The price of a printer tells you little about what it will cost you over a year. The number that matters is cost per page. This guide shows how to calculate it so you can compare any two printers fairly.
Last updated: October 30, 2026.
The formula
Cost per page = price of the replacement ink or toner divided by the number of pages it is rated to print. For color printers, add the cost of each color and divide by the pages a full set prints, or use the manufacturer’s color page yield.
A worked example
Here are made-up numbers purely to show the math. A cartridge that costs 30 dollars and is rated for 300 pages costs 10 cents a page. A toner that costs 80 dollars and is rated for 1,200 pages costs about 6.7 cents a page. A set of ink bottles that costs 70 dollars and is rated for 4,000 pages costs about 1.75 cents a page. Use the real figures from the product page for the printers you are comparing.
How to read page yield
Page yield is a rating of how many pages a cartridge prints under standard test conditions, typically at a fixed amount of page coverage. If your pages are heavier on photos or color, your real yield will be lower. If you print light text, it can be higher. Treat the rating as a comparison tool, not a promise.
Include the hidden costs
- Starter cartridges: many printers ship with partly filled starter cartridges, so your first refill comes sooner.
- Cleaning cycles: inkjets use ink when they clean their printheads, which adds to real-world cost.
- Subscriptions: ink subscription plans can lower the cost per page for light users but may tie you to one brand.
- Drums and maintenance: lasers have drums or imaging units that wear out far less often than toner.
Annual cost
Multiply cost per page by the pages you print in a year. Add it to the printer price to get the first-year cost. For a quick comparison of types, read our ink tank vs laser guide, and for specific models see the best printers for home use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good cost per page?
It depends on the type. Ink tank printers tend to have the lowest costs, lasers are low for black-and-white text, and small cartridge inkjets are usually the highest.
Where do I find the page yield?
On the manufacturer’s product page or the cartridge packaging, usually listed per cartridge or per set.
Does draft mode lower cost per page?
Yes, because it uses less ink or toner. It is a simple way to cut cost for everyday documents.
Bottom Line
Divide the replacement cost by the page yield, add hidden costs, and multiply by your yearly pages. That gives you a fair comparison no matter what the printer sells for.
