The upfront price of a printer is almost irrelevant compared to ink and toner costs over 3–5 years. A $60 HP DeskJet that uses $38 cartridge sets lasting 480 pages will cost you more money in its first year than a $279 Epson EcoTank. Understanding cost per page is the key to smart printer buying. This guide cuts through everything to show exactly which printers are the cheapest to run in 2026.
Cost Per Page: The Master Comparison Table
| Printer | Type | Ink/Toner | Cost/Page (Black) | Cost/Page (Color) | Monthly Cost (300 pgs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson EcoTank ET-2803 | Inkjet AIO | 522 bottles (~$48/set) | $0.0012 | $0.004 | ~$1.20 |
| Epson EcoTank ET-3850 | Inkjet AIO | 522 bottles (~$48/set) | $0.0012 | $0.004 | ~$1.20 |
| Brother HL-L2350DW | Laser (B&W only) | TN760 compatible (~$22) | $0.007 | N/A | ~$2.10 |
| Brother HL-L2350DW | Laser (B&W only) | TN760 genuine (~$50) | $0.017 | N/A | ~$5.10 |
| Brother MFC-J4335DW | Inkjet AIO | LC406XL (~$24) | $0.008 | $0.022 | ~$6.60 |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e | Inkjet AIO | 962XL (~$28) | $0.015 | $0.030 | ~$9.00 |
| Canon PIXMA MG3620 | Inkjet AIO | PG-245XL/246XL (~$25) | $0.052 | $0.090 | ~$27 |
| HP DeskJet 2755e | Inkjet AIO | HP 67XL (~$38) | $0.079 | $0.120 | ~$36 |
| HP LaserJet Pro M255dw | Color Laser | W2210A (~$55) | $0.041 | $0.120 | ~$36 |
Winners by Category
Epson EcoTank ET-3850 / ET-2803
CHEAPEST OVERALL — COLOR + BLACK$200–279
The Epson EcoTank is the cheapest printer to run, full stop. At ~$0.004/page for color and ~$0.001/page for black, nothing else comes close. The 522 ink bottles cost $48 for a full set covering thousands of pages. Annual cost at 300 pages/month: approximately $14. Over 5 years, EcoTank ink costs less than two months of HP DeskJet ink.
Best for: Anyone who values the lowest ongoing cost. Especially great for high-volume users — the savings compound quickly.
Pros
- ~$0.004/page — cheapest available
- No subscription
- 2 years ink included
Cons
- Higher upfront cost ($200–279)
- Slower than laser (10–15ppm)
Brother HL-L2350DW (with compatible TN760)
CHEAPEST BLACK-AND-WHITE ONLY~$119
With compatible TN760 toner at ~$22 (3,000 pages), cost per page is approximately $0.007 — cheaper than even the EcoTank for black-only printing. This is your pick if you only print black-and-white documents and want maximum speed. Annual cost at 300 pages/month: about $25 with compatible toner.
Best for: High-volume document printers who need the absolute cheapest black-and-white printing.
Pros
- ~$0.007/page with compatible toner
- 32ppm — fastest here
- Toner never dries out
Cons
- No color printing at all
- No scanner
Brother MFC-J4335DW INKvestment
CHEAPEST INKJET AIO WITH ADF~$180
At ~$0.022/page color and ~$0.008/page black, the Brother INKvestment Tank is the cheapest all-in-one with a 50-sheet ADF. Not as cheap as EcoTank, but the LC406XL high-capacity cartridges reduce refill frequency and per-page cost significantly vs standard cartridges. No subscription required.
Pros
- ~$0.008/page black — very low
- 50-sheet ADF
- No subscription
Cons
- Color cost higher than EcoTank
Why Cheap Printers Aren't Cheap to Run
The HP DeskJet 2755e costs $70 — less than $200 less than an EcoTank. But HP 67XL ink at ~$0.079/page means at 300 pages/month:
- HP DeskJet 2755e: $70 printer + $288/year ink = $1,510 over 5 years
- Epson EcoTank ET-3850: $279 printer + $70 ink over 5 years = $349 over 5 years
- EcoTank saves $1,161 over 5 years — enough to buy 4 more HP printers
The "cheap" printer is always the most expensive printer. Always calculate total cost of ownership before buying.
FAQs
What printer has the lowest cost per page?▾
Epson EcoTank ET-2803 or ET-3850 at ~$0.004/page for mixed color printing. For black-only: Brother HL-L2350DW with compatible TN760 toner at ~$0.007/page. Both are dramatically cheaper than any cartridge-based inkjet.
Which printer is cheapest to run — laser or inkjet?▾
For color printing: EcoTank inkjet wins (~$0.004/page) over laser. For black-only printing: laser is competitive with EcoTank (~$0.007–0.015/page). Standard inkjet cartridges are always the most expensive per page.
Is EcoTank really worth the upfront cost?▾
For users printing 200+ pages/month, yes. At 300 pages/month, the EcoTank ET-3850 pays for itself in about 12 months vs HP DeskJet 2755e cartridge costs. Over 5 years it saves over $1,000. For under 50 pages/month, the payback takes too long.
How do I calculate printer cost per page?▾
Divide the ink/toner price by the rated page yield. Example: TN760 toner ($50) ÷ 3,000 pages = $0.0167/page. For inkjet cartridges: HP 67XL ($38) ÷ 480 pages = $0.079/page. Always use XL/high-yield cartridges for the best per-page cost.
What is the cheapest printer ink per page?▾
Epson 522 ink bottles for EcoTank printers: ~$0.0012/page black ($9 bottle ÷ 7,500 pages), ~$0.004/page mixed color. This is the cheapest available ink for any home printer on the market.