Choose a printer by what you print, not by the price on the box. A cheap inkjet can cost more over two years than a dearer model, because cartridges for low-cost printers are often small and expensive per page. On the other hand, a big laser printer is wasted on someone who prints a boarding pass twice a year.
The quick answer for most homes: if you print mainly black text such as letters, forms and homework, a mono laser printer is reliable and cheap to run. If you print colour photos or lots of colour pages, an ink tank printer usually has the lowest running cost. A standard cartridge inkjet suits light, occasional colour printing, as long as you print often enough to stop the ink drying.
All three types are in the printers range, along with ink, toner and paper. Check the title to make sure you are comparing printers and not consumables.
The three main types
| Type | Best for | Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartridge inkjet | Occasional colour, photos | Cheap to buy, compact, good photo quality | Highest cost per page; nozzles can clog if unused for weeks |
| Ink tank inkjet | Regular colour printing, families, photos | Very low cost per page, refill from bottles | Higher price to buy; bulkier |
| Mono laser | Black text, forms, school work | Fast, sharp text, toner does not dry out | No colour; larger and heavier |
| Colour laser | Colour documents, small offices | Fast, durable, toner lasts | Expensive toner sets; not ideal for photos |
Working out running costs
The most useful comparison is the cost per page, which you can estimate yourself:
- Find the price of a replacement cartridge, toner or ink bottle for the exact printer.
- Find its stated page yield. Manufacturers measure yields using ISO test pages, so the figures are comparable between brands.
- Divide the price by the yield to get a cost per page, and add the black and colour costs if you print colour.
Do this for each printer you are considering, and multiply by how many pages you print a year. Many people find the cheaper printer costs more within the first year. High-yield or XL cartridges usually lower the cost per page if your printer accepts them.
Subscriptions and plus schemes
Some printers are sold with ink subscription plans or as part of a manufacturer’s plus programme, where ink is delivered automatically and priced per page. These can be good value if you print a steady amount each month. Read the conditions before you buy: some schemes require an account, a permanent internet connection and the maker’s own cartridges, and pages left unused may roll over only up to a limit.
Features worth paying for
- Scanner and copier (all-in-one): useful for documents and forms. An automatic document feeder (ADF) saves time with multi-page scans.
- Automatic duplex: prints both sides of the paper without turning it over by hand, saving paper.
- Wi-Fi and app printing: lets you print from phones and laptops anywhere in the house. Look for AirPrint for Apple devices and Mopria for Android.
- Ethernet: a wired network connection can be more reliable than Wi-Fi for a printer that stays in one place near the router.
- Paper capacity: a 150 or 250 sheet tray means less refilling for regular users.
- Fax: still needed by a few people for official forms, but rarely essential at home.
- Print speed: quoted in pages per minute (ppm) using ISO test methods; it matters most for long documents.
If your laptop has only USB-C ports and the printer uses a USB-B cable, a simple adapter solves it, though most people now print over Wi-Fi.
Paper and photos
Plain 80 gsm A4 paper suits everyday printing. For photos, use photo paper made for inkjets and set the paper type in the print settings; laser printers are not designed for glossy inkjet photo paper. Some photo printers also have a card slot, so you can print straight from a camera’s memory card without a computer. Heavier card and textured paper need a printer that lists the paper weight it accepts, often in the specs as a maximum gsm.
Keeping a printer working
- Print a page every week or two on inkjets to keep the nozzles clear.
- Leave the printer switched off with its own button, not at the wall, so it can cap the print head.
- Store spare cartridges sealed and at room temperature.
- Keep the firmware up to date, but read the release notes, as some updates change which cartridges are accepted.
For other kit around your desk, see the guide to choosing a wireless charger.
Quick checklist
- What you print: mostly black text, mixed documents or photos.
- How much you print each month.
- Cost per page worked out from cartridge price and ISO yield.
- Price of a full set of ink or toner.
- Scanner, ADF and automatic duplex if you need them.
- Wi-Fi, AirPrint or Mopria for printing from phones.
- Any subscription conditions read before you buy.
Common questions
Is a laser printer better than an inkjet for home use?
For black text, usually yes: toner does not dry out and the cost per page is low. For colour photos, an inkjet or ink tank printer gives better results at lower cost.
Can I use cheaper compatible cartridges?
Many people do, and they are legal to use. Quality varies, and some printers may warn about or reject non-original cartridges after a firmware update. Check the reviews of the specific cartridge and the terms of any subscription you are on.
Why do inkjet printers use ink even when I do not print much?
Inkjets use a little ink to clean and prime the print head, especially after being off for a while or after a cartridge change. Printing regularly and switching off with the printer’s own button keeps that to a minimum.
