If you do a lot of printing, the ink costs can really add up. Here are some of the easiest ways to reduce what you spend without giving up high-quality, colorful print results.
1. Know your printer
Do you know how many pages a single cartridge will last in your printer?
It’s possible to estimate output by carefully reading the specifications for the cartridges designed to work with your printer model. Some printers print at higher resolution by default, which requires them to use more ink.
2. Buy in bulk
Some cartridges come in XL sizing, giving you more ink at one time at a discount over buying two smaller cartridges.
Often, ink can be purchased in bundles, so consumers wanting to save on ink cartridges will be pleased to know that buying a multi-pack usually costs less per unit than buying them individually.
3. Optimize output
Some of your printer’s default options may be set for the best possible print resolution, even if you don’t need it.
If you print photos often or need marketing materials to look sharp, set it to the best quality. Otherwise, there’s no need to use all that ink for printing off an email.
4. Choose grayscale
Did you know that many black-and-white print jobs use more than the just the black ink?
Unless you specify “grayscale only,” your printer may be giving you more quality than you really need. For jobs that don’t require color, shut off these cartridges within your print settings.
5. Pick the right font
Different fonts use different amounts of ink. Arial is one of the more popular default fonts, but it uses 27% more ink than Calibri, Century Gothic, or the classic Times New Roman.
6. Opt for single color cartridges
Does your “empty” color cartridge feel a bit heavy? It may be that only one of the three colors contained within a “tricolor” cartridge is depleted.
By opting instead for a printer that separates the colors out into three smaller cartridges (cyan, magenta, and yellow), you can replace the one that’s empty and not waste the other ink in the process.
7. Maintain your printer
Printer jams and dirty printheads can make your cartridges start to leak ink or, even worse, cause printer malfunctions.
Perform regular maintenance by using the HP print software center, which checks on your ink levels and can clean your printer to help you reduce overall ink usage.
8. Consider an upgrade
Is your printer more than five years old? If so, it’s probably time for an upgrade.
In addition to being more economical in terms of ink usage, today’s printers can connect wirelessly to your home network, receive print jobs from your phone, and even communicate that they need more ink shipped to your home.
Embrace technology and the savings that comes with it by checking out the newer printer models available.