When shopping for toner, you may notice that some cartridges come in different sizes, standard, high, extra high, super high, ultra high, extended, or even jumbo. At first it can feel confusing, but the idea is simple: these bigger cartridges are designed to last longer and save you money.
What Are Extended/Jumbo Cartridges?
Extended yield, or jumbo cartridges are aftermarket toner cartridges that contain more toner than the standard cartridges provided by the OEM. While they are physically similar in size to standard cartridges, they’re engineered to print significantly more pages before needing replacement.
For example:
- Standard Cartridge: 3,000 pages
- Extended (Jumbo) Cartridge: 7,000 pages
This means fewer interruptions, lower cost per page, and better long-term efficiency.
Why Extended Cartridges Matter
-
Lower Cost per Page
Although extended/jumbo cartridges cost more upfront, the cost per printed page is usually much lower than standard cartridges, making them more economical in high-volume environments. -
Fewer Interruptions
Extended/jumbo cartridges need to be replaced less often, reducing downtime, service calls, and the frequency of handling consumables. -
Better for Busy Workflows
Offices with heavy printing demands benefit from extended/jumbo cartridges since they minimize the risk of running out of toner mid-project. -
Environmental Impact
Using fewer cartridges over time means less packaging waste, reduced shipping, and fewer discarded components.
Everyday Analogy
Think of it like buying soda:
- A 12-oz can is like a standard cartridge.
- A 2-liter bottle is like an extended cartridge.
All of them quench your thirst, but the bigger sizes last longer and cost less per ounce.
Final Thoughts
Extended and jumbo cartridges are all about efficiency. If you print a lot, they’ll save you time, money, and hassle compared to standard cartridges.
