A laser printer’s toner usually runs out at the least convenient moment. The printer’s owner then faces a choice: buy a new original cartridge, order a toner refill, or get a new compatible cartridge. Toner refilling is usually the cheapest of these, but it doesn’t suit every situation.

Original cartridges are often very expensive. A set for a colour laser printer can run to several hundred euros and at times approach the price of the printer itself. That is why buying a new original every time the toner runs out is not always economically sensible. The cheaper alternative is a toner refill or a new compatible cartridge.

At the same time, refilling doesn’t fit every situation. Sometimes it pays to restore the existing original cartridge, and sometimes it is simpler and cheaper to buy a new compatible right away.

In this article we look at:

when a toner refill pays off;
when it is better to buy a new compatible;
what a toner refill includes;
whether the printer recognises a refilled cartridge;
how many times one cartridge body can be reused;
how much a toner refill costs.

Three possible options

When the toner is empty, there are usually three solutions.

Buy a new original cartridge

This is the most expensive option, but it suits those for whom using only the manufacturer’s original consumables is a matter of principle.

An original cartridge generally guarantees stable operation, correct recognition by the printer and predictable print quality. Its price, however, is often considerably higher than a refill or a new compatible cartridge.

Have the existing cartridge refilled

Refilling is especially worthwhile when you still have a quality original cartridge body and the new original is expensive.

Refilling uses your existing cartridge. It is cleaned, filled with fresh toner, its parts are checked, and the chip is replaced if needed.

This option lets you reuse a quality original body and cut costs considerably.

Buy a new compatible cartridge

A new compatible cartridge often costs about the same as a refill, sometimes even less.

This is especially true for popular HP, Canon, Brother, Samsung, Xerox and other manufacturers’ models, for which quality compatible consumables are available.

In this case the customer gets a fully ready-to-use cartridge and can keep the old one as a spare or bring it in for refilling later.

When is a toner refill worth doing?

Refilling generally makes sense in the following cases.

You have an original cartridge in good condition

Original cartridge bodies are often better made than many cheap compatibles. When an original cartridge is refilled for the first time, its parts are usually still in good condition.

In that case refilling preserves the original body and delivers a reliable result at a much lower price than buying a new original.

The new original cartridge is expensive

The more expensive the new original, the bigger the win from refilling.

For example, an original Canon 046H colour cartridge can cost over 160–200 €, while refilling it costs about 30 €.

With four colours in use, the price difference between a set of new originals and refilling your existing cartridges can run to several hundred euros.

There is no suitable compatible for your model

For some older, rare or professional printers, compatible cartridges may not exist or their quality may be inconsistent.

In that case refilling the original cartridge is often the best solution.

You have already used this cartridge and trust its quality

If the cartridge has printed cleanly before, left no streaks, spilled no toner and produced no error messages, it can generally be refilled again.

Original cartridges that have never been opened or remanufactured are especially good candidates for a first refill.

When is it better to buy a new compatible cartridge?

Refilling is not always the cheapest option. Sometimes it is more sensible to get a new compatible right away.

A new compatible is cheaper than a refill

For many smaller mono printers, a new compatible cartridge can cost less than cleaning, refilling and re-chipping the old one.

For example, if refilling costs 20–30 € and a new compatible 15–25 €, buying the new compatible is generally the better deal.

The customer gets a new body, new parts and a ready-to-use cartridge without waiting for the service to be done.

The cartridge has already been refilled several times

After several cycles, wear sets in on:

the photo drum;
the wiper blade;
the magnetic roller;
the PCR roller;
the seals;
the gears and other mechanical parts.

If a cartridge has already been refilled two or three times, the next refill may require extra parts. As a result, the total cost of restoring it approaches or exceeds the price of a new compatible.

In that situation buying a new compatible cartridge is often the wiser decision.

Defects have appeared on the printouts

If the cartridge prints with streaks, spots, a grey background, repeating marks or uneven coverage, simply adding powder may not be enough.

The cause may be wear of the photo drum, wiper blade, rollers or other parts.

If repairing the cartridge requires replacing several parts, we assess in advance whether the work is worthwhile. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy a new compatible right away.

The cartridge is damaged

There is no point refilling a cartridge if:

the body is cracked;
the fastenings are damaged;
the gears are broken;
the internal parts are deformed;
toner keeps spilling out;
a poor-quality repair has been done before.

In that situation it is safer to replace the cartridge with a new one.

You need the printer for work right away

Refilling usually takes one working day, in individual cases up to 24–48 hours.

