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Usually, ink tank printers cost less to operate, but they do not always cost less to own. A tank printer generally has a higher purchase price and uses refillable, high-capacity bottles. A cartridge printer is often cheaper to buy, but replacement cartridges can make each page substantially more expensive. The tank becomes the cheaper choice only after its lower running costs recover the initial price premium.
There is no universal page count or month at which every tank printer wins. Use the exact printer prices, bottle or cartridge yields, paper costs, print mix and expected volume for your comparison. The calculations below show how.
What “cheaper” means for a printer
Printer cost has two separate parts:
- Upfront cost: the price of the printer, including any bundled starter ink.
- Operating cost: replacement ink, paper and applicable maintenance or replacement parts.
A quoted cost per page (CPP) normally refers to ink only. HP defines CPP as “the amount it costs to produce one printed page” on its Smart Tank versus cartridge comparison, but a CPP figure by itself does not include the printer purchase price or paper. A fair ownership comparison adds those costs over a period that matches your use.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Tank printers tend to suit households, offices and small businesses that print regularly or in moderate-to-high volumes. A cartridge model can remain the economical option for occasional printing when its lower purchase price is never offset by ink savings.
#1 Best Overall
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― High-capacity ink tanks mean no more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
- Impressive Print Quality ― Unique Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology produces sharp text – plus impressive color photos and graphics – on virtually any paper type
- Zero Cartridge Waste – By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
- Built-in Scanner & Copier ― High-resolution flatbed scanner and a color display for easy document copying and navigation
How tank and cartridge systems differ
Ink tank printers
An ink tank printer has built-in reservoirs that you refill from bottles. The bottles hold far more ink than a typical cartridge, so the printer can ship with enough ink for a large number of pages. Replacement bottles are usually bought separately for black, cyan, magenta and yellow, although exact configurations vary by model.
The economic advantage comes from the combination of high yields and relatively low bottle prices. You pay for ink closer to the amount you use instead of replacing a small cartridge containing a printhead or other hardware each time.
Cartridge printers
A cartridge printer uses replaceable cartridges, commonly one black cartridge and a tri-color or individual color cartridges. Cartridges are compact and simple to replace, and the printer itself often has a lower shelf price. Their rated yields are usually lower, so frequent printing can require more replacements.
Cartridge systems are not automatically wasteful or unsuitable. They can be sensible for light users, people who need a low initial outlay, or buyers who value a compact printer and do not expect to print enough pages to use a tank’s included ink.
Calculate ink cost per page
Use the same method for each printer:
Ink cost per page = price of one bottle or cartridge ÷ its rated page yield
Calculate black and each color separately when the manufacturer provides separate prices and yields. For a color page, add the expected contribution of the colors used. If a manufacturer gives a single color CPP, use that stated figure and record its assumptions rather than treating it as a universal result.
Simple bottle example
HP gives an example of a $30 bottle rated for 6,000 pages. The arithmetic is $30 ÷ 6,000 = $0.005 per page, or half a cent of ink. That example excludes paper and does not establish the yield of every tank model; it is an illustration of the calculation shown in HP’s ink-tank CPP explanation.
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
Paper cost
Paper is easy to include:
Paper cost per page = pack price ÷ number of sheets in the pack
For example, a $6 pack of 500 sheets costs $0.012 per sheet. Add that amount to ink CPP when you want a consumables-only estimate. Specialty paper, duplex printing and discarded sheets can change the real figure.
Model-specific figures: an HP example
HP’s comparison page, accessed in 2026, displays an MSRP of $259.99 for the Smart Tank 5101 and about $169.99 for the ENVY 6055e. Those are HP’s own displayed prices, not a current cross-market survey, so verify local street prices before buying.
| Example | Black-and-white CPP | Color CPP | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP Smart Tank example | 0.4 cents per page | 1.7 cents per page | HP’s model-specific estimate and assumptions |
| HP standard 67 cartridge example | 15 cents per page | 62 cents per page | HP’s model-specific estimate and assumptions |
Using those displayed figures, the tank saves 14.6 cents on a black page and 60.3 cents on a color page. If you printed only black pages, 50 pages per month would imply about $7.30 in monthly ink savings (50 × $0.146). Dividing the roughly $90 displayed printer-price difference by $7.30 gives approximately 12.3 months. That is an arithmetic illustration, not HP’s stated break-even result: a different black/color mix, street prices, bundled ink and volume changes the answer.
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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 →HP gives different example break-even periods in different parts of the same page: its scenario table says 50 pages per month breaks even in six to seven months and 150 pages per month in about two months, while its FAQ says 30 pages per month takes three to four years and 50 pages per month takes six to seven months. The conflicting examples demonstrate why you should calculate from the exact models and assumptions rather than quote a universal threshold.
Calculate total ownership cost
For a chosen period, use:
Total cost ≈ printer purchase price + ink used + paper + applicable maintenance or replacement costs
To estimate ink used, multiply pages of each type by its CPP. Keep the comparison consistent: use the same number of pages, black/color mix, paper, print quality, ownership period and price date for both printers.
