How Much Does Toner Cost?

Toner is an important part of maintaining your laser printer and achieving high quality prints. So, how much does toner usually cost? In this blog, we will explore this topic. We’ll also cover tips on how to choose the right toner and how to save money on toner.

I. What Is a Laser Toner?

Laser toner is a fine powder made mostly of plastic particles, carbon, and colorants. It is stored in a printer toner cartridge, a replaceable component in a laser printer.

When you print a document with a laser printer, the toner is transferred to the paper and fused by heat, producing a clear, long-lasting image or text. They are often used in office environments or for high-volume printing because they last much longer than printer ink cartridges.

Most laser toner cartridges cost between $40 and $300, depending on the type and brand. High-yield toners cost more upfront but are more valuable over time.

OEM vs Compatible vs Remanufactured Toner Cartridge

OEM vs Compatible vs Remanufactured Toner

Users value OEM toner quality but find it too expensive, leading to the rise of compatible and remanufactured alternatives. Toner cartridges are now categorized into three types:

  • Premium, high-cost OEM cartridges
  • Affordable, high-quality compatible cartridges
  • Recycled, cost-effective remanufactured cartridges

Each type has its pros and cons in terms of cost, quality, and sustainability.

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Toner

These toner cartridges are made by the original manufacturer of your printer, such as Canon, HP, or Brother. They are designed for their specific printers to provide top reliability and print quality. However, OEM toner cartridges are also the most expensive option.

Compatible Toner

Compatible toner cartridges are manufactured by third-party companies for use with specific printer models. They are much cheaper than OEM but may not always match the print quality or reliability of OEM cartridges. That being said, many brands have proven to be as good as OEM, but at a fraction of the cost.

Remanufactured Toner

Remanufactured toner cartridges are used OEM cartridges that have been cleaned, refilled with new toner, and tested for performance. These cartridges are also less expensive than OEM but have the same page yield and print quality. By reusing existing cartridges, plastic waste is reduced, and they are a more environmentally friendly product.

II. How Much Does a Toner Cartridge Cost?

Let’s break down the typical price ranges (popular toner cartridges from brands) based on the categories discussed earlier:

How Much Does Toner Cost
Color\BrandHPBrotherCanonXeroxSamsung
OEMBlack$50-$250$40-$140$70-$200$50-$450$60-$200
Color(C/M/Y)$60-$250$60-$150$70-$200$70-$500$60-$220
4-Pack$200-$500$170-$400$250-$400$280-$1000$270-$630
COMPATIBLEBlack$15-$80$15-$50$20-$70$20-$130$15-$50
Color(C/M/Y)$20-$80$15-$50$20-$70$20-$130$15-$50
4-Pack$50-$210$30-$100$40-$190$40-$250$40-$200
REMANUFACTUREDBlack$20-$200$25-$70$15-$80$20-$160$20-$140
Color(C/M/Y)$20-$230$25-$90$20-$100$10-$170$20-$140
4-Pack$50-$300$40-$300$40-$200$30-$180$50-$230
Prices are from major sales websites, such as Brother.com, Amazon, etc. and may change over time.

 Color\BrandDellOkidataKyoceraLexmark
OEMBlack$40-$200$50-$300$50-$150$50-$550
Color(C/M/Y)$60-$300$60-$300$60-$170$60-$660
4-Pack$220-$580$240-$300$120-$370$120-$900
COMPATIBLEBlack$10-$50$15-$70$15-$80$40-$200
Color(C/M/Y)$10-$50$15-$70$15-$90$40-$200
4-Pack$20-$100$40-$150$40-$300$100-$260
REMANUFACTUREDBlack$20-$100$10-$130$20-$100$35-$180
Color(C/M/Y)$25-$90$10-$130$20-$100$50-$200
4-Pack$20-$160$60-$190$100-$200$125-$500
Prices are sourced from major sales sites such as Brother.com, Amazon, etc. and may fluctuate over time.

From this table, the toner prices vary greatly between the different categories. OEM toner cartridges are typically more expensive than compatible or remanufactured ones, and remanufactured cartridges usually cost more than compatible cartridges. In terms of brands, Brother and Kyocera’s OEM black, color, and four-pack cartridges tend to be more affordable than other brands.

