Skip to main contentClick to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions.

Street signs that say Inkjet and Toner

5 Things You Should Consider When Choosing Between Inkjet and Toner

Inkjet and toner presses offer unique benefits for print shops – but how do you choose between the two with so many factors to consider? Deciding which print technology is best for your shop depends on a number of things, including:

Volume

The uptime or utilisation rate of an inkjet press is generally more productive and cost effective compared to a toner-based machine; however, they require greater volumes of work in order to be economical.

Volume

Economics

Inkjet can lower your cost per page and help you maintain the right level of IQ due to lower ink coverage. It’s also a future-proof technology — the scalability of inkjet allows it to grow with your operation. Toner is generally a fixed cost regardless of ink coverage. The initial investment of a toner press may be low, but the high cost per page adds up over time. Factors such as area coverage need to be taken into account. The cost of toner is generally fixed. Inkjet is more economical for low area coverage — the more ink on the page, the higher the cost.

Money icon

Personalisation

You can achieve revenue-driving personalisation across applications with both inkjet and toner. Inkjet is capable of full-colour, industrial-level hyper-personalisation whereas toner is unable to produce the same full colour volume economically.

Icon of a notebook with a personalizable label

Applications

Inkjet is ideal for producing high-volume, variable data applications such as transactional pieces, direct mail or catalogues that standardize in paper requirements. Inkjet is also a great option for mid runs that are too costly and time consuming for toner, such as newsletters, books, publications, manuals and marketing collateral — even when coated stocks are desired. Short-run applications such as marketing collateral, high-end direct mail, or other applications that require specialty media, heavier stock and critical IQ are best suited for toner.

Book icon

Size

Although inkjet and toner presses are relatively the same size, Xerox® inkjet machines have the highest productivity per square inch, allowing you to right-size your workflow and print more jobs on one press.

Growth icon, with a chart trending up

Why choose when you can have the best of both worlds?

Unlock new levels of flexibility with a hybrid approach – Xerox® inkjet can supplement the effectiveness of your existing fleet to deliver higher-value applications that position your operation for long-term success.

Upgrade your agility and realise your workflow’s full potential by combining other print technologies with Xerox® inkjet, the ideal balance of versatility and productivity.

Infographic of an iceberg in the ocean, showing what's under the surface as well as the part above water

The Total Cost of Ownership of an Inkjet Press

Avoid hidden costs lurking below the surface.

A row of bound booklets with colorful pages

Inkjet in Action

The Total Cost of Ownership of an Inkjet Press

Related Articles

  • Iridesse print samples

    Virtual Designer Training: Xerox Adaptive CMYK+ Kit

    Use popular digital embellishment techniques in your designs with adaptive CMYK+ kits on the Xerox Versant and Xerox PrimeLink Production Press

  • Two employees at Rapidity review print samples from their Xerox Iridesse Production Press

    UK printer delivers high-value projects while lowering environmental impact

    Rapidity gains efficiency, versatility with Xerox® Iridesse® Presses

  • Interconnected colorful dots representing a diagram of an atom

    Spectrum Print Plus – The Business of Colour, Clients, and Commitment - Xerox

    “After months of rigorous evaluation, the clear winner had been right in front of us all along—it was the Iridesse!”

  • Iridesse Calendars

    Xerox® Iridesse® Presses: Empowering Clients with On-Demand Printing

    See how Xerox® Iridesse® Presses helped a client meet complex client needs with on-demand printing, exact quantities, and specialty embellishments, all while maintaining high standards.

  • Iridesse print samples

    Xerox Iridesse Virtual Designer Training

    Add popular digital Beyond CMYK embellishments to your projects when using the Xerox Iridesse Press.

  • production print documents

    Solving Print's Pain Points

    Explore the latest trends and solutions in print operations with Printweek’s special supplement, sponsored by Xerox. Gain insights into digital transformation, efficiency, and sustainability for your print business.

Share