Printers Under 100: What You Actually Get

Yes, you can buy a new printer for under $100, but you need to know what you’re giving up: most budget models are inkjet printers with slow speeds, high ink costs, and limited features. For basic home printing of documents and occasional color photos, a sub-$100 inkjet is a reasonable choice; for heavy or fast printing, you’ll save more money in the long run by spending slightly more on a laser printer.

Formula

Two formulas matter when comparing printers under $100. The first is cost per page (CPP), which tells you how much each printed page costs in ink or toner alone:

CPP = Cartridge Cost ÷ Cartridge Yield

Where:

• Cartridge Cost is the price of one replacement cartridge (in dollars).
• Cartridge Yield is the number of pages that cartridge is rated to print (usually listed as “page yield” on the box or spec sheet).

The second is total yearly cost, which includes the printer’s purchase price and the ink you’ll use over a year:

Yearly Cost = Printer Price + (Pages per Month × 12 ÷ Cartridge Yield) × Cartridge Cost

This assumes you buy a new cartridge whenever the previous one runs out, and that your monthly page count stays constant.

Worked Example

Using the defaults from the calculator above:

• Pages per month = 50
• Cartridge cost = $20
• Cartridge yield = 200 pages
• Printer price = $80

First, cost per page:

CPP = $20 ÷ 200 = $0.10 per page

Now yearly cost:

• Pages per year = 50 × 12 = 600
• Cartridges per year = 600 ÷ 200 = 3
• Ink cost per year = 3 × $20 = $60
• Yearly cost = $80 + $60 = $140

So a $80 printer that uses $20 cartridges rated for 200 pages will cost you about $140 in the first year if you print 50 pages a month. That’s $0.23 per page including the printer’s cost (but not paper).

What $100 Buys in a Printer

At under $100, you are almost exclusively looking at entry-level inkjet printers. These are the small, plastic-bodied machines you see on office-supply store shelves. They typically include:

• Print, scan, and copy functions (all-in-one)
• Wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi, sometimes Bluetooth)
• Mobile printing via AirPrint or the manufacturer’s app
• Plain-paper printing at 7–10 pages per minute (black and white)
• A single paper tray holding 60–100 sheets

What you don’t get at this price:

• Automatic document feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning
• Duplex (double-sided) printing – some models have it, but many don’t
• High-capacity ink cartridges – most use standard or “value” cartridges with low page yields
• Fast print speeds – 15+ pages per minute is rare below $100
• Heavy-duty build quality – these printers are designed for light home use

Some sub-$100 printers are “single-function” (print only), which can save a bit of money if you don’t need scanning.

Ink Costs: The Hidden Trap

The most common mistake buyers make is ignoring the cost of replacement ink. A $60 printer can end up costing more per page than a $200 laser printer. Here’s why:

• Budget inkjets often use two cartridges (black and tri-color). The tri-color cartridge runs out quickly if you print photos or colored graphics.
• Manufacturers rate cartridge yields using a standard test page (5% coverage for black, 20% for color). Real-world pages with heavy text or images use more ink, so you’ll get fewer pages than the rating.
• Some printers require both cartridges to be present even if you only print black; if one is empty, the printer may refuse to print until you replace it.

To estimate your real cost per page, look up the yield rating for the cartridge (e.g., “200 pages”) and divide the cartridge price by that number. A cartridge that costs $15 and yields 150 pages gives a CPP of $0.10. If you print 100 pages a month, that’s $10 a month in ink alone.

Compare that to a monochrome laser printer that uses a toner cartridge yielding 1,500 pages at $70 – a CPP of about $0.047, less than half the inkjet’s cost.

Laser vs. Inkjet Under $100

Monochrome laser printers occasionally dip below $100 during sales, but the regular price is usually $120–$150. If you can stretch your budget, a laser printer is almost always the better long-term value for text documents:

• Lower cost per page – toner cartridges last thousands of pages.
• Faster printing – 20–30 pages per minute is common.
• No ink drying out – inkjet printheads clog if unused for weeks; toner doesn’t.
• Sharper text – laser output is crisp and smudge-resistant.

But laser printers are larger, heavier, and can’t print in color at this price. If you need occasional color photos or graphics, an inkjet is the only option under $100.

