Printer Running Costs Comparison: Cheapest Printers to Run in Australia (2026)
Buying a printer is the easy part. The ongoing cost of ink and toner is where the real expense lies, and the difference between models can be staggering. We've crunched the numbers to help you find the cheapest printer to run in Australia. 🐾
How We Calculate Running Costs
Running cost = (cartridge price ÷ page yield) per cartridge × number of cartridges needed for a full set
We compare using both genuine and compatible cartridge prices from FetchInk. Most Australian homes and offices use compatible cartridges, so those figures are most relevant.
Mono (Black & White) Laser Printers
| Printer | Cartridge | Compatible Price | Yield | Cost/Page | |---------|-----------|:----------------:|:-----:|:---------:| | Brother HL-L2350DW | TN-2450 | ~$25 | 3,000 | 0.83¢ | | Brother HL-L2375DW | TN-2450 | ~$25 | 3,000 | 0.83¢ | | HP LaserJet M110we | HP 141A | ~$35 | 1,500 | 2.33¢ | | HP LaserJet Pro M404 | CF258A | ~$39 | 3,000 | 1.30¢ | | Samsung Xpress M2020 | MLT-D111S | ~$20 | 1,000 | 2.00¢ |
Winner: Brother HL-L2350DW / HL-L2375DW at just 0.83 cents per page with compatible toner. These are also very affordable to buy (~$150-$200 retail), making them the best overall value for Australian home offices and small businesses.
Colour Laser Printers
| Printer | Cartridge Set | Compatible Price | Yield | Colour Cost/Page | |---------|--------------|:----------------:|:-----:|:----------------:| | Brother HL-L3230CDW | TN-253/257 set | ~$89 | 2,500 | ~3.6¢ | | Brother MFC-L3770CDW | TN-253/257 set | ~$89 | 2,500 | ~3.6¢ | | HP Colour LaserJet M454 | HP 416A set | ~$139 | 2,100 | ~6.6¢ | | Canon LBP654Cx | CART-046 set | ~$89 | 2,200 | ~4.0¢ |
Winner: Brother HL-L3230CDW at around 3.6 cents per colour page. Brother dominates the affordable colour laser market in Australia.
Inkjet Printers (Cartridge-Based)
| Printer | Cartridge Set | Compatible Price | Yield | Colour Cost/Page | |---------|--------------|:----------------:|:-----:|:----------------:| | Epson XP-4200 | 212XL set | ~$39 | 500 | ~7.8¢ | | HP DeskJet 4120 | HP 67XL set | ~$45 | 240 | ~18.8¢ | | Canon PIXMA TS3360 | PG-645XL/CL-646XL | ~$35 | 400 | ~8.8¢ |
Takeaway: Cartridge-based inkjets are the most expensive to run. If you print regularly, a laser printer will save you hundreds per year.
Ink Tank Printers (Refillable)
| Printer | Bottle Set | Price | Yield | Colour Cost/Page | |---------|-----------|:-----:|:-----:|:----------------:| | Epson EcoTank ET-2800 | T502 set | ~$60 | 7,500 | ~0.8¢ | | Canon PIXMA G3620 | GI-66/GI-16 set | ~$55 | 6,000 | ~0.9¢ | | HP Smart Tank 580 | GT53/GT52 set | ~$50 | 6,000 | ~0.8¢ |
Winner: Ink tank printers offer the lowest per-page cost of any technology. The trade-off is a higher upfront cost (~$400-$600) and slower print speeds. Best for homes and small offices that print moderate volumes of colour.
Annual Cost Comparison (500 Pages/Month)
Based on 6,000 pages per year (500/month):
| Printer Type | Annual Cartridge Cost (Compatible) | |-------------|:----------------------------------:| | Brother mono laser | ~$50 | | Brother colour laser | ~$216 | | Epson EcoTank | ~$48 | | HP inkjet (cartridge) | ~$1,128 |
The difference is dramatic. An HP inkjet user switching to a Brother mono laser would save over $1,000 per year in cartridge costs alone.
Our Recommendations
Best for Home Office (Mono)
Brother HL-L2350DW: $150-200 printer + $25/cartridge. Under $100/year in toner for most home offices.
Best for Small Business (Colour)
Brother HL-L3230CDW: Affordable colour laser with cheap compatible toner. Under $250/year for moderate colour printing.
Best for Photos & Colour at Home
Epson EcoTank ET-2800: Higher upfront cost but incredibly cheap per-page. Under $50/year in ink for most homes.
Avoid
Cheap inkjet printers with expensive proprietary cartridges. They seem like a bargain upfront but cost a fortune in ink.
Find compatible cartridges for any printer at FetchInk. We stock all the printers mentioned above and ship Australia-wide for $18 (free over $250).
People Also Ask
What is the cheapest printer to run in Australia?
The Brother HL-L2350DW is the cheapest mono printer to run at ~0.83 cents per page with compatible toner. For colour, ink tank printers like the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 cost under 1 cent per page.
Are laser printers cheaper to run than inkjet?
Yes, significantly. A laser printer typically costs 1-4 cents per page, while cartridge-based inkjets cost 8-20+ cents per page. The savings add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars per year.
How much does it cost to print a page in Australia?
With compatible toner, a black and white page costs 0.8-2.5 cents. Colour laser pages cost 3.5-7 cents. Cartridge-based inkjet pages cost 8-20+ cents. Ink tank printers cost under 1 cent per page.