What cartridge does your printer take?

There are thousands of different ink and toner cartridges on the market, each with their own numbers or code, colours and capacities, so it’s easy to get confused and choose a cartridge that does not suit your printer. If you have picked the wrong cartridge and tried to install it in your printer, you will either have problems with the installation, as the cartridge may not fit, or your printer simply won’t print! 

We have a step-by-step process that should help you identify and purchase the correct cartridge for your printer, so read the four steps below, find your cartridge and order today so you can carry on printing in no time!

Step 1. What printer do you have?

The first thing you must identify when you are looking for a cartridge for your printer is what kind of printer you have! Is it a laser or inkjet printer? Laser printers use toner cartridges, while inkjet printers take ink cartridges. Ink and toner cartridges differ in size, components and printing mechanism, so it is important that you can recognise the difference between them. You can read our blog on the differences between ink and toner to brush up on your cartridge knowledge!

It’s also a good idea to identify the brand of printer you own, as you will have to make sure to choose the same brand of ink or toner cartridge. Printer brands range from HP to Brother, Canon to Epson and many more, so it’s important you acknowledge the printer brand and model, where possible, before beginning your cartridge search.

TIP!
If you are having any difficulties identifying what type of printer you have, you can always refer to your printer’s manual or any documentation that came with it! This will contain brand and model information.

Step 2. Which cartridge needs to be replaced?

When you have identified whether you need an ink cartridge or a toner cartridge, you will then have to figure out which cartridge needs to be replaced. Has your black or colour (cyan, magenta and yellow) cartridge run out? You can identify which cartridge is running low by looking at the quality of your recent prints. Faded black text usually means your black ink or toner cartridge is running low, while missing or inaccurate colour prints would mean your colour cartridge has seen the end of its days! You may be able to print a ‘Test Page’ that displays ink levels, this option is usually found in your printer settings or maintenance menu.
 

If you are still unsure, giving the cartridge a gentle shake may help to indicate whether there is ink or toner left. Be sure to be careful, as you don’t want any remaining ink liquid or toner powder to go everywhere!

Your printer may be able to tell you what cartridge needs replacing!

Many modern printers have a built-in display or control panel. On this display, your printer may pop up with a message telling you to replace your black or colour cartridge. You should also be able to find the ink or toner levels easily through the control panel. This way, you can keep an eye on your cartridges and order replacements before you run out completely!

Step 3. Find the correct ink or toner cartridge for your printer

Once you know what printer you have and what cartridge needs to be replaced, it will be time to search for your new cartridge! Select ink cartridges or toner cartridges on our navigation menu (to the left of the screen) or click on the icons below. When you select your printer brand, you will then be given the option of searching by printer type or searching by cartridge number. Whichever option you choose, you should easily find your printer or cartridge by browsing the page or through our easy-to-use search function! Once you have selected your desired option, you will be able to choose from our wide range of cartridges suitable for your printer.