How Much Does It Cost to Run a Inkjet Printer?
A typical Inkjet Printer uses 30W and runs about 0.1 hours/day. At the national average rate of 16.72¢/kWh, that costs approximately $0.02/month.
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What Affects the Cost of Running a Inkjet Printer
Inkjet Printers Use Almost No Electricity
An inkjet printer draws 20-50W during printing and 2-5W in standby. Printing 50 pages uses about 0.02-0.05 kWh (less than 1 cent in electricity). Monthly electricity cost for typical home use is $0.25-$0.50. The real ongoing cost is ink cartridges ($15-$50 each), which cost 100-200x more per month than the electricity.
Inkjet Printer vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Inkjet Printer compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inkjet Printer (this page) | $0.02 | At national average rate, 0.1hrs/day |
| Laser printer | ~$1-3 | Uses 10-20x more electricity per page. Faster for high-volume printing. |
| Eco-tank inkjet (refillable) | ~$0.25-0.50 | Same electricity cost. Dramatically lower ink cost per page. |
| Photo printing service | $0 electricity at home | Outsource for better quality and no equipment cost. |
Inkjet Printer Cost by State
What a Inkjet Printer costs to run at 30W for 0.1 hours/day in every state:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14.82¢ | $0.01 | $0.16 |
| Alaska | 25.34¢ | $0.02 | $0.27 |
| Arizona | 13.81¢ | $0.01 | $0.15 |
| Arkansas | 12.63¢ | $0.01 | $0.14 |
| California | 31.41¢ | $0.03 | $0.34 |
| Colorado | 15.24¢ | $0.01 | $0.16 |
| Connecticut | 29.35¢ | $0.03 | $0.32 |
| Delaware | 15.24¢ | $0.01 | $0.16 |
| District of Columbia | 15.87¢ | $0.01 | $0.17 |
| Florida | 15.63¢ | $0.01 | $0.17 |
| Georgia | 14.12¢ | $0.01 | $0.15 |
| Hawaii | 43.21¢ | $0.04 | $0.47 |
| Idaho | 10.87¢ | $0.01 | $0.12 |
| Illinois | 16.37¢ | $0.01 | $0.18 |
| Indiana | 15.12¢ | $0.01 | $0.16 |
| Iowa | 14.23¢ | $0.01 | $0.15 |
| Kansas | 14.98¢ | $0.01 | $0.16 |
| Kentucky | 12.87¢ | $0.01 | $0.14 |
| Louisiana | 11.98¢ | $0.01 | $0.13 |
| Maine | 22.87¢ | $0.02 | $0.25 |
| Maryland | 16.12¢ | $0.01 | $0.17 |
| Massachusetts | 28.76¢ | $0.03 | $0.31 |
| Michigan | 18.76¢ | $0.02 | $0.2 |
| Minnesota | 15.34¢ | $0.01 | $0.17 |
| Mississippi | 13.76¢ | $0.01 | $0.15 |
| Missouri | 13.12¢ | $0.01 | $0.14 |
| Montana | 12.45¢ | $0.01 | $0.13 |
| Nebraska | 11.98¢ | $0.01 | $0.13 |
| Nevada | 15.03¢ | $0.01 | $0.16 |
| New Hampshire | 25.34¢ | $0.02 | $0.27 |
| New Jersey | 18.76¢ | $0.02 | $0.2 |
| New Mexico | 14.87¢ | $0.01 | $0.16 |
| New York | 22.87¢ | $0.02 | $0.25 |
| North Carolina | 13.98¢ | $0.01 | $0.15 |
| North Dakota | 11.87¢ | $0.01 | $0.13 |
| Ohio | 15.34¢ | $0.01 | $0.17 |
| Oklahoma | 11.98¢ | $0.01 | $0.13 |
| Oregon | 13.12¢ | $0.01 | $0.14 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.87¢ | $0.02 | $0.18 |
| Rhode Island | 27.12¢ | $0.02 | $0.29 |
| South Carolina | 14.98¢ | $0.01 | $0.16 |
| South Dakota | 13.76¢ | $0.01 | $0.15 |
| Tennessee | 12.87¢ | $0.01 | $0.14 |
| Texas | 14.98¢ | $0.01 | $0.16 |
| Utah | 10.87¢ | $0.01 | $0.12 |
| Vermont | 21.34¢ | $0.02 | $0.23 |
| Virginia | 15.34¢ | $0.01 | $0.17 |
| Washington | 10.76¢ | $0.01 | $0.12 |
| West Virginia | 13.12¢ | $0.01 | $0.14 |
| Wisconsin | 16.98¢ | $0.02 | $0.18 |
| Wyoming | 11.23¢ | $0.01 | $0.12 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Inkjet Printer
- Inkjet printers use very little electricity compared to laser printers
- Standby power is minimal; no need to unplug between uses
- Ink cost per page far exceeds electricity cost per page
- Turn off to save the small standby draw if printing infrequently
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost none. Printing costs about 0.005 kWh per page (less than 0.1 cents). A month of typical home printing (50-100 pages) uses $0.05-$0.10 in electricity. Standby mode adds another $0.15-$0.40/month. Total monthly electricity: $0.20-$0.50. Your ink cartridges cost 50-100x more than the electricity.
Inkjet is dramatically cheaper in electricity (90% less per page). Laser is cheaper in consumables at high volume (toner costs less per page than ink). For a home user printing under 100 pages/month, inkjet wins on both electricity and total operating cost. For an office printing 500+ pages/month, laser wins on consumable cost despite higher electricity use.
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Electricity cost estimates are based on typical wattage and average residential rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Your actual costs may vary based on your appliance's specific wattage, usage patterns, and your utility's rate structure. See our full disclaimer.