Cost Per Page Guide (Australia)

If you're comparing printers or cartridges, cost per page is often more important than the purchase price. This guide explains how to calculate true running costs and what factors can change the number in real-world use.

What is cost per page?

Cost per page (CPP) is the estimated cost of consumables used to print one page. For most printers, it mainly comes from toner or ink — and sometimes drums, maintenance kits, or other replaceable parts.

The simple formula

The simplest CPP calculation is:

Example: a $120 cartridge with a 3,000-page yield has an estimated CPP of: $120 ÷ 3,000 = $0.04 per page (4 cents).

Page yield: what it means (and what it doesn’t)

Page yield is usually tested under an international standard (often around 5% coverage per page). That’s roughly a typical business letter — not heavy graphics or full-page photos.

• Higher coverage (logos, images, bold blocks) reduces yield.
• More start/stop jobs can use more ink/toner due to maintenance cycles.
• Colour printing can consume multiple cartridges at once.

A yield number is a useful comparison tool — but it is not a guarantee for every workflow.

Toner vs drum: the hidden cost

Many laser printers use a separate drum unit (or imaging unit) that wears out over time. If your printer has separate toner + drum, your true CPP should include both.

This is a common reason two printers with similar toner prices can have very different running costs.

Genuine vs compatible: how to compare fairly

A fair comparison includes yield, print quality consistency, failure rate risk, and warranty expectations. Many businesses choose genuine OEM for predictable performance, while others use premium compatibles to reduce cost.

Real-world factors that change cost per page

• Coverage: heavier graphics = higher cost.
• Print mode: draft vs normal vs high quality.
• Duplex printing: saves paper but doesn’t halve ink/toner usage.
• Maintenance cycles: inkjets may do cleaning cycles (especially if used infrequently).
• Environmental factors: temperature/humidity and paper type can impact results.

Practical tips to reduce running cost

• Choose the right printer for your volume (don’t overbuy features you won’t use).
• Consider high-yield cartridges where available.
• For inkjets, print at least weekly to reduce cleaning waste.
• Use duplex for documents to reduce paper cost (CPP is not only ink/toner).
• Review total cost: toner/ink + drum/maintenance + paper + downtime risk.

Note: Page yield figures vary by brand and are typically based on standardised testing conditions. If you’d like help comparing specific models or consumables, contact our team for practical advice.