HP 952XL cartridges offer a significantly lower cost per page than standard HP 952 ink. HP 952XL black cartridges yield up to 2,000 pages, doubling the 1,000-page yield of standard HP 952 black cartridges. Tracked retail data shows compatible 952XL cartridges starting at $13.99 ($0.008744 per page) at Newegg.
The Short Answer
The HP 952XL wins on cost per page. To answer the keyword query "hp 952 vs hp 952xl ink cost per page which is cheaper", we must look at both side-by-side. The standard HP 952 black cartridge yields approximately 1,000 pages. In contrast, our tracked data shows the cheapest 952XL listing is the SPEEDYINKS Compatible Replacement for HP 952XL Yellow at Newegg for $13.99, yielding $0.008744 per page. The 952XL's higher page yield is what drives the per-page cost down, making it the cheaper option.
Price Per Page Breakdown
Here is every tracked listing from our live data, broken down per-cartridge or per-color so the math is honest:
| Listing | Retailer | Price | $/Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPEEDYINKS Compatible HP 952XL Yellow (Single-Pack) | Newegg | $13.99 | $0.008744 |
| Smart Ink Compatible HP 952XL 4-Pack Combo (Per Color) | Amazon | $44.99 | $0.022495 |
| HP 952XL Remanufactured (2 Black, 1 CMY) | Newegg | $103.49 | $0.051745 |
| HP 952XL Black + 952 CMY (N9K28AN) | Amazon | $167.89 | $0.083945 |
| HP 952XL Combo Pack (Compatible) | Newegg | $224.99 | $0.112495 |
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked 952XL listing is $211.00 in total price and $0.103751 per page. The cheapest option costs $0.008744/page; the most expensive costs $0.112495/page.
Same Capacity, Same Tier?
No. The HP 952XL black cartridge is rated for up to 2,000 pages. The standard HP 952 black cartridge is rated for up to 1,000 pages. For yellow, the 952XL is rated at up to 1,450 pages. At equal cartridge prices, the 952XL spreads that cost across twice as many printed pages. You can browse 2,000-page yield cartridges directly in our ranked index.
What the Extra Cost Buys You
The tracked listings fall into three tiers:
Tier 1 — Compatible single cartridges ($13.99–$44.99): The SPEEDYINKS single yellow cartridge at $13.99 and the Smart Ink 4-pack combo at $44.99 are third-party compatible cartridges. They use the same HP 952XL form factor and fit the same OfficeJet Pro printers (7720, 7740, 8210, 8702, 8710, 8720, 8730, 8740).
Tier 2 — Remanufactured combo packs ($103.49): This Newegg listing includes 2 black and 1 each cyan, magenta, and yellow remanufactured 952XL cartridges. Remanufactured means original HP plastic shells that have been cleaned, refilled, and resold by a third party.
Tier 3 — Genuine HP OEM ($167.89–$224.99): The HP N9K28AN listing at $167.89 includes one genuine HP 952XL black cartridge plus standard-yield HP 952 cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges. The $224.99 listing is a compatible combo pack — not OEM — despite the higher price.
The price difference between the cheapest compatible ($13.99) and the genuine HP combo ($167.89) is $153.90. Whether OEM ink delivers better print quality is a question of output results, not cost. Our data tracks price. For a broader brand comparison, see our HP vs Canon vs Epson vs Brother ink analysis.
Compatibility & Firmware Warnings
When buying third-party cartridges, shoppers should be aware of chip-recognition issues. Compatible 952XL cartridges frequently experience problems when OfficeJet Pro 8720 and 8740 printers receive automatic firmware updates. This is the #1 real-world complaint shoppers have, as HP firmware updates often block non-OEM chips, resulting in "cartridge damaged" or "incompatible" errors. Disabling automatic firmware updates on your printer is highly recommended if you plan to use compatible cartridges.
When Each Makes Sense
- Choose compatible HP 952XL cartridges if you want the lowest cost per page. At $0.008744/page (SPEEDYINKS, Newegg), you pay $13.99 for a single high-yield yellow cartridge. The Smart Ink 4-pack at $44.99 ($0.022495/page) covers all four colors in one purchase.
- Choose genuine HP 952XL cartridges if OEM warranty coverage or color consistency matters enough to justify paying $0.083945/page ($167.89 for the N9K28AN combo at Amazon). That is $122.90 more than the Smart Ink 4-pack for the same four-color coverage.
Verdict
The HP 952XL is cheaper per page than the standard HP 952. The cheapest tracked 952XL listing costs $0.008744/page (SPEEDYINKS compatible, $13.99 at Newegg). Among tracked 952XL options, compatible cartridges from SPEEDYINKS and Smart Ink deliver the lowest per-page cost. Genuine HP OEM cartridges cost up to $0.112495/page. Our pricing methodology explains how we compute per-page costs from live retailer listings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the HP 952XL print more pages than the HP 952?
Yes. The HP 952XL black cartridge is rated for up to 2,000 pages. The standard HP 952 black cartridge is rated for up to 1,000 pages. For yellow, the 952XL yields up to 1,450 pages.
What is the cost per page for an HP 952XL cartridge?
The cheapest tracked HP 952XL listing in our data is the SPEEDYINKS compatible yellow cartridge at $13.99 from Newegg, yielding $0.008744 per page. The Smart Ink 4-pack combo costs $44.99 at $0.022495 per page. Genuine HP OEM cartridges run as high as $0.112495 per page.
Are compatible HP 952XL cartridges cheaper than original HP ink?
Yes. The cheapest compatible 952XL cartridge (SPEEDYINKS, $13.99) costs $0.008744/page. The cheapest genuine HP OEM listing (N9K28AN, $167.89) costs $0.083945/page. The dollar gap between those two listings is $153.90.
Is it worth buying the HP 952XL combo pack instead of single cartridges?
The Smart Ink 4-pack combo at $44.99 ($0.022495/page) covers black, cyan, magenta, and yellow in one purchase. The cheapest single-cartridge option tracked is the SPEEDYINKS yellow at $13.99 ($0.008744/page), but that covers one color only.
Page yield source: HP official spec sheets for HP 952 and HP 952XL ink cartridges.