What Is Cost Per Copy?

Cost Per Copy (CPC)—sometimes called Cost Per Page or Click Charge—is the amount you pay for each page printed or copied. It covers toner, maintenance, and parts.

CPC is separate from your lease payment. A £60/month lease plus 0.5p mono CPC and 4p colour CPC means your total monthly bill depends on how much you print.

Understanding CPC rates is crucial because small differences compound dramatically over a contract term.

2026 UK Average CPC Rates

Based on analysis of pricing from 1,000+ suppliers across the UK:

A4 Mono (Black & White)

| Tier | Rate | Who Pays This |

|------|------|---------------|

| Competitive | 0.3p-0.4p | High-volume contracts, good negotiators |

| Average | 0.5p-0.6p | Most SME contracts |

| High | 0.7p-1.0p | Low-volume contracts, poor deals |

A4 Colour

| Tier | Rate | Who Pays This |

|------|------|---------------|

| Competitive | 2.5p-3.2p | High-volume contracts, good negotiators |

| Average | 3.5p-4.5p | Most SME contracts |

| High | 5p-7p | Low-volume contracts, poor deals |

A3 Rates

A3 pages are typically charged at 2× the A4 rate. So 0.5p A4 mono = 1p A3 mono.

What Affects Your CPC Rate?

1. Monthly Volume

Higher volumes = lower rates. A business printing 20,000 pages/month gets better rates than one printing 2,000.

| Monthly Volume | Typical Mono CPC |

|----------------|------------------|

| Under 2,000 | 0.7p-1.0p |

| 2,000-5,000 | 0.5p-0.7p |

| 5,000-10,000 | 0.4p-0.6p |

| 10,000-20,000 | 0.35p-0.5p |

| Over 20,000 | 0.3p-0.4p |

2. Colour Ratio

If you print mostly colour, suppliers may lower colour CPC but increase mono rates (or vice versa). Check your actual print mix.

3. Machine Type

Higher-end machines often come with lower CPC rates because they're more efficient and reliable.

4. Contract Length

Longer contracts (5 years vs 3 years) usually get better CPC rates. But you're locked in longer.

5. Negotiation

CPC rates have more margin than lease payments. Suppliers expect negotiation. Don't accept first-quoted rates.

The Real Cost Impact

Let's see how CPC differences affect total cost for a business printing 8,000 pages/month (50% mono, 50% colour):

Scenario A: Good Rates

Mono: 4,000 × 0.4p = £16
Colour: 4,000 × 3.2p = £128
Monthly CPC: £144
Annual: £1,728

Scenario B: Average Rates

Mono: 4,000 × 0.6p = £24
Colour: 4,000 × 4.5p = £180
Monthly CPC: £204
Annual: £2,448

Scenario C: Poor Rates

Mono: 4,000 × 0.8p = £32
Colour: 4,000 × 5.5p = £220
Monthly CPC: £252
Annual: £3,024

Difference between good and poor: £1,296/year or £6,480 over 5 years.

That's enough to lease a second machine.

Red Flags in CPC Contracts

Minimum Volume Charges

"Minimum 5,000 pages/month at quoted CPC rate." If you print less, you pay for 5,000 anyway. Fine if you consistently hit the minimum; expensive if you don't.

Excess Rates

What happens if you exceed your allowance? Some contracts charge 50-100% more per page over the limit. Get this in writing.

Colour Definition

Is "colour" any page with any colour, or only pages that are predominantly colour? A page with a small logo might be charged as colour. Check the terms.

Excluded Items

Some contracts exclude staples, waste containers, or drum units. These "extras" add up.

Annual Increases

Many contracts allow CPC increases tied to inflation. A 3% annual increase on 4p colour becomes 4.64p by year 5.

How to Negotiate Better CPC Rates

Know your actual volumes. Check your current machine's page counter. Accurate data = leverage.

Get multiple quotes. The biggest leverage is a competitive offer from another supplier.

Focus on total cost. Some suppliers quote low lease + high CPC. Calculate total cost of ownership.

Lock rates for the contract term. Avoid annual increase clauses if possible.

Ask about volume breaks. "If we grow to 15,000 pages/month, does CPC drop?"

Negotiate at renewal. Suppliers are most flexible when you can walk away.

Benchmarking Your Current Contract

If you have an existing copier contract, check your invoices for CPC rates. Compare against our averages:

| Your Rate | vs Average | Action |

|-----------|------------|--------|

| Below average | Good deal | Keep it, negotiate same at renewal |

| Average | Acceptable | Room for improvement at renewal |

| Above average | Overpaying | Get competitive quotes now |

Even mid-contract, knowing you're overpaying helps you plan for renewal and avoid auto-renewal traps.

Get Competitive CPC Quotes

Want to see what suppliers in your area are charging? Our free quote comparison shows CPC rates alongside lease costs—so you can compare total cost of ownership.

Compare CPC rates from local suppliers →

Average Cost Per Copy Rates in the UK 2026