10 Tips for Cutting Your Printing Costs

It's unfortunate that creating counterfeit money on your home printer is illegal. The real issue, it seems, is the eye-watering costs that come with hitting the "Print" button. Instead of making fake cash on your home PC, focus on reducing printing expenses wherever possible.

However, slashing printing costs isn't as easy as just buying the cheapest printer or opting for off-brand ink cartridges. These tactics could end up costing you more in the long run.

For instance, while you may be content with a low-cost printer, the ink expenses can be a real shock. Some budget printers use combined color cartridges, meaning when one color runs out, you must replace all the colors, even if they're still full. This not only wastes ink, but it also forces you to buy new ink cartridges more frequently. Over time, you'll end up spending far more on ink than you did on the printer itself.

Choosing the wrong paper can also eat into your budget. Only use premium paper when it's necessary, and avoid leaving it in the printer to be wasted on simple print jobs like recipes.

Opting for a printer with features you don’t need can also add unnecessary costs. Do you really require a color printer, or can a more basic black-and-white model handle your needs?

The prices we pay for printing reflect the influence of technology marketing and our reliance on the ease of home printing. However, there are ways to immediately reduce these costs, and the savings will be noticeable in your wallet in many ways.

10: Reduce Ink Usage in Draft Mode

One of the simplest ways to conserve ink is by dialing back the settings. In your printer's software, you’ll typically find options like draft or eco-mode for lower ink usage.

These modes use less ink per page. Depending on the printer, you could save 5 to 10 percent per page, and over multiple print jobs, this could result in significant savings.

Draft mode works by reducing the number of tiny dots that make up the text or images. The result is often less sharp text and pixelated images, which makes draft mode unsuitable for professional presentations.

However, for basic print jobs that don’t need top-tier quality, draft mode is an effective way to cut ink costs. Plus, most inkjet printers operate faster in draft mode.

9: Ignore Low-cartridge Warnings

Modern inkjet printers come with built-in alarms that signal when ink is running low. The printer’s lights will flash wildly, and ominous pop-ups will appear on your screen, warning that the ink is almost gone and urging you to replace the cartridge immediately.

Don’t be fooled. In some cases, tests have shown that these warnings appear when cartridges still have as much as 40 percent ink left [source: Bertolucci]. While newer printers are generally more accurate, the alerts still tend to go off prematurely, even when there’s plenty of ink remaining.

Instead, consider these low-ink warnings as a timely reminder to purchase new cartridges, but don’t rush to replace them until absolutely necessary. Many cartridges feature transparent or semi-transparent cases, so checking the ink level is as easy as peeking inside.

8: Double-check Your Work

You’re ecstatic to finally finish your sales projections for wooden toilet seats in China. You’re so thrilled, in fact, that you immediately hit "Print" as soon as you save your work, then jump up for a quick celebratory dance. Moments later, you realize you’ve accidentally misplaced 60 apostrophes across all the pages you’ve printed.

Now, you must go back and fix each page. Not only did you waste high-quality paper, but you also wasted ink. All of this could’ve been avoided with a quick document review. In fact, a second (or third) look would’ve saved you both time and resources.

The same principle applies when printing photos. Before you send your pictures to the printer, make sure you perform basic edits like cropping and red-eye removal to avoid disappointment with the final result. Also, be sure to choose the right paper. Printing a detailed photo on regular paper designed for text could lead to nothing but a disappointing, inky mess.

7: Use Eco Fonts

Conventional fonts are continuous and seamless lines, showcasing the craftsmanship and effort behind their design. While they look fantastic on paper, they consume an excessive amount of ink. Instead, you can reduce ink usage by opting for eco fonts.

Eco fonts incorporate tiny spaces (often dots or thin lines) within your text, creating a style that's somewhat reminiscent of Swiss cheese. The end result is a slightly lighter print, but the trade-off is that you'll save a considerable amount of ink—some estimates suggest as much as 25% per page.

To begin, you can look for various eco fonts online. There are plenty of free options available, though you may find some less than ideal. If you're open to spending a bit, you can purchase Ecofont software, which will allow you to customize and punch holes into any font you use. Either way, these fonts will help reduce ink usage and save you money.

6: Third-party Inks

If you're tired of paying premium prices for branded ink cartridges, consider using third-party alternatives or refilling your original equipment manufacturer (OEM) cartridges with third-party ink. Printer manufacturers strongly urge you to use only their ink cartridges, claiming that only their specific formulas work best in their printers, and some even warn that using third-party ink might void your warranty.

Naturally, printer companies prefer you buy their ink, but if you’re aiming for the best possible prints, they might have a valid point. Third-party inks often don’t match the color fidelity or sharpness of manufacturer ink. Plus, many printers have a built-in chip that only accepts authentic cartridges, and non-OEM ink can sometimes clog or damage the print heads.

