For most homes, students and small offices in Kenya that print more than about 50 pages a month, an ink tank printer is the cheapest to own. Tank refills at Mascom International in Nairobi work out to about KSh 0.43 per black page. A cartridge printer costs less upfront, from KSh 8,500, but its ink runs about KSh 9.31 a page. A laser printer, which uses toner, suits fast black-and-white office work. Prices are as of November 2026.
Key facts
- An HP GT51XL black ink bottle costs KSh 2,600 at Mascom International and is rated for 6,000 pages, about KSh 0.43 a page.
- An HP 652 black cartridge costs KSh 3,350 for 360 pages, about KSh 9.31 a page, more than 20 times the tank cost.
- A genuine HP 150A toner costs KSh 9,200 for 975 pages, about KSh 9.44 a page.
- At 300 black pages a month, a year of ink or toner costs about KSh 1,560 in tank bottles and over KSh 33,000 in cartridges or genuine HP 150A toner.
Ink tank vs cartridge vs laser printer: how do they compare?
The three types differ less in print quality than in what you pay after the box is opened. The table below uses printers and supplies in stock at Mascom International in November 2026. Page costs are the supply price divided by the rated page yield.
| What matters | Cartridge printer | Ink tank printer | Laser (toner) printer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printer price at Mascom | From KSh 8,500 | From KSh 20,000 | From KSh 19,000 |
| Black cost per page | About KSh 9.31 (HP 652) | About KSh 0.43 (HP GT51XL) | About KSh 9.44 genuine (HP 150A), KSh 3.59 compatible |
| Colour cost per page | About KSh 15.25 (HP 652 tri-colour) | About KSh 0.86 for three HP GT52 bottles | Mono models print black only |
| Best for | A few pages a month | Regular home, school and office printing, colour included | Heavy black-and-white documents |
| Left unused for weeks | A new cartridge brings fresh ink | Ink can dry in the print head | Toner is a powder and does not dry out |
| Power draw | Low | Low | High when it heats up to print |
Prices change often in Kenya, so each product page on mascomintl.com shows today's price.
How much does each printer type cost to run in a year?
Running cost decides which printer is cheapest, not the shelf price. Rated yields follow the ISO test method, which assumes about 5% of each page is covered, roughly a page of ordinary text. Pages full of tables, logos or photos use more ink, so real costs run higher for every type.
Here is a year of black printing, after the starter ink or toner in the box runs out:
- 50 pages a month: about KSh 260 in HP GT51XL tank ink, KSh 5,580 in HP 652 cartridges and KSh 5,660 in genuine HP 150A toner.
- 100 pages a month: about KSh 520 in tank ink, KSh 11,170 in cartridges and KSh 11,320 in genuine toner.
- 300 pages a month: about KSh 1,560 in tank ink, KSh 33,500 in cartridges and KSh 33,970 in genuine toner.
At our Kimathi Street counter, the regret we hear most often is a cheap printer bought for a job that needs hundreds of pages. The printer was a bargain. The ink was not.
When is a cartridge printer the right choice?
A cartridge printer is right when you print only a few pages a month and want the lowest upfront price. Think of a parent printing school forms, or someone who prints a KRA PIN certificate or an eCitizen form now and then. The HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2876 costs KSh 8,500 (November 2026), prints, scans and copies, and connects over Wi-Fi.
The break-even point sits near 50 pages a month. At that rate, using HP 652 page costs as the guide, a KSh 8,500 cartridge printer and a KSh 20,000 tank printer cost about the same over two years. Below it, the cartridge printer wins. Above it, the tank printer pulls ahead every month.
The trade-off: colour pages from a cartridge cost about KSh 15.25 each, so school projects and posters get expensive fast.
Why do ink tank printers suit most homes, schools and offices?
Ink tank printers suit most buyers because they cost the least per page by a wide margin, in black and in colour. You refill the tanks from bottles instead of buying new cartridges.
Three popular models at Mascom International in November 2026:
- HP Smart Tank 580 at KSh 20,000, with Wi-Fi printing, scanning and copying.
