Determining Your Needs
Printers come in a wide price range, so it helps narrow the field by deciding what type of printer you need. Do you want to print colorful images, or will you mainly be printing black-and-white documents like contracts? Do you need a real workhorse, or are you just printing occasionally? Is a stand-alone printer adequate, or would you like a machine that combines multiple functions? Figuring out your printer’s intended use is the first step to choosing the right one.
Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers tend to be affordable, but the cost of ink makes them expensive over time. Some models have ink wells refilled from bottles. Depending on the brand and capacity, a standard ink cartridge should print approximately 200 pages before it needs to be replaced. While inkjet printers have up-front costs as low as $40, their high operating costs make them best for occasional use. That said, there are some uses for which inkjet printers are perfect. Laser printers can’t print on heat-sensitive paper, and they don’t produce bright, rich colors. Inkjet printers can print vibrant colors on basically any paper, including glossy photo paper and vinyl. Inkjet printers are the best option for printing high-quality, colorful images. Some new inkjet printers use tanks of ink that can be refilled from bottles. These printers cost a little more, but they can print more pages without requiring frequent cartridge replacements.
Laser Printers
Laser printers have a higher up-front cost than inkjet printers, but they cost very little to operate. They work by melting toner onto the page instead of spraying drops of ink. Toner cartridges don’t dry out, and they can print thousands of pages before needing to be replaced. Laser printers are much faster than inkjet printers, so they’re perfect for college students and home offices. Monochrome laser printers can only print in black-and-white, but they are much cheaper than color laser printers. They’re an ideal choice for printing essays and research papers. Basic laser printers don’t have automatic duplex printing or printing on both sides of the page. It’s possible to print on both sides of the page without this feature, but the process is easy to mess up.
All-in-One
All-in-one printers can be either laser or inkjet printers, but they have multiple functions to streamline productivity. The most functional devices can scan, copy, and fax, saving a lot of space in home offices. Most all-in-one devices have functions like double-sided scanning or automatic document feeding. Automatic document feeding is a convenient feature that scans pages for copying or faxing. If you need to scan double-sided documents, make sure to get a device with duplex automatic document feeding.
Other Features
Any of these printers can include optional features that pair well with different office setups. Most new printers can communicate wirelessly or with Bluetooth. Printers enabled with Apple AirPrint or Google Cloud Print allow you to print wirelessly anywhere, even from your phone. Depending on your needs, some of these features are worth the extra money.
Buying a Printer
Once you know what kind of printer you want, it’s time to shop. Printers with lots of desirable features can cost hundreds of dollars, but our focus is on entry-level devices that suit most home office needs.
How Much Does a Good Printer Cost?
While there are cheaper devices, you should expect to spend $120 for a reliable inkjet printer and about $200 for all-in-one or tank printers. Some all-in-one printers can go as high as $1,500, but that’s not the norm. Color laser printers are more expensive than inkjet printers upfront, but replacement toner is much cheaper per page than ink cartridges. For a color laser printer, you’ll need to spend $250. All-in-one color laser printers are around $300. Monochrome laser printers are an affordable option for people who don’t need to print in color. Even all-in-one devices can cost less than $150.
What Is the Cheapest Printer?
The cheapest printers are monochrome laser printers when you consider operating costs, such as the Brother HL-2320D for $100. These printers are workhorses that can quickly print black-and-white documents in high volumes. A toner cartridge comes pre-installed, so you’ll be able to print hundreds of pages before spending a penny more.