If you need a cartridge immediately and a suitable compatible is in stock, it is faster to buy the new compatible and keep the old one as a spare to refill later.

A simple rule of thumb

The decision can be reduced to a few simple rules.

Refill when:

the cartridge is an original;
it is being refilled for the first time;
the body and parts are in good condition;
the new original is expensive;
there is no quality compatible available;
refilling is noticeably cheaper than a new cartridge.

Buy a new compatible when:

the compatible costs the same as or less than a refill;
the cartridge has already been refilled several times;
printing defects have appeared;
the body or parts are damaged;
several parts need replacing;
you need a cartridge immediately.

What does a toner refill actually include?

A toner refill is not just adding powder — internationally the service is known as a toner refill, and a proper process consists of several stages.

Refilling is not simply pouring in new powder.

If toner is poured into a cartridge without cleaning and inspection, residues of old powder and waste toner remain inside. That can cause streaks, a dirty printer, uneven printing and powder spills.

A professional refill consists of several stages.

Disassembly and cleaning

The cartridge is taken apart. Old powder residue is removed and the waste toner hopper is cleaned.

This is necessary so that old and new toner don’t mix and degrade print quality.

Parts inspection

The condition of the key components is checked:

the photo drum;
the wiper blade;
the magnetic roller;
the PCR roller;
the seals;
the gears;
the cartridge body.

On an original cartridge’s first refill, most parts usually don’t need replacing.

If significant wear is found, the customer is informed before any extra work is done.

Filling with the right toner

Each model requires the right toner powder.

Toners differ in particle size, melting temperature, density and other properties. The wrong powder can produce pale prints, a grey background, dirty paper or problems with the image fusing.

That is why you should give the exact cartridge or printer model when getting in touch.

Chip replacement

Many modern cartridges carry an electronic chip. It reports the cartridge model, the number of printed pages and the estimated remaining toner to the printer.

If the model requires a chip replacement, a new one is fitted during the refill. After that the printer recognises the cartridge correctly and lets printing continue.

Checking the result

After the work is done, the cartridge’s overall condition and print quality are checked.

Full testing, however, depends on having a matching printer model available. For very rare cartridges only the mechanical condition can be checked, with the result verified at installation on the customer’s side.

Does the printer recognise a refilled cartridge?

In most cases — yes.

If the cartridge uses a replaceable chip, a new compatible chip is fitted during the refill. Once installed, the printer should recognise it as a ready-to-use cartridge.

There are, however, models where the manufacturer restricts compatible chips or updates the printer’s firmware.

Particular care is needed with new printer models that update automatically. After a firmware update, a previously working compatible chip can sometimes become unrecognised.

That is why it is important to give the exact printer and cartridge model when ordering.

Does the toner level show full?

If a new working chip has been fitted, the printer usually shows a full toner level or the cartridge’s new yield.

On some models the level may display approximately after a refill, or the printer may show a warning about non-original consumables.

This doesn’t always interfere with printing. What matters is that the printer recognises the cartridge and lets you carry on working.

Does refilling degrade print quality?

With a quality original body, the right toner and parts in working order, print quality usually stays at a good level.

For ordinary office documents, invoices, contracts, delivery notes and text materials, the difference between a new and a properly refilled cartridge is mostly unnoticeable.

For photos, marketing materials, complex colour areas and precise brand colours, a new original cartridge may still give a more consistent result.

Quality depends not only on the cartridge but also on the condition of the printer itself:

the drum unit;
the fuser;
the transfer belt;
the rollers;
the internal surfaces;
the paper and print settings.

So not every defect on paper means a faulty cartridge. If the problem is in the printer itself, printer maintenance and repair will help.

How many times can one cartridge be refilled?

There is no single exact number for all models.

An original cartridge in good condition can usually be refilled two or three times. Some simple mono cartridges last more cycles, especially if worn parts are replaced during restoration.

Each subsequent refill, however, increases the likelihood of wear on:

the drum;
the blades;
the rollers;
the seals;
the gears;
the body.

That is why the decision is made not by counting refills but by the cartridge’s actual condition.

If the cartridge works well, it can be reused. If restoring it requires many new parts, it is more sensible to buy a new compatible.

How much does a toner refill cost?

The price depends on:

the cartridge model;
the amount of toner;
whether a chip is needed and its price;
how complex disassembly is;
how much cleaning is needed;
the condition of the parts;
whether worn parts need replacing.

Prices for simple mono cartridges start at about 8 euros.

Refilling large or colour cartridges costs more. For example, refilling a Canon 046H costs 30 € per cartridge.

To get an exact price, just give us the cartridge or printer model.

