Is It Okay to Leave Printer On All the Time
Should you turn your printer off when not in use, or leave it on 24/7? The answer depends on what type of printer you have.
What's Happening
You're trying to decide whether to turn your printer off every night or just leave it on all the time. Maybe you're worried about electricity costs, or perhaps you're concerned that constant power cycling might wear it out faster. The truth is there's no universal answer—the best choice depends on whether you have an inkjet or laser printer, how often you print, and what you value more: slightly lower energy bills or convenience and print head health.
Quick Checks (Do These First)
- Identify your printer type - Inkjet and laser printers have different considerations for power management.
- Check your print frequency - Do you print daily, weekly, or just occasionally?
- Review energy costs - Most printers in standby cost under $3 per year in electricity.
- Look for sleep mode settings - Most modern printers have energy-saving modes that are better than turning off completely.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Fix 1: Use Sleep Mode Instead of Powering Off (Best for Most Users)
Sleep mode gives you the best of both worlds: energy savings and convenience.
- Access your printer's settings through its control panel or web interface
- Find "Energy Saver," "Sleep Mode," or "Power Management" settings
- Set the printer to enter sleep mode after 15-30 minutes of inactivity
- In sleep mode, printers use only 3-5 watts compared to 40-50 watts when active
- Sleep mode costs about $2.50 per year versus $0.85 per year fully off
- The difference is less than $2 annually—negligible for most users
Sleep mode allows instant printing when needed while consuming minimal power when idle.
Fix 2: For Inkjet Printers - Leave On or Use Sleep Mode
Inkjet printers benefit from staying powered on to maintain print head health.
- Keeping inkjet printers on allows them to run automatic maintenance cycles
- These cycles prevent print heads from drying out and clogging
- Each time you power on an inkjet, it runs a cleaning cycle that consumes 20-30% of a cartridge
- Frequent power cycling wastes more ink than leaving the printer in sleep mode
- If you print at least once per week, definitely use sleep mode rather than turning off
- Only turn off inkjets if you won't use them for extended periods (2+ weeks)
Dried print heads can cost $50-150 to replace, far more than the energy savings from turning off the printer.
Fix 3: For Laser Printers - Flexibility Either Way
Laser printers are more tolerant of being turned off, but sleep mode is still better.
- Laser printers don't have print heads that dry out, so turning off is safer than with inkjets
- However, the fuser heats up every time the printer starts, creating wear on this component
- Frequent power cycling may slightly shorten fuser lifespan over years
- If you print multiple times daily, use sleep mode
- If you print just once or twice per week, turning off is fine
- Use manufacturer-recommended settings for best results
Laser printers are generally more durable with power cycling than inkjets, but sleep mode is still optimal.
Fix 4: Calculate Your Actual Energy Cost
Make an informed decision based on real numbers, not guesses.
- Find your printer's power consumption in its specifications (usually 40-50W active, 3-5W sleep)
- Calculate annual costs: Watts Ă— Hours per Year Ă· 1000 Ă— Your Electric Rate
- Example: 5W Ă— 8760 hours Ă· 1000 Ă— $0.12/kWh = $5.26 per year
- Turned completely off: 1W Ă— 8760 hours Ă· 1000 Ă— $0.12/kWh = $1.05 per year
- Savings of about $4 per year isn't worth the inconvenience or print head risks
For most users, the minimal cost difference makes sleep mode the obvious choice.
If Nothing Worked
If your printer doesn't seem to have a proper sleep mode, check for firmware updates that might add or improve this feature. Some older printers have very limited power management options. If energy cost is a significant concern in a business setting with dozens of printers, consider upgrading to Energy Star certified models that have more sophisticated power management. Also investigate whether your printer's "off" mode is truly off—some printers still draw phantom power even when switched off at the power button.
When to Call a Pro
You typically won't need professional help for this decision, but if you're managing a fleet of printers in a business environment and want to optimize both energy costs and maintenance schedules, an IT professional can help develop policies that balance all factors. They can also configure networked printers with scheduled sleep and wake times that match your business hours, potentially saving more energy than simple always-on or always-off approaches.
Need Professional Help?
If you're in the Tampa Bay area and need hands-on assistance, Geeks in Sneaks provides friendly, on-site tech support in Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, and Dunedin.
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