Print Cost Calculator — Cost Per Print Analysis

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.

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.

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.