Ink Cartridge Page Yields - What the Box Claims vs Reality

Understanding Page Yield Claims

The ISO Standard (What's on the Box)

• Based on ISO/IEC 24711 (inkjet) or ISO/IEC 19752 (laser) standards
• Test pages have only 5% page coverage
• That's about 3 short paragraphs of text - mostly white space
• No photos, graphics, headers, or logos
• Continuous printing (no stops for drying/warm-up)

Real-World Printing

• Average document has 15-20% coverage
• Documents with photos can hit 50%+ coverage
• Headers, logos, and graphics add up quickly
• Cleaning cycles use ink (especially if you print infrequently)

Calculate Your Real Cost Per Page

Step 1: Track Your Usage

1. Note the page count when you install a new cartridge
2. Note it again when you need to replace
3. Divide cartridge cost by pages printed
4. That's your actual cost per page

Step 2: Compare XL/High-Capacity Options

1. XL cartridges cost more upfront but often have better per-page costs
2. Calculate: (cartridge price) ÷ (rated pages) = cost per page
3. But remember, you'll get even less than rated pages
4. As a rule, expect 30-50% of the claimed yield for typical documents

Tips to Maximize Yield

• Use Draft Mode: 50% less ink for everyday documents
• Print Grayscale: Don't use color when you don't need it
• Avoid Unnecessary Color: Set default to black/grayscale
• Print Regularly: Prevents cleaning cycles that waste ink
• Use Print Preview: Avoid reprinting mistakes

Best Value Strategies

• High-yield cartridges: Usually 40-60% better cost per page than standard
• Subscription services: HP Instant Ink, Canon, Epson programs can reduce costs
• EcoTank/SuperTank printers: Dramatically lower cost per page
• Laser for text: If you print mostly text documents