The cheapest printer to run is usually an ink tank for colour and a mono laser for black text; cartridge inkjets cost the most per page. You can check any model yourself in a minute: divide the price of the ink by the number of pages it prints.
Updated 29 October 2026.
The cost-per-page formula
Cost per page = ink or toner price ÷ page yield
- Page yield is the number of pages the maker says one cartridge, bottle or toner prints. It’s on the box or the maker’s website.
- Yields assume about 5% coverage, roughly a page of plain text. Photos and full-colour pages use far more ink, so your real cost will be higher.
- For colour, add the cost of the colour inks to the black cost.
Cartridge vs ink tank vs toner
| Type | Upfront price | Running cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge inkjet | Lowest | Highest: small cartridges, a few hundred pages at most |
| Ink tank | Higher | Lowest for colour: one bottle often prints thousands of pages |
| Mono laser | Mid to high | Low for black: toner lasts long and never dries out |
Which suits your home: inkjet vs laser vs ink tank.
Worked example in KES
The numbers below are illustrative, to show the method. Plug in real prices from your local shop and the yield from the box.
| Price | Yield | Cost per page | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black cartridge | KES 2,000 | 200 pages | KES 10.00 |
| Black ink tank bottle | KES 1,200 | 4,500 pages | KES 0.27 |
| Laser toner | KES 7,000 | 1,600 pages | KES 4.38 |
If you print 200 black pages a month, that’s about KES 2,000 a month on cartridges against about KES 54 on an ink tank. The ink tank’s higher price is usually paid back within a few months of regular printing. Compatible toner can bring a laser’s cost down a lot.
Hidden costs: clogging and waste
- Drying and clogging: inkjets and ink tanks left unused for weeks can clog. Print a page a week to keep the heads clear.
- Cleaning cycles use ink. Repeated cleaning on a clogged head can drain a cartridge fast.
- Refill and compatible ink is cheaper, but poor-quality ink can block heads; buy from a seller you trust, and check what it means for your warranty.
- Power: lasers draw a big burst when warming up. Use a surge protector during KPLC fluctuations.
- Paper: two-sided printing halves your paper cost.
Comparing models before buying? Use this formula alongside the checklist in how to choose a home printer.
Quick answers
An ink tank printer for colour and mixed printing, and a mono laser for mostly black text. Cartridge inkjets are cheap to buy but expensive per page.
Divide the price of the ink or toner by its page yield. For colour pages, add the colour inks’ cost per page to the black cost.
