Monochrome laser/LED printers:Plain black text: 1 cent to 2.5 cents per page

Color laser/LED printers:Plain black text: 2 cents to 3 cents per pageSimple four-color page: 12 cents to 15 cents per pageIf your printer's costs fall at or below these averages, that's good. But if its costs exceed these averages, you should consider looking for a different printer. A person who prints two dozen or fewer pages per week, mostly text with a little color, might tolerate a higher cost per page; but with so many good printers out there, why go with one that's going to soak you?Here are some printers and multifunction printers (MFPs) we've tested recently that aren't as inexpensive as they look:

PC World's research has shown time and again that lower-capacity ink and toner cartridges cost you more in the long run. If you print relatively little, it may not matter much, since the high cost is spread over a longer period of time. But if you print a lot, look for ink cartridges with yields above 250 pages, or toner cartridges with yields above 2000 pages. Some printers offer high-yield consumables that can save you a lot more. Here are the worst and best models for cartridge capacity that we've reviewed recently.

Worst: Printers with standard-size cartridges that are low-capacity and pricey: