6 Most Ink Efficient Inkjet Printers for Home Office this 2020

AKA The Hidden Expense Manufacturers Don’t Want You to Know And How to Avoid Them.

Image by 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay

Printers are notorious for being sold cheap and its ink and toner being sold expensively. It uses the razor-and-blade business model where the product is sold cheaply in order to increase the sales of its complementary items.

If you’re looking for a printer for home office use, we can show you how you can get the most bang out of your buck -both in printer and in its ink cartridges.

Buying Factors to Consider

1. Cost Consideration

The surest way to know that you won’t regret the printer you are choosing is to calculate its cost of ownership. PC Magazine created a trusty equation that we can use to calculate for home office use:

(Total Cost per Page x Yearly Printload x Years of Ownership) + Printer Price = Cost Consideration

Total Cost per Page would account all Cost per Page of each cartridge.

Since we are aiming to find the best ink efficient inkjet printers for home office, Yearly Printload will be equal to 3,600 pages for 300 pages a month. Years of Ownership would be 3 years which is the average lifespan of an inkjet printer.

With this formula in mind, we can control each factor in the equation to lower the cost.

2. Cost Per Page

The Cost Per Page shows the true cost of the printer. The Cost Per Page’s formula is:

Cost Per Page = Price of Cartridge / Page Yield

Page yield is the number of pages the cartridge can print before being replaced. To affect the Cost Per Page, we have to pay attention to the price of the printer’s cartridge model.

3. Cartridge Size and Price

Ink cartridge models often come in standard and high yield (XL) sizes. High Yield Cartridges can print almost twice the number of pages compared to standard cartridges.

High Yields are comparably pricier by a few dollars but can save money through Cost Per Page.

For example, HP 65 Black costs $15.99. HP 65XL costs $30.99 which is twice the price of HP 65 Black.

However, HP 65 Black only has a Page Yield of 120 pages while HP 65XL has a Page Yield of 300 pages.

While buying two HP 65 cartridges will almost have the same price as one HP 65XL, HP 65XL will 22.22% more page yield than two HP 65 cartridges.

HP65XL has 22.22% more Page Yield than two HP 65 Cartridges despite having the same price.

But for Compatible Ink, Standard Size cartridges have the same price as High Yield cartridges. CompandSave HP 65 cartridge costs $18.49, the same price as CompandSave HP 65XL.

Comparing HP 65XL to CompandSave HP 65XL, the latter is 50.53% cheaper.

CompandSave HP 65XL is 50.53% cheaper than HP 65 Cartridge despite having equal Page Yield.

So one way to affect Cost Per Page is through cartridge price.

4. Printer Price

The more the printer has features, the more expensive it would be. Do you really need the feature of being able to scan, print and copy text on both sides of the pages at once? Just focus on what your home office needs or you’ll be with a printer with features that you would hardly use.

In the comparison below, we’ll only be focusing on a few printer features. So if you have chosen one of the recommendations, we suggest taking a deeper dive to their specs to confirm if it would truly suit your needs.

Our Top 6 Ink-Efficient Inkjet Printers for Home Office

#1 PIXMA TR8520

PIXMA TR8520 with CompandSave Compatible Cartridges has a 51.13% cheaper Cost Consideration than PIXMA TR8520 with OEM Cartridges.

The PIXMA TR8520 can print, fax and scan with a 5-Individual Ink system for printing files and photos.

The only catch for this model is that Canon had not yet released its Recommended Monthly Page Volume. Printing more than what is recommended can shorten the printer’s life.

Cost Per Page Comparisons By OEM vs Compatible Cartridges

Cost of Consideration for PIXMA TR8520 is derived from the computation of the Cost per Page for each High-Yield Cartridge.

1. Price Comparison of PGI-280 XXL + CLI-281 XXL CMYK vs CompandSave Compatible Combo Pack 5

• The Total Cost per Page of PGI-280 XXL + CLI-281 XXL Black + CLI-281 XXL Cyan + CLI-281 XXL Magenta + CLI-281 XXL Yellow is 1.53 cents.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible Combo Pack 5 is 0.53 cents.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible Combo Pack 5 is 97.09% cheaper than PGI-280 XXL and CLI-281 CMY combined.

