When considering a printer, you will want to understand the differences between high-yield ink and standard ink. Thankfully it is relatively simple; high-yield ink is also known as XL cartridges and holds a larger ink capacity than standard ink cartridges.
Some of the top highly-rated printers can accept high-yield ink, and if you print a lot, you should definitely consider these cartridges.
Key Takeaways_
- High-capacity ink cartridges will provide around 350 pages before needing to be replaced, compared to about 220 with standard ink cartridges.
- These cartridges are available for both inkjet printers and laser printers, as high-yield toner cartridges can also be purchased.
- High-yield cartridges will fit most printers, as it is only the ink reservoir that is larger than average.
What is a High Yield Ink Cartridge?
Simply put, a high-yield ink cartridge boasts a much larger capacity than a standard-sized ink cartridge. Modern printers have high-yield ink cartilages and convert from an RGB spectrum.
If you’re just learning more about printers, check out our other guides for more help. These include what is a printhead on a printer and how to test a printer.
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A traditional ink cartridge will print around 220 pages before needing to be replaced, while a high-yield cartridge will get around 350 pages before needing to be replaced.
A Useful Guide to High-Capacity Ink and Toner Cartridges
Here are some of the key benefits and tips to purchasing and using a high-yield ink cartridge.
| Feature | Standard Ink Cartridges | High-Yield Ink Cartridges |
|---|---|---|
| Ink Capacity | Lower capacity | Significantly higher capacity |
| Page Yield | Fewer pages per cartridge (roughly 220 pages) | More pages per cartridge (roughly 350 pages) |
| Cost-Effectiveness | Lower upfront cost, higher cost per page | Higher upfront cost, lower cost per page |
| Replacement Frequency | More frequent replacements | Less frequent replacements |
| Environmental Impact | May generate more waste | Generates less waste |
| Ideal User | Occasional or low-volume printers | High-volume printers |
| Printer Compatibility | May be compatible with a wide range of printers | Compatibility may vary by printer model |
A Higher Yield
This one should go without saying, but high-yield cartridges will provide many more prints than a standard-sized cartridge.
A traditional ink cartridge will print around 220 pages before needing to be replaced, while a high-yield cartridge will get around 350 pages before needing to be replaced. You can use this increased page yield to help you save money on recurring expenses, such as the purchase of replacement cartridges.
Modern inkjet printers tend to be cheaper, but the cost of replacing ink cartridges can add up quickly.
If you want to have even higher page yields, you may want to learn how you can benefit from an EcoTank vs cartridges.
Ink and Toner
High-capacity cartridges are available for inkjet and laser printers, as you can purchase high-yield or high-capacity toner cartridges. Toner dust is the substance used to reproduce images on a laser printer.
Toner cartridges already feature a fantastic yield of around 2,500 to 3,000 pages, but a high-yield toner cartridge can bump that to around 12,000 prints.
High-yield toner cartridges tend to be much more expensive than standard toner cartridges, so keep this in mind before you purchase.
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Toner cartridges already feature a fantastic yield of around 2,500 to 3,000 pages, but a high-yield toner cartridge will make anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 prints before needing to be replaced.
Fits Most Printers
High-capacity cartridges will include much more ink or toner than traditional cartridges, but they will still fit most common printers. This is because it is only the ink reservoir that is larger, as the cartridge itself will be the same size and format as a cartridge with a smaller yield.
In other words, your high-yield cartridge should fit your printer without any issues. However, we recommend that you conduct some research before purchasing a high-capacity cartridge just to be on the safe side.
STAT: High-capacity cartridges can double the amount of ink included, so you won’t have to replace your cartridges quite as frequently. An XL ink cartridge can have anywhere from 50% more ink to twice the amount of ink in a standard cartridge. (source)
Extra-High Yield Cartridges
In addition to high-yield cartridges, you will occasionally run into extra high-yield cartridges. These ink and toner cartridges are jumbo-sized and tend to fit as much as twice the ink as you will find with a high-yield cartridge.
Note if your printer is from a third-party manufacturer, it may not have a sensor chip. When a toner cartridge lacks a sensor chip, the cartridge will not communicate with the rest of the printer directly.
