SuperTool buying guide · November 11, 2026 · U.S. prices

HP DeskJet vs. Brother Laser: When Ink Costs More Than a Printer

At just 50 black-text pages a month, five years of replacement HP 67XL black cartridges can cost about $431–$467. A Brother HL-L2460DW’s entire modeled five-year budget is about $339—including the printer.

That is the comparison a low printer price hides. The familiar HP DeskJet 2855e is our small-cartridge example: HP rates its compatible 67XL black cartridge at approximately 240 pages, while Brother’s TN830XL is rated for 3,000. HP now marks the 2855e discontinued, so this is an ownership case study, not a recommendation to buy remaining stock. [HP specifications and status]

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Amazon links below are affiliate links. SuperTool also operates the PDF and printing services mentioned here. These are calculations from published inputs, not hands-on printer tests or live Amazon prices.

The replacement cartridge tells the story

Our retail price inputs give HP 67XL a black-ink cost of 14.95¢ per rated page, compared with 3.28¢ for the smaller Brother. That is about 78% less for replacement black marking material. It is not a claim of 78% lower total ownership cost.

HP cartridge price: Best Buy’s $35.89 listing, also shown by Staples. Other inputs, yield methods and primary sources are in our full report’s methods. These are supply-only ratios, excluding equipment, drums, cleaning, paper and unused capacity.

Even light use adds up

Fifty pages a month produces 3,000 pages over five years, within HP’s recommended 50–100 monthly pages for this model. Crediting 0–120 starting black pages as a planning range means buying 12–13 replacement 67XL cartridges: $430.68–$466.57. Actual setup-cartridge yield was not measured; this range illustrates that uncertainty.

Brother’s 700-page starter plus one 3,000-page TN830XL covers the same workload at rated yields. Add the $179.99 printer, $98.29 toner, $36 paper and $25 electricity allowance: $339.28. The HP refill figure excludes its printer, color ink, paper and electricity. We give HP no extra expense for those items in this comparison.

For the complete comparison at 50, 200 and 500 pages per month—including tank ink, drums, maintenance allowances, owner reviews and longevity limits—read Stop Paying So Much for Ink: The Best Low-Cost Printers Over Five Years.

What about HP Instant Ink?

Subscriptions change the calculation. HP’s current U.S. 50-page monthly plan is $5.99, or $359.40 over 60 months at an unchanged rate. Its 600-page annual plan is $63.99, or $319.95 over five years. Those fees precede trial promotions, hardware, paper and tax; color pages are part of the plan’s value. Eligibility and terms matter. [HP’s current plans]

These options can cost less than repeated retail cartridges. Compare your real plan, unused allowance, internet requirements and cancellation terms. If you already own a working HP, compare future spending from today before buying another machine.

Choose a printing system, then a brand

The DeskJet has practical appeal: its retrieved Best Buy snapshot showed 4.1/5 from 796 reviews, with favorable themes around everyday output and ease of use. An inexpensive, useful machine can still have expensive refills. This result applies to the named supplies and workload; HP also sells refillable Smart Tank printers. [Owner-review snapshot]

• Occasional black-and-white documents: consider the Brother HL-L2460DW on Amazon (affiliate link). It has automatic duplexing, but no color or scanner.
• Regular printing with color: consider the Canon G3270 on Amazon (affiliate link), or the Epson option in the full report when automatic duplexing matters.
• Keep your existing printer economical: preview a lighter PDF with PrintLight. For occasional batches, compare a complete HardCopy print-and-delivery quote. For an immediate shortage, see printing without black ink; printer lockouts may prevent that workaround.

Work with the printer you already have: browse our printing and ink-saving tools to lighten PDFs, fix faint text, change colors, prepare pages or get copies delivered.

Before buying, price the next cartridge and divide by its yield. Then calculate your own five-year bill. The best bargain is the printing system that stays affordable after the starter ink runs out.

Research snapshot: November 11, 2026, U.S. dollars. Published yields are not photo yields or guaranteed real-world output. The Brother budget assumes one serviceable machine for five years and excludes tax, shipping, labor and unexpected repairs. Prices and subscription plans may change. Owner reviews can include incentives and short ownership periods. See the linked full report for exact assumptions and sensitivity analysis.