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 $150).
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.