Even as companies move towards the paperless office, printers remain a crucial staple within the office environment. Very few businesses can survive without having at least one high-quality printer on hand. Inkjet and laser printers are two drastically technologies competing for the same space – one relies on ink cartridges while the other uses toner powder and heat. Read on to learn which technology works best for your company.

Print Quality

Inkjet printers produce photographic prints with a stunning level of quality and detail that even the best color laser printers can’t quite match. Nevertheless, color laser printers still shine when it comes to printing high-quality color documents and color images with moderate detail. For printing black-and-white documents, however, monochrome laser printers remain the equipment of choice for creating high-quality documents quickly.

Printing Speed and Volume

Inkjet printers leave plenty to be desired in terms of sheer printing speed. Whereas inkjet printers typically churn out up to 16 pages per minute (ppm), monochrome laser printers handily outstrip them with speeds of up to 200 ppm. Color laser printers are somewhat slower than their monochrome brethren but still beat inkjet printers with speeds of up to 100 ppm.

A laser printer’s high printing speed also translates to larger print volumes when compared to its inkjet counterpart. It’s no wonder why laser printers remain a staple in mass mailings and other applications where speed is vital.

Short and Long-Term Costs

When it comes to long-term costs, the laser printer reigns supreme. While the inkjet printer itself costs significantly less than its laser counterpart, the low, upfront cost quickly gives way to higher long-term costs when you factor in consumables. Inkjet cartridges are priced much more economical than comparable toner cartridges, but inkjet printers use more of them, resulting in higher long-term costs for frequent inkjet users.

There’s also equipment lifespan to consider when choosing between inkjet and laser printers. Most inkjet printers offer a minimum service life of 3 to 4 years, whereas similar laser printers can easily last for five years or more. It’s not uncommon to see laser printers still in service a decade or more after purchase.

The key takeaway is that inkjet and laser printers both shine under specific scenarios. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which type of equipment suits your office needs best. If you need advice on a new printer purchase or to purchase a new printer for your business, contact Copylite today.