Save money on printer ink and toner

Simple settings and buying habits that stretch your ink or toner, plus the honest tradeoffs of cheaper cartridges.

⏱ About 10 minutes · 6 steps · ▶ 1:51 video
What you'll need
  • Your printer's exact model number
  • About 10 minutes

  1. Use draft and black-only printing

    For everyday pages, open Printer Properties or Preferences when you print. Choose Draft (sometimes called Eco or Fast) quality and Black ink only or Grayscale.

    💡 Tip: On some HP printers, High Quality Grayscale mixes in color ink. Choose Black Ink Only to save color.

  2. Print only what you need

    Use Print Preview and print just the pages you need (for example "Pages 1-2"). Print 2 pages per sheet, or save a PDF instead of printing.

  3. Know laser vs. inkjet

    Laser printers cost more up front, but their toner usually costs less per page, especially for lots of black-and-white text. Inkjets cost less to buy and are better for photos. Compare the page yield (how many pages a cartridge prints). Makers measure it with standard ISO tests, so it's a fair comparison.

  4. Subscriptions vs. buying cartridges

    Ink subscriptions (such as HP Instant Ink) charge for pages printed each month, not per cartridge. Unused pages roll over up to a limit. They can save money if you print a steady amount.

    ⚠️ Careful: Subscription cartridges stop working if you cancel, and HP Instant Ink requires automatic firmware updates. Read the plan terms first.

  5. High-yield, remanufactured and compatible cartridges

    High-yield (XL) cartridges cost more but usually less per page. Remanufactured cartridges are used brand-name cartridges that were cleaned, refilled and tested. Compatible cartridges are new ones made by another company. Both usually cost less, but quality varies.

    ⚠️ Careful: Some makers send firmware updates that can block cartridges without the maker's chip, even ones that worked before. HP says using a non-HP cartridge doesn't void your warranty, but damage it causes isn't covered.

  6. How to buy cheaper replacements

    • Match the exact cartridge model number printed on your old cartridge or in the manual.
    • Compare the price per page (price ÷ page yield), not the price per cartridge.
    • Consider high-yield or XL cartridges if you print often.
    • Know the difference: remanufactured = a refilled brand-name cartridge; compatible = a new third-party cartridge.
    • Buy from sellers with good ratings and a clear return or guarantee policy.
    • Watch for firmware updates that can block non-brand cartridges. Read the update notes before you install one.
    • Recycle empties through the maker's free recycling program (for example, HP Planet Partners).
🎉 All done!

Setting up a new printer? See Set up a new printer.

Related game: Safe or Risky?. Related explainer: What software updates actually do .

Official help pages

Steps checked against these pages in October 2026. If a button looks different, look for a similar label.