Best Copier Leasing Companies: How to Compare Them Honestly
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Criteria you can check yourself, not a ranking you have to trust.
Almost every "best copier leasing companies" article online is written by a copier dealer about themselves. This one is built around criteria you can check yourself, so you can judge any company, including us.
The seven things that actually separate copier leasing companies
7 criteria do most of the work when you compare copier leasing companies. None of them require trusting anyone's reputation; each one can be checked in writing.
| What to compare | What good looks like | How to check it |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | A real number on the website | Search the site for a dollar sign |
| Escalation clause | 0% for the full term | Ask for the clause in writing before signing |
| Toner included | In the monthly payment, no separate invoice | Ask what arrives on a separate bill |
| Service response | A stated hour figure in the contract | Ask for the number in writing |
| Auto-renewal | No evergreen clause | Read the termination section |
| Buyout visibility | Available without a phone call | Ask what your payoff is today |
| Failure remedy | A written replacement rule | Ask what happens after the third failure |
1. Is the price published, or do you have to ask?
Good looks like a real dollar figure on the website for a defined machine and page allowance. Check it by searching the site for a dollar sign. If the only option is a form or a phone number, you are negotiating from zero.
2. Is there an annual escalation clause, and at what rate?
Good looks like 0 percent for the full term. Rates of 5 to 10 percent a year are common across the industry. Ask for the exact clause in writing before you sign, not a verbal summary.
3. Is toner included in the monthly payment?
Good looks like toner arriving automatically with no separate invoice. Ask directly what, if anything, arrives on a separate bill. Supplies billed separately can change the real monthly cost.
4. What is the guaranteed service response time, in writing?
Good looks like a stated hour figure in the contract. "We are usually quick" is not a number. Ask for the figure in writing and check whether it applies to your address.
5. Does the contract auto-renew if you do nothing?
Good looks like no evergreen clause. Read the termination section for notice windows. Some contracts renew automatically unless you give written notice within a specific period before the end date.
6. Can you see your buyout figure without calling?
Good looks like a payoff number you can get quickly and in writing. Ask what your payoff would be today. A clear answer now usually means a clear answer later.
7. What happens if the machine fails repeatedly?
Good looks like a written replacement rule, for example a replacement after a set number of failures. Ask what happens after the third failure. If there is no written rule, you depend on goodwill.
The five types of copier leasing company
5 types of company lease copiers, and they are built for different buyers. The matrix below compares capabilities only, not quality or price level.
| Type | Prices published | Offers leasing | Nationwide | Service included | Buy online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local dealer | Varies | Yes | No | Varies | Varies |
| Manufacturer program | Varies | Yes | Yes | Varies | Varies |
| National marketplace | Varies | Yes | Yes | Varies | Varies |
| Online liquidator | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Office supply retailer | Varies | Varies | Yes | Varies | Varies |
Verified from each company's public website on September 30, 2026. Capabilities change — check before you decide.
The local dealer
Suits a single office or a few nearby locations that value a named contact and fast, in-person service from technicians who know the building. The trade-off is that prices are often shared on request rather than published.
The manufacturer's own leasing program
Suits a business that has already chosen one brand and wants financing directly tied to it. The trade-off is that you compare within one brand rather than across several.
The national marketplace
Suits a business that wants to compare prices before speaking to anyone, or that is equipping offices in more than one metro area. The trade-off is that service is usually delivered through partners rather than in-house staff.
The online equipment liquidator
Suits a buyer with capital who wants to purchase used or off-lease equipment outright and arrange service separately. The trade-off is that leasing and service are often limited or handled elsewhere.
The office supply retailer
Suits a small office buying a desktop multifunction printer with a card. The trade-off is that full-size floor models and service contracts are often outside what is offered.
Local dealer or national marketplace?
9 common buying situations are compared below. A local dealer can make sense for a narrow set of needs, such as a long-standing relationship you are happy with. For most offices comparing on price, terms and simplicity, a national marketplace covers more ground.
| Your situation | Better served by | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want to see prices before speaking to anyone | National marketplace | Prices published up front |
| Want 0% escalation for the full term | National marketplace | Fixed payment from day one to the last month |
| Want toner and service in one payment | National marketplace | One all-in monthly price |
| Offices in more than one metro area | National marketplace | One agreement across every location |
| Replacing equipment on a predictable cycle | National marketplace | Repeatable, comparable quotes |
| Buying centrally for offices you have never visited | National marketplace | Delivery and installation in all 50 states |
| Want to compare several brands side by side | National marketplace | 9 major brands in one place |
| Long, good relationship with a current dealer | Local dealer | A proven track record has value |
| Production-class equipment above 65 ppm | Either | Quoted per job on both |
Where Printree fits
$209 to $349 a month is Printree's published price for a full-size color copier, with toner, service and 0% escalation included. Here is what that looks like, and what is still being built.
