Top 10 Tips to Save Money on Printer Ink and Toner
Printing costs represent a significant ongoing expense for businesses and home offices alike. The good news is that with a few strategic changes, you can reduce your printing costs by 50% or more without compromising on output quality.
1. Switch to Compatible Cartridges
This single change delivers the largest cost reduction. Compatible (generic) cartridges cost 50–80% less than genuine OEM cartridges while delivering comparable print quality for standard business documents.
A business replacing four Brother TN-2450 cartridges annually could save over $250 per year on this switch alone. See our detailed comparison for more information.
2. Choose High-Yield (XL) Cartridges
High-yield cartridges have a higher upfront cost but deliver a significantly lower cost per page.
Example: An HP 206A yields approximately 1,350 pages at ~$0.15/page, while the HP 206X yields approximately 3,150 pages at ~$0.06/page — a 60% reduction in per-page cost.
Always verify whether a high-yield variant exists for your printer model.
3. Purchase Multi-Packs
Buying cartridges in sets of 4 or 5 provides additional per-unit savings over individual purchases. CartridgeKing offers multi-pack deals across all major brands with built-in volume discounts.
For predictable print requirements, purchasing in bulk reduces both unit cost and reordering frequency.
4. Enable Draft/Economy Mode for Internal Documents
Your printer's draft mode (also called economy or toner-save mode) reduces toner consumption by up to 40% while maintaining readability.
Suitable applications include:
- Internal memos and emails
- Reference copies and working drafts
- Meeting agendas and minutes
- Any document that doesn't leave the organisation
5. Use Print Preview Consistently
Incorrect formatting, unnecessary pages, and layout errors result in wasted paper and toner. Make Print Preview a standard step in your print workflow to verify:
- Layout and margin settings
- Total page count (do you need all pages?)
- Page consolidation options (multiple pages per sheet)
- Colour necessity (switch to grayscale where possible)
6. Use Appropriate Paper Stock
Using the correct paper grade prevents jams, misfeeds, and wasted reprints. Laser printers require laser-compatible paper — standard 80gsm office paper is optimal for most applications.
Incorrect paper stock (such as inkjet photo paper in a laser printer) can cause feed issues and potentially damage the fuser unit.
7. Default to Grayscale Printing
Colour toner cartridges carry a premium over black. Set your default print profile to grayscale and switch to colour only when specifically required.
Documents that rarely need colour include:
- Text-based correspondence
- Spreadsheets and financial reports
- Emails and web pages
- Internal forms and checklists
8. Consider Font Selection
Font weight affects toner consumption. Lighter-weight fonts such as Calibri, Century Gothic, or Garamond use measurably less toner than heavy fonts like Arial Black or Impact.
Over high print volumes, this seemingly minor change produces measurable savings.
9. Maintain Your Printer
Proper printer maintenance ensures efficient toner use and prevents costly reprints:
- Clean the drum unit according to the manufacturer's schedule
- Redistribute toner by gently rocking the cartridge when print quality begins to fade
- Keep firmware updated for optimal performance
- Address issues promptly — minor problems escalate into expensive repairs
10. Purchase During Promotions
Monitor promotional pricing on frequently used cartridges. CartridgeKing regularly offers special deals across popular models. Toner cartridges have a shelf life of 2+ years when stored sealed, making forward purchasing during sales a sound strategy.
Summary
Implementing even three or four of these strategies can halve your annual printing costs. The highest-impact change is switching to compatible cartridges; the remaining tips compound those savings through smarter printing practices.
Ready to reduce your printing costs? Use our Printer Finder to identify the most cost-effective cartridges for your fleet, or explore bulk ordering options for volume pricing.