Printing Cost Per Page Calculator: True Cost Per Printed Page
Work out the true cost per page of printing — including ink or toner, paper, and maintenance. The figure exposes the razor-and-blades trap of cheap printers with expensive cartridges.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Cost per page |
|---|---|
| $300 / 6,000 pages ($0.05) | $0.05 |
| $240 / 1,000 pages (cheap inkjet) | $0.24 |
| $120 / 6,000 pages (laser) | $0.02 |
| $60 / 6,000 pages (EcoTank) | $0.01 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the total printing cost (ink/toner + paper + maintenance + amortized printer cost) and the pages printed. The calculator divides one by the other to give the true cost per page.
The Formula
Cost per Unit
Total Amount is the full cost or price, Quantity is the number of units it covers
Worked Example
A $300 total printing cost across 6,000 pages works out to $0.05 per page. Typical real costs: laser mono $0.02 to $0.05/page, color laser $0.10 to $0.20, inkjet mono $0.05 to $0.10, inkjet color $0.20 to $0.50+. The cheap $60 inkjet that costs $0.40/page in ink is far more expensive over its life than a $250 laser printer at $0.03/page — the printer price is a fraction of the lifetime cost.
Key Insight
Printer economics are the classic razor-and-blades trap: manufacturers sell printers near or below cost and profit on cartridges. A $60 inkjet can cost $0.30 to $0.50 per page in ink; a $250 laser printer costs $0.02 to $0.05. At 6,000 pages a year, the inkjet costs $1,800 to $3,000 in consumables versus $120 to $300 for the laser — the printer price difference is recovered in weeks. For anything beyond light occasional printing, a laser printer or a high-yield-cartridge / tank-based inkjet (EcoTank) dramatically lowers cost per page. Always calculate cost per page, not printer price, when buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is cost per page calculated?
Divide total printing cost (ink/toner + paper + maintenance + amortized printer) by pages printed. $300 across 6,000 pages is $0.05 per page.
What's a typical cost per page?
Laser monochrome: $0.02 to $0.05. Color laser: $0.10 to $0.20. Inkjet mono: $0.05 to $0.10. Inkjet color: $0.20 to $0.50+. Tank-based inkjets (EcoTank, MegaTank): $0.01 to $0.02. Paper adds about $0.01 to $0.02 per page across all types.
Why are cheap printers expensive to run?
The razor-and-blades model: manufacturers sell printers near cost and profit on cartridges. A $60 inkjet may cost $0.40/page in ink — at 6,000 pages/year that's $2,400 in ink versus $120 for a laser at $0.02/page. The low printer price hides a high lifetime cost.
Laser or inkjet?
Laser for volume text printing (cheaper per page, faster, no dried-up cartridges). Inkjet for photos and occasional color. Tank-based inkjets (EcoTank) for high-volume color at low cost per page. Calculate your annual page volume and cost per page before choosing — the right answer depends on usage.
Should I use third-party cartridges?
Compatible/remanufactured cartridges cut ink cost 50% to 80% versus OEM, dramatically lowering cost per page. Quality varies and some printers resist non-OEM cartridges via firmware. For high-volume non-photo printing, third-party cartridges or refillable tanks are the biggest cost-per-page lever.
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Methodology & Review
Cost per page is total printing cost divided by pages printed. Total cost should include ink or toner, paper, maintenance, and amortized printer cost. The figure exposes the real cost of inkjet versus laser and of cheap printers with expensive consumables (the 'razor-and-blades' model).
Written by Ugo Candido · Last updated May 17, 2026.