What Is the Most Economical Color Printer? | Low-Cost Ink Options

If you print often and in color, the cost of ink can quickly exceed the price of the printer itself. The most economical color printer for your situation depends entirely on how much you print. For those who print regularly, refillable ink-tank models dramatically cut ongoing costs, while color laser printers offer a better balance for lighter office use where toner lasts longer.

This guide breaks down the true cost of each technology and names the specific models that currently offer the lowest running costs.

Why Ink-Tank Printers Are the Most Economical for Frequent Printing

Ink-tank printers use refillable reservoirs instead of cartridges, which makes the cost per page drastically lower.

This makes them the clear winner for anyone printing photos, school projects, or documents in color on a regular basis. The higher upfront price of a tank model is quickly recovered through long-term ink savings.

The Epson EcoTank ET-2850 is a current top pick from Wirecutter for budget home printing. It’s an affordable entry point into the tank world and offers the low running costs that make this category so appealing.

When a Color Laser Printer Is the More Economical Pick

For low-volume office use, a color laser printer is often more economical because the toner lasts longer and page costs stay consistently low. Lasers are also faster and better suited for text-heavy documents.

Consumer Reports identifies the Brother MFC-L3780CDW as the top color all-in-one laser printer.

This model offers a strong balance of upfront cost and long-term value for a small office that prints enough to justify a laser. It’s built to handle higher volumes than a typical home printer, making it a durable choice.

Comparing Your Options: Tank vs. Laser

The right choice comes down to your specific printing habits. Use this comparison to see which technology saves you the most money.

As a rule, if you print more than a few pages a day, an ink-tank model like the EcoTank will save you the most. If you print less often but need speed and crisp text, the Brother laser is a smarter investment. When you’re ready to buy, our roundup of the best affordable color printers breaks down the top tested picks in detail.

Setting Up Your Printer for Wireless Use

Getting your new printer online is usually straightforward, and most setups follow a similar path. Here are the standard methods for connecting a printer to your Wi-Fi network.

Using the Printer’s Control Panel: The most common method is through the printer’s built-in setup wizard. For example, on an HP LaserJet Pro MFP M479, you open the dashboard, tap Wireless, then Setup, then Wireless Settings, and finally Wireless Setup Wizard. The printer then searches for your network and asks for your password.

Using Your Computer’s Software: On Windows and macOS, HP recommends using HP Easy Start, which automatically detects your printer and guides you through choosing a USB, Wired, or Wireless connection.

Using Wi-Fi Direct: This method connects a mobile device directly to the printer, not to your main wireless network. You enable Wi-Fi Direct on the printer, note the network name and password it displays, and then select that network from your phone or tablet’s Wi-Fi settings. It’s a handy tool, but it’s not the same as having the printer on your home network.

For some Xerox models, the setup may require additional steps. Xerox notes that wireless setup might require a 2.4 GHz network and that the Ethernet cable must be disconnected. Also, keep in mind that wireless printing is not standard on every Xerox model; some, like certain AltaLink C8200 series devices, require a separate Xerox Wireless Network Adapter to be installed first.