I'm a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Ink Tank vs Laser Printers: Which Is Cheaper? If your only goal is spending less over time, here’s the verdict:
- Color printing (even “sometimes color”) → Ink tank usually wins on long-term cost. Supertank/ink-tank cost-per-print is commonly around ~$0.01/page or less for typical documents, which is hard for color laser to beat.
- Black-and-white, high-volume documents → Laser often wins on speed + predictable running costs, and its black-only cost-per-page is typically very low.
- Very light/rare printing → Laser can be cheaper “in real life” because toner doesn’t dry out and you’re less likely to trigger inkjet cleaning/maintenance cycles.
So the cheapest in 2026 answer depends on what you print, not what you pay at checkout.
Feature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  | |
Best for | Families + mixed printing | High-volume home office / small business | Photos, art prints, creative projects | High-yield home office printing | Tight budgets + basics |
Ink system | Refillable ink bottles | Refillable MegaTank | Refillable EcoTank (photo-focused) | Refillable MegaTank | Refillable MegaTank |
Prints a lot without refills | Yes (high-yield design) | Yes (built for volume) | Yes (low cost-per-print focus) | Yes (6,000 black / 7,700 color per set claim) | Yes (budget tank concept) |
Paper capacity vibe | Family-friendly | “I print stacks” (up to 600 sheets cited) | Creative-first, not an office tank | Big (350-sheet capacity) | Basic |
Duplex printing | Depends on config | Typically yes for this class | Yes (common ET-8550 use-case) | Yes (Canon lists duplex capability) | Varies by model/version |
Price |  | | | | |
Why this is confusing in the first place
Most competitor articles make one big mistake: they compare printer price instead of total ownership cost.
Your real cost is driven by:
- Cost per page (CPP)
- How much color you print
- Consumables beyond ink/toner (drums, maintenance boxes, etc.)
- Waste from maintenance (cleaning cycles for inkjets; drum/waste replacements for laser)
When you compare those, the decision gets a lot clearer.
The 2026 cost reality: CPP is the whole game
In 2026, the cheapest printer is almost always the one with the lowest cost-per-print for your mix of pages.
Here’s a practical “range view” pulled from common CPP guidance:
Typical cost-per-page ranges (documents, not photo printing)
Printer type | Typical B&W CPP | Typical Color CPP | What that means |
|---|---|---|---|
Ink tank / “Supertank” | ~$0.002–$0.01 | ~$0.005–$0.015 | Usually the cheapest way to print color at home |
Laser | ~$0.03–$0.06 | ~$0.06–$0.10 (varies widely) | Strong for fast text; color costs can climb |
Cartridge inkjet (for context) | Higher | Higher | Usually the most expensive long-term |
Two important notes (that top articles often skip):
- Color laser “starter toner” can look cheap at first, then spike later when you replace full sets.
- Ink tanks can be absurdly cheap per page, but only if you print enough that the low CPP actually matters to you.
The “cheaper” answer by real-life printing style
If you print mostly black text (forms, homework, invoices)
Laser is often cheaper and feels easier:
- Toner doesn’t dry out.
- Text is crisp.
- High speed for big jobs is the norm.
Best fit: people who print lots of B&W pages, want speed, and don’t care about photo-quality color.
Top 5 Picks:
- Best overall for most people: HP Smart Tank 7301 (balanced speed/features + easy home use).
- Best for home office volume: Canon MAXIFY GX7020 MegaTank (big paper capacity + business mindset).
- Best for photos + creative work: Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 (borderless 13×19 + standout photo quality).
- Best value all-in-one MegaTank: Canon PIXMA G7020 (high page yield + duplex + big capacity for the money).
- Best budget refillable tank: Canon MegaTank G3270 (cheap entry point that still gives you the ink-tank savings).
If you print color even occasionally (charts, school projects, flyers)
Ink tanks are usually the long-term cost winner:
- Their cost-per-print is extremely low for both black and color documents.
- Color laser can be competitive for certain workloads, but many real-world examples show color laser supplies getting pricey fast.
Best fit: families, students, home users who don’t want to ration color.
If you print rarely (once every couple months)
This is where laser can quietly win:
- Laser is “ready when you are” because toner is stable over time.
- Inkjets (including ink tanks) may run cleaning cycles after sitting, which can waste ink and create frustration.
