Ink & Toner Buying Guide
Expert advice and ink & toner solutions from Quill
Ink and toner: What's the difference?
When selecting the right cartridge for your printer, the first thing you might be wondering is, do I need ink or toner? That answer depends on the type of printer you have: inkjet printers use ink, while laser printers use toner.
Beyond usage, the main difference between ink and toner is that ink is a liquid and toner is a powder. Within an inkjet printer, ink is sprayed onto the paper. Laser printing is a more complex process involving electrical charges and heat to adhere the loose powder to the paper.
You can achieve color printing with both ink and toner, but an inkjet printer is recommended for higher quality, more vibrant prints. However, a color laser printer will print the occasional chart or graph just fine. CMYK printing is the system by which all colors are created, using Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y), and Black (K) cartridges.
OEM vs remanufactured vs compatible cartridges: What's the difference?
When it comes to ink and toner cartridges, you have three options: OEM (Original equipment manufacturer), remanufactured, and compatible. Let's take a look at the differences, to help you decide what's right for your printing needs.
OEM printer cartridges are your brand name cartridges, such as HP, Canon, and Brother. These cartridges are made specifically for your printer, so you never have to second-guess compatibility. However, OEM cartridges typically come with a higher price point and have a higher environmental impact than remanufactured cartridges.
Remanufactured cartridges are OEM cartridges that have been professionally cleaned and refilled with fresh ink or toner before quality-tested to ensure performance. This makes them a more sustainable choice that can be offered at a lower price point.
Compatible cartridges are cartridges that are made to be similar to OEM cartridges but at a lower price point. Unlike remanufactured cartridges, these cartridges are made of entirely new materials. So, while they are more cost-effective than OEMs, they are not any more environmentally-friendly.
Read on for a deeper dive into the pros and cons of OEM, remanufactured, and compatible cartridges.
Benefits of Quill® remanufactured cartridges
Remanufactured cartridges are a budget friendly and environmentally friendly choice. Quill® remanufactured cartridges also come with a lifetime guarantee. Our remanufactured ink and toner cartridges are quality tested to ensure performance equal to or better than the original.
Here are the top benefits of Quill® remanufactured cartridges:
- Compatible: Over 1,000 SKUs + Our ink and toner find tool makes it easy to find the right one for your printer
- Sustainable: Reduce plastic waste and lower your carbon footprint + GreenCircle certified
- Cost-saving: Priced 30-50% lower than OEM cartridges
- Reliable: Quality-tested to ensure performance + Lifetime guarantee
You can find Quill® remanufactured cartridges in standard yield cartridges, high yield cartridges, color cartridges, and many more options.
If you have questions about making the switch from OEM to remanufactured cartridges for your business, feel free to reach out to our Tech Product Experts at 800.634.0321x6 or technology@quill.com
How to select the right cartridge for your printer
Uh oh, you're running low on ink or toner and you've never changed the cartridge before.
Let's walk through how to find the right cartridge for your printer:
- First, locate your printer model number. This should be easy to find, typically on the front or top of the printer. The series number should be right there, too.
- Next, visit Quill's ink and toner finder tool and type in the printer info you just gathered.
- Now, you'll see all the compatible cartridges we offer, including OEM and remanufactured options.
But we know it's not always that simple. Sometimes, you need a little extra help, and that's where our Quill Tech Product Experts come in. Give them a call at 800.634.0321x6 or email them at technology@quill.com
Other helpful tips if you can't locate your printer info:
- Check the old cartridge
- Check the manufacturer's website
Comparing standard yield vs high yield vs multipack cartridges
Whether you need standard yield, high yield, or multipack cartridges depends on how many pages your office prints every day and how often supply orders are placed.
Let's look at the differences between these three options so you can decide what's right for your printing needs.
Standard yield cartridges can print 120 - 300 pages. These are a good option for offices that don't print too many pages per week. This is especially true for ink cartridges, as ink can dry out in a cartridge that's been sitting for too long.
High yield cartridges, also called "XL cartridges," can print 300 - 100 pages, depending on the exact cartridge. If your office prints in high volume, high yield will be more cost-effect, convenient, and environmentally conscious than standard yield.
Multipack cartridges are cartridges that are sold in multiples of two or more for a lower bulk price. You can find multipacks of standard yield and multipacks of high yield. Multipacks of standard yield cartridges are a great option for offices that don't print frequently enough to benefit from high yield cartridges but still want to stock up for convenience.
When to replace printer cartridges
If you're the one buying supplies for the whole office, it's important to know how long your printer cartridges will last so you know how often you need to order. The answer will depend on two things: 1. The type of cartridge and 2. How many pages are being printed every day.
Standard yield cartridges can print 120 - 300 prints before they run out, while high yield can deliver 300 - 1000. So, say you're buying high yield cartridges that deliver up to 800 pages per cartridge. Then let's say, on average, your office prints 25 pages a day. That means you'll need to change the cartridge, approximately, once a month.
Of course, if you lose track of how long it's been since you've changed your cartridge, there are signs you can look out for to alert you.
Signs it's time to change your printer cartridge:
- Low ink or toner warning on printer
- Streaky prints
- Poor quality prints
Ink and toner care and storage tips
Proper care and storage will help you get the most out of your cartridges.
First, care. You always want to handle a cartridge with care to prevent any damage. When installing it, be gentle and minimize contact as you follow the manufacturer's instructions.
You also want to ensure special care and cleaning of the printer components that interact with the ink or toner. A printer maintenance kit can be a big help with this.
When maintaining a laser printer, you'll want to make sure you change the printer drum either every 6 months, 1 year, or 3 years, depending on how much use the printer gets. You'll know it's time to change the drum if the printer gives you a warning, an unusual sound starts happening when printing, your printer seems to be using toner faster than usual, or your prints are turning out streaky/lower quality.
Next, storage. If you're stocking up on cartridges, you'll want to make sure you store them at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, and in a safe place where they won't be easily knocked over. When stored properly, unopened cartridges have a shelf life of two years and opened cartridges have a shelf life of six months.
Specialty ink and toner
There are some types of printing that require specialty ink and toner.
MICR toner is used in the banking industry for check processing. It stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition and offers extra security to reduce the risk of fraud.
Postage ink is the special ink that goes into a postage meter, which calculates and affixes the proper postage to mail without the need for stamps.
