The price difference between your laser and inkjet printer extends beyond the upfront price tag of your device. When evaluating cost, it’s critical to examine the long-term strategy, total output, and the kind of work your team actually does to determine whether the price difference is worth it for your business. Today, we are going to explore the difference between the two models in price, going beyond the typical upfront cost of investing in these devices.
Differences in Inkjet & Laser Printers
Let’s cut to the chase. Inkjet printers are a popular and more accessible printer model that presents a good deal upon first glance. They are typically inexpensive upfront, compact, and user-friendly making them a top choice for many offices seeking simple printer solutions. However, that lower initial cost can come at the expense of long-term efficiency.
For example, ink cartridges, which are primarily used for inkjet printers, often have lower page yields and tend to require more replacing in comparison to other models. This is especially true for offices operating in industries where color printing or specialized printing is more consistent. Additionally, offices requiring versatile specialty media for their printing like photo paper can find little benefit from this model.
Compared to inkjet models, laser printers are engineered for consistency and volume, making them a staple in offices globally. They run on toner cartridges that typically produce far more pages per cycle than ink. So, even though laser printers tend to cost more upfront, the cost per page can drop significantly when factoring long-term costs. This is especially true for offices operating with moderate to high print demands, like many of the customers with BDS.
Cost Per Page: Essential Metric When Determining Price Differences
Cost per page (CPP) is more important when it comes to determining the cost of a device than you might think. It is important when considering scaling your business’s operations. This means it extends beyond the price of a cartridge, instead focusing on how many clean, usable pages you are getting from that supply. And when you stack those numbers up over a quarter or a fiscal year, the difference can be quite significant!
When it comes to laser and inkjet printers, inkjet models often run at a higher cost per page due to the frequent ink replacement and less efficient page yields. This does not account for common issues this model can run into like a dried-out cartridge or color imbalance, which elevates the price even more. This can be problematic, as it is more than just a cost you are sacrificing; it is workflow disruption too, which will significantly reduce the operational efficiency of your office.
In contrast, laser printers offer a significantly higher yield per cartridge, due to toner not drying out. For a standard monochrome laser printer, it is common to see the number range between 2-5 cents per page. Whereas inkjet printers increase to roughly 6-10 cents on the low end, not factoring in the other costly maintenance associated with these devices. These numbers add up, and crowns laser printers by far the superior choice when it comes to cost per page.
Does Color or Monochrome Printing Affect CPP?
In simple terms, yes, color and monochrome printing can affect the cost per page of your device. Still, inkjet ends up on the lower end of affordability even when considering color printing. In fact, color printing widens the gap, as laser printers are built for color output and still hold their own in terms of cost-efficiency. On the other hand, inkjet printers can run through multiple ink cartridges to complete one high-volume color print job.
This is not to scare you away from inkjet printers, as the right environment can still experience advantages adding this device to your printer fleet. We have seen inkjet printers thrive in print environments where the print volume is low or the client is working with high-quality photo paper. For these clients that require detail and saturation from an inkjet printer, specifically there are many well-designed printers that can deliver. Still, our purpose today is to break down CPP for everyday use, and in that regard, laser still comes out on top even factoring in color printing.
Does BDS Offer Laser & Inkjet Printers?
As the premier print technology provider in New England and Florida, BDS offers a competitive collection of laser and inkjet printers to local customers. At BDS, we approach things a little differently. We are not here to just compare tech specs, but instead here to understand your unique workflow, and offer scalable solutions to help enhance. We are big picture thinkers who have the detail-oriented, investigative nature you would want as a print partner to help identify opportunities for scalability. This includes auditing how many users are printing, what kind of documents they produce, as well as color accuracy.
From there, we can pair it with solutions that make sense from both a financial and operational standpoint for your office. Whether you are a legal office bleeding money on ink-based machines without realizing it, or an educational institution needing a switch to toner for lower supply costs, we can help. We have been trusted by countless local clients spanning across diverse industries to deliver high-quality solutions.
BDS is consistently providing impeccable technology and unparalleled support. To stay updated on the latest industry trends and news, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok today!
