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| ¢/page ▲ | Cartridge / bottle | Brand | Price | Page yield |
|---|
How we rank. Cost per page = cartridge or bottle price ÷ ISO page yield, in cents. The eye-opener: ink-tank bottles (Epson EcoTank, Canon MegaTank, HP Smart Tank) run at roughly 0.3-0.5¢/page, while standard cartridges are 5-15¢. If you print often, a tank printer is the single biggest saving on this page. XL cartridges beat standard ones every time. Prices are in AUD, checked periodically, confirm at the retailer before buying.
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Common questions
How is cost per page calculated?
Cartridge price ÷ its ISO page yield, shown in cents per page. A cheap cartridge that prints very few pages usually costs more per page than a dearer high-yield one.
What's the cheapest way to print at home?
An ink-tank printer (EcoTank, MegaTank, Smart Tank). You refill from bottles at roughly 0.3-0.5¢/page versus 5-15¢ for cartridges. It costs more up front but pays for itself fast if you print much.
Are XL cartridges cheaper?
Almost always. XL cartridges cost more up front but hold far more ink, so the cost per page is usually much lower than the standard size of the same cartridge.
Do compatible (third-party) cartridges work?
Often yes and they're cheaper, but quality varies and some printers block non-genuine ink via firmware. For important prints, genuine or ink-tank refills are the safer bet.