OEM, Compatible and Remanufactured Toner: What the Labels Mean

Three ways a cartridge reaches your printer

Every laser toner cartridge on the market falls into one of three broad groups. None is automatically right or wrong; each involves a different balance of cost, consistency and convenience.

• OEM (original equipment manufacturer). Made by, or for, the company that made the printer, and sold under its name. The printer was designed around it.
• Compatible. A newly manufactured cartridge made by another company to fit and work in a particular printer. Quality varies by maker and by product.
• Remanufactured. A used cartridge that has been collected, taken apart, cleaned, fitted with replacement wear parts where needed, refilled and tested. Again, quality depends on the remanufacturer and the process.

You may also see refilled cartridges, where toner is added without a full rebuild. That is a lighter process than remanufacturing and is worth asking about specifically.

What page yield actually tells you

Page yield is the number of pages a cartridge is expected to print under standard test conditions. For laser cartridges, manufacturers commonly quote yields measured with the ISO/IEC 19752 (monochrome) and ISO/IEC 19798 (color) test methods, which use a standard set of test pages printed continuously.

Your real-world yield will differ. Pages with heavy graphics, frequent short print jobs and printing from multiple trays all change it. Yield is most useful for comparing cartridges with each other, which is why cost per page is a better measure than cartridge price alone.

Standard, high-yield and starter cartridges

Many printers accept more than one size of cartridge. A high-yield version fits the same slot but holds more toner, which usually lowers the cost per page for busy printers. New printers are often shipped with a starter cartridge that holds less toner than a standard one, so the first replacement can arrive sooner than expected.

This is why the printer model alone is not always enough to order the right cartridge. The cartridge number printed on the label of the one you have is the most reliable reference.

Drums, imaging units and waste toner

Some printers combine toner and drum in a single all-in-one cartridge, so both are replaced together. Others use a separate drum or imaging unit that lasts through several toner cartridges, with its own replacement message. Many color laser printers also have a waste toner container that collects excess toner and must be replaced when it fills.

If your printer asks for a “drum” or “imaging unit” while you have just fitted new toner, it is almost certainly asking for a different part. Our Toner & Cartridges page explains how to tell them apart.

Warranties and non-manufacturer cartridges

In the United States, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act generally prevents a manufacturer from voiding a product warranty simply because you used another company’s supplies. However, if a cartridge itself causes damage, that repair may not be covered. Read your printer’s warranty terms, and look for a clear return policy on any cartridge you buy.

A short buying checklist

1. Read the cartridge number from the label of your current cartridge.
2. Decide whether standard or high-yield suits how much you print.
3. Ask whether the cartridge is OEM, compatible, remanufactured or refilled.
4. Compare cost per page using comparable yield figures.
5. Check the return policy and what happens if the printer does not recognize the cartridge.
6. Store spare cartridges sealed, flat and away from heat until you need them.

When you send us a supplies enquiry, tell us which of these matter most to you. We reply with the options we can offer for your exact model, so you can decide.

General information for common laser printers. Always follow the instructions and safety warnings in your printer’s own documentation. See our Disclaimer.