Printer Types
Ink tank/EcoTank ($299-599): Higher upfront cost but VERY cheap per page (0.3-1 cent). Bottles of ink last thousands of pages. Best for families who print regularly. Laser ($199-499): Fast, sharp text, low cost per page. Best for offices and high-volume text printing. No colour on budget models. Inkjet ($79-299): Cheapest upfront but expensive ink cartridges (5-15 cents per page). Best for occasional light use.
Top Picks
Epson EcoTank ET-2850 ($449): Best overall. Ink tank system, WiFi, auto-duplex, included ink prints 7,500 pages. Brother HL-L2350DW ($159): Best mono laser. Fast, reliable, cheap toner. HP Smart Tank 7005 ($349): Good ink tank alternative. HP Smart app integration. Canon PIXMA G3625 ($299): Budget ink tank. Good colour printing for photos.
Cost Per Page Reality
Ink tank: 0.3c per B&W page, 0.7c per colour. Laser: 2-4c per B&W page. Inkjet with cartridges: 7-15c per page. Over 3 years of moderate printing (200 pages/month), an ink tank printer saves $500-800 versus inkjet cartridges. The upfront premium pays for itself within 6-12 months for most families.