We may be living in a digital world, but a printer is still a must-have for scanning documents and keeping sensitive records in a folder instead of the cloud.
Consider it a basic essential every home office or business needs, but if you don’t shop correctly, your printer will rack up massive costs over time — depending on how often you use it.
Apart from the cost of the machine itself, you need to look at the cost of paper, ink and maintenance, all of which can make the printer quite an expensive necessity.
That’s where a refillable tank printer can move the needle in your favor.
Unlike a traditional cartridge-based option, a refillable printer uses bottled ink that’s then fed into built-in reservoirs. This helps cut down on those pesky cartridge replacement costs and lowers your cost per page overall. And if you’re in the market for one, HP refillable printers remain some of the best.
While these printers cost more upfront, they’re a fine choice for those of you who print regularly. Check out the breakdown of the full cost of owning a refillable printer below so you can decide for yourself if it’s worth it. What’s more, we even found a few HP printer deals to make your shopping experience even more enjoyable.
How refillable printers work
These refillable tank printers work similarly to traditional inkjet printers, but instead of using cartridges, as mentioned above, they rely on built-in tanks that are filled with bottled ink.
Every color gets its own tank, and you’ll usually have a tank for black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Once the ink starts to run low, you can just refill the tank with the matching bottle. HP printers, for example, have an app where you can keep track of how much ink is left.
These ink bottles, in general, last much longer than cartridges, which affects the long-term cost of a refillable printer. They’re also very useful if you expect yourself to do a lot of color printing — think schools, small businesses and companies that churn out tons of marketing materials.
What is the total cost of owning a refillable tank printer?
To understand this, we need to look at the full amount you’ll spend on this printer over time, not just the upfront cost of purchasing. This means looking at the price of bottled ink refills, paper and keeping in mind how often your printer actually “prints.”
Refillable printers, as mentioned before, cost more upfront, but they usually come with enough ink in the box to typically last you for months, depending on your printing volume.
Your lowering expenses will start to make sense in years two and three of your business when you realize you don’t need to replace ink as often, as bottled ink can print thousands of pages. Usually, a black cartridge bottle can print between 4,000 to 7,500 pages, which means it’s possible to not just print a high volume, but also replace your ink bottles much less. In comparison, a standard black ink cartridge can only print up to 300-ish pages. That’s a big difference.
The biggest savings will be when you hit year five, as if you print regularly, especially in color, a refillable tank printer can keep your cost per page much lower over time. That said, if you’re not utilizing this printer enough, it will take longer to make back that higher upfront cost.
| Year | What you’re paying for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Printer purchase, setup, included ink and paper | This is usually the most expensive year, as you have the cost of the printer to cover. |
| Year 2 | Paper, possible ink refills and basic maintenance | Ink savings may start to show, especially if the included bottles lasted through much of year one. This will depend on your overall print volume and business needs. |
| Year 3 | Ink refills, paper and maintenance | This is where the lower cost per page can become more noticeable for regular users. |
| Year 4 | Ink, paper, possible cleaning or replacement parts | Your costs should significantly start to reduce, especially if you’ve taken care of your printer. Maintenance will, of course, cost you extra. |
| Year 5 | Ink, paper, maintenance and possible replacement planning | Here’s when you’ll see a lower cost per page and where HP printers shine, as they’re built to last. |
What to look for in a refillable tank printer
PPM
This is the print speed of your printer. If you’re printing heavily, you’ll need a printer with a higher PPM. Refillable tank printers don’t have the highest printing speeds, though, so this is something to keep in mind.
Cost per page
This is more for the ink bottle price. To find this, divide the cost of the ink bottle by the number of pages it can print. This will give you an estimated cost per page.
Color quality
Something to keep in mind if you’re printing in color a lot. These printers might not print in photo-level detail, but you can check the resolution to see if it’s worth it for marketing materials, for example. Check the DPI on the printer here; generally, a higher DPI means your printer can produce more details. Also, check if your printer has features like color accuracy or offers photo printing options.
ADF
ADF is an automatic document feeder, and basically means you can feed your printer multiple sheets of paper, and it will automatically scan them without you having to manually turn them around by hand, shaving a ton of time off. For larger teams or companies where there’s a lot of copying and faxing, an ADF is a must.
Maintenance
Refillable tank printers need regular use to keep the ink flowing properly. If you don’t use the printer often enough, the ink might get clogged or dry, which will definitely cost you.
Best HP refillable tank printers
The refillable ink you’ll get with this printer should last you up to three years, according to HP. Whether you’re looking for a printer for your home office, small business or school, you’ll like that this option has printing, scanning and copying capabilities. It’s especially great for Gen X users or millennials with or without kids, as this printer isn’t just easy to set up and use; it also reduces long-term ink costs over time. Through the HP Smart app, you can scan on the go, too, and monitor ink levels over time for your team.
Specs:
- Recommended monthly volume: 400 to 800
- Monthly duty cycle: 3,000 pages
- Print speed, black: Up to 12 ppm
- Print speed, color: Up to 7 ppm
If you need everything the printer above offers, plus faxing capabilities, pick the Smart Tank 7602. You’ll still get up to three years of ink included, and you’ll be able to print up to 15 pages per minute, making this a great pick for small offices — or home offices if you’re a new parent. This printer is both low maintenance and offers quality printing for school work, plans, schedules and even photos. The printer also has an automatic document feeder, or ADF, for quicker copying and scanning, too.
Specs:
- Print speed, black: Up to 15 ppm
- Print speed, color: Up to 9 ppm
- Print speed, color draft: Up to 22 ppm
- Monthly duty cycle: 6,000 pages
- Recommended monthly page volume: 400 to 1,200
For the most affordable option, choose the HP Smart Tank 5101. This pick is currently priced under $200 and can handle your printing, scanning and copying needs. It’s a little slower than the HP Smart Tank 6001, but still plenty efficient, and like every other pick on this list, you’ll still get up to three years of ink included.
Specs:
- Print speed, black: Up to 12 ppm
- Print speed, color: Up to 5 ppm
- Monthly duty cycle: Up to 3,000 pages
- Recommended monthly page volume: 400 to 800
Frequently Asked Questions
Are HP refillable tank printers cheaper in the long run?
Yes, if you print regularly. They’re more expensive but pay for themselves in the long run — which is why their five-year cost is usually lower. Also, every option we recommended comes with up to three years’ worth of ink included in the price.
What does AI-enabled mean when it comes to HP printers?
HP AI automatically fixes formatting issues and removes unwanted clutter from web pages like ads, logos and more. It also helps save paper by formatting web content to print only what you need. You’ll save both ink and paper (which in turn saves you money) thanks to HP AI.
How long do refillable tank printers last?
It depends on use, maintenance and print volume, but a well-maintained printer can last for many years if you’re sticking to the recommended print volume and not overburdening the device.
Do refillable tank printers dry out?
A refillable tank printer can dry out if it sits too long. Make sure to print regularly to prevent clogs.
Are refillable tank printers better than inkjet printers?
Refillable printers are a type of inkjet printer, but instead of ink cartridges, they use refillable ink bottles.
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