A cheap printer can be tempting, especially if you only need something simple for home, school work or occasional office printing. The problem is that the cheapest printer on the shelf is not always the cheapest printer to own.

At Cartridge World, we speak to customers every day who have bought a low-cost printer, only to be surprised later by the price of replacement ink or toner. In some cases, the first full set of cartridges can cost almost as much as the printer itself.

Why cheap printers can become expensive

Many entry-level printers are sold at very attractive prices. That does not always mean they are bad printers, but the real cost is usually found in the ink or toner you buy afterwards.

A printer may be cheap to buy because it uses smaller cartridges, has lower page yields, or relies on more expensive replacement supplies. Over the life of the printer, those running costs can quickly overtake the amount you saved upfront.

Before buying any printer, ask one simple question:

1. Check the cartridge price before buying the printer

This is the easiest way to avoid an expensive mistake. Before you buy a printer, search for the ink or toner cartridges it uses.

A printer might look like a great deal, but if the cartridges are expensive or very low capacity, it may not be the best long-term choice.

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2. Understand page yield

Page yield is the estimated number of pages a cartridge can print. It is one of the most useful figures when comparing printer running costs.

For example, one cartridge might cost less but only print around 180 pages. Another might cost more but print 600 pages or more. The second cartridge could be better value because it lasts much longer.

Page yield should always be treated as a guide. Real-world results can vary depending on what you print. Photos, colour-heavy documents, graphics and full-page designs will use more ink or toner than simple text documents.

3. Look for XL or high-yield cartridges

If you print regularly, check whether the printer has XL ink cartridges or high-yield toner cartridges available.

XL cartridges usually cost more upfront, but they often print many more pages. This can reduce the cost per page and means you do not need to replace cartridges as often.

4. Watch out for starter cartridges

Many new printers come with starter cartridges in the box. These are useful for setting up the printer, but they may contain less ink or toner than a normal replacement cartridge.

This means you may need to buy your first replacement set sooner than expected. If you are buying a printer for work, invoices, school projects, shipping labels or regular admin, it is sensible to check the cost of a full replacement set before buying.

5. Check whether own-brand cartridges are available

One of the easiest ways to reduce print costs is to check whether a quality own-brand cartridge is available for the printer you are buying.

Cartridge World own-brand ink and toner cartridges are designed to offer a reliable, lower-cost alternative to original manufacturer cartridges. They are a popular choice for customers who want dependable everyday printing without paying full original cartridge prices every time.

Our own-brand cartridges are also backed by our 2-year Cartridge World warranty, giving you extra peace of mind.

6. Choose inkjet or laser based on how you print

Another common mistake is choosing the wrong type of printer for your needs. A cheap inkjet may be fine for occasional colour printing, while a laser printer may be better for regular black-and-white documents.

Printer type	Best suited for	What to check
Inkjet printer	Home users, colour documents, school work and occasional photo printing.	Ink prices, XL cartridge availability and whether the printer will be used often enough to avoid ink drying.
Laser printer	Business documents, invoices, reports, letters and regular black-and-white printing.	Toner yield, drum unit costs and whether you need colour or mono printing.
Ink tank printer	Regular colour printing where low running costs are important.	Upfront printer price, ink bottle cost and how often you expect to print.

7. Think carefully about ink tank printers

Ink tank printers, such as refillable tank models, can offer very low running costs for customers who print regularly. Instead of replacing cartridges, you refill the built-in tanks using bottles of ink.

They usually cost more to buy upfront, but they can be a good option for households, students, home workers and small offices that print a lot of colour documents.

However, they are not automatically the right choice for everyone. If you print very rarely, you may not get the full benefit of the higher purchase price. As with any printer, the best choice depends on how often you print and what type of documents you produce.

8. Be cautious with subscription printing plans

Some printer brands offer ink subscription plans where you pay monthly based on the number of pages you print, rather than buying cartridges as needed.

These can work well for some customers, especially if your monthly printing is predictable. However, they may be less suitable if your printing varies, if you prefer to buy supplies only when needed, or if you do not want to be tied to a subscription model.

For many customers, buying cartridges as needed remains the simpler and more flexible option.

9. Check for separate drum units on laser printers

If you are buying a laser printer, especially some Brother, Xerox and office-focused models, check whether the printer uses a separate drum unit.

The toner cartridge contains the toner powder, but the drum unit helps transfer the image onto the page. Some printers combine these parts in one cartridge, while others use separate toner and drum units.

Separate drum units are not necessarily a bad thing, but they are an extra maintenance cost to be aware of. If your printer later shows messages such as Replace Drum, Drum End Soon or starts producing repeating marks, the drum may need replacing as well as the toner.

Visit our customer support pages if you need help with printer messages, cartridge errors or print quality problems.

10. Look beyond the printer price tag

When comparing printers, try to look at the full ownership cost rather than just the price of the machine.

A slightly more expensive printer can sometimes be the smarter buy if it uses better-value cartridges, offers high-yield options or suits your printing needs more closely.

Home user, student or small business: what should you choose?

User type	Printer type to consider	Main thing to check
Occasional home user	Basic inkjet printer	Ink price and whether cartridges are affordable when needed.
Student or family	Inkjet with XL cartridges or ink tank printer	Colour printing costs, multipack availability and paper usage.
Home office	Ink tank, business inkjet or mono laser	Cost per page, duplex printing and reliability.
Small business	Laser printer or high-capacity business inkjet	High-yield toner, drum costs, print speed and monthly print volume.

Final thoughts

A cheap printer is not always a bad choice, but it should never be judged on the purchase price alone. The real cost is usually found in the replacement ink or toner, page yield, cartridge capacity and how well the printer matches your printing habits.

Before buying your next printer, take a few minutes to check the cartridges it uses. It could save you money, reduce frustration and help you choose a printer that works better for your home, office or business.

Frequently asked questions

Disclaimer: Printer running costs, cartridge yields and cartridge availability can vary by printer model, usage and manufacturer updates. The information in this guide is intended as general buying advice. Always check the correct cartridge details for your exact printer model before purchasing.