Ink Cartridges: Full Guide to Choose and Buy Right

Originals vs compatibles: the truth without the marketing

The OEM industry applies margins of 400%-600% on original cartridges, according to research by the Which? Consumer Association published in 2023. That's not a typo. An HP 304XL cartridge sells for €32-€38 in official stores; the direct manufacturing cost is around €4. This differential funds the razor & blade business model: cheap printer, expensive consumable. If you want the full cost-per-page breakdown, read the real cost of printing.

Compatible cartridges manufactured under ISO 9001 (quality management system) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) use inks with the same tintometric principles, equivalent print heads, and chips that replicate the dialogue with the firmware. The real difference is in the price, not on the printed page.

*On remanufactured items. Startoner offers both options: new and certified remanufactured under ISO 14001.

"Paying €35 for a cartridge that costs €4 to make isn't buying ink. It's funding a model where the printer is the bait."

Analysis of the European domestic printing market, Keypoint Intelligence 2024

How to choose the right cartridge in three steps

1. Identify your exact printer model

"HP DeskJet" isn't enough. You need the full suffix: DeskJet 3750, DeskJet 2720e, OfficeJet Pro 9014e. You can find it on the label on the back of the machine, on the original box, or in Settings → Device Information. A model that's off by a single digit will void compatibility. If you don't know how to identify the toner, you have a step-by-step guide in how to know which toner your printer needs.

2. Find the code on the installed cartridge

Open the top cover of the printer. The active cartridge has a short code printed on it: 304, 603XL, PG-545, LC3213. That code is your universal identifier: it works for both originals and compatibles, and it's what all the search engines in our catalogue look for.

3. Decide on capacity: standard or XL

If you print more than 40 pages a month, the XL pays for itself in a single cycle. Below 15 pages a month, the ink can dry out before it's used up, and the standard version reduces waste. The sweet spot for the XL format is between 20 and 40 pages per month. If you suspect counterfeit cartridges on marketplaces, check counterfeits vs compatibles: they are not the same thing.

Instantly decode any code

How to decipher the codes by brand

Each manufacturer uses a different naming system. Understanding it prevents you from ordering the wrong cartridge. Here are the four systems that cover 92% of the installed base in Spain, according to industry data published by GfK Iberia in 2024.

Two real-world profiles who switched from original to compatible

Abstract numbers mean little; concrete cases, a lot. Here are two archetypal profiles of customers from our portfolio who switched from originals to ISO 9001 compatibles:

Is refilling cartridges worthwhile?

The idea is tempting: a 100ml bottle of generic ink costs €8–€12 and refills five to seven cartridges. The reality is thornier.

Refilling works reasonably well on cartridges without an integrated printhead (Canon PGI/CLI, Epson 26/33, HP 940/932). It often fails on cartridges with an integrated printhead (HP 304, 305, 364; most low-cost HP cartridges), because the printhead degrades with each cycle and, after two or three refills, the quality collapses.

A study by BuyersLab compared twelve refill systems against original and ISO 9001 compatible cartridges: the refills had a 37% failure rate (insufficient density, bleeding, nozzle clogging), compared to 3% for ISO 9001 compatibles and 1% for originals. Furthermore, refills disable the measurement chip, so you lose the level indicator and with it, the replacement alerts.

How to extend the life of your cartridges

Seven habits that extend the lifespan by 20% to 40%, according to internal tests on 340 Startoner compatible cartridges between 2024 and 2025:

1. Print at least one colour page every 7–10 days. This prevents the nozzles from drying out. A colour test page is enough.
2. Store vertically, label up. Gravity keeps the ink close to the printhead and avoids air bubbles.
3. Temperature between 15°C and 30°C. Avoid radiators, sunny windows, cars and balconies. Ink degrades above 35°C.
4. Don't open the blister pack until you're ready to install. The air oxidises pigments and dries out the internal sponge.
5. Clean the printheads once a month using the driver utility. Two consecutive cycles if you see light bands.
6. Turn off with the button, not by unplugging. The printer needs to park the printhead over the sealing station.
7. Use suitable paper. Low-grammage recycled paper absorbs more ink; premium 80–90 g/m² paper reduces consumption by 8%–12%.

For more printer-specific tricks, read how to extend the life of your cartridges. And if you print little but need a reliable home machine, check out the selection of cheap printers for home use.

The European Legal Framework: what manufacturers don't tell you

Many people believe that using a compatible cartridge voids the warranty. This is false. EU law is explicit and is articulated in four regulations that directly affect printing consumables:

Regarding the equipment warranty, the applicable framework is the Directive (EU) 2019/771 on the sale of goods, transposed into Spanish law by Royal Legislative Decree 1/2007 (TRLGDCU), art. 120, and mirrored in the UK by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The manufacturer can only refuse a warranty claim if they can prove that the failure was directly caused by the third-party consumable. The mere installation of a compatible cartridge is not a cause: this has been established by EU case law since the first competition cases over accessories in the early 2000s.

For printers with the Energy Star label in the EU, Implementing Regulation (EU) 174/2013 also applies, which regulates energy efficiency criteria and requires the publication of consumption in active and standby modes.

Recycling and environmental footprint

The impact is real. According to data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, 2024), hundreds of millions of cartridges end up in landfills globally each year, with an estimated degradation time of 450-1,000 years depending on the polymer (ABS, PET, PP). In Spain, MITECO calculates that only a minority fraction of domestic cartridges reaches the regulated recycling circuit.

Three legal routes to dispose of a used cartridge in Spain:

• Municipal recycling centre (Punto limpio). All municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants are obliged by RD 27/2021 to accept them.
• Container in large supermarkets. Media Markt, Carrefour, El Corte Inglés and Leroy Merlin have specific collection boxes.
• Manufacturer's free postal service. HP Planet Partners, Canon Cartridge Recycling and Epson EcoReturns send a prepaid label.

Startoner works exclusively with ISO 14001 certified manufacturers, a policy detailed on our institutional page, with remanufactured casings in the toner range and recyclable packaging for ink. If you want to start with a specific cartridge, check the full catalogue, consult the shipping conditions or the returns policy.