How Much Does Color Printer Ink Cost | Real Price Per Page

If you own an inkjet printer, you already know the question isn’t whether ink is expensive—it’s exactly how expensive, and whether there’s a cheaper way to print in color. The answer depends entirely on which cartridge or system you buy and how many pages it actually prints before running dry. A standard color cartridge can cost $40 or more but only deliver 200 pages, while a refillable tank system can drop the cost below a penny per page. The trick is knowing which option fits your printing volume.

Color Cartridge Costs by Type and Yield

The price of color printer ink varies widely by cartridge type. Standard OEM color cartridges cost $15 to $75, with most averaging around $40, but they print only 200–300 pages before needing replacement—that’s $0.06 to $0.15 per page just for one cartridge. High-yield XL cartridges cost more upfront ($35–$70) but print 500–800 pages, bringing the cost per page down to $0.04–$0.09. Third-party cartridges are cheaper ($8–$40) but yield varies and they may not be as reliable.

Why Ink Tank Systems Are the Cheapest Option

An ink tank system—sometimes called a refillable or supertank printer—uses bottled ink instead of replaceable cartridges. If you print photos or presentations regularly, this is easily the most cost-effective setup.

For comparison, high-yield cartridges from major brands like HP, Epson, and Canon still cost between $0.05 and $0.14 per page depending on the model and whether you choose standard or XL sizes. Anyone who prints more than a few pages a month will recoup the higher printer cost within a year.

Color Laser vs. Inkjet: Which Is Cheaper to Run?

Color laser printers have a lower cost per page for mixed color documents—around $0.08–$0.20 per page—compared to standard inkjet cartridges at $0.15–$0.50. However, laser printers cost more upfront and the toner cartridges are expensive to replace. For home users with moderate printing volume, a high-yield inkjet cartridge or an ink tank system is usually the better buy. For an office printing hundreds of color pages weekly, a laser printer can make sense over time.

A common mistake is ignoring page yield when comparing prices. The sticker price on the cartridge tells you nothing; the math only works when you divide by page yield. If you’re comparison shopping between models, check our tested picks for color printers with cheap ink to see which models actually save you money over time.

How to Calculate Ink Cost Per Page

The formula is simple: divide the cartridge price by its advertised page yield. If a $40 OEM cartridge claims 300 pages, that’s $0.133 per page. If a $55 XL cartridge claims 500 pages, that’s $0.11 per page. Always check the yield before buying—a cartridge that costs twice as much but prints four times as many pages is the better deal. Consumer Reports’ evaluation of cheapest printers for ink costs confirms that high-yield and tank models consistently deliver the lowest long-term cost.

Also keep in mind that third-party cartridges can save 40–60% upfront, but their yield is often less consistent and some manufacturers block them with firmware updates. Ink refill kits cost $15–$70 depending on the brand, but they require careful handling and can void the warranty if not done properly. For most home users, a high-yield OEM cartridge or an ink tank printer is the most reliable balance of cost and convenience.

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