It is the first question almost everyone asks, and the honest answer is: it depends – but not unhelpfully so. The cost of leasing a photocopier comes down to a few clear factors, and once you understand them you can size up a fair price quickly. Here are the real UK market ranges, how the pricing actually works, and what pushes your figure up or down.
One thing to say up front: the numbers below are typical market ranges to set expectations, not a Mastercopy price list. Every setup is different, so the only accurate figure is a tailored quote – but these will tell you whether a deal you are looking at is in the right ballpark.
Typical monthly lease costs
Broadly, photocopier leases fall into three bands by how much you print:
| Device type | Typical monthly lease (hardware) |
|---|---|
| Low volume (small office) | Around £20 – £55 a month |
| Mid volume (colour MFD) | Around £50 – £150 a month |
| High volume / production | Around £150 – £300+ a month |
| Most SMEs land at | Around £80 – £180 a month |
That is the hardware element. In almost every UK photocopier deal there is a second part to the cost, and it is the one people forget.
The bit people forget: cost per page
Most photocopier contracts are managed print agreements: the monthly lease covers the machine, and a separate cost-per-page charge covers toner and servicing. As a guide:
- Mono (black & white): roughly 0.4p to 1p per page
- Colour: roughly 4p to 8p per page
So a business printing 5,000 colour pages a month at around 6p would add roughly £300 in print charges on top of the lease. Your true monthly cost is therefore the lease payment plus your actual print volume multiplied by the per-page rate – which is why an honest supplier will always ask about your volumes before quoting.
What actually decides your price
Six things move the number more than anything else:
- Speed and volume. Faster machines built for higher monthly volumes cost more to lease but less per page – and vice versa.
- Colour or mono. Colour capability raises both the lease and the per-page cost. If most of your work is mono, you may not need to pay for colour everywhere.
- A3 as well as A4. True A3 devices cost more than A4-only machines. Only pay for A3 if you genuinely produce it.
- Finishing. Stapling, hole-punch, booklet-making and large paper trays all add to the price.
- Lease term. Longer terms usually mean lower monthly payments, but tie you in for longer – balance the two.
- Service level. Response times, on-site support and toner delivery are part of the cost, and the cheapest cover is not always the best value.
Lease or buy?
For most businesses, leasing works out better value over the life of the device than buying outright: no large upfront outlay, predictable payments, and toner, servicing and support bundled in rather than arriving as surprise bills. Buying can suit organisations that want to own the asset and have low, steady volumes – but they then carry the repair risk themselves. We compare the options in full in lease, rent or buy a copier in 2026.
Watch the small print, not just the headline rate
A cheap-looking monthly figure can hide the real cost. Before you sign anything, look for automatic renewals, minimum-volume commitments, steep excess-page charges and end-of-lease or collection fees. Our guide to avoiding hidden printer contract costs walks through exactly where these tend to lurk. The headline rate is rarely where a deal goes wrong – the terms are.
The only way to get an accurate figure
Ranges are useful for a sanity check, but your real cost depends on the exact device and your real print volumes – and the quickest way to pin those down is a short, no-obligation conversation or a free print audit. We will look at what you actually print, recommend the right machine rather than the most expensive one, and give you a clear, all-in monthly figure with no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to lease a photocopier in the UK?
As a rough guide, a low-volume office device typically leases from around £20 to £55 a month, a mid-volume colour multifunction device from around £50 to £150, and a high-volume or production machine from around £150 to £300 or more. Most SMEs land between £80 and £180 a month for the hardware, plus a service charge based on what you print. These are typical market ranges – ask for a tailored quote for your exact figure.
What is cost per page, and how much is it?
Most UK photocopier deals are managed print agreements, where the lease covers the hardware and a separate cost-per-page charge covers toner and servicing. Mono pages are usually around 0.4p to 1p each and colour pages around 4p to 8p. Your total monthly cost is the lease payment plus your print volume multiplied by the per-page rate.
What affects the cost of leasing a photocopier?
Print speed and monthly volume, colour versus mono, whether you need A3, finishing options such as stapling, the length of the lease term, and the level of service included. Matching the machine to your real usage is where money is saved or wasted.
Is it cheaper to lease or buy a photocopier?
For most businesses a lease or managed agreement is better value over the life of the device than buying outright – no large upfront cost, predictable payments, and servicing included. Buying can suit organisations that want to own the asset and have low, stable volumes, but they carry the repair risk themselves.
Are there hidden costs in a photocopier lease?
There can be, which is why the small print matters. Watch for automatic renewals, minimum-volume commitments, steep excess-page charges and end-of-lease or collection fees. A reputable supplier sets these out clearly.
Get a straight, no-obligation quote
Mastercopy has been leasing and supporting photocopiers for businesses across Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees and the wider North East for over 30 years, and we will give you an honest figure based on what you actually need – not the most expensive machine on the shelf.
For a tailored photocopier lease quote, call the Mastercopy team on 01642 750404 or email sales@mastercopy.co.uk.