Print Heads Price Comparison 2026
Compare 205 print heads from HP, Zebra, Canon and more. Find the best price across leading UK retailers — from desktop to wide-format models.
Print heads are one of those components that rarely get attention until something goes wrong — and when they do, the cost can sting. Our catalogue spans 205 products, ranging from 14 £ for basic desktop replacements right up to 780 £ for industrial-grade thermal heads used in label printing and logistics. That spread tells you a lot about how fragmented this market really is.
HP dominates the listings with 67 products at an average price well below the category mean — largely because their consumer and DesignJet range covers everything from the sub-£20 tri-colour heads for Ink Tank printers to the more serious 700-series units for large-format work. If you're replacing a head on a DesignJet T-series or Z-series plotter, HP's own OEM parts are widely available through Currys, Amazon.co.uk and specialist resellers, and comparing prices across those channels can save you a meaningful amount. We've seen the same HP 746 DesignJet head listed at notably different prices depending on the retailer.
The industrial end of the market is a different story. Zebra, Datamax O'Neil, and Intermec heads — used in thermal transfer label printers common in warehousing, retail, and healthcare — carry significantly higher price tags, with Datamax O'Neil averaging over £700 per unit. These aren't impulse purchases; they're planned maintenance items where getting the exact part number right is non-negotiable. A wrong head doesn't just fail to print — it can damage the platen roller and void your printer warranty. You'll find printer rollers listed separately if you're doing a full service.
Canon's PF-series heads (PF-05, PF-06) sit in the mid-to-upper range and are typically used in imagePROGRAF wide-format printers favoured by photographers and reprographics studios. At around 172 £, they represent a significant but necessary investment for anyone running a professional print workflow. Precision Printheads, a specialist brand with 18 products in our catalogue, offers remanufactured alternatives worth considering if you're cost-conscious — though we'd always recommend checking the warranty terms carefully before committing.
Whether you're maintaining a desktop inkjet, a wide-format plotter, or an industrial label printer, comparing prices before buying is straightforward on MagicPrices. It's also worth timing your purchase — Black Friday and January sales regularly bring discounts on OEM parts from major retailers. For a full printer maintenance overhaul, don't overlook printer cleaning kits and printer kits, which often bundle heads with other consumables at a better combined price.
How to Choose the Right Print Head
With prices spanning from 14 £ to 780 £, picking the wrong print head isn't just frustrating — it can be an expensive mistake. The single most important rule: compatibility comes before everything else. Once you've confirmed the part fits your printer, then you can start thinking about quality, longevity, and value.
Printer compatibility — get this right first
A print head that doesn't match your exact printer model is worthless. This isn't like buying a generic ink cartridge — the head must be electrically and mechanically compatible with your specific unit. For HP DesignJet users, the series number matters enormously: a 731 head won't fit where a 746 is required, even if the printers look similar. Always cross-reference the part number in your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website before purchasing. If you're buying a remanufactured head from a brand like Precision Printheads, double-check their compatibility list — it's usually more detailed than the product title suggests.
OEM vs remanufactured — the real trade-off
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) heads from HP, Canon, or Zebra carry the manufacturer's warranty and are guaranteed to perform to spec. Remanufactured heads cost less — sometimes significantly — but quality varies. For high-volume industrial printers (Zebra, Datamax O'Neil, Intermec), remanufactured heads from reputable specialists can be a sensible choice if you're replacing heads frequently as part of scheduled maintenance. For wide-format photo printing or precision graphics work, we'd lean towards OEM every time. The cost-per-page difference rarely justifies the risk of substandard output on a professional job.
Print technology: thermal inkjet vs thermal transfer
Most desktop and wide-format inkjet heads (HP DesignJet, Canon imagePROGRAF) use thermal inkjet (TIJ) technology, where tiny resistors heat the ink to create droplets. Industrial label printer heads from Zebra, Datamax O'Neil, and Intermec use thermal transfer technology — a completely different mechanism that transfers ink from a ribbon onto a substrate. These two types are not interchangeable, and the replacement process differs considerably. If you're in the industrial space, also check whether your head is direct thermal or thermal transfer, as this affects which thermal ribbons you'll need.
