Cost per page, print speed, and physical footprint are all key differentiators when discussing laser vs inkjet printer options
Printers remain a central part of the office, even in an increasingly digital world. Worksheets, forms, presentation packets: They all flow from the humble office printer. Whether you’re outfitting your office with its first printer or looking to upgrade from an older model, your journey likely begins by answering the question of laser printer vs inkjet.
These two technologies form the basis of nearly every modern printer. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. By evaluating the key differentiating factors and considering your use case, you’ll find it easier to choose the right printer.
Learn more about the fundamentals of these essential office companions in our guide, How Do Printers Work: Everything You Need to Know.
Laser vs inkjet printer: How they work
The main difference between laser and inkjet printers is their printing method. Inkjets are the more common option for home printers. As a result, the technology is likely familiar to many. Inkjet printers use dozens of small nozzles to spray microscopic droplets of ink onto the paper. The ink can be dye-based, which changes the color of the paper itself, or pigment-based, which dries on the paper's surface.
Laser printers employ more sophisticated technology. A rotating drum inside the printer generates an electrostatic charge. That charge transfers toner (basically powdered ink) to the surface of the page. The printer then applies heat to bond the toner to the page. Black and white printers use just one cartridge of ink or toner. Color printers add cartridges for cyan, magenta, and yellow. Whenever one of the four cartridges runs out, it must be replaced before the printer can run again.
Costs
Upfront costs
Everything that differentiates laser printers vs inkjet printers flows from the difference in their technology. Cost is no exception. Because inkjet printers use somewhat simpler technology, they are often cheaper to manufacture. As a result, they’re also cheaper to purchase. Manufacturers can drive that cost even lower by selling inkjet printers at a loss. They do so because they’re counting on your future ink cartridge purchases to make that money back. Some manufacturers restrict ink refills to their proprietary cartridges to help ensure they recoup the initial loss.
Laser printers tend to have higher upfront costs. Toner cartridges are also more expensive on average than ink cartridges. But this doesn’t tell the whole story.
Total costs
One of the most important metrics for printer efficiency is page yield. Using a standard set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), page yield measures how many pages a printer can produce when covering 5% of the page with ink. Dividing a printer’s page yield by the cost of its cartridges can illustrate that printer’s operating costs. By comparing laser printer vs inkjet cost per page, we can better understand how cost-efficient the two printers are.
Inkjet printers can generally print around 220 pages on each cartridge. Printing in black and white tends to net a 5-10 cent cost per page. Printing in color raises that to 15-25 cents per page.
This is where laser printers shine. Their use of toner is much more efficient, with each cartridge yielding 2,500-4,000 pages before needing to be replaced. That leads to a cost per page below 5 cents in black and white and around 15 cents in color. As a result, laser printers function as an investment. The longer you use them and the greater volume you print, the more cost-effective they become.
Printing quality
Printing in an office setting demands a certain professionalism of appearance. Materials should be easy to read and look intentional. Both inkjet printers and laser printers can reach that standard. Inkjet printers can go beyond it when printing in color by mixing inks in precise quantities. That can create very subtle color gradations that are important in photo printing.
On the other hand, ink is a liability with regard to precision. It can often bleed while printing and smudge before it dries. That leads to less precise images and text.
Because laser printers rely on halftone dots to create specific colors, they can produce vibrant colors, but they can’t match the color accuracy of ink. In exchange for that precision of color, laser printers gain precision of image. They place dots of toner in exactly the right locations, and the toner dries instantly. That prevents bleeding and smudging, which leads to crisp, clear text and images.
Printing speed
Laser printer vs inkjet comparisons should also consider speed. The faster a printer is, the less time workers will spend waiting for it to be free to take their job. That can reduce bottlenecks and keep working hours productive.
In general, applying ink takes longer than bonding toner to a page. Inkjet print speeds average 5-20 pages per minute. That doesn’t account for ink drying time, which may be a necessary step when avoiding smudges. Inkjet printers also tend to have lower capacities, both in paper reserves and output trays. That means workers must refill the paper reservoir and empty the output trays more frequently or risk printing bottlenecks.
Speed is a central advantage of laser printers. Typical home laser printers output 20-40 pages per minute, while more advanced models can print more than 50 ppm. Laser printers often include higher-capacity paper reservoirs and output trays. And if those built-in trays don’t suffice, many offer additional trays to avoid backups.
Did You Know?:The RICOH 132 P holds up to 250 sheets of paper in its standard output tray, and an optional tray add-on can raise that output capacity to 500 sheets. Click here to learn more.
Maintenance
Maintenance is an often under-appreciated aspect of the laser printer vs inkjet discussion. Performing maintenance can hinder productivity at best and incur service fees at worst. As a result, it’s critical to consider maintenance projections to understand long-term printer costs.
Liquid ink can dry if it’s left unused. That can lead to dried ink accumulating in an inkjet printer’s nozzles. When enough dried ink builds up, the printheads can clog. Some printers can fix this on their own, but many require professional support to unclog. On the other hand, printing in too great a volume can lead to printer misalignment and paper jams. These are simpler to fix but still cost precious uptime. Inkjet printers tend to last around three years when used at a normal volume.
Laser printers, meanwhile, are built for high-volume work. They tend to encounter fewer mechanical malfunctions. That’s in part because toner replacements often include new electrostatic drums as well. This helps stave off additional maintenance needs. Laser printers tend to last five or more years depending on volume and type of printer purchased. Over that long time frame, dust can accumulate inside the printer, which affects print clarity. Periodic manual cleaning can prevent dust buildup.
Size
Every square foot of office space costs a business money. That creates an impetus to use space as efficiently as possible. As technology has improved, both inkjet printers and laser printers have trended toward smaller models. Inkjet printers have managed to shrink a great deal thanks to how little space ink nozzles require. As a result, they are often smaller than laser printers. Some even make for excellent portable printers.
Laser printers have yet to match the portability and small footprint of inkjet models. Their electrostatic drums require a certain amount of size to be effective. However, many laser printer models now rival the size of the average inkjet printer.
Did You Know?:The RICOH 132 P uses TLS1.3 and SNMP v3 to keep your network secure. Click here to learn more.
Our recommendation: RICOH Printer 132 P
When it comes to office work, efficiency is king. That's why Ricoh designed the 132 P to maximize return on investment. With a print speed of 34 pages per minute and a monthly duty cycle of 35,000, the 132 P is built for speed and durability. Despite that output potential, the 132 P maintains a small physical footprint. Plus, its competitive upfront price and easy-to-use controls minimize the lag between purchase and ROI. Click here to learn more or shop the rest of our printer line.
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