How to Calculate Real Printing Costs: Toner vs. Ink

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Locate the official page yield

   Find the manufacturer's rated yield for your specific ink or toner cartridge. This figure represents the number of pages the cartridge produces at 5% page coverage, usually listed on the box or the manufacturer's product page.

   Note: ISO/IEC 24711 standards are the most reliable metric for these comparisons.
2. 2 min

   Determine the unit cost per cartridge

   Identify the current market price for a single standard-yield cartridge. Ensure you are using the actual price you intend to pay, including applicable taxes or shipping fees.

3. 1 min

   Calculate the cost per page

   Divide the purchase price of the cartridge by the total page yield. For example, a $60 toner cartridge rated for 2,000 pages yields a cost of $0.03 per page.

   Note: Use the formula: Price / Yield = Cost Per Page.
4. 1 min

   Factor in accessory costs

   Inkjet printers often require frequent cleaning cycles which consume liquid ink, effectively lowering the actual yield. Laser printers have drums or fusers that require replacement after a specific number of pages; factor these costs into your total hardware overhead.

   Note: Maintenance kits are often expensive and must be amortized over the life of the unit.
5. 1 min

   Match technology to usage patterns

   If you print high volumes of monochrome text, laser toner is almost always cheaper per page. If you print rare, low-volume documents or high-quality photos, the upfront cost of laser hardware and the lack of color flexibility in budget laser units make inkjet the preferred choice.

   Note: Toner does not dry out, making it superior for intermittent usage.