Resolution (DPI) matched to your output needs
For standard document printing, 300–600 DPI is perfectly adequate. If you're printing technical drawings, architectural plans, or photographic prints on a wide-format machine, you'll want a head rated at 1200 DPI or above. Industrial label heads typically operate at 203 or 300 DPI — sufficient for barcodes and text, but not for fine graphics. Buying a higher-resolution head than your printer supports won't improve output; the printer firmware caps the effective resolution regardless.
Estimated lifespan and cost per page
Industrial thermal heads are rated in linear metres or millions of dots — a Zebra or Datamax head might be rated for 5 million linear inches, which translates to years of use in a typical warehouse environment. Inkjet heads for desktop and wide-format printers are less formally rated, but OEM heads generally outlast third-party alternatives. When evaluating cost, factor in the head price against its expected lifespan: a head priced at 284 £ that lasts twice as long as a 97 £ alternative may well be the better investment over 12–18 months of heavy use.
Ink type compatibility
Some heads are optimised for dye-based inks (vivid colours, less durable), others for pigment-based inks (more fade-resistant, better for archival prints). Using the wrong ink type with a head not designed for it can cause clogging, poor adhesion, or permanent damage. HP's DesignJet 700-series heads, for instance, are pigment-optimised — pairing them with dye-based inks is a false economy. If you're also sourcing ink cartridges, make sure the ink chemistry matches the head specification.
- Entry-level replacements (From 14 £ to 97 £) : Primarily HP desktop and Ink Tank series heads (6ZA17AE, 6ZA18AE, Inktank Tri-Color). Suitable for home and light office use. Genuine OEM parts at accessible prices — good value, but limited to lower-volume consumer printers. Not where you'll find industrial or wide-format options.
- The sweet spot for wide-format (From 97 £ to 172 £) : HP DesignJet mid-range heads (731, 746, 70 series) and entry Citizen models sit here. This is the most competitive segment — multiple retailers stock these, so price comparison pays off. Suitable for professional DesignJet T-series users and small reprographics operations.
- Professional and large-format (From 172 £ to 284 £) : Canon PF-05/PF-06, HP 711/713/729 DesignJet kits, and Precision Printheads remanufactured industrial units. Buyers at this level are typically running production workflows. OEM is strongly recommended here — the cost of a failed print run on a professional job outweighs any saving on a third-party head.
- Industrial-grade thermal heads (Over 284 £) : Zebra, Datamax O'Neil, Honeywell, and Toshiba TEC heads for high-volume thermal transfer label printers. Datamax O'Neil averages over £700 in this catalogue. These are planned maintenance purchases, often procured through specialist distributors. Comparing prices across suppliers is particularly worthwhile at this price point.
Top products
- HP 6ZA17AE Black Printhead (HP) : The most affordable genuine OEM head in the catalogue — ideal for HP Ink Tank desktop users who need a straightforward black replacement. Don't expect it to handle anything beyond light home or office use.
- HP 746 DesignJet print head (HP) : One of the most sought-after DesignJet heads for T-series plotters, and rightly so — reliable, widely available, and worth comparing across retailers as prices vary noticeably. A solid choice for professional wide-format users.
- HP 731 DesignJet Printhead (HP) : A dependable mid-range DesignJet head with good availability. Fits a narrower range of printers than the 746, so double-check compatibility before ordering — it's a common source of returns.
- HP 729 DesignJet Printhead Replacement Kit (HP) : The full kit format makes this the sensible choice for a proper DesignJet service — includes everything needed for a clean installation. Pricey, but the right tool for the job on compatible T-series machines.
