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)
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
Printer Market Share
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

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
Source:Buyer’s Lab
Insights from Statistics | Brief Explanation |
Significant IT Involvement | Shows a considerable portion of IT time dedicated to printing issues. |
Need for Efficient Solutions | Points to the necessity for more streamlined printing management. |
Potential for Tech Advancements | Suggests exploring advanced technologies to alleviate IT workload. |
The Financial Might of the Printing Industry
Source:IBIS world
Insights from Statistics | Brief Explanation |
Economic Robustness | Indicates the printing industry’s significant market presence. |
Diverse Sector Impact | Reflects the industry’s importance across multiple sectors. |
Continued Demand for Services | Suggests enduring reliance on printing despite digitalization. |
Printing Industry’s Gradual Decline Over Five Years
Source:IBIS world
Insights from Statistics | Brief Explanation |
Industry Evolution | Demonstrates the shift towards digital alternatives. |
Adaptation Challenges | Highlights the need for the industry to evolve with technological advancements. |
Changing Consumer Preferences | Indicates a transformation in how information is consumed. |