2. Price Comparisons of Individual PGI-280 XXL + CLI-281 XXL CMYK vs CompandSave Compatible Cartridges

• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible PGI-280 XXL is 98% cheaper than PGI-280 XXL.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave CLI-281 XXL Black is 84.75% cheaper than CLI-281 XXL Black.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave CLI-281 XXL Cyan is 84.23% cheaper than CLI-281 XXL Cyan.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave CLI-281 XXL Magenta is 84.57% cheaper than CLI-281 XXL Magenta.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible CLI-281 XXL Yellow is 84.6% cheaper than CLI-281 XXL Yellow.

#2 Brother INKvestment MFC-J985DW

Brother INKvestment MFC-J985DW with CompandSave Compatible Cartridges has a 28.72% cheaper Cost Consideration than Brother INKvestment MFC-J985DW with OEM cartridges.

Brother INKvestment MFC-J985DW is the home office printer that allows users to spend less for more pages with its INKvestment high yield cartridges. It has automatic duplex printing and up to 20-sheet ADF.

Cost Per Page Comparisons By OEM vs Compatible Cartridges

1. Price Comparison of LC20EBK + LC20EC + LC20EM + LC20EY vs CompandSave Compatible Combo Pack of 4

• The Total Cost per Page of LC20EBK + LC20EC + LC20EM + LC20EY is 1 cent.
• The Total Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible Combo Pack of 4 is 0.40 cents.
• The Total Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible Combo Pack of 4 is 85.71% higher.

2. Price Comparisons of Individual LC20EBK + LC20EC + LC20EM + LC20EY vs Compatible Cartridges

• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible LC20EBK is 100% cheaper than LC20EBK.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible LC20EC is 73.42% cheaper than LC20EC
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible LC20EM is 73.42% cheaper than LC20EM
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible LC20EY is 73.42% cheaper than LC20EY

#3 Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4730

Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4730 with CompandSave Remanufactured Cartridges has a 32.85% cheaper Cost Consideration than Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4730 with OEM Cartridges.

Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4730 is a high-performance printer with one of the fastest color printing speeds. It maybe the third priciest of our recommended four Epson models but it has the cheapest Cost Consideration among it too.

Cost Per Page Comparisons By OEM vs Compatible Cartridges

1. Comparison of Epson T802XL-BCS vs CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 802XL Combo Pack of 4

• The Cost per Page of Epson T802XL-BCS is 1.51 cents.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 802XL Combo Pack of 4 is 0.77 cents.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 802XL Combo Pack of 4 is 64.91% cheaper than Epson T802XL-BCS.

2. Price Comparisons of Individual Epson T802XL CMYK vs Compatible Cartridges

• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 802XL Black is 102.36% cheaper than Epson 802XL Black.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 802XL Cyan is 85.71% cheaper than Epson 802XL Cyan.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 802XL Magenta is 85.71% cheaper than Epson 802XL Magenta Ink.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 802XL Yellow is 85.71% cheaper than Epson 802XL Yellow Ink.

#4 Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3720

Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3720 with CompandSave Remanufactured Cartridges has 35.18% cheaper Cost Consideration than Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3720 with OEM Cartridges.

Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3720 offers professional quality prints. Epson claims it offers 30% lower printing costs than laser.

However, despite having the lowest printer price in our Recommended Epson models, its Cost Consideration is almost four times the Printer Cost if OEM cartridges would be used in a life span of 3 years.

Cost Per Page Comparisons By OEM vs Compatible Cartridges

1. Comparison of Epson T702XL-BCS vs CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 702XL CMYK

• The Cost per Page of Epson T702XL-BCS is 2 cents.
• The Total Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 702XL Black + Epson 702XL Cyan + Epson 702XL Magenta + Epson 702XL Yellow is 1.18 cents.
• The Total Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 702XL CMYK is 51.57% cheaper.

