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To spend less on printer ink, use an economy setting for drafts, reserve color and high-quality modes for pages that need them, and print only what you need. Also account for maintenance: inkjet printers may use ink to service their printheads, including after long gaps between jobs. These steps can reduce avoidable consumption, but no setting guarantees a specific number of extra pages because results depend on the printer, cartridge, document, and maintenance cycle.

Use less ink on everyday documents

Choose Draft or an equivalent setting for working copies

For internal documents and proofs, select Draft, FastDraft, General Office, or a similar economy mode if your printer offers one. The exact label and location vary by printer, driver, and operating system. HP describes Draft as a low-DPI option for work that does not need high quality; its guide labels the setting “Draft | Lowest DPI, used when cartridge levels are low or when high quality prints are not needed.” Lower quality is the trade-off, so switch back to a normal or higher-quality setting when legibility, fine detail, or presentation matters. HP says plain-paper draft modes generally use less ink than its default plain-paper normal mode, but this is a generalization, not a guarantee for every model or driver (HP print settings guide; HP ink-use explanation).

Print in black or grayscale when appropriate

For text pages that do not need color, check the print dialog or printer preferences for a black-only or grayscale option. They are not always the same: some printers’ higher-quality grayscale modes use both black and color cartridges. And black-and-white output does not necessarily mean the printer uses no color ink. Some models use color to improve black text or create composite black, and servicing can draw from multiple cartridges. Check the driver options and your printer’s documentation rather than assuming every monochrome job uses black ink only (HP print settings guide; HP ink-use explanation).

Reduce the pages you send to the printer

  • Proofread on screen before printing.
  • Use the page-range controls to print only the pages you need.
  • Use duplex printing when it suits the document and your printer supports it.

These habits reduce unnecessary output and paper use, but there is no universal ink-saving percentage for them. The ink effect depends on the document and printer.

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#1 Best Overall
HP Original 910 Cyan, Magenta, Yellow / 910XL Black Ink Cartridges (4-Pack) | Works OfficeJet 8010, 8020 Series OfficeJet Pro 8020, 8030 Series | Eligible for Instant Ink | 3JB41AN
  • Automatic
  • These cartridges work with: HP OfficeJet Pro 8020, 8020e, 8025, 8028, 8030e, 8035
  • Cartridge yield (approx.): 825 pages black, 315 pages per color
  • Up to 2x more prints with Original HP Ink vs. non-Original HP Ink
  • 82% of HP ink cartridges are manufactured with recycled plastic

Understand why an inkjet can use ink while idle

Inkjet printers may run servicing routines to keep printheads working. HP says longer gaps between print jobs can require more aggressive servicing, which uses ink. That means leaving an inkjet unused for long stretches is not necessarily a way to conserve ink; the printer may consume ink maintaining itself. The frequency and amount depend on the printer, so consult its manual for model-specific care guidance (HP ink-use explanation).

Handle cartridges and shut down the printer correctly

  • Leave cartridges sealed until installation. HP advises keeping supplies in their original sealed packaging until they are needed.
  • Use the printer’s Power button to shut it down. HP says this lets its printers move cartridges to a capped position. Avoid cutting power in the middle of shutdown; follow your own printer’s manual, especially if it is not an HP model.
  • Avoid unnecessary cartridge removal. HP warns that removed cartridges can dry out. If you must remove an opened cartridge, follow the specific printer’s storage instructions; procedures are not universal.

These are HP’s general supply-handling recommendations, and model-specific directions may differ (HP cartridge and printhead handling guidance; HP guidance for handling removed cartridges).

Rank #2
HP 67 Black Ink Cartridge | Works with DeskJet 1255, 2700, 4100 and Envy 6000, 6400 Series, Eligible for Instant Ink, 3YM56AN | Packaging May Vary
  • HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
  • Works with these HP Printers: DeskJet 1255, 2710e, 2720e, 2721e, 2722, 2722e, 2723e, 2724, 2725, 2732, 2742e, 2752e, 2755, 2755e, 4110e, 4120e, 4121e, 4122e, 4123e, 4130e, 4132e, 4152e, 4155e, 4158e; DeskJet Plus 4122, 4132, 4155
  • Works with these HP Printers: ENVY 6010e, 6020e, 6022e, 6030e, 6032e, 6034e, 6050e, 6052e, 6055, 6055e, 6075, 6075e, 6420e, 6422e, 6430e, 6432e, 6450e, 6452e, 6455e, 6458e, 6475e; ENVY Pro 6455, 6458, 6475
  • Cartridge yield (approx.): 120 pages
  • Trusted HP Printer Ink Cartridges for every printing need: Perfect for everyday home, office, and small business printing needs — choose HP 67 Ink Cartridges for reliable printing

Do not treat cartridge yield or low-ink warnings as guarantees

A cartridge’s stated page yield is an estimate, not a promise of the exact number of pages your jobs will produce. Document coverage, print settings, paper, the printer model, and maintenance cycles can all affect actual yield. Likewise, a low-ink warning is not a reliable basis for predicting how many more pages will print. Do not shake or reset a cartridge, or override a warning, on the assumption that this creates ink or guarantees extra output; the amount available and safe options depend on the printer and cartridge.

