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How much does it cost to run a laser printer? ($0.77/mo)
Running a laser printer costs about $0.77 / month
($0.03/day at 0.3 h/day, $0.17/kWh).
($0.03/day at 0.3 h/day, $0.17/kWh).
Running cost calculator
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A laser printer spikes in power when the fuser heats up to print, then settles to a low standby draw between jobs.
Cost at different electricity rates
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.02 | $0.45 | $5.48 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.02 | $0.67 | $8.21 |
| $0.20/kWh | $0.03 | $0.90 | $10.95 |
| $0.25/kWh | $0.04 | $1.13 | $13.69 |
| $0.30/kWh | $0.05 | $1.35 | $16.43 |
| $0.40/kWh | $0.06 | $1.80 | $21.90 |
Cost over time
| Per hour of use | $0.09 |
| Per day (0.3 h) | $0.03 |
| Per month | $0.77 |
| Per year | $9.31 |
How to spend less running a laser printer
- Cut the hours: A laser printer at 0.3 h/day runs about $0.77/month — trimming one hour saves roughly $2.55/month.
- Lower the setting: running a laser printer on a lower or eco setting drops the wattage directly.
- Upgrade efficiency: a newer laser printer near 300 W uses far less than an old 800 W one.
- Kill standby: a smart plug or timer removes the ~5 W it draws even when off.
Want the raw figure? See how many watts a laser printer uses.
FAQ
How many watts does a laser printer use?
About 300-800 watts while printing, only a few watts idle.
Why does my printer use power when idle?
It keeps the fuser warm so the first page prints quickly.
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