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
Break-even formula
When the tank has positive monthly savings, the approximate payback period is:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBreak-even months = extra tank-printer purchase price ÷ monthly ink savings
HP presents the equivalent formula as “(Smart Tank price − Cartridge printer price) ÷ (Monthly cartridge cost − Monthly Smart Tank ink cost)” on its comparison page. Paper savings usually cancel out when both models use the same paper, but include paper if one printer requires a different stock or creates materially more waste.
A practical worksheet
- Write down each printer’s current purchase price in the same currency and region.
- Record the yield and replacement price for black and every color. Include the ink supplied in the box only if you are comparing the same ownership period and can estimate when it will be consumed.
- Estimate monthly pages by type, such as 80 black text pages and 20 color pages.
- Multiply each page count by the corresponding CPP, then add paper cost.
- Multiply monthly consumables by the number of months you expect to keep the printer.
- Add the printer prices and any model-specific maintenance, printhead or waste-ink service costs that you can document.
- Subtract the cartridge total from the tank total. A negative result means the tank costs less over that period; a positive result means the cartridge model costs less.
How much printing makes a tank worthwhile?
The answer depends on the price premium and the difference in running cost, not on a fixed page count.
Low or irregular volume
If you print only a few pages every month, the cartridge printer’s lower purchase price may dominate for years. A tank’s large included ink supply can also sit unused while you are still paying back the premium. Compare the total cost over your realistic ownership period rather than assuming that a high bottle yield automatically saves money.
Regular household printing
Weekly schoolwork, forms, recipes and occasional color pages can make a tank attractive when replacement cartridges are expensive. Calculate with your actual black/color split; a household that prints almost all text pages may reach payback more slowly than one that prints frequent color graphics, even if both print the same number of sheets.
High-volume work
In a home office or small business, recurring cartridge purchases can quickly outweigh the initial printer premium. At this usage level, also compare print speed, input-tray capacity, automatic duplexing, duty cycle and the cost of downtime. A cheaper CPP is not useful if the printer cannot handle your workload.
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
Why rated yields are not promises
Page yield is measured under a stated test pattern and set of conditions. Your pages may contain more ink, photographs or large graphics than the test pages. Yields can also vary with print quality, paper, print frequency, temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions.
Epson’s EcoTank calculator notes that quoted yields can vary with image, paper, print frequency and environmental conditions. Treat a manufacturer’s CPP or savings percentage as a model-specific estimate, not a market-wide guarantee.
Include these variables in your estimate:
- Print mix: separate black text, mixed-color documents and full-page photos.
- Settings: draft mode may use less ink than standard or high-quality mode.
- Starter ink: bundled bottles or cartridges can make the first ownership period unusually cheap.
- Cleaning cycles: infrequent use may trigger maintenance cycles that consume ink.
- Waste and reprints: jams, alignment pages and failed color prints add pages that are not in your planned output.
Manufacturer calculators and price dates
Calculators are useful for organizing assumptions, but inspect their methodology. Epson says the bottle comparison in its calculator uses shipments data published in the first quarter of 2024 and warns that yields vary. Its total-cost-of-ownership methodology describes comparison inputs based on IDC tracker data from 2019. Those historic inputs should not be reused as current prices.
As another price example, Epson’s U.S. product page for the business-oriented ET-5850 displayed an $849.99 list price and a $649.99 discounted price when accessed. Prices are volatile, and a discount may be temporary. Recheck the product page and local replacement-ink prices on the day you compare.
Costs beyond ink
Ink is often the largest variable cost, but it is not the only buying criterion. Compare the following for the exact models:
- Print quality: text sharpness, color accuracy and photo performance.
- Speed: rated pages per minute for black and color, plus first-page time.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, mobile printing and operating-system support.
- Paper handling: tray capacity, supported sizes, rear feeds and automatic duplexing.
- Reliability and maintenance: documented cleaning procedures, printhead replacement options and warranty terms.
- Physical fit: tank printers can be larger, and refilling requires a stable, spill-resistant workspace.
Replacement ink must match the exact model. A low bottle price for a different printer is not a saving, and a high-yield cartridge may be more economical than a standard-yield cartridge in the same printer family.
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A buying decision you can defend
- Set your horizon. Choose 12, 24 or 36 months, or the period you realistically keep a printer.
- Measure volume. Use recent paper consumption or print history instead of an optimistic estimate.
- Split black and color. Count photos and graphics separately if they are a significant share.
- Collect current prices. Record printer, bottle or cartridge and paper prices on the same date and in the same region.
- Run low, expected and high cases. A range reveals whether the decision changes when your volume changes.
- Check non-cost requirements. Eliminate models that fail your speed, duplex, connectivity, size or quality needs before comparing CPP.
- Recalculate after promotions. A temporary printer discount or bundled-ink offer can move the break-even point substantially.
Bottom line
Ink tank printers generally have the lower ink cost per page because refill bottles provide high yields. Cartridge printers generally have the lower purchase price. The tank is cheaper overall only when its monthly savings, calculated from your exact models and print mix, exceed its initial premium during the period you plan to own it. Use total ownership cost—not a headline CPP or a manufacturer’s generic savings claim—to make the decision.
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.