How to Choose: What to Check Before Buying

Before you click “buy,” check these five things on the spec sheet:

1. Cartridge yield and price – Search for the replacement cartridge model and find its page yield. Calculate CPP as shown above.
2. Paper handling – Does it have a rear feed for envelopes or cardstock? A front tray that holds only 60 sheets might be fine for light use.
3. Duplex printing – If you print double-sided documents, look for “automatic duplex” in the specs. Manual duplex (flipping pages yourself) is tedious.
4. Connectivity – Wi-Fi is standard, but check if it supports AirPrint (for iPhone) or Mopria (Android). Some budget models require the manufacturer’s app, which can be clunky.
5. Scanner quality – If you need to scan, check the optical resolution (1200 dpi is fine for documents) and whether it has a flatbed or sheet-fed design.

Also consider the physical size – many budget printers are surprisingly bulky. Measure your desk space before ordering.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

Here are the issues buyers most often run into with sub-$100 printers:

• “It’s slow” – Budget inkjets print 5–10 pages per minute. If you need faster, look for a laser or a higher-priced inkjet.
• “The ink runs out too fast” – This is almost always because you’re using the included “starter” cartridges, which have lower yields than the ones you buy later. The starter cartridge might be rated for only 50 pages, while the retail cartridge yields 200.
• “It won’t connect to Wi-Fi” – Budget printers often have weak Wi-Fi antennas. Place the printer close to your router, or use a USB cable if you’re still having trouble.
• “The print quality is bad” – For text, it’s usually fine. For photos, budget inkjets use 4 colors (CMYK) and can’t match photo printers that use 5–6 inks. Expect washed-out colors and visible dots.
• “I can refill the cartridges myself” – You can, but refill kits are messy and can leak, and many printers have chips that prevent third-party cartridges from working. It’s often not worth the hassle for a $15 cartridge.

A common misconception is that all printers under $100 are “disposable.” In reality, many last 3–5 years with light use. The main failure point is the printhead, which can clog if you don’t print regularly. Printing a test page once a week helps prevent clogs.

Alternatives to Buying a Printer

If you print fewer than 20 pages a month, buying a printer may not be worth it. Consider these alternatives:

• Print at a library or print shop – Many libraries offer black-and-white printing for 10–20 cents per page. A 50-page document costs $5–$10, which might be cheaper than a year of ink.
• Use a print service online – For photos or presentations, upload files and have them shipped to you. Prices are competitive for color prints.
• Go digital – Sign documents with a PDF editor, use e-tickets, and read on screens. This eliminates printing altogether.

If you do buy, consider a printer with a subscription ink service – some manufacturers offer plans where you pay a monthly fee and they ship ink automatically based on your usage. This can lower your per-page cost, but read the fine print: you’re locked in for a minimum number of pages, and you must return the cartridges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are printers under $100 worth it?

Yes, if you print less than 100 pages a month and don’t need fast speeds or photo quality. The printer itself is cheap, but you’ll pay for it in ink. If you print mostly text, a monochrome laser printer at $120–$150 is a better long-term investment.

What is the cheapest printer to run?

Monochrome laser printers have the lowest cost per page, often $0.03–$0.05. Among inkjets, look for models that use high-yield cartridges (yield of 300+ pages). Avoid printers that require both a black and a color cartridge for black-only printing, as that forces you to replace the color cartridge even when it’s not empty.

Do I need a color printer?

Only if you print photos, charts, or documents with colored text. For school papers, invoices, and forms, black-and-white is sufficient. A monochrome laser printer is cheaper to run and more reliable for text.

Can I use third-party ink cartridges?

You can, but they may not work with all printers. Many manufacturers use microchips that detect non-genuine cartridges and refuse to print. Even if they work, third-party ink can be lower quality and may leak. If you want to save money, look for printers that don’t use chipped cartridges, or buy refillable cartridges from a reputable brand.

How long do budget printers last?

With light use (10–20 pages a week), a budget inkjet can last 3–5 years. The most common issue is printhead clogging from infrequent use. Printing a test page weekly helps. Laser printers typically last longer, often 5–10 years, because they have fewer moving parts.

What should I do if my printer won’t connect to Wi-Fi?

First, restart the printer and your router. Make sure the printer is within 10 feet of the router. Check if your router uses a 5 GHz band – many budget printers only support 2.4 GHz. If the problem persists, connect via USB cable and run the setup software again, or use the printer’s WPS button to connect without a password.

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in t | Pages printed per month | pages | 50 | 1 | 100000
in c | Cartridge cost (per cartridge) | $ | 20 | 1 | 500
in y | Cartridge yield (pages per cartridge) | pages | 200 | 1 | 10000
in p | Printer price | $ | 80 | 1 | 1000
out cpp | Cost per page (ink only) | $/page | c / y | 2
out tco | Yearly cost (printer + ink) | $ | p + (t / y) * c | 2