Pros and Cons of Ink vs Toner

If you are in the market for an office copier, you may have wondered what kind of copier you should get. If you have had printers and copiers before, you know there are a few main technologies that are used to make copiers or multi-function printers (MFPs).

We have been selling and leasing copiers for nearly 15 years, so we have seen many makes and models of copiers over that timeframe. We sell to business clients copiers that will meet their needs today and in the future.

In this article, we will talk about ink-based MFPs vs. laser-based MFPs.

Inkjet Printers and Copiers – Good for Home Use

We have seen a lot of inkjet printers and copiers, and these are generally good when you don’t print or copy a lot. The cost per page for ink cartridges tends to be really high, but for specific low-print environments, they can make a lot of sense. We would think the breakpoint for color prints per month, which makes more sense, is about 100 color pages per month.

Pros: These copiers or MFPs will deliver good quality, be light for carrying from one room to another and the device itself tends to be a lot cheaper to purchase.

Cons: The cons are they tend to print slowly on longer print jobs, are much more expensive per print and they are not built to keep up with busy offices.

Laser (Toner-based) Printers and MFPs

The other primary technology used for printers and copiers is laser-based or toner-based. These devices probably make up 99% of the fleet we have under a maintenance contract. It is quite rare to cover an inkjet printer, whereas a laser printer tends to be more expensive, and is worth paying to have these devices repaired.

Other consumables that go along with the toner are the following:

• Drums
• Waste Containers
• Fusers
• Transfer Belts

Pros: Speed, device quality, and cost per print fees

Cons: They cost more than inkjet for the equipment

Which One is Right for You?

If you are like most of our clients, the laser (toner) printer or MFP will be faster and you will be happier with the quality of the prints and the life of the machine. We have a large inventory available for you to choose from and would love to help you get the right copier for your business. Generally, for most clients, it is a laser-based printer or MFP that will work the best.