The two technologies at a glance
Laser printers work with toner fused onto the paper. The result: razor-sharp text, smudge-proof, water-resistant, archive-safe. Inkjet printers spray liquid ink onto paper — cheaper to buy, but more sensitive to moisture and slower for plain text.
Realistic cost per letter
| Item | Laser printer | Inkjet printer |
|---|---|---|
| Device (entry level) | from €100 | from €50 |
| Cost per page (B/W) | ~2–4 cents | ~5–15 cents |
| Risk with rare use | low — toner doesn't dry out | high — nozzles clog, cleaning wastes ink |
| Durability of the printout | very high | medium (water stains, fading) |
The rare-use trap
An inkjet printer idle for two months cleans its print heads on the next start — often wasting more ink than the actual letter would need. Adding device, consumables and failures, the occasional letter printout quickly costs €1 or more per page. A laser printer forgives long pauses but only pays off from a few hundred pages a year.
When print quality matters
- Authorities and courts: documents must be legible and permanent — laser print is the safe choice.
- Paper applications: first impressions count; washed-out ink looks sloppy.
- Private greetings: almost any quality will do.
The third option: no printer at all
With fewer than about 20 letters a year, any printer of your own is uneconomical. Online letter services print on professional laser printers in print-shop quality, envelope and frank — for a flat price per letter, with no device, no toner, no maintenance.