| Printree | |
|---|---|
| Prices published | Yes, $209–$349 per month for a full-size color MFP |
| Escalation clause | None, 0% for the full term |
| Toner included | Yes, in the monthly payment |
| Coverage | All 50 states |
| Service | Through a partner network of 15,000 dealers |
| Order a specific machine online | Coming soon; quotes are instant today |
| Production class, 65+ ppm | Quoted per job |
Printree does not employ its own technicians; service comes from its network of 15,000 dealer partners, so there is usually one close to you. The browsable catalogue is being built now. Read Introducing the Printree Marketplace for what ships next, or see how much it costs to lease a copier.
Ten questions to ask any copier leasing company
10 questions will tell you most of what you need to know. A concerning answer is usually not a wrong answer; it is a vague one.
| Question | A concerning answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| What is the monthly price, in writing, for this machine and page volume? | "It depends — let's set up a call first." |
| Is there an annual escalation clause, and at what rate? | "It's standard, nothing to worry about." |
| Is toner included, and does anything arrive on a separate bill? | "Supplies are handled separately, we'll sort that out later." |
| What is the service response time, in hours, in the contract? | "We're usually pretty quick." |
| Does the contract auto-renew, and what is the notice window? | "You don't need to think about that yet." |
| What would my buyout figure be today? | "We'd have to look into that." |
| What happens if the machine fails three times? | "That rarely happens." |
| How many pages are included, and what is the overage rate? | A number for one but not the other |
| Who performs service, your staff or a partner? | No clear answer about who shows up |
| What does it cost to end the lease early? | "Let's not worry about that now." |
What an escalation clause costs
$2,703 is what a 7 percent annual escalation clause adds to a $300 monthly lease over five years. Rates of 5 to 10 percent a year are common across the industry, which makes this single clause one of the most important lines in any quote. Read more about the copier lease escalation clause.
| Year | At 7% escalation | At 0% escalation | Cumulative difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $300/mo · $3,600 | $300/mo · $3,600 | $0 |
| Year 2 | $321/mo · $3,852 | $300/mo · $3,600 | $252 |
| Year 3 | $343/mo · $4,122 | $300/mo · $3,600 | $774 |
| Year 4 | $368/mo · $4,410 | $300/mo · $3,600 | $1,584 |
| Year 5 | $393/mo · $4,719 | $300/mo · $3,600 | $2,703 |
| Five-year total | $20,703 | $18,000 | $2,703 |
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best copier leasing company?
3 questions decide which is best for you: is the price published, is there an escalation clause, and are toner and service included in one payment. The company that answers all three clearly and in writing is usually the best choice for your office.
How do I compare copier lease quotes fairly?
7 criteria make quotes comparable: published price, escalation rate, whether toner is included, the written service response time, auto-renewal terms, buyout visibility and the remedy for repeated failures. Put each quote side by side on those seven points, for the same machine speed and the same monthly page volume.
Should I lease from a local dealer or a national company?
2 things usually decide it: price transparency and number of locations. If you want to compare prices up front, avoid escalation or equip more than one office, a national company is often the better fit. If you already have a dealer relationship you are happy with, staying can make sense.
What is a normal copier lease escalation rate?
5 to 10 percent a year is a common escalation rate in copier leases. On a $300 monthly payment, a 7 percent clause adds $2,703 over five years. Some providers offer 0 percent; ask for the clause in writing before signing.
How much should a copier lease cost per month?
$209 to $349 a month is what a full-size 45ppm color copier leases for on Printree, including 5,000 black-and-white and 500 color pages, service, parts, labor and toner. Compare any quote against what it includes, not only the monthly number.
What is the most common mistake in a copier lease?
1 mistake shows up most often: signing without reading the escalation and auto-renewal terms. Both are usually a sentence or two in the contract, and together they decide what you pay in years three to five and whether you can leave at the end.
Can I get out of a copier lease if the company is not performing?
2 routes usually exist: the failure remedy in your contract, if it has one, and a buyout of the remaining payments. Check the contract for a written replacement rule first, then ask for your current payoff figure to see what a buyout would cost.
Do copier leasing companies publish their prices?
4 of the 5 types of copier leasing company vary on this: some companies publish prices and many do not. Online liquidators and office supply retailers usually show prices for the machines they list. The quickest check is to search a company's website for a dollar sign.
For more, we have answered 120 questions about copier leasing.
Run your office through the seven criteria and see how the numbers compare.
Compare what your office would pay