Buying guides
Choose a printer on what it costs to own, not just to buy
Neutral comparisons and the math behind them. No affiliate links, no sales pitch.
Independent guide — not affiliated with any manufacturer. For warranty or official support, contact the maker of your printer.
What this section covers
The cheapest printer on the shelf is rarely the cheapest to own. What matters is how much you print, in what colors, and how often the printer will sit idle. These guides help you work that out before you spend anything.
They are written for first-time buyers, families replacing an old machine and anyone setting up a home office. We do not sell printers and there are no affiliate links, so we can stick to how the technology behaves. A good first stop is the printer type comparison.
4 guides
Buying guides
Newest first. Filter by printer type to narrow the list.
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Understanding cost per pageHow to compare printers by what you will actually spend on ink or toner over time, with a simple
calculation you can do in two minutes.InkjetLaserInk-tankAll-in-onePhotoRead guide
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Home or office printer: matching the machine to the jobHow home and office printing needs differ, from volume and paper handling to sharing and security,
and how to choose a printer for each setting.InkjetLaserInk-tankAll-in-oneRead guide
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How to choose a printer that suits youA plain, step-by-step way to choose a printer: what you print, how much, which technology fits, the
features worth paying for and the costs to compare.InkjetLaserInk-tankAll-in-onePhotoPortableRead guide
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Inkjet vs laser vs ink-tank: which suits youA plain comparison of cartridge inkjet, ink-tank and laser printers: print quality, speed, upkeep,
running cost and the kind of user each one suits best.InkjetLaserInk-tankAll-in-onePhotoRead guide
Keep reading
Still deciding between types?
Compare all eight printer types side by side, from upfront price to running cost.