Do you think buying the cheapest ink cartridges save money? Think again! The real cost isn’t the price on the box, it’s how much each printed page actually costs you. Let’s break down how to work out the true cost so you can save money on printing.
Why Cost Per Page Matters More Than Cartridge Price
Here’s a scenario that happens all the time:
Cartridge A: Costs $25 and prints 200 pages = 12.5 cents per page Cartridge B: Costs $45 and prints 500 pages = 9 cents per page
Cartridge A looks cheaper, but you’re actually paying MORE for each page you print! Over a year of printing, that difference adds up to real money.
The Basic Cost Per Page Formula
The simplest calculation is:
Cost Per Page = Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield
Example:
Your HP 63XL black cartridge costs $40 and prints 480 pages.
$40 ÷ 480 = $0.083 per page (or 8.3 cents per page)
Easy, right? But there’s more to the story…
What Is Page Yield?
Page yield is how many pages a cartridge can print before running out. But here’s the catch: manufacturers calculate this based on ISO standards using:
- 5% page coverage (that’s about 3-4 sentences of text)
- Standard test patterns
- Ideal printing conditions
Reality check: Your actual pages might have:
- More text than 5%
- Photos or graphics
- Bold or large fonts
- Colour backgrounds
This means your real-world page count is usually LOWER than the advertised yield.
Calculating Cost Per Page for Different Scenarios
Black and White Text Documents
This is the easiest to calculate because you only use the black cartridge.
Example:
- Brother LC3033 black cartridge: $50
- Advertised yield: 3,000 pages
- Calculation: $50 ÷ 3,000 = 1.7 cents per page
Real-world adjustment: If you print documents with more text or bold fonts, expect around 2,500 pages.
- Adjusted cost: $50 ÷ 2,500 = 2 cents per page
Colour Documents
Now it gets trickier because you’re using multiple cartridges.
Example: Your printer uses these cartridges:
- Black: $35 for 400 pages = 8.75 cents per page
- Cyan: $30 for 300 pages = 10 cents per page
- Magenta: $30 for 300 pages = 10 cents per page
- Yellow: $30 for 300 pages = 10 cents per page
For a full-colour document using all colours: 8.75 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 38.75 cents per page
For a document with just some colour: Estimate which colours you use most and adjust. A pie chart might use 50% black, 20% blue, 10% yellow = roughly 15-20 cents per page.
Photo Printing
Photos are the most expensive to print because they use:
- High coverage (often 50-100% of the page)
- Multiple colours at once
- More ink per square centimetre
Example calculation: If your cartridges cost $120 total and print 300 photos at 4×6 size: $120 ÷ 300 = 40 cents per photo
Add photo paper cost: Premium glossy 4×6 paper: 30 cents per sheet Total cost per photo: 40 + 30 = 70 cents
Compare this to commercial printing services (usually 15-30 cents per photo), and home photo printing isn’t always cheaper!
The Hidden Costs You Need to Include
To get the REAL cost per page, factor in these extras:
1. Paper Costs
Plain paper: 0.5 to 2 cents per sheet Photo paper: 30 to 80 cents per sheet Specialty paper: Can be $1+ per sheet
Add this to your ink cost: If ink costs 10 cents per page and paper costs 1 cent, your real cost is 11 cents per page.
2. Wasted Ink from Cleaning Cycles
Your printer automatically cleans its print heads, which uses ink. This can waste 5-15% of your ink!
Adjustment: Add 10% to your calculated cost If ink costs 10 cents per page, the real cost is closer to 11 cents.
3. Expired or Dried Ink
If you don’t print often, cartridges can dry out before they’re empty.
The cost: You might lose 20-30% of your ink to drying, If a cartridge costs $30, you’re really only getting $20-24 worth of printing.
4. Printer Maintenance
Some printers require maintenance kits or replacement parts over time.
Example: Laser printers need drum units every 10,000-50,000 pages Add this to your long-term cost calculations.
Standard vs. High-Yield Cartridges: The Real Comparison
Let’s look at a real example with Canon PG-245 cartridges:
Standard Yield (PG-245)
- Price: $25
- Yield: 180 pages
- Cost per page: $25 ÷ 180 = 13.9 cents
High-Yield (PG-245XL)
- Price: $42
- Yield: 300 pages
- Cost per page: $42 ÷ 300 = 14 cents
Wait, they’re almost the same! But here’s what people forget:
With high-yield, you also save:
- Fewer cartridge changes = less time
- Fewer shopping trips = less hassle
- Less packaging waste = better for environment
- Fewer cleaning cycles = less wasted ink
The real winner: High-yield cartridges almost always save money in the long run, even when cost per page looks similar.
Compatible vs. Genuine Cartridges: The True Cost
Genuine HP 63XL Black
- Price: $40
- Yield: 480 pages
- Cost per page: 8.3 cents
Compatible HP 63XL Black
- Price: $18
- Yield: 480 pages
- Cost per page: 3.75 cents
Looks like a huge saving, right?
But consider:
- Will the compatible cartridge really deliver 480 pages?
- Is the quality acceptable for your needs?
- Does it include a warranty?
Quality compatible cartridges from reputable suppliers often deliver 90-95% of the advertised yield, still giving you significant savings:
Adjusted cost: $18 ÷ 430 pages = 4.2 cents per page
That’s still a 50% saving!
