Difference Between Inkjet and Laser Printers

As companies who manufacture printers continue to find ways to lower the cost of ink, the debate over the difference between inkjet and laser printers has heated up. Read on to find out what the differences are, and whether they will affect your next printer purchase.

Printer Cost

Inkjet printers can be had for as little as $50, and they usually last at least a few years. While the price of laser printers is slowly coming down, a decent one will cost at least $150 to $200.

Cost Per Page

The cost per page will vary greatly depending on the printer model you choose, so you'll want to calculate that before you buy. Find out how much a replacement ink cartridge (for inkjets) or toner cartridge (for lasers) will cost and how many sheets each will print. For example, if an ink cartridge costs $30 and prints 800 pages, that's a cost per page of 30/800 = $.0375.

Resolution

Resolution is measured in dots per inch, or DPI, and more is better (although ink and paper quality have an effect, too). A cheaper inkjet printer will be 1200 by 1200 DPI, while a more expensive model might offer 4800 by 1200 DPI. In contrast, a less expensive laser printer will only offer 600 by 600 DPI. More expensive models will go up to 2400 by 2400 DPI.

Speed

Manufacturers will tell you the speed of a printer by telling you the PPM, or pages per minute, that it can print. When comparing the PPM, keep in mind that manufacturers usually list the speed while printing at the lowest quality, which is faster. In general, inkjets print faster than lasers, but the difference isn't much--it really varies by machine, so check the PPM listed.

Connectivity

There's little difference between inkjet and laser printers when it comes to connectivity. Even if the computer comes with a USB cable, you can usually get an older parallel port cable and vice versa. And both inkjets and lasers will offer similar options.

The Bottom Line

For the average consumer, an inkjet printer is usually a better choice. Its purchase and running costs are often lower. That's why stores offer more consumer-oriented inkjets than laser printers.