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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Ink-tank printers usually cost more to buy, while cartridge printers usually cost less upfront and more to keep supplied. A tank printer is cheaper over time only when its ink savings make up for its higher purchase price within the period you expect to own it. The answer depends on the exact models, current local prices, and how much—and what—you print.
How to compare the total cost
Compare the printer purchase price plus the ink you expect to buy over your ownership period. Include paper too if you want to compare full cost per printed sheet. Also account for any included starter ink: it can affect how soon you need to buy supplies, but it does not make the printer’s long-term refill cost disappear.
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For a simple estimate, use:
Tank break-even months = (tank printer price − cartridge printer price) ÷ (cartridge monthly ink cost − tank monthly ink cost)
This works only when the cartridge option has the higher monthly ink cost. If the difference in monthly ink costs is zero or negative, ink savings do not recover the tank printer’s purchase-price premium under those assumptions. The formula also leaves out differences in service, replacement components, subscriptions, paper handling, and other printer features.
#1 Best Overall
- INNOVATIVE CARTRIDGE-FREE PRINTING — High-capacity ink tanks mean no more dealing with lots of tiny ink cartridges; Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy to keep you using this home office printer for longer
- CLEAR AND VIBRANT PRINT QUALITY ― Create memorable prints and projects; Unique Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology allows wireless color printer to produce sharp text and impressive color photos and graphics on virtually any paper type
- ZERO CARTRIDGE WASTE — By using an Epson EcoTank printer you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
- BUILT IN SCANNER AND COPIER ― All-In-One Epson EcoTank is more than a printer; High-resolution flatbed scanner and color display come together for easy document copying and navigation; Boost productivity with this printer, copier, scanner, and fax
- LESS FREQUENT INK REPLACEMENT — Replacement ink bottles don't have to be changed nearly as often as ink cartridges¹; Printer, scanner and copier lets you print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 color² extra
Estimate ink cost for your print mix
For each compatible bottle or cartridge, divide its current price by its stated page yield to estimate ink cost per page. Then use your expected mix of black text, color documents, and photos to estimate monthly ink spending. Add paper separately if comparing full per-sheet costs. Yields are not directly comparable unless their methods and conditions are alike; color coverage, print settings, maintenance, and the actual content of a page all affect consumption.
Use supplies confirmed as compatible with the exact printer model. Prices and product lineups change, so check current prices where you live rather than relying on an old example or a manufacturer’s advertised cost-per-page figure.
Rank #2
- THE LAST PRINTER YOU'LL EVER NEED – Set it up once and print with confidence; no complicated maintenance, just easy, reliable printing you can count on
- FULLY LOADED WITH SAVINGS – Best for low-cost, high-volume printing—up to 3 years of HP Ink included; get up to 6,000 color or black pages right out of the box
- KEY FEATURES – Print, copy and scan, plus borderless prints, mobile and wireless printing
- MESS-FREE REFILL – Replenish ink with HP's easy-access, mess-free refill system; simply plug the ink bottles into this cartridge-free ink tank and let them drain—no squeezing, no spilling
- BEST PRINT QUALITY, PERIOD – Sharper text, richer colors, only with HP Smart Tank
What the manufacturer examples show—and don’t show
Manufacturer comparisons illustrate how large ink-cost differences can look, but they are not a neutral, market-wide test. Treat the figures below as examples attributed to the companies, not as current prices or a promise of what your household will spend. The cited comparison pages do not show publication dates.
| Example | Claim or figure | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| HP Smart Tank 5101 and HP ENVY 6055e | HP lists example MSRPs of $259.99 for the Smart Tank 5101 and approximately $169.99 for the ENVY 6055e. It gives example ink costs of 0.4 cents per black page and 1.7 cents per color page for the tank, compared with 15 cents black and 62 cents color for standard HP 67 cartridges. | These are HP’s example values; verify current local prices, compatible supplies, and assumptions before using them in your own calculation. HP’s comparison |
| HP break-even scenarios | HP estimates break-even at 2 months for 150 pages per month and 6–7 months for 50 pages per month. | The estimates depend on the products and assumptions in HP’s calculation. The page invokes Consumer Reports figures but does not provide a direct Consumer Reports source in the retrieved material, so these are HP-attributed examples, not independently verified thresholds. HP’s comparison |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2760 | Epson says replacement bottles can cost as little as 1 cent per color ISO page, versus 20 cents with cartridges. | This is Epson’s product-page comparison for this model, not a general benchmark for all tank and cartridge printers. Check the page’s conditions and current supply prices. Epson ET-2760 product page |
HP’s cost-per-page explainer says Smart Tank bottles can yield up to 6,000 black and 8,000 color pages, depending on model. Those are manufacturer-stated maximums, not guaranteed household output; HP notes that actual yield varies with what is printed and other factors. HP’s cost-per-page explainer and HP’s Smart Tank product page provide the company’s yield information and caveat.