OEM Toner: As an original product designed by printer manufacturers and sold with a razor-and-blades business model, OEM toners are expensive. For example, HP 410A black original LaserJet toner costs about $106, while the color variants (cyan, magenta, yellow) cost a few dozen dollars more, about $140. These toners are of good quality but expensive.

Some people may ask why original cartridges are so expensive. This is mainly due to its sales model, R&D costs, etc. Check out the blog Why is Printer Toner so Expensive for more reasons.

Compatible Toner: Third-party compatible toner is an affordable alternative to the original. For example, compatible HP 410A black toner may only cost $15 to $40, providing excellent page yield and print performance at a much lower price. It is worth noting to always buy from reliable brands to avoid quality issues.

Remanufactured Toner: Remanufactured products are generally a good middle ground between OEM and compatible toners, offering great quality at a lower cost while also being environmentally friendly. For example, remanufactured HP 410A black toner costs about $25 to $70.

III. How Do I Know If This Toner Is Worth Buying?

When evaluating whether a toner cartridge is worth the money, the most important metric is the cost per page. This number tells you how much it costs to print each page based on the cartridge’s page yield and price. The lower the number, the less money you spend per page.

How Much Does a Toner Cartridge Cost?

To calculate the cost per page, simply divide the cartridge price by the total page yield (the number of pages the cartridge can print). Here’s the formula: Cost Per Page = Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield

Using the Brother TN830XL toner cartridge ($37.95, 3,000 pages) as an example, the cost per page would be:

$37.95 ÷ 3,000 = $0.0127 per page, or 1.27 cents per page

With this simple calculation, you can compare the cost per page of toner cartridges between brands. An obvious fact is that compatible and remanufactured products are much more cost-effective than OEM products.

You can also use it to compare the long-term value of the same toner model but different capacities. While standard-yield cartridges may have a lower upfront cost, they may have a lower page yield, which increases the cost per page. Conversely, high-yield cartridges tend to be more expensive but have a lower cost per page, making them a better choice for people who print a lot. HP 80A vs 80X is an example of this.

IV. Tips for Saving on Toner Costs

Before you buy a new toner cartridge product, here are some money-saving tips.

How Much Does Toner Cost?

1. Buy High-Yield Toner Cartridges

From a cost-per-page perspective, although high-capacity toner is more expensive, the increased page yield reduces the cost per page. We compared several toners with different capacities. These included Canon 046 vs 046H, Canon 070 vs 070H, HP 202A vs 202X, Brother TN630 vs TN660, Brother TN730 vs TN760 vs TN770, etc. The results showed that the high-yield versions offer better value compared to the standard-yield options. This is suitable for users who print frequently. Of course, if there are higher-capacity toners, it is best to calculate the cost per page.

2. Buy in Bulk

You can save money by buying multiple toner cartridges, such as CMY, KCMY, and 2 black. Many stores provide black and color combo packs, which have a lower average cost than buying single packs. Plus, buying black toner cartridges for monochrome printers in multi-packs will also give you a lower average price. E.g., Canon 057H 2-Pack, Canon 071 2-Pack, Brother TN830 2-Pack, HP 58A 4-Pack, HP 134X 4-Pack, Brother TN760 8-Pack, Brother TN920UXXL 10-Pack.

3. Use Compatible or Remanufactured

No matter what laser printer you have, there are many compatible or remanufactured toner cartridges on the market. These third-party suppliers offer affordable replacements without sacrificing print quality, and they also do a good job with service. Just make sure you choose a trusted supplier, such as YB Toner and True Image.

4. Choose No Chip Cartridge

You may notice these words on third-party vendor stores. The research and development costs for toner cartridge chips are very high, which contributes to the overall price of toner cartridges. To offer more affordable options, compatible toner brands provide “no-chip” versions, which are less expensive than those with chips. However, you’ll need a tool to transfer the chip from an old genuine cartridge, like the HP 206A Toner Set (No Chip).

