Ink Cartridges Price Comparison 2026

Printer ink has a reputation for being one of the most expensive liquids on the planet — and the data backs that up. With 3,981 cartridges listed across our catalogue, prices stretch from 8 £ to 263 £, and the gap between a savvy purchase and a careless one can easily double your annual printing costs. We've combed through the numbers so you don't have to.

Epson dominates sheer volume here with over 1,500 references, though HP commands the highest average spend — their PageWide and OfficeJet Pro lines push the average well above the market median. Brother, by contrast, is the quiet overachiever: a much lower average price, solid OEM quality, and cartridges that regularly undercut the competition on cost per page. If you're running a home office and printing mostly documents, Brother deserves serious consideration before you default to the brand printed on your printer box.

The original vs compatible debate is very much alive in this category. OEM cartridges from HP, Canon, and Epson guarantee chip authentication and manufacturer warranty — important if your printer is still under guarantee. But third-party brands like Activejet and G&G have matured considerably, and for straightforward document printing, the savings can be substantial. The risk lies in firmware updates: HP in particular has a history of pushing printer updates that block non-OEM cartridges, so check compatibility carefully before committing to a compatible alternative.

One figure worth keeping in mind: the median price sits at 33 £, but the majority of everyday home-use cartridges fall well below that. Multi-packs and XL high-yield options account for much of the upper range. If you're comparing a standard-yield cartridge against an XL version, always calculate the cost per page (CPP) — a cartridge priced at twice the standard rate but offering three times the page yield is almost always the better buy. Our listings for printer ink refills and toner cartridges section covers over 7,500 references across all major brands.

How to Choose the Right Ink Cartridge Without Wasting Money

Buying the wrong ink cartridge is one of the most common — and most avoidable — printing mistakes. Between model-specific compatibility, yield variants, and the OEM vs compatible minefield, there's a lot to get wrong. Here's what actually matters when comparing cartridges across brands and price points.

Printer model compatibility — check twice, buy once

This is non-negotiable. Cartridges are not interchangeable between printer models, and even within the same brand, a cartridge designed for an HP OfficeJet will not fit an HP DeskJet. Before anything else, locate your printer's exact model number (usually on a sticker underneath the device) and cross-reference it with the cartridge's compatibility list. Buying blind based on brand alone is the single most common reason for returns. If you're unsure, use the search filter on the product page — it will save you a wasted trip to Argos or a return to Amazon.

Standard vs XL yield — the cost-per-page calculation

A standard cartridge might look cheaper on the shelf, but the XL version almost always wins on cost per page (CPP). Standard yield cartridges typically cover 200–500 pages at 5% page coverage; high-yield XL versions push that to 1,000–2,000 pages, and XXL super-high-yield options go beyond 3,000. The maths is simple: divide the cartridge price by its page yield. If you print more than a few dozen pages a month, the XL is almost always the rational choice. The only exception is if you print so infrequently that the cartridge might dry out before you finish it — in which case, a standard yield reduces waste.

OEM original vs compatible — an honest assessment

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cartridges from HP, Epson, Canon, and Brother are more expensive but come with chip authentication, manufacturer warranty, and guaranteed compatibility. Compatible third-party cartridges (from brands like Activejet or G&G) can cost significantly less and work perfectly well for everyday document printing. The real risk with compatibles is firmware: HP and Epson have both issued printer firmware updates that deliberately block non-OEM cartridges. If you rely on a compatible, disable automatic firmware updates on your printer. Remanufactured cartridges sit in between — refilled and tested originals, generally reliable but with variable quality control depending on the supplier.

Individual colours vs multi-packs — don't pay for ink you won't use

Tri-colour cartridges (CMY in a single unit) are convenient but wasteful: if you run out of magenta, you discard the remaining cyan and yellow too. Individual colour cartridges cost more per unit but are far more economical if your usage is uneven — which it almost always is. Black ink depletes fastest for document printing; colour cartridges last much longer. Multi-packs (4-pack or 5-pack CMYK sets) offer the best value for balanced colour printing, but only if you'll actually use all colours at a similar rate. Check whether your printer supports individual colour replacement before buying a combo pack.

