Printer ink is one of the most common ongoing home or office printing overheads. While cutting corners to save money on printer ink may be tempting, using poor-quality ink can lead to faded prints, smudging, and even printer damage. The good news is that you can reduce your ink costs without sacrificing print quality — if you know how.
Whether you’re looking to save money on HP ink cartridges, cut everyday printing costs, or become your own saving expert on printer ink, here are the most effective ways to cut costs while still getting sharp, reliable results.
1. Save Money by Choosing Compatible or Remanufactured Ink from a Trusted Supplier
Buying original ink cartridges directly from the manufacturer can be expensive. An excellent alternative is to use compatible or remanufactured cartridges, which offer significant savings and similar performance, as long as they come from a reputable supplier.
- At Stinkyink, all our compatible cartridges are:
- Fully tested for quality and reliability
- Guaranteed to work with your printer
- Covered by our 12-month money-back guarantee
This means you get quality prints for less, with peace of mind and no compromise on performance.
2. Use Draft Mode for Everyday Printing
If you're printing notes, drafts, or internal documents, your printer's 'Draft' or 'Economy' mode can significantly reduce ink use. This setting uses less ink per page and prints more quickly, making it ideal for everyday tasks.
You can usually find this option in the print settings menu on your computer or printer.
3. Don’t Replace Cartridges Too Early
Printers often display low-ink warnings well before the cartridge is empty. You may be able to print dozens more pages before any noticeable drop in quality.
Wait until you see visible fading or poor print results before replacing the cartridge. This can stretch your ink supply and reduce waste without compromising print quality.
When you replace your cartridge, remember to take advantage of Stinkyink’s free recycling scheme. Simply return your empty cartridges using our prepaid recycling envelopes, and we’ll ensure they’re disposed of responsibly, helping you save money and reduce environmental impact at the same time.
4. Keep Your Printer Clean and Maintained to Avoid Wasting Ink
Clogged printheads and dirty rollers can lead to streaks, smudging, or blank spots, which waste ink and paper. Regular maintenance helps keep your printer running efficiently.
Tips include:
- Running your printer's built-in cleaning and alignment tools occasionally
- Turning the printer off properly to prevent drying out
- Printing a page at least once every couple of weeks to keep the ink flowing
5. Print in Black and White When Colour Isn’t Needed
Colour printing uses multiple ink cartridges, even for black text if the settings aren't adjusted. Switch to monochrome printing when colour isn’t necessary.
Check your print settings to ensure you’re using 'Black & White' or 'Greyscale' to limit unnecessary colour ink usage.
6. Choose the Ink-Saving Fonts and Layouts
Some fonts use more ink than others. For example, Calibri and Garamond use less ink than heavier fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, even though they might look quite similar!
Other smart formatting tips include:
- Reducing margins
- Printing double-sided
- Avoiding bold or large font sizes unless essential
Minor changes to your document design can add up over time.
7. Save Money and Buy in Multipacks or XL Cartridges
XL (high-yield) cartridges such as our Epson 603XL ink or HP 305XL ink contain more ink and typically provide a lower cost per page. Similarly, multi-cartridge packs often offer better value than buying cartridges individually.
At Stinkyink, we offer great-value multipacks and high-yield options for all major printer brands, including HP, Canon and Epson.
Final Thoughts
Saving money on printer ink doesn't have to mean poor print quality. By choosing compatible cartridges from trusted sources, printing smarter, and keeping your printer in good condition, you can enjoy sharp, reliable prints for less.
Browse our full range of ink cartridges at Stinkyink and find quality ink that fits your budget, with free delivery and our money-back guarantee.
FAQ
Are compatible ink cartridges safe?
Yes, compatible ink cartridges are generally safe to use-provided you buy them from a reputable supplier. They are designed to work with your printer model, though they’re made by third-party manufacturers rather than the original brand. While some low-quality versions can cause issues like clogging or poor print quality, high-quality compatible cartridges often perform just as well as originals at a lower price.
Do generic ink cartridges really save money?
Yes, generic ink cartridges can offer significant cost savings-often 30–70% cheaper than original brand cartridges. The savings come from reduced branding, packaging, and marketing costs. Just be sure to choose a reliable brand with good reviews to ensure consistent performance and avoid potential damage to your printer.
Why are originals more expensive?
Original (OEM) ink cartridges are more expensive due to the cost of research, development, and testing that manufacturers invest to ensure optimal performance with their printers. OEMs also rely on ink sales to subsidize the lower upfront cost of printers. Packaging, branding, and patent protections also contribute to the higher price.
Which saves more ink, grayscale or black and white?
Black and white mode typically saves more ink than grayscale. Grayscale printing may use a mix of black and colour inks to produce shades of gray, whereas black and white mode uses only black ink. If your goal is to conserve ink, choose the black and white or "monochrome" setting when available.
Does toner work out cheaper than ink cartridges?
Yes, in the long run, toner is often more cost-effective than ink cartridges. While laser printers and toner cartridges have a higher upfront cost, they yield significantly more pages per cartridge, making the cost per page lower than that of inkjet printers. Toner also doesn’t dry out over time like ink can, which reduces waste.
