Laser printers and office copiers print with toner, a fine powder fused to the page by heat. A toner cartridge usually prints far more pages than an ink cartridge, so the real cost is the price per page, not the price of the box. You can buy original (OEM), compatible or remanufactured toner, and some machines also need a separate drum. Send the printer's make and model number and the cartridge code, and local toner suppliers will send you a free, no-obligation quote.
Types of toner cartridges
- Original (OEM) toner: from the printer maker, with consistent density and full rated yield.
- Compatible toner: new cartridges made by another maker to fit the same machine, usually much cheaper.
- Remanufactured toner: original shells cleaned, fitted with new wear parts where needed and refilled.
- Drums and imaging units: on many machines the drum is separate and lasts several toner changes.
- Colour sets: colour lasers take black, cyan, magenta and yellow, each replaced on its own.
Copiers on a rental contract usually get toner included; see photocopier rental.
How to choose cartridge and toner for your office
Work out how many pages you print a month, then compare the cost per page of each option: price divided by rated yield. High yield cartridges cost more but usually print cheaper pages. For contracts, tenders and anything with fine lines or solid areas, ask for a sample or a short trial of a compatible before you switch the whole office. For a busy shared machine, keep one spare of each colour so nobody waits. If the printer is old and the toner is costly, ask whether a newer machine is cheaper to run: see printers.
Yields, codes and common problems
Toner yields are measured to ISO/IEC 19752 for mono and ISO/IEC 19798 for colour, at a set page coverage, so heavy pages give fewer prints than the rated figure. Always quote the cartridge code, as one model can take a standard and a high yield cartridge. Common problems: streaks and grey backgrounds (often a worn drum), loose toner that smudges (often the fuser), and a new cartridge the printer will not recognise. Shake a new cartridge gently before fitting, keep spares sealed in a cool place and never vacuum spilled toner with a household vacuum. Repeated faults may need printer repairs.
What affects the price and what to ask a supplier
The price depends on the model, original versus compatible or remanufactured, the yield, colour or mono, and the quantity. Ask:
- What is the rated page yield, and what is the cost per page?
- Is there a guarantee if a cartridge leaks, streaks or is rejected?
- Do you keep stock for our model, and do you deliver?
- Do you collect empties for recycling?
- Is there a better price on a standing monthly order?
What to include in your request
- The printer or copier make and model number
- The cartridge code, and standard or high yield
- Mono or colour, and how many of each
- Original, compatible or remanufactured
- Delivery address and any standing order
Toner Cartridges for different clients
- Families and individuals: a compatible toner for a home laser printer used for homework, tax forms and CVs
- Small businesses and start-ups: a spare high yield toner so quotes and invoices never wait for a delivery
- Companies and offices: a monthly standing order of toner and drums for printers across head office and branches
- Shops, restaurants and salons: toner for the back office printer that prints price lists, orders and staff rosters
- Events, conferences and clubs: spare toner for the registration desk printer that runs name badges and programmes
- Schools, churches and NGOs: toner for the staffroom laser before exam papers, report cards and term letters
- Government and municipalities: toner supplied against an RFQ for a department's laser printers, priced per cartridge code
- Designers, agencies and resellers: toner and drums for a print shop's mono laser used for forms and short runs
Frequently asked questions
How much does a toner cartridge cost?
Is compatible toner as good as original toner?
What is the difference between toner and a drum?
Where can I buy toner near me?
Toner Cartridges by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg