Ten cents per page sounds minor until 300 pages a month means $30 in ink alone. The gap comes from the delivery system: cartridge inkjets refill through sealed plastic holding a thimble of ink; ink-tank printers feed from refillable reservoirs holding many times more. That design difference puts tank printers in a different cost class.
Why Ink-Tank Printers Cost Less Per Page
Reservoirs hold far more ink per refill, and ink is sold in bottles priced for volume. PCMag’s comparison places cartridge inkjets at roughly 5–20 cents per page, tank systems under a cent for black-and-white text.
The catch: tank printers cost $200–$500 up front versus $60–$150 for a cheap cartridge model. Printing a few pages a month, the cartridge printer may still win for years. The tank advantage kicks in once you print regularly.
Which Models Rank Cheapest For Ink
Epson EcoTank models show up most consistently at or near the lowest per-page ink cost. RTINGS named the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 its top pick among printers with cheap ink it tested.
Most per-page figures come from third-party reviews and cost calculators, not official manufacturer pricing. Treat them as comparative estimates.
| Printer Type | Typical Black Ink Cost Per Page | Upfront Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Epson EcoTank (tank) | ~0.2–0.5¢ | $200–$500 |
| Canon MegaTank (tank) | ~0.2–0.3¢ | $180–$400 |
| Brother INKvestment Tank | ~0.4–0.8¢ | $150–$350 |
| Standard cartridge inkjet | ~5–20¢ | $60–$150 |
| Photo printing (any type) | Substantially higher | Varies |
| High-coverage color pages | 2×–5× text cost | Varies |
Figures assume 5% page coverage, the ISO standard. Graphic- or photo-heavy pages use far more ink; both printer types absorb that hit. For photos, no inkjet is truly cheap — a tank model just softens the blow. For tested models, our roundup of the best cheap printer with inexpensive ink breaks down real-world running costs.
Caveats That Change The Answer
The answer shifts by ink type — OEM, third-party, or mixed — and by black text versus full color.
- Black vs. color: Tank systems are cheapest on black text; color climbs steeply, especially for photos.
- Page coverage: A dense chart page can burn 5–10× the ink of plain text, regardless of printer type.
- OEM vs. third-party ink: Third-party bottles cut costs but void some warranties and risk clogs.
- Print volume: Under 50 pages a month, a $99 cartridge printer plus $30 carts may beat a $300 tank upfront.
If ink cost is the deciding factor and you print regularly, the tank category wins — Epson EcoTank first, Canon MegaTank close second. Print rarely, buy the cheapest cartridge printer and accept higher ink cost per drop.
FAQs
Do tank printers ever clog if left unused?
Yes, printheads in any inkjet can clog if idle for weeks, and tank models are not immune. Run a nozzle check or print one page weekly. Some EcoTank and MegaTank units run automatic cleaning cycles, using a little ink but preventing a fully blocked head.
Is third-party ink for tank printers safe?
Often works and cuts costs, but voids some warranties and quality varies wildly. A bad batch can clog printheads or cause faded, streaky output. Buy from a vendor with real reviews and keep spare OEM bottles on hand.
How long does a single EcoTank refill last?
Depends on the model and content, but most bottles rate for thousands of pages of black text at 5% coverage — often a year or more for typical home users. Color bottles drain faster on photos.
References & Sources
- RTINGS. “The Best Printers With Cheap Ink.” Names the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 as its top low-cost-ink pick.
- The New York Times (Wirecutter). “The Best Home Printers.” Compares running costs across tank and cartridge models.
- PCMag. “How to Save Money on Your Next Printer.” Compares tank versus cartridge per-page ink costs.