Printer Ink & Toner

Q: What is the cheapest printer ink per page?

The cheapest ink per page is typically found with high-yield compatible cartridges. Standard ink cartridges cost $0.05–$0.15/page, while XL cartridges drop to $0.03–$0.08/page. Compatible cartridges can cut costs by 30–50% vs OEM.

Q: Are XL ink cartridges worth buying?

Almost always yes. XL (high-yield) cartridges have a lower cost per page than standard cartridges even though they cost more upfront. The page yield math almost always favors XL — divide the price by the page yield and compare.

Q: Are compatible/third-party ink cartridges safe to use?

Yes. Compatible cartridges cannot void your printer warranty under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Modern compatibles print nearly as well as OEM for documents and save 30–50%. OEM is recommended for professional photo printing.

Q: Should I buy ink or toner?

Inkjet printers are cheaper upfront ($30–$80) but cost more per page ($0.05–$0.15). Laser toner printers cost more upfront ($150–$400) but are cheaper per page ($0.01–$0.05) for high-volume printing. If you print more than 200 pages/month, laser is usually cheaper long-term.

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Rank		Type
301	HP 210A (W2100AQ1) Original Cartridge Toner CMYK 4-Pk for 4201/4301 Series HPAmazonPrice history →	Toner	2K pages	$526.89	$0.263View at Amazon
302	Canon 069 Toner Cartridge Set – 4 Pack (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) \| Compatible Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw, MF653Cdw, LBP674Cdw, LBP633Cdw \| Standard Yield Toner Replacement Set CanonAmazonPrice history →	Toner	1.9K pages	$542.48	$0.286View at Amazon
303	HP 826A LaserJet Toner Cartridge - Cyan HPNeweggPrice history →	Toner	1.5K pages	$780.99	$0.521View at Newegg
304	Canon Genuine 052 Black Toner Cartridge High Capacity Compatible with LBP214dw, LBP215dw, MF424dw, MF426dw, MF429dw CanonAmazonPrice history →	Toner	100 pages	$189.89	$1.899View at Amazon

301

HP 210A (W2100AQ1) Original Cartridge Toner CMYK 4-Pk for 4201/4301 Series

Canon 069 Toner Cartridge Set – 4 Pack (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) | Compatible Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw, MF653Cdw, LBP674Cdw, LBP633Cdw | Standard Yield Toner Replacement Set

HP 826A LaserJet Toner Cartridge - Cyan

Canon Genuine 052 Black Toner Cartridge High Capacity Compatible with LBP214dw, LBP215dw, MF424dw, MF426dw, MF429dw

301

HP 210A (W2100AQ1) Original Cartridge Toner CMYK 4-Pk for 4201/4301 Series

HPAmazonToner

Page Yield

2K pages

Price

$526.89

$/page

$0.263

Check Price at Amazon ↗

302

Canon 069 Toner Cartridge Set – 4 Pack (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) | Compatible Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw, MF653Cdw, LBP674Cdw, LBP633Cdw | Standard Yield Toner Replacement Set

CanonAmazonToner

Page Yield

1.9K pages

Price

$542.48

$/page

$0.286

Check Price at Amazon ↗

303

HP 826A LaserJet Toner Cartridge - Cyan

HPNeweggToner

Page Yield

1.5K pages

Price

$780.99

$/page

$0.521

Check Price at Newegg ↗

304

Canon Genuine 052 Black Toner Cartridge High Capacity Compatible with LBP214dw, LBP215dw, MF424dw, MF426dw, MF429dw

CanonAmazonToner

Page Yield

100 pages

Price

$189.89

$/page

$1.899

Check Price at Amazon ↗

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Find the Cheapest Printer Ink & Toner Per Page in 2026

BuyPerUnit is a price-per-page comparison site for printer ink and toner. We compare 855+ cartridges and rank every one by price per page — the only metric that actually tells you which ink is cheapest.

Printer Ink Buying Guide

1. Calculate Price Per Page

Divide the cartridge price by its page yield. A $15 standard cartridge (250 pages) = $0.060/page. A $25 XL cartridge (500 pages) = $0.050/page. The XL saves 17% per page.

