Colour vs Black & White Copier: Cost Comparison
Short answer: A black & white copier is cheaper to buy and much cheaper per page, so it suits offices that mainly print text. A colour copier costs more to buy and each colour page costs several times a black & white page — choose it only if you print colour regularly.
Side-by-side comparison
| Black & white copier | Colour copier | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | Lower | Higher for the same speed |
| Cost per page | Lowest | Colour pages cost several times a black & white page |
| Toner | One black toner | Four toners: black, cyan, magenta, yellow |
| Best for | Letters, invoices, forms, bank and school documents | Marketing, presentations, charts, school projects |
| Example Ricoh models | IM 2510, IM 3510, IM 4510 | IM C2010, IM C2510, IM C3010 |
What makes colour printing expensive?
- Four toners instead of one. A colour page uses cyan, magenta and yellow, and often black too.
- Coverage. Photos and full-colour backgrounds use far more toner than text.
- More parts. Colour machines have more imaging parts that wear over time.
How to keep colour cost under control
- Set the machine to print in black & white by default, and choose colour only when needed.
- Use user codes or login to see which department prints in colour.
- Avoid dark full-page backgrounds in documents you print often.
- Ask for a separate per-page rate for black & white and colour in rental or per-copy plans.
A middle path
Many offices take a colour copier and print black & white by default. The Ricoh IM C2010 is a good example: it prints both at 20 ppm, so colour is there when you need it. See the latest Ricoh IM series and the 2026 price list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a colour photocopier more expensive to run?
Yes. Each colour page uses up to four toners, so it costs several times a black & white page. Coverage (photos, backgrounds) makes a big difference.
Can a colour copier print in black and white?
Yes. Colour copiers print black & white too, and you can set black & white as the default to save cost.
Which colour photocopier is good for an office?
For small to medium offices, the Ricoh IM C2010 (20 ppm) or IM C2510 (25 ppm) are good A3 colour options.
Should a school buy a colour or black and white copier?
Most schools print mainly black & white papers and notices, so a fast black & white copier is usually better value. Add colour only if you print colour material regularly.
Can I rent a colour photocopier?
Ask us for availability. Our rentals are on refurbished machines, and we quote colour and black & white page rates separately.
