Laser or Inkjet: which printer actually saves you money?
Let’s be honest : choosing a printer feels a bit like picking an energy tariff or a phone contract. You think you’ve nailed it… until the first box of replacement cartridges arrives and you realise you’ve basically adopted a very hungry pet. I’ve been there – staring at a £39 inkjet in a shop in Southampton, thinking “bargain !”, before discovering the cartridges cost almost the same price as the printer itself. So, laser or inkjet : which one is really the most economical for your everyday use ?
Before diving in, if you like comparing print technologies the way some people compare running shoes, the resource at https://www.impression-communication.eu gives surprisingly down-to-earth explanations. I stumbled on it while hunting for toner tips and it genuinely helped me decode a few myths.
Inkjet : cheap to buy, not always cheap to live with
Inkjet printers are a bit like budget airlines : the ticket looks cheap, but the extras… ouch. The purchase price is usually low, and the print quality for photos can be brilliant – warm colours, smooth gradients, that little “wow” when you print a holiday picture from Cornwall.
But the long-term cost ? That’s where things get tricky. Cartridges run out faster than you expect, and if you print occasionally, the ink sometimes dries up. It’s maddening. You print one document and suddenly the cyan cartridge is begging for mercy. If you print fewer than 50 pages a month, though, an inkjet might still make sense. You pay only when you print, and the machine itself doesn’t break the bank.
Pros : low upfront cost, great for photos, compact machines.
Cons : expensive cartridges, ink drying, slower printing.
Laser : higher price, but a smoother ride
Laser printers feel more “grown-up”. A bit heavier, a bit bulkier, but honestly… more reliable. They use toner powder instead of liquid ink, so nothing dries out. And the cost per page is usually lower – sometimes dramatically. I once bought a black-and-white laser for a small home office setup, and the first toner lasted nearly a year. I kept checking the levels because I thought the thing had broken.
For anyone printing regularly – invoices, school documents, forms, long PDFs you don’t want to read on a screen – a laser printer will almost always win on cost over time. Colour lasers are pricier, but if you print a lot of charts or brochures, they can still turn out cheaper than high-volume inkjets.
Pros : low cost per page, fast printing, no drying, durable.
Cons : higher upfront price, bulkier, colour models can be expensive.
So… which one is actually economical ?
It really depends on your printing habits. Let me break it down simply :
If you print rarely : An inkjet might be fine, but pick one with separate colour cartridges. And honestly, run a quick print every couple of weeks – dried ink is the real wallet-killer.
If you print regularly : Laser. No hesitation. The cost per page is just too good, and the peace of mind of not replacing cartridges every five minutes is priceless.
If you print photos : Inkjet (but choose a model known for photo quality). Laser just can’t match that depth of colour on glossy paper.
If you print mostly text : A monochrome laser is hands-down the most economical option. Seriously, it’s the unsung hero of home offices.
My personal verdict
After years of switching between both types – sometimes because an old printer simply gave up in the middle of a 20-page form (still annoyed about that) – I’ve come to a simple conclusion : laser wins for everyday value. It’s not glamorous, but it works, and it doesn’t drain your wallet little by little.
But hey, your printing habits might be completely different. Do you only print holiday photos ? Are you running a side business that needs crisp invoices ? Or do you just want something that won’t complain every time the room is a bit cold ? Your answer might change.
So, what about you – which one are you leaning toward now ?
