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Fed up with paying for ink cartridges? If you’re replacing an old printer, the two options most worth a look are an ink tank printer and a laser printer. Both can be much cheaper to run than a typical cartridge inkjet, but they suit different people. Here’s how they compare in our ink tank vs laser printer guide.
Quick answer
- Choose an ink tank if you print regularly, want colour and photos, and want the lowest running costs.
- Choose a laser if you mostly print black-and-white documents, want speed, or only print now and then.
- Avoid cheap cartridge inkjets if you print often, as the ink usually costs far more over time.
Prices change often. Tap Check price on Amazon for today’s price.
What is an ink tank printer?
An ink tank printer is an inkjet with built-in ink reservoirs that you top up from bottles, instead of buying small cartridges. Ranges such as Epson EcoTank and Canon PIXMA G-series work this way. Which? says tank printers usually cost more to buy, but are very cheap to run, often good for photos, and rarely need refilling.
What is a laser printer?
A laser printer uses powdered toner instead of liquid ink. As Expert Reviews explains, a laser draws the page on to a charged drum, the toner sticks to it and is transferred to the paper, then a heated fuser melts it in place. Mono lasers print black only, while colour lasers use four toners. They’re known for fast, crisp text.
Ink tank vs laser: the key differences
Running costs: ink tank wins
This is the tank printer’s big selling point. In Which?’s cost comparison, based on printing 20 pages of black text and 10 pages of graphics a month, the average tank printer cost about £2.28 a year to run, against around £20 for the average laser and £96 for the average cartridge inkjet. Expert Reviews also found Epson EcoTank models it tested printing at fractions of a penny per page.
Upfront cost: laser usually wins
Which? found tank printers cost more to buy on average than lasers in its testing. So a tank printer makes most sense if you print enough for the lower running costs to make up the difference over time.
Black text and speed: laser wins
Which? says tank printers still can’t quite match most lasers for sharp black text or speed. Lasers are also built to handle heavier workloads, so they suit home offices and small businesses that print lots of documents.
Colour and photos: ink tank wins
Ink tanks are inkjets, so they’re usually much better for colour and photo printing, and many can print on glossy photo paper. A mono laser can’t print colour at all, and colour lasers are generally better at graphics and charts than photos.
Occasional printing: laser wins
This is often overlooked. Inkjets, including tank models, can suffer from blocked nozzles if you leave them unused for long periods, and cleaning them uses up ink. Which? says tank printers aren’t ideal for occasional use, and Expert Reviews says if you go weeks without printing, you’re better off with a laser. Toner doesn’t dry out in the same way.
Size and noise: ink tank usually wins
Which? notes that laser printers are usually bulkier and noisier than equivalent inkjets, so think about where yours will live.
Which should you buy?
- Family printer for homework, colour and photos: ink tank.
- Home office printing lots of documents: mono laser, or a tank if you need colour too.
- You print a few pages a month, or less: mono laser.
- Lowest possible running costs: ink tank.
- Cheapest to buy: a basic cartridge inkjet, but expect higher ink costs over time.
An example mono laser in our shop
The Brother HL-L2400DW is a compact wireless mono laser. Brother lists speeds of up to 30 pages per minute, automatic two-sided printing, a 250-sheet paper tray and Wi-Fi and USB connections. It prints only in black and doesn’t scan or copy. It comes with a 700-page starter toner, and Brother sells high-yield TN2510XL toner rated for up to 3,000 pages, with a separate drum unit.
If you’d rather stick with a cartridge inkjet, the Canon PIXMA TS3750i is a budget all-in-one in our shop, and you can find ink and toner for many models too. Browse all our printers.
Setting up a home office? Our Chromebook vs Windows laptop guide and desk gadgets roundup can help, and our Black Friday 2026 guide covers when to buy.
Verdict
If you print regularly and want colour, an ink tank printer is the best value over time, even though it costs more upfront. If you mostly print black-and-white documents, want speed, or only print occasionally, a mono laser is the safer, simpler choice. We haven’t tested these printers ourselves; this guide is based on Which? and Expert Reviews testing and manufacturers’ specs. See how we test and choose products.
FAQ
Is an ink tank printer cheaper than a laser?
To run, usually yes. In Which?’s comparison, the average tank printer cost about £2.28 a year to run, compared with around £20 for the average laser. Tank printers often cost more to buy, though.
Do ink tank printers dry out?
They can. Inkjets can get blocked nozzles if left unused for a long time, and cleaning them uses ink. If you print rarely, a laser is usually a better choice.
Is a laser printer better for documents?
Yes. Lasers are generally faster and produce sharper black text, which makes them a good choice for home offices.
Can a laser printer print photos?
A mono laser can’t print colour. Colour lasers can, but for photos an inkjet or ink tank printer is usually better.
Featured image: Brother HL-2240 laser printer, photo by TaurusEmerald via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.