- Canon PF-06 print head Inkjet (Canon) : Canon's imagePROGRAF head for serious photo and graphics output. Excellent print quality when paired with the right pigment inks, but at this price point you really shouldn't be cutting corners on ink compatibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which print head is compatible with my printer?
Check the part number in your printer's user manual or on the manufacturer's website — this is the only reliable method. For HP DesignJet printers, the compatible head number is usually printed on the current head itself or listed in the printer's front panel menu under 'Supplies'. Never rely solely on a product title like "compatible with HP DesignJet" — always verify the exact model number (e.g., 731, 746, 771) matches your printer's requirements. A mismatch means a non-functional head and a return shipping cost.
Is it worth buying a remanufactured print head to save money?
It depends heavily on the application. For industrial thermal printers (Zebra, Datamax O'Neil, Intermec) used in logistics or retail, remanufactured heads from established specialists can offer genuine savings without compromising reliability — especially for high-frequency replacements. For wide-format photo or graphics printing, we'd advise against it: the risk of banding, colour inconsistency, or premature failure is harder to justify when print quality is the whole point. If you do go remanufactured, check that the supplier offers at least a 90-day warranty and a clear returns policy.
Why is my print head so expensive compared to the ink cartridges?
Print heads contain precision-engineered micro-nozzles — sometimes thousands of them — along with heating elements or piezoelectric actuators, all manufactured to tolerances measured in microns. The engineering cost is genuinely high, particularly for wide-format and industrial heads. Some printer manufacturers (HP included) subsidise the printer hardware cost and recoup margin on consumables, which is why a replacement DesignJet head can cost more than some entry-level printers. It's worth comparing prices across retailers before buying, as the same OEM head can vary considerably between Amazon, Currys, and specialist print suppliers.
What's the difference between a print head and a printhead replacement kit?
A printhead replacement kit (such as the HP 713 or HP 729 DesignJet kits) typically includes the print head unit plus a cleaning cartridge and sometimes a maintenance cartridge — everything needed to complete the swap correctly. A standalone print head is just the head itself. For DesignJet printers, HP often recommends the full kit to ensure the new head is properly initialised and the ink system is purged. The kits cost more upfront but reduce the risk of installation issues, particularly on high-value wide-format machines.
How long should a print head last before it needs replacing?
It varies enormously by technology and usage. Industrial thermal heads (Zebra, Datamax O'Neil) are typically rated for millions of linear inches — in a busy warehouse, that might mean 1–3 years before performance degrades noticeably. HP DesignJet inkjet heads don't carry a formal page-life rating, but with proper maintenance (regular cleaning cycles, avoiding ink-out situations) they can last several years in moderate use. The most common cause of premature failure isn't wear — it's running the printer dry, which causes the head to overheat. Keep ink levels topped up and run the printer's built-in cleaning routine regularly.
Are there any pitfalls to watch out for when buying print heads online?
Yes — counterfeit OEM heads are a real problem, particularly for popular HP DesignJet models sold via third-party marketplace sellers. A counterfeit head may look identical to the genuine article but will often produce poor output, trigger error messages, or fail within weeks. Stick to authorised resellers or well-known retailers (Amazon.co.uk sold and fulfilled, Currys, John Lewis) for OEM parts. Also watch out for listings that describe a head as "compatible" or "for use with" a printer model without specifying the actual part number — this is often a sign of a generic or mismatched product.
Do print heads for thermal label printers in 2026 still need replacing as often as older models?
Modern thermal heads from Zebra and Honeywell have improved significantly in durability, but they still degrade with use — heat cycling, abrasion from media, and chemical exposure from certain label stocks all take their toll. The key change in recent years is better diagnostic software: most current Zebra and Honeywell printers will alert you to head wear before quality drops noticeably, allowing planned replacement rather than emergency fixes. Using the correct thermal ribbon for your media type remains the single biggest factor in extending head life.