Best fit: low-use households that want a printer they can ignore.
Feature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | |
Best for | Families + mixed printing | High-volume home office / small business | Photos, art prints, creative projects | High-yield home office printing | Tight budgets + basics |
Ink system | Refillable ink bottles | Refillable MegaTank | Refillable EcoTank (photo-focused) | Refillable MegaTank | Refillable MegaTank |
Prints a lot without refills | Yes (high-yield design) | Yes (built for volume) | Yes (low cost-per-print focus) | Yes (6,000 black / 7,700 color per set claim) | Yes (budget tank concept) |
Paper capacity vibe | Family-friendly | “I print stacks” (up to 600 sheets cited) | Creative-first, not an office tank | Big (350-sheet capacity) | Basic |
Duplex printing | Depends on config | Typically yes for this class | Yes (common ET-8550 use-case) | Yes (Canon lists duplex capability) | Varies by model/version |
Price | | | | | |
Hidden costs competitors often ignore
1) Laser “other parts” (drums, waste toner, maintenance)
Laser printers can have additional consumables beyond toner. Some models require periodic drum or waste-toner replacements—often after tens of thousands of pages.
This doesn’t mean laser is expensive. It means your costs aren’t only toner.
2) Ink tank maintenance ink
Ink tanks reduce ink price, but they don’t eliminate inkjet realities:
- Nozzle checks
- Cleaning cycles
- Occasional maintenance behavior
It’s usually a small cost, but if you print extremely rarely, it can feel like the printer is “using ink for nothing.”
3) Speed is money (if your time matters)
If you print big batches often, laser’s speed can matter more than a small CPP difference.
A printer that finishes in 2 minutes instead of 15 can be “cheaper” in the way you actually feel.
A simple way to decide in 60 seconds
Answer these three questions:
- Do you print color at least a few times a month?
- Yes → ink tank usually cheaper long-term.
- No → go to #2.
- Do you print big B&W batches (dozens+ pages at a time)?
- Yes → laser usually cheaper and more satisfying.
- No → go to #3.
- Do you sometimes go months without printing?
- Yes → laser often cheaper in practice (less fuss).
- No → ink tank can still be a strong value if you like low CPP.
FAQ: Ink Tank vs Laser Printers: Which Is Cheaper
Are ink tank printers cheaper than laser printers in 2026?
For color printing, ink tanks are often cheaper long-term because their cost-per-print can be around a penny or less for typical documents.
Are laser printers cheaper if I only print black-and-white?
Often, yes—especially if you print lots of text pages and want fast output and minimal upkeep.
Do ink tank printers dry out if you don’t print often?
They can require more cleaning/maintenance when left unused, which can waste some ink. It’s manageable, but it’s a real tradeoff for infrequent users.
Is a color laser cheaper than an ink tank for color?
Sometimes for certain office-style workloads, but many sources and real-world discussions point out color laser supplies can be expensive—especially when you replace full sets and account for starter cartridges.
What’s the cheapest printer type overall for most homes?
If you print regularly and want affordable color, ink tanks are widely recommended for low running costs; for high-volume B&W documents, laser is commonly preferred.
Final verdict: which is cheaper in 2026?
- Cheapest for color + mixed home printing: Ink tank (lowest CPP is the headline)
- Cheapest for high-volume black text + speed: Laser (predictable, fast, low fuss)
- Cheapest for very infrequent printing: Laser is often the “no surprises” option
Other Interesting Articles
- Best Cheap Printers With Cheap Ink (2026): 5 Picks That Stay Affordable After Checkout
- Best Printers With Refillable Ink Tanks (2026): 5 Picks That Actually Save You Money
- Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 vs Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300: Which Photo Printer is Best?
- Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 vs ET-15000: Beautiful Photos or Common Office Printer
- Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 vs Canon PIXMA PRO-200S: Price or Quality Photo Printing
- Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 vs ET-8500: One Major Difference You Need to Know
About RegalPrinter
RegalPrinter offers the best reviews for inkjet printers, laser printers, 3D printers, and other similar office machines that you use in your everyday life. We provide expert information that will ensure you are making the right decision whenever buying any of these machines. Our “Ink Tank vs Laser Printers: Which Is Cheaper” post will ensure you know which is right for you.