The inkjet vs. laser printers debate has existed since laser printing technology was introduced in 1969. Originally, laser printers were preferred by those who wanted to print large volumes of paper in bulk due to their hefty price tag. While inkjet printers themselves were less of an investment, the cost per page was more considerable than that of laser printers. Now that technology has advanced and print technology has evolved, the differences between the two printers have decreased making the age-old inkjet vs laser printer debate more difficult.

To help you decide which machine would be better for your printing needs, we’ve broken down factors of the inkjet vs laser printer debate into three defining traits: cost, quality, and speed. Keep reading to learn more about inkjet printers, laser printers, and the pros and cons of each to bring a resolution to the inkjet vs laser debate.

Out of the two machines, most people are familiar with inkjet printers since these models are often used for printing outside of office settings and within households. Since inkjet printers are smaller in stature with a lower up-front investment, they are a popular choice for both professional and personal printing.

Once a piece of paper is fed through an inkjet printer, small, precise drops of ink are sprayed onto the sheet of paper either through a few nozzles or an ink-coated ribbon. Next, the ink drops are ionized, allowing them to be guided by magnetic plates within the printer. The printer head continues to move back and forth, applying thousands of ink drops onto the page.

What do you think of when you read the word laser? You might have imagined a bright, powerful beam of light cutting through rock and metal in space or you might have imagined a grid of red lines protecting the floor from a secret agent like the movies. Laser printers may not be as exciting as using laser technology secret mission or a space adventure, but they’re just as useful and vital to their purpose.

Laser printers work in a way that’s very similar to photocopiers. As a matter of fact, the first laser printers were actually created from photocopiers! While a photocopier uses a reflection of light to create a copy of a printed page, laser printers create images from scratch by reflecting light off of a moving mirror and using negative and positive charges to attract tiny particles of powdered ink called toner. This process transfers the image from the laser printer onto the page before two hot rollers, known as the fuser unit, fuse the particles into the paper.

Getting the right gadgets is one of the most important investments you’ll make for your organization, so which machine is best for get the best deal without sacrificing quality: an inkjet printer or a laser printer?

Laser printers used to be more expensive than inkjet printers, but the times have changed. It may come as a surprise, but the price gap between inkjet and laser printers is narrowing. If you’re looking for a model with basic printing functions or a budget multifunction device, the difference in price for the machines themselves isn’t always too far apart. However, the cost of maintaining supply levels is also something to keep in mind as inkjet printers and laser printers differ in terms of needs.

 Ongoing printer costs are usually calculated using a “per page” estimation. You can calculate the costs using this formula:

(number of pages cartridge can make) ÷ (price of the cartridge) = cost per page

On average, inkjet printers tend to sustain a rate of $0.20 per page if you print both color and black and white text. If you plan to use your inkjet printer to print only black and white, costs will typically hover around $0.07 to $0.08 cents per page. Since most laser printers are only capable of printing in black and white, the average cost of printing per page is around $0.06 cents. However, if you’re looking for a color laser printer, the cost per page is an average of $0.12 to $0.15.

In terms of quality, inkjet and laser printers both shine in different areas and have their own specific strengths.

When it comes to producing black and white text, laser printing excels with its precision and knack for creating crisp, dark lines and shapes. However, that doesn’t mean laser printers fall flat when it comes to printing in color. In fact, laser printers can create precise and sharp colored images, like charts and graphs.

Inkjet printers surpass laser printers when it comes to reproducing photographs, paintings, and other images with vivid colors. Inkjet printers are great at capturing and reproducing subtle changes in shade and color within an image.

Laser printers are perfect for printing massive amounts of documents in a short amount of time. Many laser printers can reach speeds of 60 and 70 pages per minute, with some high-performance printers even reaching speeds of 100 pages per minute! Some inkjet printers have caught up to laser printers in terms of speed, but only when printing basic text on normal paper.

The Bottom Line: You will love an inkjet printer if you want to produce colorful, vivid photographs and don’t mind slower printing speeds. If you need a flexible machine that’s capable of printing on all types of paper, an inkjet printer will be your best option.

The Bottom Line: If you want to produce text-heavy documents or charts and graphs at high speeds, a laser printer will be your best friend. If you don’t mind less flexibility with supplies and don’t plan to use your printer to reproduce artwork or photographs, a laser printer will fulfill all of your printing needs.

There isn’t a clear winner in the inkjet vs. laser printer debate. Both machines have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to producing documents. Think hard about what is most important to you when it comes to print volume, quality, speed, and cost before making a choice and you should find yourself with a printer or multifunction device that meets all of your needs and more. 

Still need more information to make your decision after comparing inkjet vs laser printers? Our team of experts at A-B-S are here to answer your questions and help you find a solution that works best for your needs and your budget. Reach out to us today!