How Many Pages Does a Ink Cartridge Print?

When shopping for printer ink cartridges, one of the most common questions users ask is, “How many pages does a ink cartridge print?” Knowing the estimated page yield of an ink cartridge can help you budget your printing costs and choose the right cartridge for your needs. This blog will explore the estimated page yield of an ink cartridge and understand the factors that influence it and how to calculate it.

What Is Ink Cartridge Page Yield?

Page yield is the estimated number of pages a cartridge can print before it needs to be replaced. This number is usually provided by the printer ink cartridge manufacturer and is based on standardized testing conditions. Page yield helps users understand how many pages they can print before they need to buy a new cartridge, providing a useful cost per page estimate. Read our blog What Is Page Yield to learn more.

Page yield is usually based on a set of standards, including:

Standardized Page Coverage: Most manufacturers use a 5% page coverage standard when calculating page yield. This means that on average, 5% of the printed page is covered by ink. For example, a typical business letter containing only text on a white background is usually around this 5%.

Controlled Testing Conditions: Manufacturers test page yield in a controlled environment, printing on plain paper at standard quality settings. This standardized testing ensures that page yields can be compared between different cartridges and printers.

By knowing the page yield, we can estimate how many pages a cartridge can print under normal conditions, and in turn estimate future cartridge replacements and budget printing costs. However, it is important to understand that the actual number of pages printed can vary depending on factors such as the type of documents printed, the print settings, and how often the printer is used.

Calculate – How Many Pages Will One Ink Cartridge Print?

So how is a cartridge page yield calculated? The key is to multiply the number of pages by the coverage percentage to create a constant for any coverage level. Let’s break down the calculation using the HP 67XL Black Cartridge as an example. HP rates this cartridge as being able to print 240 pages at 5% page coverage. But what happens if your document exceeds this 5% standard?

Here’s how the calculation works:

At 5% coverage, the HP 67XL black ink cartridge can print 240 pages.

In this example, 5% x 240 = 12. This 12 becomes a constant that you can use to estimate page yields at different levels of coverage.

Now, if your document has 10% page coverage (such as a text-heavy page or one with some images), you can divide this constant by a higher percentage to get an adjusted page yield: 12/10% =120 pages. So, at 10% coverage, your HP 67XL cartridge will print approximately 120 pages.

For higher coverage, such as 50% page coverage, divide the constant (12) by 50%. The result is only 24 pages.

We also know from this that the more ink a document requires, the fewer pages the cartridge will print. As page coverage increases (whether text, graphics, or color usage), the cartridge’s page yield decreases accordingly.

Is This the Actual Number of Pages I Can Get?

While the above calculations provide a good estimate, the actual number of pages a cartridge can print is often lower than the stated number. Why? Because the page count is based on ideal conditions and doesn’t account for real-world variables.

In reality, several factors can affect the number of pages a cartridge can print. The type of documents you print, your printer’s settings, and even environmental factors like temperature and humidity can affect ink usage. Additionally, other factors like cleaning cycles and maintenance procedures consume ink, often reducing the effective number of pages that can be printed.

What Affects Printer Ink Cartridge Page Yield?

There are many factors that can reduce the yield of your ink cartridges. Let’s look at the most important ones:

Print Content

What you print has a significant impact on ink consumption. Black and white text requires much less ink than a document containing a lot of pictures or charts. In addition, printing graphics, especially color graphics, can significantly increase ink usage, resulting in fewer pages per cartridge.

Print Mode

Your printer’s settings also affect page yield. The higher the print quality you choose, the more ink is used per page, which reduces the total page yield of your cartridge.

• Draft Mode: This is a lower-quality setting that uses less ink. It’s ideal for printing documents where print quality isn’t as important, such as internal drafts or notes.
• Grayscale Mode: Grayscale printing uses only black ink, which can extend the life of your color cartridges.
• High-Resolution Mode: Printing at a higher-quality setting uses more ink because the printer sprays more ink per square inch. This produces sharper images, but prints fewer pages.

Print Frequency

How often you print also affects ink usage. If you don’t use your printer for a long time, the ink in the cartridges may dry out. When you print, the printer may go through a cleaning cycle to clear a print head clog, which consumes a lot of ink. Also, if you clean the printhead manually, this also consumes ink, reducing the number of pages that the cartridge can print.

Print Paper Type

The type of paper you use can also affect ink usage.

• Plain Paper: Standard printer paper is the most ink-efficient option. Ink adheres better to plain paper and doesn’t absorb as deeply, which reduces ink usage.
• Glossy or Specialty Paper: Glossy photo paper or thick cardstock requires more ink to achieve the desired print quality. These papers absorb ink differently and generally require more ink to produce the same clarity and vividness, which can reduce overall page yield.

What Is the Shelf Life of Ink Cartridges?

Printer ink cartridges, whether opened or sealed, have a limited shelf life. Sealed ink cartridges typically have a shelf life of 24 to 36 months, though this time frame can vary depending on brand and storage conditions. If you have ink cartridges that you don’t plan to use right away, it’s best to store them in their original packaging. Keeping your ink cartridges in a cool, dry place can also help extend the shelf life.

How to Extend Ink Cartridge Life and Maximize Page Yield

• Use draft mode for less important documents to save ink.
• When printing black and white documents, print in grayscale to save color ink.
• Print regularly to avoid ink drying or clogging.
• Use high-quality paper that does not absorb too much ink.
• Store ink cartridges properly to ensure they do not dry out or become damaged before use.

How Do I Choose Printer Cartridges?

When choosing an ink cartridge, it’s best to consider these two aspects:

High-Yield vs. Standard-Yield Cartridges: We recommend purchasing high-yield models. High-yield cartridges contain more ink and can print more pages than standard-yield cartridges. While they may cost more upfront, high-yield cartridges are more cost-effective for users who print frequently. If you only print occasionally, the lower-cost standard-yield cartridges may be sufficient for your needs. Read our blog Standard Yield vs High Yield Toner Cartridges: How Do You Choose for reference.

Third-Party Suppliers: Consider using compatible or remanufactured ink cartridges from third-party suppliers. These cartridges typically offer similar page yields at a lower cost, making them an affordable option. Just make sure to choose a reputable supplier to ensure quality. YB Toner has been making ink cartridges for over a decade and offers affordable printer cartridges such as the HP 902, HP 910XL, HP 952XL, HP 61, HP 63 and Epson 502. Free shipping on orders over $30, 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

Conclusion

How many pages a printer cartridge can print is crucial to managing printing costs and ensuring you have the right supplies on hand. Now that you have a basic understanding of page yield, use your cartridges wisely.

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