Refillable Ink Printers, also known as ink tank printers, have emerged as a game-changer in the printing industry, offering a significant advantage over traditional cartridge printers: substantial cost savings. These printers utilize large ink tanks that you refill with bottles instead of replacing cartridges, which translates to more prints for less money. Let’s delve into the specifics of how much you can save with refillable ink printers across different categories.
For home and office environments, Epson EcoTank models like the ET-2800, ET-2850, ET-3830, ET-3850, and ET-4850 exemplify these savings. By switching to these refillable ink printers, users can experience considerable reductions in printing expenses. The actual savings depend on your print tasks, volumes, and usage, but the cost per ISO page is dramatically lower compared to standard cartridge printers. Calculations are based on the cost of replacement ink bottles versus the cost of standard cartridges needed to achieve the same page yield. For instance, using MSRP (USD) and yields for Epson standard-capacity ink cartridges as of May 2021, the savings are clear.
Photographers and those needing high-quality photo prints can also benefit from refillable ink technology with models like the EcoTank Photo ET-8500 and ET-8550. Similar to the home and office models, the savings are based on comparing the cost per ISO 29103 page using ink bottles against standard cartridges. These calculations, based on data from April 2021, emphasize the economic advantage of refillable ink for photo printing.
For professional and business needs, the EcoTank Pro series, including ET-5150, ET-5170, ET-5180, ET-5800, ET-5850, ET-5880, ET-16600, and ET-16650, offers even more compelling savings. When compared to color laser printers, the cost benefits of refillable ink become even more pronounced. Savings are calculated by comparing the cost of ink bottles to the cost of standard-capacity color laser toner cartridges needed for the same page yield. Using manufacturer’s online prices and yields for best-selling color laser printers under $999 (USD) with speeds up to 40 ppm as of August 2020, the EcoTank Pro models demonstrate significant cost efficiency. Savings can reach up to $600 (USD), with a cost per ISO page of approximately $0.09 (USD) when using XL-capacity color laser toner cartridges.
Even for monochrome printing, refillable ink printers like the EcoTank Mono ET-M1170, ET-M2170, and ET-M3170 provide cost advantages. Comparing the purchase cost of replacement ink bottles to the cost of mono toner cartridges for comparable mono laser printers priced at $499 (USD) or less with speeds up to 30 ppm (data from October 2020), the savings are evident. Actual savings will vary based on usage, but the potential for cost reduction is clear.
The popularity of refillable ink printers is undeniable, with Epson reporting them as the No. 1 Ink Tank printer worldwide from 2011 to 2020 and No. 1 in product and replacement ink bottle sales in North America from 2015 to June 2021. Choosing a refillable ink printer is not just an environmentally conscious decision, reducing cartridge waste, but also a financially sound one, offering long-term savings and efficient printing for homes, offices, and professional environments.
