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You may be inclined to turn off your printer after you've used it. Our lab experts recommend that you leave it turned on instead—it could save you some money.
The reason: Most printers activate a low-power timeout mode when you haven't used it for a while. In fact, most printer models we've tested in the past five years use only a tiny amount of power in this idle mode.
We've also found that some inkjet printers waste more ink getting ready to print when you switch them on than when they're left in standby mode between uses.
Our printer Ratings include a power-savings score that indicates which printers are most effective in this mode. Among the best in this regard are the HP Photosmart 7520, Canon Pixma MG3220, and Samsung SCX-3405FW (the latter two are CR Best Buys, too). Others don't fare so well, including the Epson Workforce 845 and Epson Workforce WF-7510—each was rated only fair for power saving.
To find the right printer for your needs and budget, check out our, check out our printer Ratings and buying guide. Our buying guide also suggests ways to improve your printer's power and ink consumption; see the shopping-tips section.
