10 Proven Ways to Save Money on Ink and Toner

1. Use Draft Mode for Internal Documents

Most printers offer a draft or economy mode that uses less ink. Perfect for internal memos, rough drafts, and documents that don't require perfect quality.

2. Choose the Right Font

Believe it or not, your font choice affects ink usage. Fonts like Garamond, Times New Roman, and Century Gothic use less ink than Arial or Calibri. Consider switching your default font to save significantly over time.

3. Print in Grayscale When Possible

Color cartridges are typically more expensive than black ink. If color isn't necessary, switch to grayscale printing to preserve your color cartridges.

4. Preview Before Printing

Always use print preview to avoid wasted pages. Check for unnecessary pages, formatting issues, or blank pages that would waste ink and paper.

5. Buy High-Yield Cartridges

High-yield or XL cartridges cost more upfront but offer a lower cost per page. If you print regularly, they're a smart investment.

6. Don't Replace Cartridges Too Early

Printer warnings often appear before cartridges are truly empty. Continue printing until quality deteriorates to get every drop of ink.

7. Keep Your Printer Active

Regular use prevents ink from drying out. Print at least one page per week to keep cartridges fresh and avoid clogs.

8. Use Genuine or High-Quality Compatible Cartridges

While cheap cartridges might seem attractive, they can damage your printer or produce poor results. Stick with genuine or reputable compatible brands.

9. Adjust Print Settings

Reduce print quality for everyday documents, use duplex printing to save paper, and adjust margins to fit more on each page.

10. Consider a Subscription Service

Services like HP Instant Ink can reduce costs if you have predictable printing needs. You pay monthly based on pages printed rather than per cartridge.