Office Printing Statistics: Industry, Cost & More [2023]

Office printing, an often overlooked aspect of business operations, presents a striking combination of usage statistics and economic implications. The average American office worker goes through an astonishing 10,000 sheets of paper each year, illustrating a heavy reliance on printed documents.

Compounding this, the cost of printing is projected to rise by 30%, signaling a significant shift in the economic burden of office operations. A 12% increase in printer and copier sales in 2020, totaling 107 million units, further supports this trend.

Let me share the most crucial office printing statistics, which include the printing industry, the cost of office printing, and more. These statistics not only reflect the entrenched role of printing in business environments but also highlight the escalating costs and environmental considerations of this practice. 🖨️💸🌿

Office Printing Statistics: The Key Data

The average American office worker uses 10,000 sheets of office paper per year.
US offices use 12.1 trillion sheets of paper every year.
Printing costs can account for up to 3% of total company expenses.
Printing costs are typically underestimated by 30-40% by businesses.
The printing habits of the average employee cost a company $725 per year per employee.
90% of businesses have no idea how much they spend on printing.
23% of help desk calls are printer-related.
45% of the paper printed in an office ends up in the trash.

Sources: (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Georgia State University, Gartner, Webinar Care, LinkedIn, Buyer’s Lab, Marconet, Record Nations)

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Shocking Statistics About Printing Cost

Printing costs can account for up to 3% of a company’s total expenses.
Employee printing habits cost a company $725 per year per employee on average.
According to Buyer’s Lab, 90% of businesses do not track their printing costs.
IT departments spend 15% of their time on printing issues.
Printer-related help-desk calls account for 23% of all calls and account for 15% of all help-desk time.

Sources: (Gartner, LinkedIn, Buyer’s Lab, Marconet)

Printing Industry Statistics

The printing industry’s market size, as measured by revenue, was $87.4 billion in 2022.
The printing sector experienced an average annual decline of 2.3% from 2017 to 2022.

Sources: IBIS world

Hewlett Packard (HP) had a 24.5% share of global printer shipments in March 2021. Canon had a 17.7% share.

Other printer market shares

Brother: 10.7%
Epson: 9.9%
Kyocera: 7.8%
NEC: 5.6%
Ricoh: 3.6%
Lexmark: 3.12%

American Office Workers’ Surprising Paper Consumption

Source: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Insights from Statistics	Brief Explanation
High Dependence on Paper	Indicates traditional, paper-intensive work processes.
Digital Transformation Opportunity	Suggests potential for increased digital documentation.
Resource Management Focus	Highlights the need for efficient paper usage and recycling.

US Offices’ Staggering Annual Paper Usage Revealed

Source:Georgia State University

Insights from Statistics	Brief Explanation
Massive Paper Consumption	Reflects extensive use of paper in business operations.
Sustainability Challenges	Highlights the environmental impact of high paper usage.
Shift Towards Digitalization	Emphasizes the need for embracing digital alternatives.

Hidden Burden: Printing Costs Denting Company Finances

Printing costs can account for up to 3% of total company expenses.

Source:Gartner

Insights from Statistics	Brief Explanation
Significant Printing Expenses	Indicates a major financial outlay in company budgets.
Cost Optimization Potential	Suggests opportunities for reducing printing costs.
Reassessment of Resources	Implies a need for efficient use of printing resources.

Underestimated Printing Costs Strain Business Budgets

Source:Webinar Care

Insights from Statistics	Brief Explanation
Common Financial Oversight	Reveals frequent underestimation in budgeting.
Need for Accurate Monitoring	Stresses the importance of precise expense tracking.
Enhanced Cost Management	Indicates potential for improved financial controls.

Employee Printing Habits: A Costly Office Trend

Source:LinkedIn

Insights from Statistics	Brief Explanation
Individual Impact on Expenses	Shows significant cost per employee due to printing.
Importance of Habit Optimization	Underscores the need to refine individual printing practices.
Economic Efficiency	Highlights potential savings through better printing management.

Widespread Ignorance of Printing Costs in Companies

Source:Buyer’s Lab

Insights from Statistics	Brief Explanation
Widespread Financial Blind Spot	Indicates a common lack of expense tracking in printing.
Need for Improved Oversight	Highlights the necessity for better financial monitoring systems.
Resource Management Inefficiency	Suggests a broader issue in managing company resources.

Printer Issues: A Significant Chunk of Help Desk Calls

Source:Marconet

Insights from Statistics	Brief Explanation
Prevalence of Printer Issues	Signifies a high volume of printer-related support needs.
IT Resource Allocation	Suggests considerable IT support dedicated to printer problems.
Need for Better Management	Indicates a demand for improved printer maintenance strategies.

Office Printing Inefficiency: Half Wasted

Source:Record Nations

Insights from Statistics	Brief Explanation
High Resource Wastage	Indicates significant inefficiency in paper usage.
Need for Conscious Printing	Suggests a necessity for more thoughtful printing practices.
Document Management Improvement	Highlights the importance of better document handling.

IT’s Printing Problem: A Time-Consuming Task