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For anyone who has ever owned their own printer, or known someone who has, knows the cost of ink. You know that it is both expensive, and short lasting. And while it’s cheaper to have someone refill it for you rather than buying a new cartridge, let me tell you how I save a ton of money refilling my own ink.
By refilling my own ink, I not only save more money, but I also avoid the hassle of mailing my empty cartridges all the time. This step alone can save money considering how much it costs to mail things these days.
Plus, when you refill your own ink, because of the reduced shipping and packaging, you save a lot on plastic and waste, and therefore are being more eco friendly.
However, please read all the way to the end of this post before you jump in to refilling your ink on your own, as I do include some disclaimers with this process.
How Much Can I Save By Refilling My Own Ink?
Excellent question! While I cannot give you a specific number, all I can say is that with this Refilling Kit I found on Amazon, I have not paid for ink since I bought my Canon Pixma printer. And I print a lot of things!
This Refilling Kit comes with a bottle for all three colors (red, yellow, and blue), and also includes two bottles of black ink. This set has lasted me over two years, and I haven’t even used half of it.
Although I don’t print on a daily basis, for someone who does, I imagine this ~$15 set will last them a minimum of at least 6 months to a year.
So, if you are able to run your own numbers, consider how many cartridges you currently run through in a months time as well as a years time. Now add that up and subtract $15. That’s about how much you can save.
If you don’t know how many cartridges you use, just know that you can save between $60-270 a year for both color and black ink. That’s about the average cost of ink for most personal printers.
How Do I Refill My Own Ink?
Firstly, you will only be able to fill your own ink if you have an inkjet printer. If you have a Laser Printer, you will not be able to follow this same process.
Because there are so many makes and models of printers, I unfortunately can’t give you an exact answer on how to do it yourself. I can, however, guide you through the process I took.
If you are familiar with your printer, go ahead and remove your ink cartridges to see what size and order number you have. Also, you will need to check what your printer name and model is.
Once you have this, do a little internet research to see how others are able to access the ink well in their cartridges for the same models. Many youtube tutorial videos, and articles can help guide you through the process. Be mindful that you may not be able to follow this process, depending on what you have.
If you feel confident in the research you have gathered, then go ahead and follow your own process to begin refilling your cartridges. For mine, I had to drill small holes to access the ink wells, but your process may be different.
It’s also important to be mindful that some printers have ink cartridges that have openly exposed wells that can easily be refilled from the outside of the printer. For those of you who have these printers, just follow your manufacturers guidelines for refilling the ink.
Usually the printers that have easily refillable cartridges come at a higher cost. So if you plan on buying a new printer anyway and have the budget to splurge, this may be the better option for you as this makes refilling your ink significantly easier.
What Are The Risks of Refilling My Own Ink?
Disclaimer!
With refilling your own ink there are some risks involved. Because the cartridges are being refilled against most manufacturers recommendations, you may cause damage to your printer, and potentially void any warranties.
Additionally, there is a higher risk of ink leaking from the refilled cartridges. And print quality is likely to be poorer than a new or professionally refilled cartridge.
So is it Safe To Refill My Own Ink?
In most cases the answer is yes!
This process can save you quite a bit of money, as I know it has certainly saved me quite a lot.
I have definitely noticed some reduction in print quality since I have been refilling my own ink. However, this was never really something I have been that concerned about as I don’t print anything strictly for professional purposes. But when I do need to print a resume, or something that needs to appear more professional, I don’t notice that my refilled ink causes any noticeably poor prints.
And with how easy it is to save money refilling the ink myself, really the only cost I have left is the paper.