- Brother DCP-T430W at KSh 21,000, whose listing quotes a 7,500-page black ink yield.
- Epson EcoTank L3250 at KSh 25,000, with Wi-Fi Direct for printing straight from a phone.
The trade-off: ink in the print head can dry if the printer sits unused for weeks, especially in dusty or hot rooms. Print one page a week to keep it flowing. Buyers who print only at exam time may do better with a cartridge printer.
When should you pick a laser (toner) printer?
Pick a laser printer when your work is mostly black text and speed matters: invoices, contracts, exam papers and reports. Laser pages come out sharp and dry, and toner never dries in the machine during a long holiday.
The HP LaserJet M111w costs KSh 22,000 and prints up to 20 pages a minute over Wi-Fi. The HP Laser MFP 135a costs KSh 19,000 and adds scanning and copying.
Small lasers are not cheap per page with genuine toner. The HP 150A toner works out to about KSh 9.44 a page. A ColourSoft 150A compatible toner at KSh 3,500 brings that to about KSh 3.59. Larger office toners cost less per page: the HP 151A gives 3,050 pages for KSh 18,900, about KSh 6.20 each.
The trade-off: laser printers draw a lot of power as they heat up. During KPLC outages, run one only from a UPS sized for laser printers, or wait for mains power.
Which printer should you buy?
- Fewer than 50 pages a month, mostly forms: a cartridge printer.
- Home, students and schools printing colour notes and projects: an ink tank printer.
- Small offices, SACCOs and cyber cafés printing every day: an ink tank printer for colour, or a laser printer for fast black text.
- Law firms, accounts teams and exam offices: a laser printer with duplex printing.
None of the three fits every job. Receipts at a shop till need a thermal receipt printer, and carbon-copy delivery notes need a dot matrix printer. Ask us before you buy if your work is one of these.
Common questions
Which type of printer is cheapest to run in Kenya?
An ink tank printer is the cheapest to run in Kenya. An HP GT51XL black bottle costs KSh 2,600 at Mascom International and is rated for 6,000 pages, about KSh 0.43 a page. HP GT52 colour bottles cost KSh 2,300 each for 8,000 pages. Cartridge and small laser printers cost over KSh 9 a page with genuine supplies, so tanks win for anyone printing regularly.
Is a laser printer cheaper to run than an ink tank printer?
No, not for small laser printers with genuine toner. A genuine HP 150A toner works out to about KSh 9.44 a page, against about KSh 0.43 for HP tank ink. A laser printer earns its place through speed, sharp text and toner that does not dry out. Compatible toners narrow the gap, bringing a small laser to about KSh 3.59 a page.
Do ink tank printers dry up if not used for a long time?
Yes, ink tank printers can block when left unused for weeks. Ink dries in the print head, and dust and heat make it worse. Printing one page a week usually keeps the ink flowing. If you print only a few times a term, a cartridge printer or a laser printer handles long idle spells better, because fresh ink arrives with each cartridge and toner does not dry.
Are compatible toners and refill inks safe to use in my printer?
Compatible supplies cost much less, but quality varies between makers. Mascom International stocks compatible toners such as the ColourSoft 150A, rated for 975 pages at KSh 3,500. Genuine toner and ink keep the printer maker's print quality. If your printer is under warranty, check the warranty terms with us before you switch, and avoid unbranded refills with no stated page yield.
Can I buy a printer in Nairobi and pay on delivery?
Yes. Mascom International delivers printers to all 47 counties and you pay on arrival. Orders within Nairobi and its environs arrive the same day. Other major towns such as Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret get delivery within 1 business day. Call or WhatsApp +254 708 852 521 to confirm the model, ink or toner, and price first.
Where to buy printers, ink and toner in Kenya
Visit Mascom International at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. We open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Bring a sample of what you print and we will show you the running cost on the counter before you pay.
Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521. Email: info@mascomintl.com. Website: www.mascomintl.com.
We deliver countrywide with pay-on-arrival to all 47 counties. Nairobi and its environs get same-day delivery, and other major towns get delivery within 1 business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days. Ask for the matching ink bottles or toner when you order, so you never run dry mid-job.
