How Much Does a Photocopier Cost? Our Guide

Businesses can choose from a huge range of photocopiers, with a huge price range to match. Basic photocopiers can… well, photocopy, and that’s pretty much it. You could pick one of these up for around £100. Then you have machines that can print hundreds of pages a minute, bind documents automatically, wash your tea mug… okay, that last one is not strictly true (yet). They’re significantly more expensive, but will add a lot of value to the right business.

It all boils down to this: what do you need, and how much could you, and indeed should you, pay for your photocopier? Read on to find out, or simply fill in this short form now to request quotes tailored to your business needs.

How much do photocopiers cost?

You can get a cheap, basic photocopier for as little as £100. These models will be suitable for very small businesses and home offices. The most demanding office environments will need an industrial photocopier will could cost upwards of £20,000.

Here’s an overview of how much you can expect to pay for different types of photocopiers, from the most basic through to the most advanced:

Photocopier cost summary
Type of photocopierBest forCost
Cheap photocopierHome offices, microbusinesses or small businesses with low copying volumes£100 – £150
Basic free-standing mono photocopierSmall businesses which copy frequently£800 – £1,000
Colour photocopierSmall to medium businesses that need colour copies£2,500 – £4,500
High performance photocopiersLarge businesses with high copying volumes£5,000 – £10,000
Industrial photocopiersBusinesses with very high copying needs£20,000+

You can buy a second hand photocopier for around half the retail price, depending on its age and condition. Bear in mind that a photocopier typically only lasts for five to ten years – that’s why many businesses opt to lease a photocopier instead. We’ll look at the pros and cons of this later on.

Prices accurate as of last update.

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What kind of photocopier do you need?

Here are some of the tasks that modern photocopiers can perform:

  • Scanning
  • Automatic binding
  • Image editing
  • Faxing
  • Emailing

Keep in mind which of these tasks you want your machine to carry out. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. It certainly doesn’t make sense to fork out for features you won’t use.

You should also ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you need black and white (mono) or colour printing?
  • How fast do you need your machine to print (copies per minute)?
  • How many copies will you printer per month?
  • What size and type of paper will you need to print on?

Again, machines that need to do more will cost more. It's as simple as that.


Additional photocopier costs

When you’re buying a photocopier, remember there are more costs to account for than just the price of the machine itself. Toner, maintenance, extra software… it can all add up.

Here’s how much you can expect to pay in additional costs for a mid-range photocopier:

ItemFrequencyCost
Full toner cartridgeAnnual£174
Staple refillAnnual£50
Drum cartridge replacementEvery two or three years£350
Scan to PC license for five usersMonthly£10

This doesn’t include any ad-hoc maintenance that may be required during the photocopier’s lifespan.

Prices accurate as of last update.

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Buying v leasing a photocopier

Many businesses don’t even realise that leasing a photocopier is an option. But could you benefit from this solution?

You should consider renting a photocopier if:

  • Purchasing a photocopier isn’t within your current company budget
  • Your company budget only covers the cost of a basic machine
  • You want to test out how much use the machine gets before investing
  • You want temporary use of complex features
  • You have a busy period or event coming up

Small, low-density machines start at around £25 a month. The highest-density machines can cost several hundred pounds a month. One of the key advantages of leasing a copier is that generally maintenance and toner costs are included in your monthly charge, which will take a load off your mind.

You can also used managed print services to outsource your printing installation, maintenance and stock level management to a third party printing company.

Check out our photocopier rental guide for more info, or simply fill in this short form to receive your rental quotes now.


Next steps

Whether you choose to lease or buy a photocopier, it’s an investment that definitely warrants research before committing. Fortunately, we’re a few steps ahead.

Fill in this quick form to receive quotes from trusted photocopier suppliers. When we say it’s quick, we mean it – you’ll have it finished in under 30 seconds. Request quotes for purchasing outright, leasing, or both if you’re unsure. There’s no obligation, and it could help save you a lot of money and hassle in very few minutes. What are you waiting for?

Written by:
Dan’s a Senior Writer at Expert Market, specialising in digital marketing, web design, and photocopiers, amongst other topics.