Rank #3
- INNOVATIVE CARTRIDGE-FREE PRINTING — No more dealing with tiny, expensive ink cartridges; With this wireless printer each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges²
- LESS FREQUENT INK REPLACEMENT — Replacement ink bottles don't have to be changed nearly as often as ink cartridges¹; Color printer lets you print up to 4,500 black and white pages and 7,200 color³
- PRINT FOR LONGER — Up to 2 years of ink in the box⁴ (and with every replacement ink set) for fewer out-of-ink frustrations; This home printer keeps printing longer
- HIGH CAPACITY INK TANKS – Printer, scanner and copier utilizes Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles, making the refill process easy and worry-free
- ZERO CARTRIDGE WASTE — By using an Epson EcoTank printer you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills; Cartridge-free printer utilizes ink bottles for more convenience and less waste
How print volume changes the decision
Higher volume can make a tank printer’s lower replacement-ink cost matter sooner because the savings accumulate across more pages. With light or irregular printing, the purchase-price difference may take longer to recover—or may not be recovered during the time you own the printer. There is no universal monthly page threshold: HP’s own 50- and 150-page scenarios are specific to its examples.
Run the calculation using a realistic month, not just the printer’s maximum stated yield. If you print mostly black text, compare black-ink costs; if you regularly print color handouts or photos, include those costs too. A household that prints in bursts should estimate its average over a representative period rather than assuming every month is alike.
Rank #4
- STRESS-FREE PRINTING — Epson EcoTank comes with enough ink to print up to 6,600 pages black/5,500 color¹⁰ for fewer out-of-ink frustrations. Each replacement ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 cartridges¹¹
- SIMPLE INK REFILLING — Supersized ink tanks and uniquely keyed EcoFit bottles make refilling ink simple—no mess, no stress and no ink bottle mix-ups
- THE WORLD’S #1 SELLING SUPERTANK PRINTER² — Epson invented EcoTank to revolutionize the way people print; we’ve sold 100 million EcoTanks worldwide⁷ and this is our 7th generation of cartridge-free printers
- ADVANCED PRODUCTIVITY FEATURES — Fast 15 black/8 color ISO ppm print speeds with zero warmup time, built-in scanner, 100-sheet paper tray, auto duplex printing and a 1.44" color display for easy navigation
- STUNNING PRINT QUALITY — High 4800 x 1200 dpi print resolution for exceptional photos and text; enjoy amazing image quality on a wide range of media
When each type makes sense
An ink-tank printer may fit if
- You print enough that the estimated ink savings offset the higher purchase price within your ownership period.
- Your expected print mix uses supplies whose actual compatible prices and yields support the savings in your calculation.
- You are comfortable paying more upfront in exchange for less expensive replacement ink, based on the models you are comparing.
A cartridge printer may fit if
- You print infrequently and the tank printer’s upfront premium would take too long to recover.
- A specific cartridge model has a lower total cost for your expected volume and ownership period.
- Its non-ink features suit you better; ink cost is only one part of a printer decision.
Check more than ink economics
A low estimated cost per page does not establish that a printer is the better overall choice. Compare the exact models for printing, scanning, and copying needs; speed; connectivity; paper capacity; print quality; maintenance; and service. The cost examples above do not provide a current independent, like-for-like assessment of those features, so weigh them separately.
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Before buying, confirm the printer’s compatible bottles or cartridges, the current local price of both the machine and its supplies, the stated yield method, and what ink is included. Then calculate total cost over the period you expect to keep the printer. That model-specific result is more useful than a broad claim that one printer type is always cheaper.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
