Buying printer ink can be one of the most aggravating expenditures. Ink quality and pricing vary widely, and it’s often unclear what choices are smart (Are refurbished cartridges acceptable? Should you stick with OEM ink? What about subscription plans?).
With many people now working from home and purchasing ink themselves, it’s a good moment to explore printer ink expenses so you don’t run out unexpectedly or spend an arm and a leg on replacements.
The most important factor for reducing ink expenses is selecting the right printer from the outset, says Rex Freiberger, CEO of Gadget Review, a technology and lifestyle site.
“Cheaper printers often squander ink and lack options for conserving it,” Freiberger explains. “It’s usually worthwhile to pay more up front for a printer that lowers your cost-per-page.”
Examples of printers with lower ink costs include the Brother MFC-J995DW (about $200 at Best Buy), the Epson EcoTank (around $310 on Amazon) and the Canon Pixma G7020 (roughly $350 at Best Buy).
The Basics of Buying Printer Ink
Below are tips to help you save money when stocking up on printer ink.
Avoid Purchasing Ink Directly from Big OEMs
Manufacturer prices tend to be heavily marked up, so you’ll often save by opting for third-party cartridges, Freiberger notes. Some businesses focus on selling generic cartridges, and eBay can be a great source, says Lou Gimbutis, chief homebuyer at Property Solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina. He points out that a five-pack that costs more than $70 at a major retailer can be found on eBay for $9 to $14. Buying in bulk brings his cost to just over $1 per cartridge.
However, be cautious: many manufacturers stipulate you must use their new cartridges or risk voiding the warranty, warns Thomas Cirignano, an author who prints many copies of his manuscripts for editing.
“Some printer makers can actually monitor Internet-connected printers to detect whether you’re following their cartridge policies,” he says.
Give Remanufactured Cartridges a Try
Remanufactured cartridges can cost a fraction of OEM replacements, Cirignano says. A new set—three color cartridges and one black—from the manufacturer runs around $100 for his printer. On Amazon, he finds a remanufactured set with three colors and two larger black cartridges for under $20 with free shipping.
“The trick to getting quality refilled cartridges is to read reviews and review the ink seller’s warranty,” he advises.
Recently, as many cartridges include smart chips, some companies will even pay for empty cartridges. That arrangement benefits both parties, Cirignano adds.
Think About Refillable Ink Cartridges
Refillable cartridges let you purchase ink separately and pour it into the cartridge yourself. It’s a hands-on process and can be messy if done poorly. But if you’re handy and don’t mind a little cleanup, this method can cut ink expenses by more than half, according to Freiberger.
Still, Gimbutis says from experience that refilling ink and toner is often more headache than it’s worth. Having run a home-based business dependent on direct mail since 2004, he’s tried nearly every tactic to reduce printing costs. Liquid ink cartridges are relatively small, so refilling frequency is high per 1,000 pages, he explains.
“It’s a messy undertaking: good intentions can still leave ink-stained fingers, surfaces and occasionally printers,” he says.
Toner cartridges for laser printers are bigger and need refilling less frequently, but the procedure can be time-consuming and unreliable. Refilling a toner cartridge typically requires drilling a hole, adding powder and resealing. In addition, you usually need a replacement chip that the printer recognizes each time, or the printer may refuse to operate.
Explore Subscription Plans
Many major printer manufacturers now provide subscription-based ink services that can be cost-efficient depending on usage. For instance, HP has plans with a monthly fee that covers a set number of printed pages. The subscription includes ink, shipping and recycling, and unused pages can carry over month to month. If you exceed your allowance, you’re charged the same per-page rate as the base plan. A popular option is $5 per month, which covers ink for about 100 pages.
Also Consider New Ink Bottles
In recent years some major printer makers (Epson, Canon) introduced ink sold in bottles that can be poured into refillable tanks. These are used with EcoTank-style printers and cost far less per page (around 3 cents per black page). The trade-off is a higher initial printer price, so this option is best for people who really print frequently.
Danielle Hayes is a contributor to Savinly. See more of her workhere.