Decide whether a different printer could lower your total cost

If you print frequently, compare a refillable ink-tank printer with a cartridge printer using your own expected volume and current local prices. A tank model may suit higher-volume use, while a cartridge printer may be adequate for occasional jobs, but neither is automatically cheaper for every household. Include the printer’s purchase price as well as ongoing ink costs, and account for the types of pages you print, idle intervals, maintenance, and cartridge or ink availability.

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Rank #3
HP 67XL Black High-Yield Ink Cartridge | Works with DeskJet 1255, 2700, 4100, Envy 6000, 6400 Series | Eligible for Instant Ink | 3YM57AN | Packaging May Vary
  • HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
  • Works with these HP Printers: DeskJet 1255, 2710e, 2720e, 2721e, 2722, 2722e, 2723e, 2724, 2725, 2732, 2742e, 2752e, 2755, 2755e, 4110e, 4120e, 4121e, 4122e, 4123e, 4130e, 4132e, 4152e, 4155e, 4158e; DeskJet Plus 4122, 4132, 4155
  • Works with these HP Printers: ENVY 6010e, 6020e, 6022e, 6030e, 6032e, 6034e, 6050e, 6052e, 6055, 6055e, 6075, 6075e, 6420e, 6422e, 6430e, 6432e, 6450e, 6452e, 6455e, 6458e, 6475e; ENVY Pro 6455, 6458, 6475
  • Cartridge yield (approx.): 240 pages
  • Trusted HP Printer Ink Cartridges for every printing need: Perfect for everyday home, office, and small business printing needs — choose HP 67XL Ink Cartridges for reliable printing

HP’s cost comparison gives illustrative ink-only figures for two of its own printers: 0.4 cents per black-and-white page and 1.7 cents per color page for the HP Smart Tank 5101, compared with 15 cents per black-and-white page and 62 cents per color page for the HP ENVY 6055e using an HP 67 standard cartridge. HP says these figures do not include printer hardware in the ink-cost calculation; they are vendor estimates for those examples, not a market-wide comparison or a prediction of your costs. The same HP article offers a rule of thumb favoring Smart Tank for more than 150 pages per month, also a vendor estimate rather than an independent break-even calculation. Prices and estimates can change, so check the current figures and calculate hardware plus supplies for your own use before choosing (HP Smart Tank and cartridge cost comparison).

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Buy a replacement cartridge that matches your printer

There is no single replacement cartridge that fits every printer. Before ordering, identify the printer’s exact make and model, then verify the cartridge number in its manual, on the installed cartridge, or through the manufacturer’s compatibility information. Check that the listing matches both the cartridge number and your printer; do not assume a third-party cartridge is compatible without confirmation for that exact model and product.

Best Value
Sale
63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color Replacement for HP Ink 63 for HP 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack Work for HP OfficeJet 3830 4650 5255 5258 5200; Envy 4520 4512 4510; DeskJet 1112 2130 3630 (2 Pack)
  • Higher Page Yield: Up to 750 pages for hp ink 63 black, 450 pages for hp 63 ink tri-color (at 5% coverage of A4 paper)
  • Package Includes: 1 x 63XL black ink cartridge, 1 x 63XL color ink cartridge, 1 x User Guide
  • Compatible for HP OfficeJet 3830, 3831, 3832, 3833, 3834, 3836, 4650, 4652, 4654, 4655, 4656, 4657, 4658, 5255, 5200, 5220, 5222, 5230, 5232, 5252, 5258, 5260, 5264, 5212
  • Compatible for HP Envy 4520, 4510, 4511, 4512, 4513, 4516, 4517, 4521, 4522, 4523, 4524, 4525, 4526, 4527, 4528
  • Compatible for HP DeskJet 1110, 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 2130, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2136, 2137, 2138, 3630, 3631, 3632, 3633, 3634, 3635, 3636, 3637, 3638, 3639, 3640
Rank #4
Canon PG-275 / CL-276 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with TS3520/3522/4722/3720/3722, TR4720
  • Compatible with TS3520/3522, TR4720/4722, TS3720/3722 inkjet printers.
  • Value pack of 2 cartridges: PG-275 Black ink yields up to 100 pages, CL-276 color ink yields up to 100 pages.
  • Canon Genuine Inks provide peak performance that is specifically designed for compatible Canon printers. The PG black ink cartridge produces crisp, sharp black text for your documents and the CL color cartridge produces accurate impressive color photos.
  • Canon's FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology utilizes 6,000 or more nozzles inside the print heads to provide greater efficiency, higher print precision and reliable accuracy in your photos and documents.
  • Don’t be fooled by imposters - look for the Canon logo on all ink packaging to ensure you’re buying Genuine Canon Ink for outstanding quality and performance you can rely on.

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