black-and-white pages. Assume both printers include enough ink for the first 200 pages. These totals cover only the printer and replacement ink, before tax.
| Cost | Printer A | Printer B |
|---|---|---|
| Printer price | $60 | $100 |
| Replacement ink | $25 for 250 pages | $40 for 1,000 pages |
| Ink for the next 1,000 pages | 4 cartridges: $100 | 1 cartridge: $40 |
| Printer + ink total | $160 | $140 |
At that volume, the more expensive printer costs $20 less overall. Your own result depends on the model, refill prices, and how much you print.
Compare the machine and its refills together. Explore OFree for budget printers, printer ink, or laser printers as another option to compare.
Buying for Ten Pages a Month?
Count a typical month before paying more for cheaper refills. Occasional return labels and forms are a different workload from weekly homework packets or business documents. If you print very little, the higher purchase price may take a long time to earn back.
Compare the cost of a local printing service as well. For a handful of pages, paying per print may cost less than buying and maintaining a machine.
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