The best-value ink cartridges in the UK are usually compatible or remanufactured cartridges matched to the exact printer, rather than simply the cheapest pack. Which? found that some compatible cartridges cost as little as one tenth of original cartridges. Its Great Value suppliers averaged about 60% less than original ink for the printers analysed.
The right choice depends on the printer model, cartridge number, cartridge type, capacity, page yield, delivery cost and whether a multipack suits your printing. A low purchase price does not always mean the lowest cost per printed page.
Which? tested compatibility, installation, print quality, page yield and cost per printed page across cartridge and bottled-ink products. That makes cost per page a more useful comparison than the price of one cartridge alone.
These options use supported savings findings, retailer ranges and buying schemes rather than ranking one product as the cheapest for every printer. They include original, compatible and remanufactured choices.
For a wider comparison of value, use the Which? cheap ink cartridge research. For retailer ranges, see Cartridge Save, Cartridge People and Ink Factory.
Original cartridges are made by the printer manufacturer. Compatible cartridges are made by a third party for use in a particular printer or cartridge family. Remanufactured cartridges normally reuse an original cartridge body that has been cleaned and refilled.
| Cartridge type | Best for | Main value consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Original | Manufacturer-branded printing and a straightforward replacement | Compare capacity, page yield and cost per page |
| Compatible | Reducing the cost of routine documents | Match the exact cartridge number and compare page yield |
| Remanufactured | A lower-cost cartridge using a reused cartridge body | Consider capacity, guarantee and return arrangements |
Compatible and remanufactured cartridges can offer the largest savings, but original cartridges remain a reasonable choice when the manufacturer’s cartridge, predictable results or a particular colour result matters most. Which? found that print quality, compatibility, installation and yield all contribute to value, not just the headline price.
HP 301, 302, 304 and 305 are different cartridge families. Begin with the number printed on the old cartridge or listed for the printer model. A low price is irrelevant if the cartridge family does not match.
Each family can be available as an original, compatible or remanufactured cartridge. The type of cartridge, black or colour contents, standard or high-capacity format, page yield and pack size all affect the comparison.
Cartridge People sells both original HP cartridges and its own compatible alternatives. Cartridge Save also offers original and compatible HP cartridges. These ranges allow the same printer family to be compared by cartridge type rather than by retailer name alone.
For HP cartridge buying, start with the Cartridge People HP range or the Cartridge Save HP range, then compare the cartridge number, pack contents and stated yield.
Epson owners can choose genuine Epson cartridges, compatible Epson ink cartridges or, for some printers, a different printer design using refillable ink tanks. Genuine cartridges are the manufacturer’s option; compatible cartridges are third-party alternatives for a specified Epson cartridge family.
When comparing Epson cartridges, the useful details are the exact printer model, cartridge family, cartridge type, number of cartridges in the pack, stated page yield and ink volume. A multipack can be convenient, but its value depends on whether all the colours are needed.
Which? tested both cartridge ink and bottled ink using compatibility, print quality, yield and cost per printed page. Its research therefore supports comparing the running cost and performance of the ink system, rather than judging an Epson cartridge only by its pack price.
Ink Factory offers compatible and remanufactured options, while Cartridge People sells both original Epson cartridges and its own compatible range. These retailers cover the main choices for people searching for genuine Epson ink cartridges or Epson compatible ink cartridges in the UK.
Yes. Tesco lists original, compatible and remanufactured ink cartridges through its UK website and marketplace. This makes Tesco a possible option for shoppers who want a large general retailer, but a Tesco listing can come from a marketplace seller rather than Tesco itself.
The Tesco range includes cartridges for common HP families, including original and remanufactured products. The important distinction is whether the listing is original, compatible or remanufactured and whether Tesco or another seller supplies it.
Use the Tesco HP ink cartridge listings to find the relevant cartridge family and identify the product type. Tesco is therefore an answer to the “can I buy ink cartridges at Tesco?” search, but its presence on the site does not by itself establish the lowest cost per page.
Genuine ink can be worth considering when predictable compatibility, manufacturer-branded printing or consistent colour results matter more than the lowest purchase price. It is also useful when the printer manufacturer’s cartridge is the preferred option for a particular type of work.
Compatible and remanufactured cartridges are more attractive when the main priority is reducing the cost of routine printing. Which? tested print quality, compatibility, installation and page yield as well as price, so these factors should be part of the value decision.
The most useful comparison is between like-for-like cartridges for the same printer: the same colour combination, cartridge family, capacity and stated yield.
The cheapest printer ink online is not necessarily the cartridge with the lowest individual price. Use a consistent process when comparing Cartridge People, Cartridge Save, Tesco, Ink Factory or another supplier.
Which? recommends comparing cost per page because cartridge volume and page yield vary. Its testing also shows why compatibility, installation and print quality belong alongside price in a best-value comparison.
Cartridge People has offered services to UK customers for more than 25 years. Its customer service can be reached on 0203 001 0234 from Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00. The company also offers newsletter registration with voucher codes, special offers and competitions.
Cartridge People accounts can contain credit, which is checked through the logged-in account and can be used towards purchases on its website. Information about applying account credit is available in the Cartridge People account-credit guide. Its contact page provides the customer-service details.
Cartridge Save says its compatible cartridges can save up to 50% compared with originals and that its own cartridges carry a three-year guarantee. It also offers free next-working-day delivery on orders over £30. Cartridge Save states that it does not offer discount or promotional codes; instead, it says its website prices are permanently discounted. Its customer-service telephone number is 0161 968 5994.
For shoppers searching for a Cartridge Save discount code, the company’s discount-code information explains this policy.
There is no single cheapest retailer for every printer and cartridge number. Compatible cartridges are often the lowest-cost route, and Which? found that its Great Value suppliers averaged about 60% below original ink for the printers analysed. Compare cartridge type, yield, delivery and cost per page.
No single printer model can be identified as cheapest for every user and printing volume. The useful comparison is the cost per page for the printer and ink system being considered, together with the purchase price and expected amount of printing.
Yes. Tesco lists original, compatible and remanufactured cartridges through its UK website and marketplace. The product listing identifies the cartridge family and whether the item is supplied directly by Tesco or by a marketplace seller.
Genuine cartridges can be worthwhile when predictable compatibility and manufacturer-branded printing matter most. Compatible and remanufactured cartridges can provide substantially better value for routine documents, particularly when their page yield and cost per page compare favourably with the original.
