When is the best time to buy printers?🖨️

When Is the Best Time to Buy a Printer? Strategic Timing for Maximum Savings

Get the inside scoop on printer sales cycles and save up to 40% with our data-driven buying guide

Timing is everything when shopping for a printer. Whether you're equipping a home office, replacing an aging device, or setting up for a small business, strategic timing can save you hundreds of dollars on your purchase. I've analyzed years of pricing data, sales patterns, and product release cycles to bring you this comprehensive guide on exactly when to buy a printer for maximum savings.

The global printer market, valued at $52.13 billion in 2023, follows predictable seasonal patterns that savvy shoppers can leverage. From jaw-dropping Black Friday discounts to subtle mid-year price drops, understanding these cycles gives you a significant advantage. Let's dive into the data and uncover the perfect time to upgrade your printing setup.

🗓️ The Best Months to Buy a Printer

Our analysis reveals clear patterns in printer pricing throughout the year. Some months consistently offer better deals than others:

Month	Average Discount	Sale Frequency	Key Sales Events	Should You Buy?
November	27.2% - 39.5%	Very High	Black Friday, Cyber Monday	Absolutely! Best month of the year
December	20.9% - 28.4%	High	Holiday sales, End of Year clearance	Yes - Great alternatives to November
July	20.4% - 28.8%	High	Amazon Prime Day, Early Back-to-School	Yes - Mid-year sweet spot
September	15.9% - 23.6%	High	Labor Day, Fall sales kick-off	Yes - Good deals as new models arrive
January	22.1% - 30.9%	Medium	Post-holiday clearance, New Year sales	Worth considering for inventory clearing
February	8.5% - 13.9%	Low	Presidents' Day sales	Only if you need one immediately
April	12.1% - 20.3%	Medium	Easter sales	Better to wait if possible
October	13.3% - 18.9%	Medium	Early holiday sales, Halloween	Wait for November if possible

The data clearly shows November as the champion month, with discounts reaching an impressive 27.2% - 39.5% off MSRP during Black Friday and Cyber Monday events. December, July, and September form the second tier of opportunities, each offering compelling reasons to purchase.

Here's how printer deals fluctuate throughout the year:

🔥 The Big Three Sale Events for Printers

While there are several sales events throughout the year, three stand out as the absolute best times to purchase a printer:

1. Black Friday & Cyber Monday (Late November)

Average Discount Range: 27.2% - 39.1% off MSRP

Black Friday remains the undisputed champion for printer deals. All major retailers and manufacturers participate, offering the year's deepest discounts. What makes this period particularly valuable is that even premium models from top brands receive substantial markdowns.

Insider tip: While doorbusters get the headlines, many of the best printer deals actually appear online 2-3 days before Black Friday and continue through Cyber Monday.

2. Amazon Prime Day & July Sales (Mid-July)

Average Discount Range: 22.2% - 28.9% off MSRP

Prime Day has evolved from an Amazon-exclusive event to an industry-wide sales period, with competitors matching prices. July represents a mid-year sweet spot when retailers clear inventory before back-to-school season. This is an excellent time to find deals on mid-range and budget printers.

Insider tip: Watch for bundle deals during this period—many retailers include extra ink cartridges or paper, significantly increasing the value.

3. Back-to-School Sales (August)

Average Discount Range: 16.6% - 23.9% off MSRP

As students prepare to return to school, retailers offer competitive pricing on printers. These sales typically start in late July and peak in August. This is an especially good time to find deals on all-in-one models popular with students and home offices.

Insider tip: Look for student discounts from manufacturers during this period that may not be widely advertised.

📉 Printer Price History Trends

Printer prices follow reasonably predictable patterns throughout the year. Here's a visual representation of how prices typically fluctuate:

Notice the significant dips in November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), July (Prime Day), and the gradual price decreases in September. The chart also reveals that April and October tend to have higher relative prices—definitely months to avoid if possible.

👨‍💼 Brand-Specific Insights: When to Buy Each Major Brand

Each printer manufacturer follows slightly different pricing and release cycles. Here's what you need to know about the top brands:

HP

• Market Share: 22% of the global market
• Release Cycle: Annual releases typically in September/October
• Last Major Release: September 2023
• Best Time to Buy: November (Black Friday) for deepest discounts, with July (Prime Day) as the second-best option
• Typical Discount Range: 15.2% - 38.8% off MSRP
• Flagship Models: HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e, HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e

Key Insight: HP often clears inventory in March with "Spring Sales" featuring 20.8% - 24.2% discounts, making this a sleeper opportunity for deals.

Canon

• Market Share: 22% of the global market
• Release Cycle: Annual releases typically in September/October
• Last Major Release: September 2023
• Best Time to Buy: November (Black Friday), with January post-holiday sales offering surprisingly good value
• Typical Discount Range: 11.6% - 38.9% off MSRP
• Flagship Models: Canon PIXMA TR8620a, Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw

Key Insight: Canon's PIXMA TR8620a hit its historical low of $144 during November 2023's Black Friday sales—31.8% below its current typical price of $179.99.

Brother

• Market Share: 22% of the global market
• Release Cycle: Annual releases typically in September/October
• Last Major Release: September 2023
• Best Time to Buy: Black Friday and September offer the best deals
• Typical Discount Range: 12.1% - 33.7% off MSRP
• Flagship Models: Brother MFC-L8905CDW, Brother MFC-J4335DW

Key Insight: Brother printers reached historical lows in September 2023, with the MFC-J4335DW dropping to $152.29—a pattern that may repeat in 2024.

