A home inkjet uses only about 10-30 watts while printing (Epson lists 12 W for an EcoTank ET-2800). A laser printer is very different: around 500 W while printing, with brief higher spikes as the fuser heats. Both idle at about 5 W.
- Running watts
- 15 WTypical; 10–600 W across models
- Starting watts
- NoneNo motor surge
- Per day
- 0.13 kWh24 h of use
- Current
- 0.1 AAt 120 V while running
Figures checked against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer data on . Your model's label is the final word.
Watts by model and setting
Most printer models draw between 10 and 600 W while running; a typical one draws about 15 W. Mostly ready/standby: about 5 W x 24 h = 0.12 kWh, plus a few minutes of printing. Sleep (0.5-1.2 W) cuts this sharply.
- Inkjet vs laser: laser fusers heat toner with a high-wattage heater
- Warm-up: laser printers draw the most in the first seconds of a job or wake-up
- Print speed and duty: larger office lasers draw more
- Sleep and auto-off settings control idle use (HP lists 0.5 W sleep on its LaserJet Pro 4001dn)
Running a printer on a generator or power station
- Generator: at least 15 running watts. A generator rated 1,000 W or more covers it with room to spare.
- Power station: continuous output of at least 15 W. Pure sine wave output is the safe choice for motors and electronics.
| Power station capacity | Estimated runtime |
|---|---|
| 500 Wh | 28.3 h |
| 1,000 Wh | 56.7 h |
| 2,000 Wh | 113.3 h |
| 3,000 Wh | 170 h |
Based on 15 W average draw and 85% usable capacity.
- An inkjet is an easy load for any power station
- Laser printers need a large inverter: HP lists 495 W while printing, and warm-up spikes run higher, so small power stations and UPS units can trip or shut off
- Printer makers generally advise against plugging laser printers into a UPS's battery-backed outlets; use the surge-only outlets
- Skip printing during outages unless it's essential; it's a poor use of limited battery
Add it to the generator calculator
Questions people ask
Why does my laser printer flicker the lights?
Its fuser heater switches on hard when warming up, causing a brief high current draw that can dim lights on the same circuit.
Can I run a laser printer on a portable power station?
Only a larger one, typically 1,000 W+ continuous output, pure sine wave, with headroom for warm-up spikes.