Tool
Ink cost per page
Turn a cartridge price and its page yield into a simple cost per page.
How it works
The calculator divides the cartridge price by the page yield. That gives the cost of ink per printed page when each page uses the same amount as the manufacturer’s test page.
- Use the yield for the exact cartridge size you buy.
- Calculate each color and black cartridge separately.
- Real pages vary with coverage, print quality and how often you clean the print head.
Using up ink on repeated test prints and cleaning cycles adds to the cost. Prefer one nozzle check over several full-color sheets, and stop after two cleaning cycles. Related: how often to print a test page.
We do not publish yield or price tables, because they change by model and region. Enter your own numbers from the manufacturer’s page.
Good questions
Where do I find the page yield?
On the cartridge box or the manufacturer’s product page, usually listed as “yield” or “pages”. Use the number for the exact cartridge you buy, because XL and standard sizes differ.
Is the cost per page exact?
No. Manufacturers measure yield with a standard test page, so your real number of pages can be lower or higher depending on what you print. Treat the result as a comparison number, not a promise.
How do I compare color and black?
Calculate each cartridge separately, then add the cost per page of the colors you actually use. A color document often draws on several cartridges at once.
Does a test page use much ink?
It depends on the sheet. A nozzle check covers only a small share of the page; a full-color sheet covers more. Each sheet page shows an ink-use estimate in percent of a page. See all sheets.
Are my numbers saved or sent anywhere?
No. The calculator runs in your browser and does not store or send anything.