2. Price Comparisons of Individual Epson 702XL Cartridges vs Compatible Cartridges

• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 702XL Black is 96.54% cheaper than Epson 702XL Black.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 702XL Cyan is 79.90% cheaper than Epson 702XL Cyan.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 702XL Magenta is 79.90% cheaper thanMagenta Epson 702XL Magenta.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 702XL Yellow is 79.90% cheaper than Epson 702XL Yellow.

#5 Epson WorkForce WF-7720

Epson WorkForce WF-7720 with CompandSave Remanufactured Cartridges has a 68.52% cheaper Cost Consideration than Epson WorkForce WF-7720 with OEM Cartridges.

Epson WorkForce WF-7720 can print, copy, scan and fax on two sides of a page with a 35-page Auto Document Feeder. Previously $299.99, it is now only $179.99.

Cost Per Page Comparisons By OEM vs Compatible Cartridges

1. Comparison of Epson 252XL CMYK vs CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 252XL Combo Pack 4

• The Total Cost per Page of Epson 252XL Black + Epson 252XL Cyan + Epson 252XL Magenta + Epson 252XL Yellow is 2.84 cents.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 252XL Combo Pack 4 is 0.54 cents.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 252XL Combo Pack 4 is 136.10% cheaper than Epson 252XL CMYK.

2. Price Comparisons of Individual Epson 252XL Cartridges vs Compatible Cartridges

• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 252XL Black is 127% cheaper than Epson 252XL Black
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 252XL Cyan is 126% cheaper than Epson 252XL Cyan
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 252XL Magenta is 126% cheaper than Magenta Epson 252XL Magenta
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Remanufactured Epson 252XL Yellow is 126% cheaper than Epson 252XL Yellow

#6 HP OfficeJet 250

HP OfficeJet 250 with CompandSave Replacement Cartridges has 37.63% cheaper Cost Consideration than HP OfficeJet 250 wtih OEM Cartridges.

HP OfficeJet 250 is a printer that is light and compact enough to be carried in a travel bag in order to print, copy and scan anywhere.

However, it comes with a high price of Cost Consideration. When used with OEM cartridges only, its Cost Consideration for 3 years is 4.2 times its Printer Price. The good news is that, when used with CompandSave Compatible Cartridges, its Cost Consideration is only 2.86 times its Printer Price.

Cost Per Page Comparisons By OEM vs Compatible Cartridges

1. Price Comparison of HP 62XL Black + HP 62XL Tri-Color vs Compatible Cartridges

• The Total Cost per Page of HP 62XL Black + HP 62XL Tri-Color is 8.27 cents.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Replacement HP 62XL (Combo Pack of 2) is 4.83 cents.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Replacement HP 62XL (Combo Pack of 2) is 52.52% cheaper than HP 62XL Black + HP 62XL Tri-Color.

2. Price Comparisons of Individual HP 62XL Cartridges vs Compatible Cartridges

• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible HP 62XL Black is 48.19% cheaper than HP 62XL Black.
• The Cost per Page of CompandSave Compatible HP 62XL Tri-Color is 53.29% cheaper than HP 62XL Tri-Color.

Conclusion

PIXMA TR8520 has the lowest Cost Consideration if CompandSave Compatible Cartridges would be used throughout its lifespan.

If one desires to stick with OEM cartridges, Brother INKvestment MFC-J985DW has the lowest Cost Consideration.

Both are perfect for users who would only use the maximum paper size of Legal (8.5 x 14 inches).

For users who print on larger paper sizes, Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4730 is recommended for its fast black and color printing speeds.

But if people wants to save more on printing price, Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3720 can do the job but with slower color printing speed and less recommended monthly page volume.

If a user has higher printing demands, Epson WorkForce WF-7720 is a steal with auto-two-sided document actions on print, copy, scan and fax.

HP OfficeJet 250 is very practical for those who want to use their printer at work and at home for its light and compact form. It can print, copy and scan. Printing speed and maximum print resolution is satisfactory. It has the highest Cost Consideration but it’s money well-spent for users who prefer to use the same printer in the office and at home.