Print costs can get expensive, especially if you run a busy office or have daily printing needs.here are many ways and methods to try to save on printing. Discover our top recommendations for how to save money on print costs.
How to Save Money on Print Costs
With so many printer options available, it can be challenging to discern what the most efficient and cost effective way is to save money on printing and copying. Here are a few simple methods to save when it comes to your office or at-home printer:
- Save Paper
- Buy a Better Printer
- Use a Grayscale
- Buy in Bulk
- Third-party Inks
- Use Eco Ponts
- Double-check Your Work
- Drop Ink Use in Draft Mode
1) Save Paper
Good paper can be pricey, so consider using your printer only when necessary. Ask yourself if you really need a hard copy. Nowadays, emails and PDFs work well for most purposes, whether personal or professional.
If you need a printout, consider double-sided printing. Many printers have automatic duplexers to print on both sides, cutting paper use in half.
Use inexpensive copy paper unless you’re printing something important; it usually works just fine.
Lastly, think about whether you need to print the entire document. For example, tax documents often contain extra details you don’t need. Print only what’s essential to save on paper and ink.
2) Invest in A Better Printer
Many inkjet printers are incredibly cheap, sometimes as low as $50. Manufacturers often sell these at a loss, expecting to profit from ink sales. Consequently, cheaper printers typically have high ink consumption.
Manufacturers provide page-yield ratings for each printer model, offering an estimate of how many pages a cartridge can print before running out. This information is usually in the printer specs or on the ink order page. Less expensive printers generally have lower page yields compared to models costing $250 or $300.
Your printing habits also matter. If you rarely print, a budget printer might be fine. However, if you print often, look for printers with higher page yields or invest in a printer that can encompass all of your needs like a multifunctional printer.
3) Use a Grayscale
Do you need vibrant colors, or will black and white suffice? Most inkjet printers default to color, using more ink and costing you extra. While color can make charts pop, the information is often clear in black and white.
When printing, check the dialog box for printer settings. Switching to black and white can be as simple as ticking a checkbox.
Sometimes, you’ll need to explore printer settings to find options like paper size and orientation, and then switch to black and white, monochrome, or grayscale.
Although some printers use color ink for blacks, switching from print in color mode reduces ink use and saves money.
4) Buy in Bulk
Instead of waiting until you run out to buy paper and ink, consider planning ahead. Last-minute trips to office supply stores for a single magenta cartridge or a ream of paper can be costly.
Individual ink cartridges at physical stores often have high markups. Even online, single cartridges are usually more expensive. The same goes for paper—buying small packages aimed at consumers increases your cost per page compared to buying in bulk.
Consider purchasing multi-packs online for significant savings. Multi-packs often include all the colors you need and can save you $10 or more per cartridge. Buying a case of inkjet paper is much cheaper than single reams. Office supply stores typically offer better deals than general retailers.
Another option is subscribing to an ink replacement service, which provides regular deliveries at a lower cost. Many newer printers offer this as a feature, automatically ordering ink when needed. This way, you save money without accumulating extra cartridges.
By stocking up, you’ll not only save money but also avoid those urgent store runs.
5) Third-party Inks
If you’re tired of paying high prices for proprietary ink cartridges, consider using third-party cartridges or refilling OEM cartridges with third-party inks. Printer companies often encourage using their own cartridges, claiming that other inks may not work properly and could void your warranty.
While they want you to buy their products, they might have a point if you want the best print quality. Third-party inks often lack the color printing quality and clarity of original formulas. Many printers have identification chips that only accept genuine cartridges, and non-OEM inks might clog or damage print heads. Check and make sure that the ink or toner cartridge with function with your printer.
However, if you’re okay with the risks and don’t need top quality, third-party cartridges are available online at a fraction of the cost. This strategy could save you hundreds of dollars annually if you print frequently.
6) Use Eco Fonts
Traditional fonts have smooth, continuous lines that showcase their artistic craftsmanship, but they can use a lot of ink. Switching to eco fonts can significantly reduce ink usage.
Eco fonts feature tiny spaces, like empty dots or lines, throughout the text, creating a “Swiss cheese” effect. This results in slightly faded-looking printouts but can save over 25% of ink per page.
To try eco fonts, search online for options. There are many available, though you might prefer some over others. If you’re open to purchasing, Ecofont software can apply this ink-saving technique to any font you use. These fonts help minimize ink consumption and save money.
7) Double-check Your Work
You’re thrilled to finally finish your project on sales projections for wooden toilet seats in China. Excitedly, you hit “Print” right after saving your work and do a happy dance. Moments later, you notice 60 misplaced apostrophes—one on each printed page.
Now you have to correct and reprint everything, wasting both presentation-quality paper and ink. Double-checking your document could have saved you trouble, and even triple-checking is wise.
The same goes for photo printing. Before printing, make basic edits like cropping and red-eye removal to avoid discarding the results. Use the right paper, too—printing a detailed photo on non-photo paper can lead to disappointment and a messy print.
8: Lower Ink Use in Draft Mode
Reducing ink usage can be as simple as adjusting your printer’s settings. Look for a print quality option like draft or eco-mode in your printer’s software.
These settings use less ink by applying fewer dots on each page, saving you around 5 to 10 percent per print on ink or toner usage. Over time, this can lead to significant savings.
Draft mode often results in grainier text and pixelated images, making it unsuitable for professional presentations. However, for everyday page printing tasks where high quality isn’t necessary, draft mode is a cost-effective choice. Plus, most inkjet printers work faster in this mode.
9: Managed Print Services (MPS)
This might surprise people, but investing in managed print services (MPS) can save you time and money. Having a professional handle your printer helps to make sure that it does not break, manages print management software, ink or toner usage, and can control printing costs.
MPS makes printing jobs easy for you so that you never have to worry about costs with your printer.
Reduce Printing Costs with Tech Wise Solutions
Whether its a personal printer or your office print environment, you need a way for cost effective printing. At Tech Wise, we would love to help you with your document management systems to make sure that you have what you need to save money and time.
We offer reliable printing services and office management tools built to last. Tech Wise proudly provides top-tier office, printing, and copier brands for your business or organization. Elevate your office’s capabilities and savings with our extensive range of business technology and equipment.
Reach out to us today so we can help you save!