Advice for the best printer cartridge.

I'd go with one that fits in your printer.

Depending on the printer, there might not be much choice. But a toner cartridge is my recommendation.

I would buy a refill kit and reuse the ones you have.

There are lots of aftermarket ones. Not going to name them.

I got into the aftermarket ink a long time ago when I was running 4 printers and pushing out lots of work from them.

Friend of mine has a computer business and he put me onto a local supplier where I got ink for 3 to 5 bucks a cartridge. They were every bit as good as OEM but for a fraction of the cost.

If I could advise one thing though, make sure any you get have the chip on them. Most cartridges have a chip to communicate with the printer. Without that, they will likely not work. Years ago I had one chipless batch where I had to pry the chip off the old one and glue it to the new one, a total pain in the rear. And it gave the readout of the empty cartridge anyways....

Laser doesn't dry out over time like ink does if left for a longtime without use. Ive had best luck with Canon for photo printing but HP is just fine. I don't buy aftermarket cartridges. They either are problematic or are recycled and refilled but not all the way. Buy name brand, don't leave it out where it will freeze, don't jostle it (expose it to bumps while driving). Canon is great, HP is a close second. Brother Lasers are just fine, though I have a Samsung.

Sure would be handy to know printer type, make and model, otherwise the answer from Schlep1967 is about as good of an answer there is.

wildtoad wrote:
Sure would be handy to know printer type, make and model, otherwise the answer from Schlep1967 is about as good of an answer there is.

yep, seems to me that you have two choices. a cartridge made by the printer mfr. or take a chance on a generic. I have had some generics that my printer didn't recognize.
bumpy

I'm using cartridges from here. Peach Tree Ink. They work perfect and are lasting longer than OEM stuff

I have a Dell color laser. I buy the overpriced Dell cartridges. Tried some low price cartridges with poor luck. Dell has been working great for 10+ years.

Not what you asked, but if you are only printing black and white I would suggest changing the printer to a laser printer. The toner cartridges last a heck of a lot longer than an ink cartridge. Toner also doesn't dry out nor smudge when it gets wet.

I bought my brother laser printer in 2012 and with 4 kids in school the original toner cartridge lasted until December last year. It cost me $125 for an extended capacity replacement cartridge which I expect to last another 9-10 years.

When I had ink jet printers I was replacing cartridges every year or so at about $75 a pop. So unless you need color printing your return on investment is much better with laser.