Laser printer vs. inkjet printer: running cost
An inkjet printer is cheaper to run: about $2 a year versus $5 for a laser printer at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $3 difference.
| Laser printer | Inkjet printer | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 500 W | 15 W |
| Watt range | 300–1,000 W | 10–30 W |
| Typical use | 6 minutes a day, 5 days a week | 6 minutes a day, 3 days a week |
| Energy per year | 31 kWh | 13 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 9.0¢ | 0.3¢ |
| Cost per day | 1.5¢ | 0.7¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.46 | $0.20 |
| Cost per year | $5 | $2 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $13 | $6 |
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What drives the difference
- Laser printer: Laser printers draw 400-600 W while printing (fusing toner) and spike higher on warm-up, but print only minutes a day; sleep draw of 1-3 W makes up most annual use.
- Inkjet printer: Inkjets draw only 10-25 W printing; standby at 1-3 W is most of their energy use.
Ways to cut either cost
Ink tank printer
Cuts ink cost per page by 80-90%, which outweighs its electricity cost.
See options on Amazon ENERGY STAR laser printer
Certified models have deep-sleep modes under 1 W.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a laser printer or an inkjet printer?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a laser printer costs about $5 a year versus $2 for an inkjet printer. That's $3 more, or 2.3× as much.
How many watts do laser printer and inkjet printer use?
A laser printer typically draws 500 W (range 300–1,000 W). An inkjet printer draws 15 W (range 10–30 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.