Here’s a quick and simple answer: Ink cartridges are expensive so companies can make a profit. Most printers are sold at a loss. A manufacturer makes money NOT by selling consumers an inkjet or laser printer, but by selling the supplies needed to print. The manufacturer controls the technology and the prices.

Why are HP printers so expensive?

The HP Envy 4520 all-in-one printer, for example, sells for $70 but is estimated to cost $120 to manufacture. The loss they make on printers means that companies need to sell ink cartridges to make a profit, and this model has led to a battleground between printer manufacturers and third-party ink suppliers.

Why are printers the worst?

The reason they can do this is because they make up the money elsewhere: Ink sales. The prices they charge for printer ink are extraordinary. With margins like that, it’s easy for third-party ink sellers to undercut printer companies on price. And that’s a problem for the printer companies.