Ink cartridges are a recurring expense that adds up fast, especially for households or small offices printing weekly. The cost-per-page gap between acurrent pricing generic and acurrent pricing OEM cartridge can be significant, but cheap ink sometimes means clogged heads and washed-out documents. These five picks balance reliability, yield, and price across the most common inkjet brands.
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| HP 67XL Black | HP DeskJet/ENVY users | 4.5/5 |
| Canon PG-245XL/CL-246XL Combo | Canon PIXMA owners | 4.4/5 |
| Epson 220XL Black | Epson WorkForce/Expression | 4.3/5 |
| LD Products Remanufactured HP 902XL | Budget HP printing | 4.1/5 |
| Brother LC3013BK High-Yield | Brother MFC series | 4.4/5 |
HP 67XL Black — Solid Yield for Everyday HP Printers
The HP 67XL delivers roughly 480 pages per cartridge, about twice the standard 67 cartridge, making it the practical choice for anyone with an HP DeskJet 2755, ENVY 6000, or similar series. Ink adhesion on plain paper is consistent, producing readable text at even small font sizes. The cartridge installs with a firm click and is recognized immediately by HP Smart software. Page yield claims hold up for mixed text-and-image printing. Price per page lands for black, which is reasonable for an OEM cartridge at this tier. The color companion 67XL is worth buying alongside it rather than the standard version.
Canon PG-245XL/CL-246XL Combo — Best Value for Canon PIXMA
Canon’s twin-pack bundles the black and tri-color cartridge at a price that undercuts buying them separately. The PG-245XL yields around 400 black pages and the CL-246XL around 300 color pages. Both use dye-based inks suited for document printing and casual photo output up to 4x6 at standard quality. Canon PIXMA TS3322, MG2522, and TR4520 owners get the best compatibility. The cartridges are snug in the carriage, and Canon’s ink system resists drying during gaps of a week or two between print sessions. This combo is the most cost-efficient bundle for light-to-moderate PIXMA users.
Epson 220XL Black — Reliable Output for WorkForce Users
The Epson 220XL is the high-yield black cartridge for Epson WorkForce WF-2760 and Expression XP-420 printers. It yields approximately 500 pages, giving it one of the better page counts at its price point among OEM cartridges. Epson’s DURABrite Ultra ink dries quickly and resists smearing when touched shortly after printing, which matters for document handling. The cartridge fits without adapter tools and pairs with the standard 220 color cartridges. Text output is sharp at 12pt and smaller. If your Epson printer is older and no longer under warranty, this is a dependable OEM option that avoids potential compatibility friction with third-party alternatives.
LD Products Remanufactured HP 902XL — Budget Pick for HP OfficeJet
LD Products is one of the more reputable names in remanufactured cartridges. Their HP 902XL replacement yields around 825 pages for black, matching the stated OEM yield at roughly half the cost. The chip is programmed for HP OfficeJet 6950, 6960, and 6970 series compatibility. Most users report no installation issues. A two-year shelf warranty means unused stock won’t dry out prematurely. The print quality for text documents is adequate and noticeably consistent across a full cartridge. For graphics-heavy printing, OEM remains preferable, but for offices printing primarily text, this cuts ink costs materially.
Brother LC3013BK High-Yield — Best for Brother MFC Series
The Brother LC3013BK is designed for the Brother MFC-J491DW, MFC-J895DW, and similar MFCJ printers. It delivers approximately 400 pages per cartridge at Brother’s standard 5% coverage. Brother’s ink system is known for low clog frequency, and the LC3013 continues that pattern. Installation is straightforward: open the front cover, seat the cartridge, and the printer registers it without requiring software confirmation steps. Text quality is clean and black density is uniform. The cyan, magenta, and yellow LC3013 counterparts are consistent in yield and color accuracy for light document color work. This is a low-hassle choice for Brother owners who print regularly.
How to Choose Computer Ink Cartridges
Start by confirming the exact cartridge series your printer accepts — printers often take multiple series but are not interchangeable. Check whether XL or high-yield versions exist; the higher upfront cost almost always lowers cost-per-page for anyone printing more than 50 pages per month. Decide between OEM, remanufactured, and compatible cartridges based on warranty concerns and print quality requirements. OEM is safest for photo printing; quality remanufactured options work well for documents. For printers used infrequently, pick cartridges known for clog resistance or switch to a laser printer to avoid dried-ink waste entirely.
If you’re setting up a home office, you might also find our guide on best compact all-in-one color laser printers useful. For everyday desk accessories to go alongside your printer, see best computer keyboard and mouse combos. Our methodology page explains how we research and select every product on this site.
Frequently asked questions
Are third-party ink cartridges safe to use in my printer?+
Most quality third-party cartridges from established brands like LD Products or Colorking work reliably without voiding warranties. Check that the cartridge is chip-compatible with your printer model. Some OEM firmware updates can block third-party cartridges, so keep automatic printer updates set to manual if you rely on aftermarket ink.
How do I know when an ink cartridge is genuinely low versus when the printer is lying?+
Printer software often flags cartridges as empty when 10-20% of ink remains. Print a test page and examine actual output quality rather than trusting software warnings alone. Refillable cartridges with visible ink windows make actual level monitoring much more straightforward.