That said, if you're not overly concerned about quality and are willing to accept the risks, third-party cartridges can be found online at a fraction of the price of the original brands. If you're a frequent printer, this simple switch could save you hundreds of dollars annually.

5: Buy in Bulk

Many people delay buying paper and ink cartridges until the last moment, which might lead to a late-night trip to the office supply store for a single magenta cartridge or a fresh ream of paper to complete a crucial presentation. This often results in spending more than expected.

Ink cartridges, especially in physical office supply stores, can be significantly marked up. Even when purchasing online, individual cartridges tend to cost more. The same is true for paper—if you buy small packages targeted at consumers, your cost per page will be higher than if you stock up in larger quantities.

Consider purchasing multi-packs online. Like most items bought in bulk, multi-packs of ink can offer substantial savings. These packs usually contain every color you need to keep your printer going and cost several dollars less per cartridge, potentially saving you $10 or more. You can also buy a whole case of inkjet paper at a much lower cost than buying individual reams. Moreover, buying paper from an office supply store rather than a general retailer typically provides more pages for your money.

Instead of buying a bulk of printer cartridges all at once, consider subscribing to an ink replacement service. You'll receive regular deliveries of ink, often at a lower price than purchasing cartridges individually at a store. Some newer, internet-connected printers even offer this option as a factory feature. Once you subscribe, your printer automatically orders ink when it's low. The benefit: you still enjoy bulk savings without accumulating stacks of cartridges.

By stocking up, you're not only saving money, but also avoiding those last-minute frantic trips to the store.

4: Choose Grayscale

Do you really need a Jackson Pollock when an Ansel Adams will suffice? Most inkjet printers default to color printing, which leads to more ink usage. If color isn’t necessary, it’s best to save it. While colorful graphs and charts may seem more dynamic, black and white can often deliver the message just as clearly.

When you hit print, the software usually brings up a print settings dialog. In many cases, switching from color to black and white can be as simple as checking a box in this menu.

Sometimes, you’ll need to access your printer’s settings and navigate through a few menus. You’ll find options for things like paper size and orientation, as well as a setting that lets you switch from color printing to black and white, monochrome, or grayscale.

Certain printers still use color ink to print blacks, but by switching off color mode, you can reduce ink usage and save a little money.

3: Invest in a Quality Printer

Today, many inkjet printers are incredibly affordable, sometimes priced as low as $50. In these cases, manufacturers may actually be losing money on the printer itself, expecting to make up for it with ink sales. It’s no surprise that these cheaper models often have some of the highest ink consumption rates.

Manufacturers typically provide fairly clear page-yield estimates for each printer model, giving you an approximate idea of how many pages each cartridge can print before it runs dry. This information is sometimes included in the printer specifications, or you can find it on the same webpage where you purchase ink.

Lower-priced printers generally have a smaller page yield compared to higher-end models priced around $250 or $300. However, your printing frequency is a key factor. If you rarely print, a budget printer should suffice. But if you print regularly, it’s worth investing in a printer with a higher page yield, which will save you more money in the long term.

2: Paper Quality Is Important, Too

Ink is the

Ink for your inkjet printer is expensive, and your printer can't operate without it. Paper is just as crucial. You don't need to purchase it frequently, but it is still essential. By adjusting a few of your paper-consuming habits, you can save quite a bit of money.

Begin by asking yourself if you truly need a physical copy of your document. In today's world, email and PDF files often serve as a perfect replacement for nearly any situation, whether personal or professional.

If you do need a printed copy, consider printing on both sides of each page. Many printers come with automatic duplexers that flip the page and send it through again, halving your paper usage.

Don’t waste money on expensive paper when regular copy paper will do the job. Unless the document is important, the cheap stuff works just fine.

Finally, always ask yourself if you really need to print the whole document. For instance, tax forms often contain unnecessary details that aren’t needed to complete the task. Print only the sections you absolutely need, and you'll cut down on your consumption of paper and ink.

1: Avoid Printing Photos at Home

Inkjets, especially those designed for photos, can produce prints that rival any professional printing service. While this convenience is appealing, the cost is less so.

Photo-quality paper ranges from 5 to 20 cents per sheet, and ink will add a hefty price tag, especially for sharp, vivid images. If you’re printing more than a few pictures, it’s often cheaper to upload them to an online printing service. Many of these services even offer in-store pickup, saving you shipping costs.

If necessary, feel free to print your photos in your home office. For large print orders, it’s more economical to upload your photos and let someone else handle the printing.

Inkjet printers are a brilliant yet somewhat unpredictable modern luxury. They produce impressive text and images, are reliable, and let you print from the comfort of your pajamas. However, they do come with a cost, both in terms of the printer itself and its ongoing operation. With a little careful consideration in selecting your printer and some thoughtful planning on how you print, you can reduce your printing expenses, potentially save a significant amount, and keep your home office budget in check.