Printer Maintenance

Ink vs Toner: How Printer Consumables Work

Last reviewed · General guidance — steps vary by model and operating system

Inkjet printers use liquid ink; laser printers use a fine powder called toner. They are not interchangeable, and each printer only accepts the specific cartridges or bottles designed for it. Knowing how your printer’s consumables work makes it easier to buy the right supplies and to understand messages about levels, drums and yields.

This guide explains the main types in general terms. Exact details differ between brands and models, so always check your printer’s manual for the supplies it supports.

Who this guide is for

  • You are not sure whether your printer uses ink or toner.
  • You want to understand terms such as “drum unit”, “ink tank” or “page yield”.
  • You are deciding between genuine, compatible and remanufactured supplies.
  • You want to store spare cartridges or recycle used ones.

The four types of printer supplies

Inkjet ink
Liquid ink sprayed through tiny nozzles. Used in most home and small-office printers, including photo printers.
Laser toner
A fine powder that is transferred to the page by static electricity and then fused on with heat and pressure.
Cartridges and tanks
Ink may come in sealed cartridges or in bottles used to refill tanks built into the printer.
Drum units
Many laser printers use a light-sensitive drum, either built into the toner cartridge or as a separate replaceable unit.

Safety first

  • Keep ink and toner out of reach of children and pets. Follow the safety information supplied with the product.
  • Avoid inhaling toner dust and do not open toner cartridges. Clean up toner spills by following the manufacturer’s guidance; a household vacuum cleaner is generally not suitable for toner.

1. How inkjet ink works

  1. Dye-based ink

    Dye inks dissolve completely in liquid. They are commonly used for colour printing and photos, where they can produce vivid colours. Dye-based prints can be more prone to fading or smudging when wet, depending on the ink and paper.

  2. Pigment-based ink

    Pigment inks contain tiny solid particles suspended in liquid. They are often used for black text because they produce sharp edges on plain paper and tend to resist water and fading better. Many printers use pigment black and dye colours together.

  3. Where the printhead is

    Some inkjet printers have the printhead built into each cartridge, so fitting a new cartridge also gives you a new printhead. Others have a fixed printhead inside the printer, with cartridges or tanks that only hold ink. This affects how clogs are dealt with; see how to clean a printhead.

2. Cartridges vs refillable ink tanks

  1. Cartridge printers

    Ink comes in sealed cartridges that you replace when empty. Printers may use a single tri-colour cartridge plus black, or a separate cartridge for each colour.

  2. Ink-tank (refillable) printers

    These printers have large built-in tanks that you refill from bottles. Several major manufacturers offer them under their own product names. Use only the bottles specified for your model, and fill each tank with the matching colour.

  3. Subscription services

    Some manufacturers offer ink subscriptions where the printer reports its levels and replacements are sent automatically. Terms vary; read them carefully, including what happens if you cancel.

3. How toner and drums work

  1. Toner

    A laser draws the page onto a light-sensitive drum using static charge. Toner sticks to the charged areas, is transferred onto the paper, and is then fused onto it by a heated unit. Toner does not dry out like liquid ink, which is one reason laser printers suit people who print occasionally.

  2. Drum units

    Some laser printers combine the drum and toner in one cartridge. Others use a separate drum unit that lasts through several toner cartridges and is replaced separately. Your printer will usually show a message when the drum is nearing the end of its life.

  3. Colour laser printers

    Colour lasers use four toners: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. They may also have other replaceable parts, such as a transfer belt or waste toner container. Check your manual for the list.

4. What page yield means

  1. Standard test methods

    Many manufacturers state yields measured using international standards, such as ISO/IEC 24711 for inkjet cartridges and ISO/IEC 19752 for monochrome laser toner. These use a standard set of test pages so that products can be compared.

  2. Your results will vary

    Real-world yield depends on what you print (photos and full-colour pages use far more than text), print settings, how often you print and how much ink is used for maintenance such as head cleaning. Treat the stated yield as a comparison figure, not a promise.

  3. Standard and high-yield versions

    Some cartridges come in standard and higher-capacity versions that fit the same printer. Check both the model number and the stated yield when comparing.

5. Genuine, compatible and remanufactured supplies

  1. Genuine (OEM) supplies

    Made by or for the printer manufacturer and designed for that printer.

  2. Compatible supplies

    New cartridges made by another company to fit a particular printer.

  3. Remanufactured or refilled supplies

    Used original cartridges that have been cleaned, refilled and tested by another company.

  4. Things to consider

    Quality and reliability can vary between products and suppliers. Some printers may display warnings for non-genuine cartridges, and firmware updates may affect compatibility with some third-party cartridges. Warranty terms differ by manufacturer and region, so check your printer’s warranty wording before deciding. The Printing Max does not recommend or sell any supplies.

6. Storing and recycling supplies

  1. Storage

    Keep supplies sealed in their original packaging until you need them, at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and extremes of heat or cold. Many packages show a “use by” or “install by” date. Store toner cartridges in the orientation the packaging shows.

  2. Installing

    Remove only the packaging and tape the instructions tell you to remove. Leaving tape on is a common cause of blank pages.

  3. Recycling

    Many manufacturers run take-back programmes for used cartridges, and some retailers and local councils collect them. Check the manufacturer’s official website or your local waste authority for options in your area.

If it still isn’t working

Find the exact supply number. The correct cartridge or bottle number is usually printed inside the printer’s access cover, in the manual, or shown on the printer’s screen or companion app.

Check level warnings sensibly. Ink and toner level readings are often estimates. Many printers keep printing for a while after a low warning; replace the supply when print quality drops or the printer asks you to.

Frequently asked questions

What is the practical difference between an inkjet printer and a laser printer?

An inkjet printer sprays liquid ink and handles photos and mixed colour documents well, but ink can dry out if the printer sits unused. A laser printer fuses toner powder with heat; it is generally quick for text-heavy printing and toner does not dry out. Which suits you depends on what and how often you print.

Can I put ink in a laser printer or toner in an inkjet?

No. Inkjet and laser printers work in completely different ways, and each only accepts the supplies designed for it.

Does toner dry out?

Toner is a powder, so it does not dry out like liquid ink. It can still be affected by poor storage, such as heat or humidity, so keep it sealed until use.

Why does my printer use colour ink when I print in black?

Some printers use small amounts of colour ink for maintenance, such as head cleaning, or blend colours for certain blacks. Settings such as “black ink only” or “grayscale” may reduce this; availability varies by model.

Is a drum the same as a toner cartridge?

Not always. Some laser printers combine them in one cartridge, while others have a separate drum unit that is replaced less often than the toner.