Cost & Pricing
Color Cost Per Page Calculator
Add up all four CMYK cartridges for the true color page cost.
Enter values to see your estimate.
Estimates only, not a quote.
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A color page costs whatever all four toners contribute to it. Because each CMYK cartridge has its own price and yield, color cost per page is the sum of four separate cost-per-page figures, which is why color routinely runs 5–10× a mono page.
How it works
For each of the four cartridges (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), divide its price by its rated yield to get that color's cost per page, then add the four together. Add optional paper for the all-in number. This assumes the rated 5% coverage per color; real coverage on photos and graphics is far higher.
Further reading How to Cut Office Printing Costs — Find the waste and remove it, in the order that pays off fastest.
Common questions
Why is color so much more expensive?
You're buying four cartridges instead of one, and color documents cover more of the page. A 6–15¢ color page against a 1–3¢ mono page is normal.
How do I cut color cost?
Put color behind print rules (default to mono), and route high-color jobs to the lowest-cost-per-page device. A print assessment quantifies the opportunity.