Which printer to choose?

Q: Laser or refillable ink tank: which costs less?

To buy, an entry-level laser is often cheaper. To run, it is the other way round: a refillable ink tank printer is filled from a bottle and gives the lowest cost per page on the market. The tipping point depends on your volume — which is exactly the question the adviser above asks. Below a few dozen pages a month, the difference is never recovered; beyond a few hundred, it quickly becomes decisive.

Q: Do I need an automatic document feeder?

The automatic document feeder (ADF) swallows a stack of sheets and scans or copies them unattended. Without it, each page has to be placed on the glass by hand. As soon as you scan multi-page files — contracts, invoices, administrative paperwork — it completely changes day-to-day comfort. To scan an ID card now and then, it is of no use.

Q: Is automatic duplex worth it?

Yes as soon as volume is regular: it halves paper consumption with no handling at all. In an office that prints every day, the paper saving alone repays the premium many times over. Not to be confused with “manual” duplex, which simply asks you to turn the stack over yourself.

Q: Are all the printers proposed available?

Yes. The adviser only works on printers actually in stock: a combination of answers that would leave no machine available is disabled before you can pick it. So you cannot end up on an empty page, or with a recommendation we would not be able to deliver.

Five questions, and we show you the printers in stock that really match how you print. We also tell you what each technology will cost you to run: the cheapest machine to buy is often the dearest per page.

Use
Documents
Volume
Scanning
Features
Result

What is this printer for?

We pre-fill the volume and the features from your answer — you will be able to change everything.

The three technologies, with their trade-offs

Laser is made for large volumes of text, fast and economical per page. Inkjet remains better for photos and cheaper to buy. A refillable tank costs more up front but divides the cost per page.

Technology	Who it is for	What you have to accept	Running cost
Refillable ink tanks	You print regularly, in colour or not, and you want to pay as little as possible for ink.	The purchase price is markedly higher, and liquid ink does not like long spells without printing.	Very low cost per page
Laser	You mostly print text, fast, and you want a machine that never dries out between two jobs.	Photo output stays behind, the machine is bulkier, and colour toners are expensive.	Moderate cost per page
Cartridge inkjet	You print little, now and then, and the purchase price is your first criterion.	It is the dearest technology to run: as soon as volume rises, cartridges quickly overtake the price of the machine.	High cost per page

What volume, what machine

The recommended monthly volume is the first criterion for service life. Each tier links to the printers in stock that cover it.

Fewer than 100 pages a month
14 printers in stock
100 to 500 pages a month
50 printers in stock
500 to 2,000 pages a month
56 printers in stock
More than 2,000 pages a month
61 printers in stock

Frequently asked questions

Laser or refillable ink tank: which costs less?

To buy, an entry-level laser is often cheaper. To run, it is the other way round: a refillable ink tank printer is filled from a bottle and gives the lowest cost per page on the market. The tipping point depends on your volume — which is exactly the question the adviser above asks. Below a few dozen pages a month, the difference is never recovered; beyond a few hundred, it quickly becomes decisive.

Why can a cheap printer end up costing more?

Because the advertised price is only part of the spend. A machine using ink cartridges sold cheaply makes it back on consumables, which are replaced often and sometimes cost almost as much as the printer. It is a perfectly sensible choice if you rarely print — and a bad calculation if you print every week.

What is the recommended monthly volume, and why stick to it?

It is the number of pages a month the machine was designed for. Below it, you are paying for robustness you do not use. Above it, the mechanism wears out prematurely and fails at the worst moment. Aim for the tier that contains your usual volume, not the one above. A single printer can cover two neighbouring tiers: it then suits both.

Do I need an automatic document feeder?

The automatic document feeder (ADF) swallows a stack of sheets and scans or copies them unattended. Without it, each page has to be placed on the glass by hand. As soon as you scan multi-page files — contracts, invoices, administrative paperwork — it completely changes day-to-day comfort. To scan an ID card now and then, it is of no use.

Is automatic duplex worth it?

Yes as soon as volume is regular: it halves paper consumption with no handling at all. In an office that prints every day, the paper saving alone repays the premium many times over. Not to be confused with “manual” duplex, which simply asks you to turn the stack over yourself.

Are all the printers proposed available?

Yes. The adviser only works on printers actually in stock: a combination of answers that would leave no machine available is disabled before you can pick it. So you cannot end up on an empty page, or with a recommendation we would not be able to deliver.

To understand paper sizes, trays and connectivity before choosing, read our printer guide. Once the machine is chosen, find its compatible cartridges and toners. For a fleet or a particular need, request a quote.