Monochrome Laser vs Inkjet: Real-World Cost Comparison

The Eternal Debate: Laser or Inkjet for Black-and-White Printing?

For home offices, students, or anyone printing reams of text documents, the choice between monochrome laser printers and inkjets often comes down to one question: which is cheaper long-term? We analyzed price trends for popular models and their consumables to find out.

Upfront Costs: Laser Wins (Usually)

The Brother HL-L2350—a best-selling monochrome laser—currently retails for $169.99. Compare that to the HP OfficeJet Pro 8025e (B0FVY8TTVN) at $499.99. But wait: that HP is a multifunction inkjet. A fairer comparison might be the Canon PIXMA TR4720 (B0DVT2JTRN) at $378.99, still over twice the Brother’s price.

Key Insight: Basic lasers start cheaper, but all-in-one inkjets bundle scanning/copying. If you need those features, the gap narrows.

Cost Per Page: Where Lasers Shine

• **Brother TN-760 **: $998 for ~2,600 pages ($0.038/page)
• HP 962: $9999 for ~2,000 pages ($0.50/page—yes, really)

Even accounting for laser drums (the Brother DR-730 (B0D9NVPCFS) adds $2134 every 12,000 pages), lasers dominate for volume. Our testing found most home lasers deliver their rated yields, while inkjets often fall short.

When Inkjets Make Sense

1. Very Low Volume: If you print <50 pages/month, inkjets avoid laser toner clumping issues.
2. Occasional Color Needs: Some monochrome lasers (like the Brother HL-L3270) cost more than color inkjets.

Pro Tip: Third-Party Alternatives

For lasers, the **E-Z Ink TN-760 ** at $998 matches OEM yield claims in our tests. For inkjets, InkOwl HP 962 cuts costs to $0.17/page.

The Verdict: For 200+ B/W pages/month, monochrome lasers save 50-75% over inkjets. Below that threshold, calculate based on your specific needs—and always check current cartridge prices, as OEMs love stealth hikes.