Why did my cartridge print fewer pages than the stated yield?
Page yield helps compare supplies, but your documents and printing routine affect the result.
1 min readA declared yield is measured using a specified test method. It is a comparison figure, not a guaranteed page count for every type of document or a minimum for each cartridge.
What changes the result?
- Full-page photographs, large graphics and dense text use more ink or toner than light documents.
- Inkjet cleaning and maintenance consume ink. Frequent stop/start use can give different results from a continuous test.
- Print settings and job sizes affect usage. Starter supplies included with a new printer can differ from replacement cartridges.
- A color pack contains separate supplies. One color can run out first; their capacities should not simply be added to predict how many full-color pages the pack will print.