How Much Does It Cost to Run a Laser Printer?
A typical Laser Printer uses 600W and runs about 0.25 hours/day. At the national average rate of 16.72¢/kWh, that costs approximately $0.75/month.
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What Affects the Cost of Running a Laser Printer
Laser Printers Draw Significant Power During Warmup
The fuser in a laser printer reaches 200-400F to bond toner to paper. This warmup draws 400-1,000W for 15-30 seconds per print job. If you print one page at a time throughout the day, you pay the warmup penalty each time. Batching print jobs and printing multiple pages at once amortizes the warmup cost across more pages, reducing per-page energy use by 40-60%.
Laser Printer vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Laser Printer compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laser Printer (this page) | $0.75 | At national average rate, 0.25hrs/day |
| Inkjet printer | ~$0.25-0.50 | Uses 90% less electricity. Much cheaper to operate for low-volume printing. |
| Laser printer (in sleep mode) | ~$0.50-1.50 | Sleep mode draws 3-8W. Most of the monthly cost if you print infrequently. |
| Office print center / library | $0 electricity at home | $0.10-0.15/page at the center. Cheaper if you print under 20 pages/month. |
Laser Printer Cost by State
What a Laser Printer costs to run at 600W for 0.25 hours/day in every state:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14.82¢ | $0.67 | $8 |
| Alaska | 25.34¢ | $1.14 | $13.68 |
| Arizona | 13.81¢ | $0.62 | $7.46 |
| Arkansas | 12.63¢ | $0.57 | $6.82 |
| California | 31.41¢ | $1.41 | $16.96 |
| Colorado | 15.24¢ | $0.69 | $8.23 |
| Connecticut | 29.35¢ | $1.32 | $15.85 |
| Delaware | 15.24¢ | $0.69 | $8.23 |
| District of Columbia | 15.87¢ | $0.71 | $8.57 |
| Florida | 15.63¢ | $0.7 | $8.44 |
| Georgia | 14.12¢ | $0.64 | $7.62 |
| Hawaii | 43.21¢ | $1.94 | $23.33 |
| Idaho | 10.87¢ | $0.49 | $5.87 |
| Illinois | 16.37¢ | $0.74 | $8.84 |
| Indiana | 15.12¢ | $0.68 | $8.16 |
| Iowa | 14.23¢ | $0.64 | $7.68 |
| Kansas | 14.98¢ | $0.67 | $8.09 |
| Kentucky | 12.87¢ | $0.58 | $6.95 |
| Louisiana | 11.98¢ | $0.54 | $6.47 |
| Maine | 22.87¢ | $1.03 | $12.35 |
| Maryland | 16.12¢ | $0.73 | $8.7 |
| Massachusetts | 28.76¢ | $1.29 | $15.53 |
| Michigan | 18.76¢ | $0.84 | $10.13 |
| Minnesota | 15.34¢ | $0.69 | $8.28 |
| Mississippi | 13.76¢ | $0.62 | $7.43 |
| Missouri | 13.12¢ | $0.59 | $7.08 |
| Montana | 12.45¢ | $0.56 | $6.72 |
| Nebraska | 11.98¢ | $0.54 | $6.47 |
| Nevada | 15.03¢ | $0.68 | $8.12 |
| New Hampshire | 25.34¢ | $1.14 | $13.68 |
| New Jersey | 18.76¢ | $0.84 | $10.13 |
| New Mexico | 14.87¢ | $0.67 | $8.03 |
| New York | 22.87¢ | $1.03 | $12.35 |
| North Carolina | 13.98¢ | $0.63 | $7.55 |
| North Dakota | 11.87¢ | $0.53 | $6.41 |
| Ohio | 15.34¢ | $0.69 | $8.28 |
| Oklahoma | 11.98¢ | $0.54 | $6.47 |
| Oregon | 13.12¢ | $0.59 | $7.08 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.87¢ | $0.76 | $9.11 |
| Rhode Island | 27.12¢ | $1.22 | $14.64 |
| South Carolina | 14.98¢ | $0.67 | $8.09 |
| South Dakota | 13.76¢ | $0.62 | $7.43 |
| Tennessee | 12.87¢ | $0.58 | $6.95 |
| Texas | 14.98¢ | $0.67 | $8.09 |
| Utah | 10.87¢ | $0.49 | $5.87 |
| Vermont | 21.34¢ | $0.96 | $11.52 |
| Virginia | 15.34¢ | $0.69 | $8.28 |
| Washington | 10.76¢ | $0.48 | $5.81 |
| West Virginia | 13.12¢ | $0.59 | $7.08 |
| Wisconsin | 16.98¢ | $0.76 | $9.17 |
| Wyoming | 11.23¢ | $0.51 | $6.06 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Laser Printer
- Laser printers draw significant power during warmup; print in batches
- Use the energy-saving or sleep mode between jobs
- Turn off completely if you only print a few times per week
- Inkjet printers use far less power per page for low-volume printing
Frequently Asked Questions
Each page costs about 0.02-0.05 kWh in electricity (roughly $0.003-$0.008 at the national average rate). The warmup cycle uses most of this energy, so printing 10 pages in one batch costs nearly the same as printing 1 page. Toner cost per page ($0.02-$0.05) far exceeds electricity cost per page.
Modern laser printers have energy-saving sleep modes that draw 3-8W and wake instantly when a print job arrives. This costs about $0.50-$1.50/month. Turning the printer fully off saves that amount but adds a 15-30 second warmup delay before each print job. If you print at least a few times per week, sleep mode is the best balance of convenience and savings.
Related Appliances
Desktop Computer and Monitor
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Inkjet Printer
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Computer Monitor
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Dual Monitor Setup
80W typical
Phone Charger
5W typical
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.