Blog

The first consideration is the frequency of use and the types of projects your business typically prints. Many people ask, “How much does it cost to lease a plotter?,” but it’s better to know your budget before you go shopping. If you only need to print occasional large-format projects, then leasing might be the best option. Leasing also allows smaller companies with limited budgets to afford a plotter printer.

But while the monthly payments may make leasing a plotter printer more attractive than a large lump sum, buying the printer outright may offer more advantages.

Though there is a substantial upfront cost for purchasing a printer, repairs are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. There may also be an option to extend this warranty for additional protection. Since service is done by the printer's manufacturer, it's more reliable and easier to obtain. This means there won't be concerns about unexpected repair bills and the possibility of prolonged printer downtime. In many cases, the manufacturer may ship a new printer to replace the defective one.

Purchasing the printer also allows you to choose the model and brand that best suits your needs. An added plus is that you aren't locked into a multi-year contract with a printer that can quickly become obsolete.

Leasing a large format printer, such as a plotter, depends on several factors. These include the lease duration and terms, as well as the plotter's technical specifications and features.

The term is a major part of the plotter lease cost. A shorter lease will generally be more expensive per month than longer terms. This is so the leasing company recoups the cost of the printer in the reduced time frame. Shorter leases may also have higher early termination fees. As a result, it's usually more expensive to lease a printer for a shorter period of time.

The plotter lease cost also depends on the plotter's technical specifications and features. For example, plotters that handle a greater variety of media formats and have advanced features such as additional memory, faster printing speed, and multifunction capabilities will carry a higher monthly lease price tag.

With the above factors in mind, leasing a plotter printer can range from ₹3508.11 ($42.54) per month for an HP DesignJet T650 to several times that cost for an HP DesignJet XL 3600DR.

A Closer Look at the Numbers To compare the cost of leasing to buying a plotter printer, consider the following scenario.

If you were to buy the HP DesignJet T650 in today’s marketplace, you would incur a one-time cost of ₹159169. However, with a 48-month equipment lease, the same printer would cost at least ₹168389.28.

While this difference may not seem like much, keep in mind that a lease carries usage restrictions. Going over these restrictions will result in added charges. There may also be additional fees for maintenance and support. You're also locked into a lease contract for at least two years with no option to upgrade your equipment.

Calculating your printing costs can help you decide whether leasing or purchasing the plotter is the best choice. If your business typically prints high-volume jobs and utilises the printer for office copier functions, you may require a costlier lease with a higher monthly volume allowance. The frequency of ink cartridge replacement and the type of stock needed also affect your costs.

Final Thoughts on Whether to Buy or Lease a Plotter Printer

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when deciding to lease or buy plotter printers. Additionally, having the printing function managed by a service provider offers businesses yet another option.

However, taking the discussed factors into consideration, purchasing a plotter printer clearly offers several advantages over leasing. This is most evident in the total cost of the printer as, over time, the plotter lease costs are more in the long run.

Carefully weighing the pros and cons of each approach is the best way to determine which will work better for your business. Our team can assist you in selecting the right equipment for your company's printing needs. Contact us today to learn more about our innovative printing solutions.

Learn how you can achieve better efficiency for your business and make the right considerations when investing in a large format printer plotter.