How to Calculate Your Personal Cost Per Page
Here’s a practical method to work out your real-world ink cartridges cost:
Step 1: Track Your Printing
Keep a simple log for one month:
- How many pages did you print?
- How much ink did you use?
- What types of documents? (text, colour, photos)
Step 2: Calculate Your Actual Yield
If your cartridge is rated for 400 pages but only printed 320 pages: Your real-world yield = 80% of advertised (this is your adjustment factor)
Step 3: Apply Your Factor
For future purchases:
- Advertised yield: 500 pages
- Your adjustment factor: 80%
- Expected real yield: 500 × 0.8 = 400 pages
Step 4: Calculate True Cost
Cartridge price ÷ Real yield = Your actual cost per page
Smart Strategies to Lower Your Cost Per Page
1. Buy High-Yield Cartridges
Almost always cheaper per page, even with the higher upfront cost.
2. Buy Multi-Packs
Bundles often offer 10-20% savings compared to buying individual cartridges.
Example:
- 4 individual cartridges: $30 each = $120
- 4-pack bundle: $95
- Savings: $25 (20% off)
3. Consider Compatible Cartridges
Quality compatible cartridges can cut costs by 50% or more.
Tips for buying compatible:
- Choose reputable brands
- Check reviews
- Look for money-back guarantees
- Start with one cartridge to test quality
4. Use Draft Mode for Internal Documents
Draft or economy mode uses 25-50% less ink!
When to use draft mode:
- Internal memos
- Rough drafts
- Documents you’ll recycle
- Quick reference prints
When NOT to use draft mode:
- Client-facing documents
- Photos
- Presentations
- Resumes or formal letters
5. Print in Black and White When Possible
Colour printing costs 3-5 times more than black and white.
Tip: Set your default to black and white, then manually switch to colour only when needed.
6. Proofread on Screen
Every page you don’t print saves money! Catch those typos on screen instead of reprinting.
7. Use Print Preview
Check what you’re printing before hitting print. You might only need page 3, not all 10 pages!
8. Maintain Your Printer
Regular use prevents clogs and keeps print heads working efficiently, reducing wasted ink.
Maintenance tips:
- Print at least once a week
- Use quality cartridges
- Keep your printer clean
- Run head cleaning only when necessary
Cost Per Page Comparison: Different Printer Types
Let’s compare what you’ll typically pay:
Budget Inkjet Printer
- Black text: 5-8 cents per page
- Colour document: 15-25 cents per page
- Photo (4×6): 40-70 cents
- Best for: Light home use, occasional photos
Premium Inkjet with High-Yield
- Black text: 2-4 cents per page
- Colour document: 8-12 cents per page
- Photo (4×6): 30-50 cents
- Best for: Regular home/small office use
Colour Laser Printer
- Black text: 2-3 cents per page
- Colour document: 8-15 cents per page
- Best for: High-volume office printing, no photos
Tank/EcoTank Printer
- Black text: 0.5-1 cent per page
- Colour document: 2-4 cents per page
- Best for: Very high-volume printing, long-term savings
The winner for cost: Tank printers have expensive upfront costs ($400-800) but incredibly low running costs. If you print thousands of pages yearly, they pay for themselves.
The 1-Year Cost Comparison Example
Let’s say you print 100 pages per month (1,200 pages yearly):
Option A: Budget Inkjet with Standard Cartridges
- Cost per page: 10 cents
- Annual ink cost: $120
- Plus paper: $15
- Total: $135/year
Option B: Same Printer with High-Yield Cartridges
- Cost per page: 6 cents
- Annual ink cost: $72
- Plus paper: $15
- Total: $87/year
- Savings: $48/year
Option C: Compatible High-Yield Cartridges
- Cost per page: 3 cents
- Annual ink cost: $36
- Plus paper: $15
- Total: $51/year
- Savings: $84/year compared to Option A
Over 5 years, that’s $420 in savings – enough to buy a new printer!
When Cheap Cartridges Actually Cost More
Be careful with dirt-cheap cartridges (under $10). They might:
- Deliver poor quality requiring reprints (wasting money)
- Clog print heads needing expensive repairs
- Leak and damage your printer
- Provide half the advertised yield making them more expensive per page
Warning signs of bad cartridges:
- No yield information listed
- Suspiciously low prices (70% below genuine)
- No brand name or warranty
- Poor packaging
The Bottom Line: Your Action Plan
Here’s how to actually save money:
Step 1: Calculate Your Current Cost Use your last cartridge purchase: Price ÷ Pages printed = Your current cost per page
Step 2: Find Your Yearly Printing Volume Estimate how many pages you print monthly × 12
Step 3: Calculate Your Annual Ink Cost Cost per page × Yearly pages = Annual spending
Step 4: Compare Options Research high-yield and compatible cartridges for your printer
Step 5: Calculate Potential Savings New cost per page × Yearly pages = New annual cost Current annual cost – New annual cost = Your savings!
Final Thoughts
The cheapest cartridge price doesn’t mean the cheapest printing. By calculating your true cost per page and making smart choices, you can easily cut your printing costs in half or more!
Remember: A $50 cartridge that prints 1,000 pages is much cheaper than a $20 cartridge that prints 150 pages. Do the maths before you buy!