Short answer: choose black and white if you mostly print text documents and want the lowest cost per page. Choose colour if you print proposals, marketing material or anything a client sees. Many offices use a colour machine with colour printing limited by user.
Colour vs black and white at a glance
| Colour copier | Black and white copier | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Proposals, brochures, reports, presentations | Invoices, contracts, internal documents |
| Cost per page | Higher for colour pages; black pages are usually priced like a mono machine | Lowest |
| Control | Colour can be limited per user or department | Not needed |
| Range | bizhub C-series, 25 to 75 ppm | bizhub mono range, 22 to 95 ppm |
When a colour copier makes sense
- You print anything a client or customer sees: quotes, proposals, menus, flyers.
- You would otherwise pay a print shop for short colour runs.
- You want one machine for everything rather than a mono copier plus a colour printer.
When black and white is enough
- Over 90% of what you print is text.
- You print high volumes of forms, invoices or statements.
- You want the lowest running cost and colour isn’t needed.
How to keep colour costs under control
- Set colour limits per user or department on the copier.
- Default every computer to black and white, with colour as a choice.
- Check your colour and black meter readings monthly.
Frequently asked questions
Is a colour copier more expensive to run?
Colour pages cost more than black pages. Black pages on a colour copier are usually priced like a mono machine, so the extra cost depends on how much colour you print.
Can I stop staff printing in colour?
Yes. bizhub copiers let you set colour limits or block colour per user or department.
Should I get one colour copier or separate machines?
For most offices one colour multifunction copier with colour controls is simpler and cheaper than a mono copier plus a separate colour printer.
Related: How to choose an office copier and What it costs to lease a copier.
Colour or mono: let us size it for you
Tell us what you print and we will quote the right machine, to lease or to buy.
Request a quote or call 010 591 9960.