How to Save Printer Ink: Ecofont and 10 Free Tips (2026)

Printer ink is famously expensive, so any way to save printer ink adds up. In 2008 we tested Ecofont, a free font from a Dutch company that punched tiny holes into each letter to use about 20% less ink while staying readable at small sizes. Ecofont still exists, but it’s now a paid Windows printer driver rather than a free font. Here’s how Ecofont works today and the free settings that save the most ink in 2026.

Quick answer: The easiest ways to save printer ink are printing in draft or eco mode, using grayscale for everyday documents, previewing to avoid wasted pages, printing double-sided and choosing lighter, thinner fonts at smaller sizes. Ecofont’s paid Windows driver automatically converts text to an ink-saving version and claims savings of up to about 50% in tests.

What is Ecofont?

The original Ecofont (based on the open-source Vera Sans) used small circular holes inside letters. At 9 to 10 point sizes, the holes were hard to notice but saved ink. Today Ecofont is a subscription printer driver for Windows that applies the same idea to any font in any app just before printing. Businesses that print a lot are its main users.

10 free ways to save printer ink

1. Use draft or eco mode: in the print dialog, choose Draft, EconoMode or Toner Save.
2. Print in grayscale: select black and white for documents that don’t need colour.
3. Preview first: check for blank pages, ads or comments that would waste ink.
4. Print only what you need: select specific pages or highlighted text.
5. Use reader mode or “print-friendly” versions of web pages to skip images and ads.
6. Choose ink-friendly fonts: thinner fonts like Garamond or Century Gothic use less ink than bold, heavy ones; smaller sizes help too.
7. Print double-sided to save paper as well.
8. Avoid unnecessary cleaning cycles: frequent head cleaning uses ink; print regularly instead so nozzles don’t dry out.
9. Save as PDF instead of printing receipts and tickets you’ll only view on screen.
10. Consider an ink tank printer: models with refillable tanks cost more upfront but far less per page.

Does Ecofont really save money?

For heavy business printing, an automatic driver can save noticeably on toner and ink. For home users who print occasionally, the free tips above, especially draft mode and grayscale, deliver most of the savings without a subscription.

Is the free Ecofont still available?

The company now promotes its paid driver. Old copies of the original free font may still circulate, but download fonts only from trusted sources. Free alternatives with similar goals include simply choosing lighter fonts and using your printer’s toner-save setting.

Looking for more fonts? See our guide to downloading free fonts safely and the pixel font Silkscreen for screens.

FAQ

Which font uses the least ink?

Thin, light fonts such as Garamond and Century Gothic generally use less ink than bold or heavy fonts like Arial Black.

Does printing in black and white save colour ink?

Usually, but some inkjet printers still use a little colour ink for black or maintenance.

Is Ecofont free?

The current Ecofont printer driver is a paid subscription for Windows.