Is home printing cheaper than lab printing?

For small prints (6x4, 7x5), lab printing is almost always cheaper. For A4 and larger, home printing becomes competitive if you print regularly. Fine art papers tip the balance towards home printing because lab fine art printing is very expensive.

What ink coverage should I use?

Average photographic images use 15-25% ink coverage. High-key images (lots of white/light tones) use less (10-15%). Dark, saturated images can use 30-40%. Landscape and portrait work typically averages 20%.

Dye inks are cheaper and produce vivid colours but fade faster (3-10 years). Pigment inks cost more but last 50-200 years and resist water. For selling prints, always use pigment inks. For personal snapshots, dye is fine.

How many waste prints should I expect?

Allow 1-2 waste prints per session for test prints and colour calibration. With a well-calibrated monitor and printer, you may need fewer. Fine art papers are less forgiving, so allow more waste for those.

PhotoCalcs

Print Cost Calculator \u2014 Cost Per Print Analysis

Calculate the true cost per print including paper, ink and comparison with lab printing.

Print Size

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Paper Type

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Ink Type

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Prints Per Session

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How We Calculate This

Paper cost is based on the sheet size and paper type at typical UK retail prices.

Ink cost = print area × ink coverage × 0.01 ml/cm² × ink price per ml

Break-even calculates how many prints you need to make before the cost of a printer (~£300) is offset by savings vs lab printing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard optical and photographic formulas. Results may vary with specific equipment.