Cost per page

XL vs standard cartridge calculator

XL cartridges cost more and print more. Enter both prices and yields to see which costs less per page — and up to what price the XL stays the better buy.

Compare cartridge prices

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The result

The XL cartridge costs less per 100 pages

$13.75
Standard · per 100 pages
$17.49
XL · per 100 pages
$13.75
Saving versus the dearer one
21.4 %
XL stays the better buy up to
$41.98

XL yields are stated by the manufacturer, never "double" by assumption: always use the figure on the box. Example prices are illustrative, not live offers. Use one currency for every price; there is no exchange conversion.

How the calculation works

Cost per 100 pages = price ÷ pages × 100; break-even XL price = standard price × XL pages ÷ standard pages

A worked example

A standard cartridge at $20.99 for 120 pages costs $17.49 per 100 pages. The XL at $32.99 for 240 pages costs $13.75 per 100 pages, 21.4 % less, and stays the better buy up to $41.98.

XL is a yield, not a promise

An XL cartridge's page yield is measured like the standard one's and printed on the box. It is often a little under twice the standard yield, sometimes far more. Divide each price by its own yield; the break-even price shows how far the XL's price can rise before it loses its advantage.

Common questions

Are XL cartridges always cheaper per page?

Usually, but not always: a discounted standard cartridge can beat a full-price XL. That is why this calculator compares the cost per page rather than the cartridge price.

Does an XL cartridge fit the same printer?

XL and standard cartridges of the same series (for example 305 and 305XL) fit the same printers. Check the series on your printer's current cartridge.

Method: arithmetic from the label values you enter. Reviewed .

XL vs standard cartridge calculator — Printer Cartridge Prices