Ink cartridge manufacturers commonly advise against refilling ink yourself, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible. For anyone willing to spend a little time and put up with inky fingers, refilling printer cartridges is a great way to cut down printing costs.
Here's everything you need to know about refilling printer ink cartridges, including what you need, how to do it, and the pros and cons of this simple bit of printer DIY.
Can All Printer Cartridges Be Refilled?
Almost all modern inkjet cartridges can be refilled, but some are more difficult to top up than others. Both ink tank and print head cartridges can be refilled, but the ink tank type is generally the easiest. They are often designed to be refilled and are less likely to be damaged during refilling and develop problems afterward.
The fill holes for the cartridge will be covered by a label, a removable plastic plate, or sealed with a non-removable cover. For example, HP cartridges commonly have open refill holes under a label, while Canon cartridges often need drilling to open the holes.
Most modern ink cartridges feature a chip that communicates with the printer to let it know how much ink remains inside. The chip on some cartridges can be reset or overridden, but on others, it will need to be replaced if you want to be able to check ink levels.
The chip on some ink cartridges will prevent the printer from using the refilled cartridge altogether. A quick search online for "[name of cartridge]" and "chip reset" should provide answers.
What You'll Need to Refill an Ink Cartridge
Now that you have decided to try refilling your empty ink cartridges, it's time to make sure you have everything you need for the task.
Replacement Inks
You can buy ink refill bottles individually, but they are more commonly available as a set. This will include a bottle of black ink and one bottle each of Cyan, Yellow, and Magenta ink for the color cartridge. For a color cartridge to work correctly, it will need all three colored inks filled.
A Syringe or Needle-Nozzle Bottle
You will need a syringe or bottle with a thin needle nozzle to inject the ink into the cartridge refill holes. If you buy a kit, the bottles will either have pre-fitted needle nozzles or syringes will be supplied. If only one syringe is supplied, wash and dry it between each color refill.
Small Drill or Screw
To open the fill holes on a sealed ink cartridge, you will need a small drill bit, a screw, or other sharp-pointed tool. The hole should be small, so a 2mm drill bit is perfect. At least one of these options is often included with an ink refill kit.
Plastic or Latex Gloves
Gloves are not essential, but handling and refilling ink cartridges can be messy. One or two gloves are often included in ink refill kits, but if not, you can use any plastic or latex disposable gloves.
How to Refill Printer Ink Cartridges
Carefully remove the ink cartridge from your printer, following the manufacturer's instructions. Even empty cartridges can leak a small amount of ink when handled, so use a disposable glove and place the removed cartridge on a sheet of printer paper or a paper towel.
Expose the filling holes in the cartridge. That will either involve peeling off a label, unclipping a plastic cover, or drilling small holes into the top of the cartridge. Ink tank cartridges may have a dedicated fill port on the top.
A black cartridge will only have a single ink reservoir, but color cartridges will have three. If you are drilling holes and the ink reservoir positions aren't marked, search online for "[cartridge name] refill holes" to see where you need to drill.
You can determine which ink reservoir holds which color easily. Twist a piece of kitchen paper into a thin point and poke it into a hole. Unless the cartridge is totally dry, a small amount of colored ink will be visible on the paper.
If refilling ink tank cartridges, each cartridge will hold a different color. There will be one for Yellow, one for Cyan, etc. These will obviously each only need one hole exposed or drilled.
Load some ink into your syringe or choose a refill bottle. Insert the needle nozzle into the correct hole and carefully inject the ink. You will probably feel a slight resistance, which is the internal ink sponge. Don't fill the reservoir too quickly, and stop adding ink when it is visible inside the hole.
Repeat this process for each ink color you want to refill. When all ink tanks are full, wipe away the excess ink from the top of the cartridge.
Some cartridge refill kits include small stickers for resealing the holes. You can also use the original label if it peeled off in one piece, but if that isn't an option, use a piece of Scotch or masking tape.
Testing Your Refilled Cartridges
Stand your refilled cartridges upright on a sheet of kitchen paper for a few hours. This allows the ink to soak into the internal sponge and is particularly important if the cartridge has been empty for a long time. It will also let you make sure the cartridge isn't leaking.
Install the cartridge in the printer and print a test page. If the test page is faded or colors are missing, run a nozzle check, nozzle cleaning, and print head alignment. Once this is done, print another test page to see if the problems persist.
Remember to reset, override, or replace the ink monitor chip if your cartridge requires you to do so.
The Pros and Cons of Refilling Ink Cartridges
The main benefit of refilling ink cartridges is the financial savings you will make. A black replacement cartridge can cost between $8 and $30, and color cartridges slightly more. A refill kit can be picked up for as little as $10 and could include enough ink to refill each cartridge 3 or 4 times.
We could also argue that refilling a cartridge several times is more environmentally friendly than throwing it away and buying a new one.
The downsides of refilling ink cartridges are that it takes time, can be fiddly, and is often quite messy the first time you try it. You have no guarantee the cartridge will work after refilling, especially if it has been unused for a long time. And the more you handle a print head style cartridge, the more likely it is to be damaged.
Save Money by Refilling Printer Ink Cartridges
Despite printer cartridges becoming more technologically advanced, refilling them has never been cheaper or easier. Refill kits are widely available, and the inks they include can be as good as the originals. The process isn't difficult and is worth trying if you want to save money on your printing costs.
