How to Find the Right Ink or Toner Cartridge
How to find the right ink or toner cartridge
Cartridges that look identical often won't seat in a neighbouring printer model, and the cheapest box on the shelf is frequently the most expensive per page. Two checks get it right every time: match the model exactly, then compare on cost per page rather than sticker price.
The short answer. Read the model number off the front of the machine (not the box the paper came in), find that model's cartridge code, then divide price by the stated page yield. On any printer used daily, the high-yield cartridge is almost always cheaper per page.
Step 1 — find your printer's model number
It is printed on the front or top of the machine, and repeated on a compliance sticker at the back or under the lid. Be precise about suffixes: an HP LaserJet Pro M404dn and an M404dw take the same cartridge, but an M428 does not. Multifunction models often carry an extra letters block — include it.
If the machine is in use you can also print a configuration or status page from its menu, which lists the installed cartridge codes directly. That is the fastest reliable answer.
Step 2 — shop by your printer brand
Cartridge families do not cross brands. Start here:
Step 3 — compare on cost per page
Every genuine cartridge states a page yield, measured to the ISO standard at 5% page coverage. Divide the price by that yield and you get the number that actually matters. A worked example:
| Cartridge | Price | Stated yield | Cost per page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard capacity | $89 | 1,200 pages | 7.4c |
| High yield (XL) | $159 | 3,000 pages | 5.3c |
The XL costs 79% more and delivers 150% more pages — a 28% saving per page. The only reason to buy standard capacity is a machine that prints rarely enough that toner ages before it empties, or a shared device where cash flow beats unit economics.
One caveat on comparison: your real page coverage is probably higher than 5% if you print graphics, charts or photos, so treat stated yields as a comparison tool between cartridges rather than a promise of pages.
Ink or toner — which machine suits the job
| Inkjet | Laser (toner) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Photos, colour graphics, low volume | Text, high volume, shared offices |
| Cost per page | Higher | Lower |
| If left idle | Heads can dry and clog | Unaffected — toner is a dry powder |
| First page out | Fast | Slight warm-up |
The idle behaviour is the deciding factor more often than people expect. A home-office inkjet used twice a month will waste ink on head cleaning cycles; a small laser in the same spot simply works when you come back to it. Conversely, refillable tank systems like Epson EcoTank and Canon MegaTank change the maths again for colour-heavy work — higher machine price, much lower running cost.
The bits people forget
- Drum units — many Brother and OKI lasers use a separate drum with its own life, typically several toner cartridges' worth. Print quality faults that survive a toner change are usually the drum.
- Waste toner bottles — colour lasers stop when the waste bottle fills, regardless of toner level. Keep a spare.
- Maintenance kits and fusers — higher-volume machines schedule these by page count.
- Ribbons — dot matrix and some thermal machines take ribbons rather than cartridges.
Storing cartridges
Keep them sealed, upright, out of direct sun, and at room temperature until the moment they go in. Ink cartridges have a shelf life and will eventually dry even unopened; toner is far more forgiving but dislikes damp. Buying a year's supply to chase a discount only pays if the machine will actually get through it.
Page yields quoted by manufacturers are measured to ISO/IEC test standards at approximately 5% page coverage. Actual yield varies with what you print. The worked example above uses indicative figures to show the method — check the yield printed on the cartridge you are comparing.
Can't identify the cartridge?
Send us the printer model or a photo of the old cartridge and we'll confirm the right code and the best-value yield for your volume.