5. Take Advantage of Promotions

OEM, compatible, and remanufactured brand stores often offer attractive discounts during holidays and special events, such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Back-to-School sales. These promotions can provide significant savings on toner purchases and are a great opportunity to stock up. It’s a good idea to take advantage of these savings.

6. Subscribe to Save Money

Brands like HP have launched subscription services in recent years, like HP Instant Ink, where you get cartridges based on usage. In addition, most printing supplies websites offer discounts for signing up for a subscription, which you can also use to buy toner cartridges.

Buy affordable ink and toner cartridges at YB Toner

V. How Many Pages Can a Toner Cartridge Print?

The number of pages a toner cartridge can print is determined by its page yield, which is the estimated number of pages you can print before you need to replace it. Page yield is usually based on a standard of 5% page coverage, meaning only 5% of the paper surface is covered with text or images. However, actual page yields may vary depending on many factors and will typically be less than advertised.

Generally speaking, a standard-yield toner cartridge may print about 1,200 – 3,000 pages; a high-yield toner cartridge may print 3,500 – 10,000 pages or more.

What Factors Affect Page Yield?

The main factors affecting actual page output include:

Print Coverage: The higher the coverage, the fewer pages you get. When printing at 5% coverage, you’ll see a few lines of text in your document. But in life, our documents are much longer than that, which means the coverage is much higher than 5%, so you get fewer pages.

Print Quality Settings: Using a higher quality setting, such as “Best” or “Photo,” will consume more toner. This also reduces overall yield compared to “Draft” or “Standard” settings.

Document Type: Text-heavy documents yield more pages than those filled with images or graphics. This is because images and graphics use more toner, reducing page yield.

How Much Does Toner Cost

VI. How to Choose Laser Toner?

There are several points to consider when choosing the right toner cartridge for laser printers.

1. Consider Print Quality

If you prioritize the best print quality and maximum reliability, OEM toner is your best choice. If you want to get a less expensive cartridge that still has good quality, then look for compatible toner or remanufactured toner. The performance of the latter two can sometimes vary between manufacturers, and the most important thing is to buy from a trusted brand.

2. Consider Cost Performance

Compatible and remanufactured toners are more cost-effective than OEM ones, provided the print quality is good. Also, if you print frequently, it is better to buy the high-yield version of the same model, as it has a better long-term value than the standard-yield version.

3. Consider Print Volume

Light Printing: If you print occasionally (less than 500 pages per month), you may not need high-yield toner. In this case, standard-yield cartridges may be sufficient, even though they have a higher cost per page. You save on upfront expenses and avoid the risk of not using the toner for an extended period, which can degrade its quality.

Heavy printing: For businesses or individuals who print more than 1,000 pages per month, high-yield or even ultra-high-yield cartridges will save you money in the long run. These cartridges require fewer replacements, lowering your overall cost.

VII. Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Toner

1. Is Color Toner Expensive?

Yes, color toner (cyan, magenta, yellow) is usually more expensive than black toner. A color toner cartridge costs about $60 to $400, while the corresponding black toner is $5 to $100 cheaper, costing about $55 to $300.

2. Does Toner Cost More than Ink?

Initially, yes. Printer toner cartridges have a higher upfront cost compared to printer ink cartridges. However, toner provides a higher page yield. This means the cartridges last longer. Ultimately, they cost less per page and are more cost-effective in the long run.

3. How Much Does It Cost to Refill Toners?

Refilling a toner cartridge typically costs $20 to $40, depending on the brand and type. With the rise of affordable compatible and remanufactured toner cartridges, many users have shifted away from refills to save money. Refills are now used primarily in high-volume printers because of the high cost of replacing cartridges.

4. What Is the Difference Between Toner and Ink Cartridges?

The main difference between toner and ink cartridges is the type of printing technology they are based on. Toner is used in laser printers, while ink cartridges are used in inkjet printers. Toner is more durable and better suited for high-volume printing, while ink cartridges are cheaper but have lower print yields and tend to dry out over time. Read more in our blog: What Is a Toner Cartridge; What Is an Inkjet Printer.

VIII. Conclusion

Toner plays an essential role in laser printers. Understanding the different types of toner, their costs, and how to save on toner can help you make an informed purchasing decision.

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