Understanding Blended Cost Per Page: The Key to Smart Printing Decisions

The Importance of Blended Cost in Printing

Instead of focusing solely on the total cost of printing, many buyers break down quotes into individual components. They look at machine price, monthly lease, cost per page, or toner costs. However, evaluating each component in isolation can be misleading.

The problem? Those numbers alone don't tell the full story.

A Common Scenario

Consider this common scenario: One vendor offers a printer for $50/month, while another charges $70/month. At first glance, the cheaper option seems like the obvious choice. But the lease payment is only one piece of the puzzle.

The metric that truly matters is the blended cost per page.

What is Blended Cost Per Page?

Blended cost is the most effective way to evaluate a print agreement. It captures the entire cost structure—hardware, service, and supplies—into a single, comparable number. This approach gives you a clearer picture of your printing expenses.

Here’s how to calculate it (assuming service is included):

• Lease model: (Monthly Lease Cost + Total Monthly Click Charges) ÷ Total Monthly Pages

• Purchase model: ((Purchase Price ÷ Service Cycle) + Total Monthly Supply Costs) ÷ Total Monthly Pages

  
  

Real-World Example

Let’s apply this to a real-world example. Imagine an office prints 5,000 pages a month, with 80% black and 20% color.

• Lease Cost: $68/month

• Black Cost: 2.5¢/print

• Color Cost: 10¢/print

  
  

Calculating the costs:

• Black Printing: 4,000 pages x $0.025 = $100

• Color Printing: 1,000 pages x $0.100 = $100

• Lease: $68

  
  

Total monthly cost: $268

Now, let’s find the blended cost:

Blended Cost: 5.4¢ per page

($268 ÷ 5,000 pages)

Now you have a single, meaningful number to compare.

What to Expect in SMB Environments

Across most small to medium-sized business environments, here’s what you can expect:

• A good Monochrome Deal: ~3 to 5¢ blended cost per page, depending on volume.

• A good Mixed Color Deal: ~5 to 10¢ blended cost per page, depending on volume.

  
  

If your blended cost is higher than these ranges, it often indicates inefficiencies. This could be due to oversized equipment, inflated supply costs, or an unnecessarily expensive service model.

The Advantage of Blended Cost Evaluation

The advantage of using the blended cost per print deal evaluation method is simple: it cuts through the noise. Vendors can structure pricing in various ways, but this metric reveals the true cost.

At the end of the day, the printer itself isn’t the investment. The real investment is every page your organization prints. The blended cost tells you exactly what those pages are worth.

Conclusion

Understanding blended cost per page is crucial for making informed printing decisions. It simplifies the evaluation process and helps you identify the best options for your needs. By focusing on this metric, you can ensure that your printing costs remain manageable and efficient.

If you want to learn more about optimizing your printing strategy, feel free to reach out. I'm here to help you navigate the complexities of printing and find the best solutions for your organization.