Printers with the lowest ink costs use refillable ink tanks instead of cartridges, cutting black-and-white printing to roughly 0.3 cent per page.
For the full breakdown, see our best Cheap Printer With Cheap Ink guide.
For regular printing, the best value comes from printers with low-cost ink that use refillable tanks rather than cartridges. These machines can bring black-and-white pages to roughly 0.3 cent per page, while color pages run about 1 cent — a fraction of what standard cartridge-based inkjets charge. The savings come from bottled ink that yields thousands of pages before needing replacement, making tank printers the clear winner for anyone who prints more than a few pages each month.
Supertank vs. Cartridge: The Key Difference
Supertank printers hold ink in refillable reservoirs instead of swappable cartridges. A typical bottle costs $10 to $20 and prints 6,000 or more pages, depending on coverage. Standard cartridge inkjets, by contrast, rely on small cartridges that run out after a few hundred pages and cost $30 to $50 per replacement.
The cost-per-page gap is wide. Recent comparisons put supertank black-and-white pages at 0.3 to 1 cent and color pages at 1 to 3 cents. Cartridge inkjets commonly run 5 to 8 cents per black page and 12 to 20 cents per color page. For a household or small office that prints several times a week, the savings add up fast.
For a closer look at specific models that balance purchase price with running costs, see our guide to the best cheap printers with cheap ink. That roundup compares the top tank and cartridge options side by side for US buyers.
Low-Cost Ink Printers: Cost Per Page
The table below compares popular models and their typical running costs based on manufacturer-rated yields and current ink prices. Cost per page is calculated by dividing the consumable price by the rated page yield using ISO standards (ISO 24711 for inkjets, ISO 19752 for lasers).
| Model | Type | Black CPP | Color CPP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson EcoTank ET-2850 | Supertank | ~0.3¢ | ~0.8¢ | Refill ink ~$10, thousands of pages |
| Epson EcoTank ET-3850 | Supertank | ~0.3¢ | ~1¢ | ~$5 per year ink cost per Consumer Reports |
| Epson EcoTank ET-4850 | Supertank | ~0.3¢ | ~1¢ | Bulk bottles, very low per-page cost |
| Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 | Supertank | ~0.3¢ | ~1¢ | Office-class build, same low CPP |
| Canon MegaTank G3260 | Supertank | ~0.3¢ | ~1.5¢ | $199, included ink yields 6,000 black / 7,700 color pages |
| HP Smart Tank 7001 | Supertank | ~1¢ | ~2¢ | Competitive tank option |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e | Cartridge | 1.8¢ | 5.2¢ | XL cartridges help, still higher than tanks |
| Brother MFC-J4335DW | Cartridge | 2.5¢ | 7.0¢ | Subscription can lower black to 1.4¢ |
| Brother HL-L2460DW | Laser (B&W) | 1–2¢ | N/A | Toner never dries, good for heavy text use |
Real-world yields may be lower with heavy graphics or photos. Manufacturer ratings use standard test documents with 5 percent coverage; photo-heavy pages drain ink faster than rated yields suggest.
What to Watch For Before Buying
The biggest surprise with low-ink printers is their higher upfront price. Supertank models typically cost $200 to $350, while a basic cartridge inkjet can be found for $50 to $80. That initial gap pays for itself over the first year or two of regular printing.
Match the printer type to your usage. For mostly black-and-white text, a monochrome laser printer like the Brother HL-L2460DW avoids ink-drying problems entirely and keeps pages at 1 to 2 cents each. Color laser printing, however, costs more per page than a tank inkjet, so color-heavy users should stick with supertank models.
Page-yield ratings are based on standard test documents with 5 percent coverage. Photo-heavy or graphics-heavy pages will drain ink faster than the rated yield suggests. For accurate comparisons, use the ISO-standard figures when available.
FAQs
How do I calculate a printer’s true ink cost per page?
Divide the price of a replacement ink bottle or cartridge by the manufacturer’s rated page yield for that consumable. Use the ISO yield number if available (ISO 24711 for inkjets, ISO 19752 for lasers), as it provides a consistent baseline across different brands and models.
Do cheap printers always have expensive ink?
Not always, but it is a common trap. Budget cartridge printers often sell for a low sticker price while replacement cartridges cost a lot per page. Supertank printers flip that equation — higher upfront purchase price, very low per-page ink cost. Always compare the total cost over a year or two of expected use, not just the sale price of the hardware.
Is a laser printer cheaper to run than an inkjet?
For black-and-white text, yes. Monochrome laser printers typically cost 1 to 2 cents per page, and toner powder does not dry out during periods of disuse. Color laser printers, however, have higher per-page costs than tank inkjets, so anyone printing color photos or graphics regularly will save more with a supertank model.
References & Sources
- Consumer Reports. “Cheapest Printers for Ink Costs.” Real-world ink cost data and model comparisons.
- PCMag. “Best Cheap Printers of 2026.” Cost-per-page analysis across popular consumer and office printers.
- Consumer Reports. “Best Printers of the Year.” Annual printer ratings and lifetime cost estimates.
Mo Maruf
I created WellFizz to bridge the gap between vague wellness advice and actionable solutions. My mission is simple: to decode the research and give you practical tools you can actually use.
Beyond the data, I am a passionate traveler. I believe that stepping away from the screen to explore new environments is essential for mental clarity and physical vitality.