Epson

• Market Share: 22% of the global market
• Release Cycle: Annual releases typically in September/October
• Last Major Release: September 2023
• Best Time to Buy: November (Black Friday) and January (post-holiday)
• Typical Discount Range: 16.0% - 28.7% off MSRP
• Flagship Models: Epson EcoTank ET-2850, Epson EcoTank ET-3850

Key Insight: Epson's EcoTank models, which use refillable ink tanks instead of cartridges, see their best prices during Black Friday and March tax season promotions.

Xerox

• Market Share: 22% of the global market
• Release Cycle: Biannual releases typically in September and March
• Last Major Release: September 2023
• Best Time to Buy: November (Black Friday) and March (spring releases)
• Typical Discount Range: 10.6% - 30.1% off MSRP
• Flagship Models: Xerox WorkCentre 6515/DN, Xerox C310/DNI

Key Insight: Unlike other brands, Xerox has a biannual release schedule, making March an excellent buying opportunity as older models get discounted.

⏰ The Waiting Game: Is It Worth Delaying Your Purchase?

Sometimes the question isn't just "When should I buy?" but "Should I wait to buy?" Here's my analysis of what you might save by waiting, depending on when you're reading this:

Current Month	Wait Until...	Potential Savings	Worth the Wait?
January	July (Prime Day)	~4.4% - 8.8% more	Yes, if you can wait 6 months
February	July (Prime Day)	~9.1% - 14.3% more	Yes, if you can wait 5 months
March	July (Prime Day)	~4.2% - 9.6% more	Only if not urgent
April	July (Prime Day)	~9.5% - 14.4% more	Yes - prices are high in April
May	July (Prime Day)	~5.4% - 9.0% more	Yes, if you can wait 2 months
June	July (Prime Day)	~4.9% more	Not really - buy during June sales
July	Now!	Best mid-year prices	Buy now during Prime Day
August	November (Black Friday)	~16.4% - 18.9% more	Yes, if you can wait 3 months
September	November (Black Friday)	~10.3% - 14.1% more	Moderately worth waiting
October	November (Black Friday)	~14.8% - 18.7% more	Yes - avoid October purchases
November	Now!	Best prices of the year	Absolutely buy now
December	Now or January	Similar savings	Buy now or wait for January clearance

As the table shows, if you need a printer in October, you'll typically save 14.8% - 18.7% by waiting just one month for Black Friday sales. Conversely, if you're shopping in July during Prime Day, you're already hitting a sweet spot in the pricing cycle.

🏭 Product Lifecycles and New Releases

Understanding product lifecycles is crucial when timing your printer purchase. Most major brands release new models annually, typically in September or October. This creates a predictable pattern:

1. September-October: New models are released at full MSRP
2. November: Both new and older models receive Black Friday discounts
3. January-February: Older models see deeper discounts as retailers clear inventory
4. July: Mid-year sales provide good discounts on models that are now 9-10 months old
5. August-September: Steeper discounts on year-old models as replacement cycle begins

For the value-conscious buyer, the sweet spot is often buying the previous year's model during November Black Friday sales or July Prime Day events. These models are still modern but benefit from significantly reduced pricing.

💼 Specific Models and Historical Pricing Examples

Looking at specific model pricing histories reveals the substantial savings available through strategic timing:

• Canon PIXMA TR8620a

  • Current Price: $179.99
  • Historical Low: $144.00 (November 2023 - Black Friday)
  • Potential Savings: $35.99 (20.0%)

• Brother MFC-J4335DW

  • Current Price: $179.99
  • Historical Low: $152.29 (September 2023)
  • Potential Savings: $27.70 (15.4%)

• Xerox C310/DNI

  • Current Price: $449.99 (already 21.2% off MSRP of $570)
  • Best Buying Period: November (Based on typical brand discounting patterns)
  • Expected Additional Savings: 10-15%

🌿 Eco-Friendly Printers and Pricing Trends

Environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly important in printer manufacturing. Models like the Epson EcoTank series, which use refillable ink tanks rather than disposable cartridges, follow slightly different pricing patterns.

These eco-friendly printers typically:

• Have higher initial purchase prices but lower long-term costs
• Receive smaller percentage discounts during sales (12.9% - 18.5% vs. 21.6% - 39.0% for traditional models)
• See their best prices during Earth Day promotions (April) and Black Friday

If you're considering an eco-friendly printer, April offers a unique buying opportunity not seen with traditional models, as manufacturers often promote their green credentials with special Earth Day pricing.

🔍 The Bottom Line: When Should You Buy a Printer?

Based on our comprehensive analysis of pricing trends, sales events, and product cycles, here are my definitive recommendations:

Best Time to Buy:

1. Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday) - The absolute best time with discounts of 27.2% - 39.1%
2. Mid-July (Prime Day and competing sales) - The second-best opportunity with 22.2% - 28.9% discounts
3. September (Labor Day and back-to-school tail end) - Good for 16.6% - 23.9% discounts as new models prepare to launch

Times to Avoid:

1. April - Consistently higher prices with few meaningful sales events
2. October - Prices tend to rise in anticipation of holiday shopping season
3. February - Post-holiday sales have ended, and spring promotions haven't begun

Special Considerations:

• If you need a business-class printer, March often features tax-season promotions targeting small businesses.
• If you want the latest model, buy during November Black Friday events, about 1-2 months after release.
• If you primarily care about value, target previous-generation models during January clearance sales.

Remember that while these recommendations apply to most situations, your specific needs might dictate a different approach. A small business preparing for tax season might benefit from buying in January regardless of slightly higher prices. A student might prioritize August back-to-school sales that include valuable bundles.

The printer market follows predictable cycles, and with the insights provided in this guide, you're now equipped to make a perfectly timed purchase that balances your needs with the best possible price. Happy printer hunting!