Laser or Inkjet? Which One Makes Sense Based on Print Volume and Cost per Page

The laser vs. inkjet dilemma is one of the most common—and at the same time most misunderstood. Most people treat it as a matter of print quality or purchase price, while in reality the correct answer lies elsewhere: in print volume and the true cost per page.

If you want to choose a printer that pays off not just today but in the long run, this is the guide you need.

Why Print Volume Is the No.1 Criterion

Print volume determines almost everything: how often you’ll replace consumables, how much each page will cost, how much strain the printer will endure, and how reliable daily operation will be.

Two users with the same printer can have completely different costs simply because one prints 50 pages per month and the other 500.

Inkjet

Inkjet printers have a clear advantage: low purchase price and very good color performance. That’s why they are often preferred for home or occasional use.

However, their running cost depends heavily on how often you print. Ink cartridges have a lower page yield, and part of the ink is consumed during printhead cleaning cycles—especially when the printer remains idle.

At low print volumes, this isn’t a major issue. At medium or high volumes, however, costs rise quickly.

Laser: Higher Purchase Cost, Stable Economy

Laser printers cost more upfront, but they clearly excel in consistency. Toner cartridges yield thousands of pages, are not affected by inactivity, and do not require maintenance procedures like inkjet printhead cleaning.

This makes the cost per page more predictable and usually lower, especially as print volume increases.

For offices, students, or professionals who print frequently, laser is usually the more cost-effective choice—even if it seems more expensive at first.

Cost per Page: The Real Point of Comparison

Let’s look at a simple, realistic example.

An inkjet printer with cartridges costing €15 and yielding 300 pages has a cost of about €0.05 per page. If you print 400–500 pages per month, you replace cartridges often and the cost adds up quickly.

A laser printer with a €60 toner yielding 2,000 pages has a cost of about €0.03 per page. The more you print, the greater the advantage in favor of laser.

Cost per page is the metric that truly reveals which printer is right for you.

Low Print Volume: Which Option Makes Sense?

If you print up to around 50–100 pages per month, mainly on an occasional basis, an inkjet printer is a perfectly reasonable choice. The low purchase price outweighs everything else, and ink costs don’t have time to become a problem.

In this case, a laser printer may be overkill—especially if you don’t need frequent printing.

Medium Print Volume

At 150–300 pages per month, the difference starts to show. Ink cartridges are replaced more often, costs increase, and inkjet maintenance becomes more noticeable.

Here, laser starts to make sense, especially if most prints are black and white. Many users at this level realize they bought a cheap printer—but expensive consumables.

High Volume: Laser Is Not a Choice, It’s the Only Way

If you print 500+ pages per month, laser is clearly the most cost-effective solution. Lower cost per page, durability, and reliability make a huge difference.

In professional use, inkjet simply cannot compete with the stability and economy of a laser printer.

What About Color?

If you frequently need color printing, inkjet still delivers better quality. However, costs rise sharply when print volume is high.

With color laser printers, costs are more controlled, but the initial investment is higher. That’s why the decision should be based on how often you print in color—not just whether you need it occasionally.

There is no “best” printer in general—only the most suitable one for your use case.

Inkjet makes sense when you print little, occasionally, and want a low purchase price. Laser makes sense when you print often, need reliability, and want a low cost per page.

The right choice doesn’t show at the checkout counter, but in the first months of use. If you choose based on print volume rather than device price, you’ll end up with a printer that truly works in your favor—and not against your wallet.