When a business needs a new printer, it is easy to be swayed by the cheapest option on the shelf. After all, a printer is a printer… right?

Not quite.

Low-cost printers often come with a price tag that looks appealing upfront, but their hidden long-term costs can quickly outstrip what you would have spent on a quality device. For many businesses, the “bargain” ends up being the most expensive choice of all.

Here is what really makes cheap printers costly.

 

Expensive ink and toner – the real money pit

Manufacturers often sell printers at or below cost and rely on consumables for profit.
With cheaper models, you will typically find:

• Small capacity cartridges (fewer pages per refill)
• Inefficient ink usage
• Restricted use of third-party toner

That low-cost printer can quickly become a high-cost subscription you never signed up for.

Result: A printer that “saved” you £50 can easily cost thousands more in ink over its lifetime.

Frequent breakdowns and repairs

Cheap printers are built with cheaper components. The result?

• More paper jams
• Slower print speeds
• Parts wearing out early
• Increased downtime for your team

Even worse, replacement parts are often limited or deliberately expensive, making it feel easier to buy another cheap printer – and the cycle continues.

Result: Lost productivity and higher replacement frequency.

 

No real service or support

When a budget printer stops working, who do you call?
Most low-cost brands offer:

• Minimal or no phone support
• Long response times
• “Return to base” requirements
• Short warranty periods

For a business that relies on printing to operate, this lack of support can bring workflows to a halt.

Result: You become your own service department.

 

Lower print quality and inconsistent results

Cheap printers often struggle with:

• Colour accuracy
• Sharp detail
• Double-sided printing
• Even text alignment

This may not matter for casual home use, but for businesses producing proposals, forms, or client-facing documents, quality counts.

Result: Poor print quality reflects poorly on your business.

 

Slow printing = slow staff

Time is money.
Budget printers are often slow, noisy, and unable to handle the workload of a busy office.

Typical limitations include:

• Slow warm-up times
• Low print-per-minute speeds
• Small paper trays
• Frequent “cool down” pauses

Multiply those small delays by dozens of staff, and the cost becomes clear.

Result: A “cheap” device quietly drains hours of productivity.

 

No security features

Modern business printers include:

• User authentication
• Secure print release
• Data encryption
• GDPR-compliant logging

Cheap printers typically offer none of this, leaving sensitive documents exposed.

Result: Security risks increase — and regulatory fines or data breaches can cost far more than a good printer.

 

Higher environmental impact

You’ll often see:

• Smaller cartridges = more plastic waste
• Shorter lifespan = more landfill
• Inefficient energy use
• Poor component recyclability

What looks cheap often ends up being the least environmentally friendly choice.

Result: Higher waste, higher energy costs, lower sustainability.

 

The better choice: Invest smart, save long-term

A reliable business-grade printer or multifunction device may cost more upfront, but it saves money on all of the following:

• Ink and toner efficiency
• Reliable uptime
• Faster printing
• Stronger security
• Professional print quality
• Proper servicing and maintenance
• Longer lifespan

When paired with clear, transparent contracts and a responsive service provider (like we offer at Allied Office Machines), the lifetime cost drops dramatically – and the experience improves just as much.

 

Final thought

A cheap printer is never cheap.
It’s merely inexpensive to buy and very expensive to own.

If you are considering your next printer or want a cost comparison, we would be happy to help you choose a solution that is reliable, cost-effective, and built for real business use.