Dye-based vs pigment ink — it depends what you're printing

Most consumer inkjet printers use dye-based ink, which produces vibrant colours and is ideal for photos. However, dye-based prints fade faster and are more susceptible to water damage. Pigment-based ink offers superior longevity and document permanence — better for archival documents or anything that needs to last. Epson's WorkForce range and many Brother models use pigment black ink for text, which is why their document output often looks sharper and more durable than HP DeskJet equivalents. If you're printing photos, dye-based is generally preferable; for office documents, pigment wins on longevity.

Shelf life and bulk buying — a trap for infrequent printers

Buying in bulk looks attractive when prices drop during Black Friday or Boxing Day sales, but ink cartridges have a shelf life of typically 12–24 months from manufacture date. Buy too many and you risk cartridges drying out or becoming unusable before you open them. Check the expiry date printed on the packaging before stocking up. If you print infrequently (less than once a week), buying a single standard-yield cartridge at a time is often more economical than bulk-buying XL packs that sit in a drawer for two years.

• Entry-level and budget picks (From 8 £ to 15 £) : Mostly individual standard-yield cartridges from Brother (LC series) and compatible/third-party brands like G&G and Actis. Perfectly adequate for occasional printing, though page yield is limited. Brother's LC-121 and LC-1100 series sit comfortably here — genuine OEM quality at a price that doesn't sting. Avoid unknown-brand compatibles at the very bottom of this range; chip compatibility issues are more common.
• The sweet spot for home users (From 15 £ to 33 £) : This is where most sensible home-use purchases land. You'll find HP 305, HP 963, and Brother LC422 originals here, alongside XL versions of popular Brother cartridges. Multi-packs start appearing at this level. Good balance of OEM reliability and reasonable cost per page. Most Currys and John Lewis shoppers end up in this bracket without realising there are better-value options just above.
• XL and multi-pack territory (From 33 £ to 78 £) : HP 303XL, HP 953XL, HP 963XL, and Epson XL multi-packs dominate this range. The cost per page drops significantly compared to the entry tier. If you print regularly — say, 100+ pages a month — this is where you should be shopping. Epson's higher average price reflects their larger catalogue of professional and photo-oriented cartridges. Canon multi-packs also appear here and are worth comparing directly against HP equivalents.
• High-volume and professional (Over 78 £) : HP PageWide cartridges (like the 973X), Epson professional series, and Peach-branded high-capacity options. Designed for office environments printing hundreds of pages weekly. The HP 973X High Yield PageWide cartridge is a prime example — expensive upfront but the cost per page is among the lowest in the entire catalogue. Only makes sense if your monthly print volume justifies the outlay. Avoid this tier for home use — you'll almost certainly not exhaust the cartridge before it expires.

Top products

• HP 305 Black Original Ink Cartridge (HP) : The most accessible entry point in HP's OEM range — genuinely affordable for occasional home use, but the standard yield is modest. If you print more than a couple of times a week, step up to the 305XL immediately.
• HP 303XL High Yield Black Original Ink Cartridge (HP) : A solid XL pick for HP DeskJet and Envy users — the high yield makes the cost per page genuinely competitive. Pair it with the 303XL Tri-colour for a capable home printing combo, though the price can vary noticeably between retailers.
• HP 912 4-pack Black/Cyan/Magenta/Yellow Original Ink Cartridges (HP) : The most practical multi-pack for HP OfficeJet Pro users who print a mix of documents and colour. Individual colour replacement means no wasted ink — a clear advantage over tri-colour combos. Not the cheapest upfront, but the value per page is hard to argue with.
• Brother LC-121Y ink cartridge 1 pc(s) Original Yellow (Brother) : Remarkably low price for a genuine OEM cartridge — Brother's LC-121 series consistently undercuts HP and Canon on cost without sacrificing quality. Best for light colour printing; heavy users should look at the LC-1100 high-yield alternative instead.
• HP 973X High Yield Black Original PageWide Cartridge (HP) : Expensive upfront and only relevant if you own an HP PageWide Pro printer — but in that context, the cost per page is exceptional. A poor choice for anyone without a compatible PageWide device; an excellent choice for high-volume office environments that do.

Related categories

• Toner Cartridges
• Printer Ink Refills
• Printer Kits
• Print Heads
• Printer Drums
• Printer Ribbons
• Printer Cleaning
• Imaging Units
• Toner Collectors
• Thermal Ribbon