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Ink cost per page is the delivered ink price divided by a comparable declared page yield. If the price is in pounds, multiply by 100 to express the result in pence. The calculation is useful only when the price, yield and cartridge describe the same product.
In this guide
The basic formulaKeep comparison inputs equivalentMultipacks need more careReal output differs from declared yieldInk cost is not total printing costQuestions about calculationsIt is an ink-only estimate under the chosen yield assumptions, not a guarantee of your household's costs or the full cost of owning a printer.
The basic formula
Ink cost per declared page, pence = delivered price in £ × 100 ÷ comparable declared yield.
State the product, colour, price date and yield source alongside the result. Include unavoidable delivery charges in the comparison and use the price the customer will actually pay. If a sale is temporary, identify it rather than treating it as a permanent normal price.
The examples below are entirely hypothetical arithmetic, prepared on 20 October 2026. They are not current Ink-Prints offers, manufacturer test results or measured cartridge performance.
| Hypothetical option | Delivered price | Comparable declared yield | Arithmetic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black cartridge A | £12 | 200 pages | 6p per declared page |
| Black cartridge B | £18 | 400 pages | 4.5p per declared page |
Under those invented inputs, B has a lower calculated unit cost but a higher initial purchase price. It is not automatically the sensible purchase for someone who will print very little before replacing the machine.
Keep comparison inputs equivalent
Compare the same colour and purpose using a comparable test basis. A black office-document yield and a photograph yield describe different workloads. A millilitre figure does not directly supply a page count.
Manufacturer-original yields belong to the original product. A compatible or remanufactured cartridge needs its own evidence. Do not combine a compatible price with an original yield to manufacture an apparently precise saving.
If a supplier does not provide reliable comparable yield data, mark that input unavailable. Compare documented contents and purchase price instead of silently borrowing a figure from another cartridge.
Multipacks need more care
Do not add black, cyan, magenta and yellow page yields and call the sum the number of complete colour pages a set prints. The channels are used together, and their consumption depends on the material printed.
An extra-black bundle is not another complete colour set. A Canon black-plus-tricolour pack also has a different physical structure from a four-cartridge set. Make the contents equivalent before comparing purchase costs.
Our multipack comparison guide explains this allocation check. If you cannot reasonably allocate the price and supported output to the relevant use, avoid a false precision figure for the whole pack.
Real output differs from declared yield
Documents with dense graphics, full-page photographs, quality settings and maintenance can change consumption. Initial setup and ordinary replacement use can also have different starting conditions, especially with tank printers.
A published yield is a standardised comparison aid under its stated conditions. Do not reduce every ink standard to a universal five-percent-coverage rule or describe a quoted figure as a promise that every customer will print that many pages.
For your own planning, record supplies purchased and a consistent printing period. Note unusual jobs and distinguish pages from sheets when duplex printing. A practical record is more useful than fitting your experience to a headline claim.
Ink cost is not total printing cost
Paper, printer purchase, power, maintenance parts and wasted prints are separate costs. Decide whether you are comparing ink alone or total ownership and label the calculation accordingly.
A low calculated ink cost cannot make an incompatible cartridge a good purchase. Confirm the exact model, region and any subscription or HP+ conditions first. Use Find Ink to identify suitable supplies before comparing their numbers.
Questions about calculations
Is the cheapest cartridge the cheapest per page?
Not necessarily. Its comparable yield and delivered price both matter, and a missing yield cannot be invented.
Can I divide a multipack price by cartridge count?
That gives an average purchase cost per cartridge, not a meaningful printing cost per page. Colours, capacities and usage differ.
Should I compare a sale price with a normal price?
You can, if the dates and conditions are explicit. Do not present a temporary difference as a permanent saving.
Does a lower calculated figure guarantee lower bills?
No. It depends on buying suitable supplies and using them under your real printing pattern. Treat the result as a documented estimate, not a forecast.
