How to choose the right printer
8 Oct 2026
The price of the printer is a small part of the real cost; ink or toner costs more over time. Choose by what you print and how much.
1. Laser or inkjet?
- Laser (black and white): faster and cheaper per page, toner does not dry out, good for documents and offices.
- Inkjet: good for colour and photos, and cheaper to buy, but the ink dries out if you do not print regularly.
- Ink tank: the machine costs more but cost per page is much lower, good if you print a lot in colour.
2. Printer only or multifunction?
A multifunction printer (MFP) prints, copies and scans in one machine, and is the practical choice for most offices and homes.
3. Cost per page
Ask for the price of toner or ink and how many pages a cartridge prints (its yield). A cheap printer can cost you more in the long run.
4. Speed and paper size
Speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm). If you need automatic double-sided printing (duplex), check it is there. Most printers are A4; for large drawings look for A3.
5. Connectivity
USB for one computer, Wi-Fi or Ethernet if several people use it. Check that drivers support your computer system.
6. Receipt and label printers
For shops and points of sale there are thermal receipt printers (58 or 80 mm wide); they need no ink or toner because they print with heat.
7. Warranty and supplies
Check the warranty and that toner or ink will stay available for your printer model.