Which is cheaper — the Canon 046H example

The Canon 046H is a high-capacity set for colour laser printers.

A new original cartridge can cost about 160–200 € and up, depending on the colour. Refilling one original cartridge costs about 30 €.

If a set of original cartridges is being refilled for the first time and is in good condition, refilling is a very economical option.

A quality new compatible Canon 046H, however, can cost about 29 €.

In that case both options make sense.

Refilling the original suits you when:

you want to keep the quality original body;
the cartridge is being refilled for the first time;
its condition is good;
you can wait one working day.

A new compatible suits you when:

you need a cartridge immediately;
you want a completely new body;
the old cartridge is damaged or heavily worn;
the compatible costs less than a refill or about the same.

So with the Canon 046H, refilling is not automatically cheaper than a new compatible. At equal prices the decision comes down to the old cartridge’s condition and how urgent the need is.

How fast is a toner refill done?

The work is usually done within one working day.

With a large batch of cartridges, parts that need replacing, or a required chip out of stock, the deadline can extend to 24–48 hours.

You can bring cartridges to our office at Aedvilja 4, Tallinn.

A courier is also available to collect the cartridges and bring them back after refilling. The courier service costs 20 €.

Is there a warranty?

We give a 3-month warranty on the refill work.

If the cartridge malfunctions because of the refill, get in touch and bring the cartridge in for inspection.

The warranty does not cover faults in the printer itself, physical damage to the cartridge, incorrect storage, or problems arising after third-party tampering.

Which cartridges can be refilled?

We refill many common laser cartridge models:

HP LaserJet;
Canon i-SENSYS;
Brother;
Samsung;
Xerox;
Kyocera;
Konica Minolta;
mono and colour cartridges.

Not every cartridge is worth refilling, though. For some models a new compatible costs less than the service.

That is why we recommend comparing both options before the work: refilling your existing cartridge and buying a new compatible cartridge.

How to choose the right option?

Let us know:

the exact printer model;
the cartridge model;
whether the cartridge is an original or a compatible;
whether it has been refilled before;
whether there are printing defects;
how soon you need the cartridge.

Then it can be established which is economically wiser: refilling the old cartridge or buying a new compatible.

In summary: does a toner refill pay off?

A toner refill pays off when the cartridge body is in good condition and the price of a new original is high. If the cartridge has already been refilled several times, the body is damaged, or you need the printer for work right away, buying a new compatible is the wiser choice. In most cases a refill delivers the same print result at a considerably lower cost. When in doubt, send us the cartridge model — we’ll check whether a refill is the best solution for your printer, and offer a suitable compatible if needed.

Refilling doesn’t suit every cartridge, but in many cases it saves a significant amount.

Above all, it pays to refill expensive original cartridges, especially on the first reuse. An original body usually has good life left in it and lasts several cycles.

If, however, a new compatible costs less or about the same, the old body is worn, or you need a cartridge immediately, buying a new compatible can be the more practical solution.

The key is to compare not just the price of the refill and the new cartridge, but also the condition of the body, the number of previous refills, the cost of parts and the urgency.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper: a refill or a new compatible?

It depends on the model. If the original cartridge is expensive and this is its first refill, refilling is generally worthwhile. If a new compatible costs less or about the same, buying new is more often the sensible choice.

Can every cartridge be refilled?

Technically many cartridges can be refilled, but not all are economical to restore. Sometimes the cost of the work and parts exceeds the price of a new compatible.

Do parts need replacing on the first refill?

On an original cartridge’s first refill the parts are usually still in working order. Cleaning, fresh toner and a chip replacement are typically enough. The decision is made after inspection.

Is the chip included in the price?

If the model requires a new chip, it is fitted during the refill. Ask for exact details for your specific cartridge model.

Why might a cartridge print with streaks after a refill?

The cause may be a worn photo drum, wiper blade or magnetic roller, spilling toner, or a fault in the printer itself.

How many times can an original cartridge be refilled?

Usually two or three times, but the final decision depends on the condition of the body and internal parts.

When is it better to buy a new cartridge right away?

Buy new when the old cartridge is damaged, has already been refilled several times, prints with defects, or a new compatible costs less than restoring it.

How long does a refill take?

Usually one working day. In individual cases the work can take up to 24–48 hours.

How do I find out the exact price?

Give us the printer model or the cartridge number. We can then quote the refill price and compare it with the price of a new compatible cartridge.

Bring your cartridges to Aedvilja 4, Tallinn, or order a courier — Tahm.ee will assess the cartridge’s condition and tell you which option is cheaper for your particular model.