What is the average cost per page to print on an color ink jet printer?

[purplehayes]

I need to know the average cost for your average (~$200) desktop color ink jet printer with 12% coverage.

While we're on the topic, what is the average cost per page for a B/W laser printer?

If you happen to know a site that gives detailed information, even better!

Thanks,
PH

 

[beestung]

Varies quite a bit from printer to printer. When I was in the market for a new color deskjet, I compared an Epson to a Lexmark to an Alps and found the difference to be substantial (the Lexmark was about $1.00 more per page). This spec is usually available on the manufacturer's web site, but may not be on the front page as recurring costs don't fly well as a sales pitch. You can also find this info in reviews (such as on www.cnet.com). Seems that average cost for a typical page with black ink is around 7-10 cents while color is $0.25-1.00.

-Jason

 

[Fuboy]

Whatever the cost, it's too damn much! Is it just me or are refill prices rising? I just went to replace a black cartridge for my Epson and it was $28!! Why does black cost more than the color?!? I tried a generic brand and it wasn't nearly as good as the Epson brand. I heard that OD had a good deal on pencils, though.

 

[Vincent]

I remember seeing some statistics on either PC World or PC Magazine's website. The cost per page for laser printers was significantly less than the cost per page for ink jet printers.

 

[Rifter]

Lets see, I will try to figure this out for you, I have a Old HP laser B/W of course, and the cost per page should be about 3-4 cents a page depending on what quality of paper you use, this is based on my printers cost of 80 bucks for a toner that lasts 4,000 pages, and paper that costs $5-6 for 500 sheets. This is all canadian prices as im canadian Note this is dramatically cheaper than a inkjet, my dad had a inkjet, some HP one i dunno which, he pays $35 for ink and that lasts him 500 pages(he always runs out right around the time he has to buy more paper as he buys 500 sheets at a time) so thats a cost of around 8 cents per page. That and my laser has 40,000 papges printed and is still going as strong as the day i got it( my dads has been in 3 times for repairs) and my laser can turn out pages about 2 times faster than my dads inkjet. Price was about the same i paid 200 for my laser(used) he got his inkjet for 180(new). All i do is print black anyways(if i NEED color ill use the color laser at work ) so there you go, my math may be screwed up so feel free to bash it

 

[nippyjun]

A nice feature with a lot of the hp's is that not only can you choose a "draft" mode, but you can also select the ink volume used. I keep the default on the next to lowest setting to save even more ink. I think the HP's in general are the cheapest to use.

Today I learned that in epsons if even one of the colors is used up you can't use the printer even to print black until you replace the color cartridge.

 

[alkemyst]

It's true, black is out in my 860...I tried printing in blue text and it was a no go...some error about replacing the ink catridge.

I ordered some clones on 3b@y for $2.95 black, $4.95 color and I will see how they are.

I am eventually getting one of the older HP's like a 4si or 5.