2. XL Always Wins on Value

High-yield XL cartridges cost more upfront but almost always have a lower cost per page than standard cartridges. We show both so you can compare and decide based on your budget.

3. OEM vs Compatible

Third-party compatible cartridges save 30-50% and legally cannot void your warranty (Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act). Filter by OEM or Compatible in the sidebar to compare.

4. Ink vs Toner

Inkjet printers are cheaper upfront but cost more per page. Laser toner costs more upfront but delivers a much lower cost per page — ideal for high-volume printing.

Ink vs Toner: Cost Per Page Comparison

Type	Typical $/Page	Best For	Upfront Cost
Ink (Standard)	$0.05–$0.15	Light home printing	Low ($30–80 printer)
Ink (High Yield/XL)	$0.03–$0.08	Regular home/office	Low
Toner (Standard)	$0.02–$0.05	High-volume office	Higher ($150–400)
Toner (High Yield)	$0.01–$0.03	Very high volume	Higher

Frequently Asked Questions About Printer Ink

What is the cheapest printer ink per page?

The cheapest ink per page right now is competitive — check the table above. High-yield compatible cartridges typically offer the lowest cost per page. Toner cartridges are generally cheaper per page than inkjet, especially at high volumes.

Are XL ink cartridges worth buying?

Almost always yes. A standard cartridge at $15 for 250 pages costs $0.060/page. An XL at $25 for 500 pages costs $0.050/page — that's 17% cheaper per page. The upfront cost is higher, but you print more pages per dollar spent. XL cartridges are the single easiest way to lower your printing costs.

Are compatible/third-party ink cartridges safe to use?

Yes. Third-party compatible cartridges save 30-50% over OEM and are legally protected by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act — using them cannot void your printer warranty. Quality has improved dramatically in recent years. OEM cartridges are still recommended for professional photo printing where color accuracy matters most.

What is page yield and how is it measured?

Page yield is the number of pages a cartridge can print before running out. It's measured using the ISO/IEC 24711 standard at 5% page coverage — a standardized test page with a mix of text and small graphics. Heavy photo or graphic printing will reduce your actual yield significantly below the stated number.

Should I buy ink or toner?

It depends on how much you print. If you print fewer than 200 pages per month, an inkjet printer with XL cartridges is usually the most cost-effective option. If you print more than 200 pages per month, a laser printer with toner will save you significantly on cost per page, even though the printer itself costs more upfront.

What's the cheapest way to print at home?

For high-volume printing (500+ pages/month), EcoTank or MegaTank printers with refillable ink tanks offer the absolute lowest cost per page — often under $0.01/page. For low to moderate volume, buying XL cartridges (especially compatible/third-party) is the most practical way to keep costs down without buying a new printer.

When is the best time to buy printer ink?

Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day (July), and back-to-school season (August) typically have the best ink and toner deals. But don't just look at the sale percentage — compare the price per page, which is exactly why we built this site. A 20% off sale on an overpriced cartridge can still be worse than the everyday price on a high-yield alternative.

How do I find cheap ink for my specific printer?

Use the brand filter in the sidebar above to narrow results to your printer brand (HP, Canon, Brother, Epson, etc.). Then sort by price per page to find the cheapest option. Check both OEM and compatible cartridges — compatible options often cost 30-50% less for equivalent page yields.

How We Calculate Price Per Page

BuyPerUnit calculates the price per page for every ink and toner cartridge by dividing the current price by the stated page yield (ISO/IEC 24711 standard at 5% page coverage). This gives you the true cost of printing, making it easy to compare cartridges with different yields and prices.

Products are ranked from best value (lowest $/page) to worst. We update prices daily from Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg. Both OEM and compatible cartridges are included so you can compare all your options in one place.

BuyPerUnit is an affiliate site. We earn a small commission when you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. Prices are updated daily.

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Printer Ink & Toner

Find the Cheapest Printer Ink & Toner Per Page in 2026

Printer Ink Buying Guide

1. Calculate Price Per Page

2. XL Always Wins on Value

3. OEM vs Compatible

4. Ink vs Toner

Ink vs Toner: Cost Per Page Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions About Printer Ink

How We Calculate Price Per Page

Shop Printer Ink & Toner by Brand

Shop Printer Ink & Toner by Page Yield

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