Cartridge Yield & Cost Calculator

What this tool does

Enter a cartridge's price and rated page yield to get the cost per page, then optionally enter a project's page count to see how many cartridges you'll need and the total cost.

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Know your true cost per printed page

The sticker price of a printer rarely tells you what printing actually costs — the cartridges do. This calculator turns a cartridge's price and rated yield into a cost per page, the number that lets you compare ink against toner, genuine against compatible, and standard against high-yield cartridges fairly. Enter the price and the rated yield, and optionally a project size, to see cost per page, cartridges needed, and total cost.

Why cost per page matters more than cartridge price

A cheaper cartridge with a low yield can cost more per page than a pricier high-yield one. Cost per page is simply cartridge price divided by rated yield. Comparing that single figure across options reveals the real running cost. High-yield (XL) cartridges almost always win on cost per page even though they cost more up front.

Inkjet colour — often $0.05–$0.15 per page.
Inkjet black — often $0.02–$0.05 per page.
Laser/toner — frequently under $0.03 per page mono.

How to use it

Enter the cartridge price and its rated page yield (printed on the box or spec sheet).
Read the cost per page.
Optionally enter a project's total pages to see cartridges needed and total cost.
Repeat for a second cartridge to compare options on cost per page.

Notes and limitations

Rated yields assume about 5% page coverage (the ISO standard). Heavy graphics, photos, or dense text use far more, so real-world yield is lower.
Colour pages draw from several cartridges at once; mono-only printing is cheaper per page.
This estimates consumable cost only — it excludes the printer, paper, and electricity.

FAQs

Quick answers

How is cost per page calculated?

Divide the cartridge price by its rated page yield. A $40 cartridge rated for 500 pages costs 8 cents per page. Lower is better when comparing options.

Why is my real yield lower than the rating?

Rated yields assume about 5% coverage per page (the ISO test standard). Photos, bold graphics, and dense text use much more ink or toner, so you get fewer pages in practice.

Are high-yield (XL) cartridges cheaper?

Almost always on a cost-per-page basis. They cost more up front but the price per page is usually lower, so they pay off if you print regularly.

Is toner cheaper than ink?

For mono printing, laser toner is usually cheaper per page and lasts longer between changes. Inkjets can be competitive for colour and photos but cost more per page for text volume.

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