Buying the wrong cartridge is the most common and most annoying mistake in this whole category, and it is almost always caused by reading the wrong number off the printer. Here is how to get it right in under a minute.
Find the model number, not the serial number
Your printer has at least two numbers on it and they look similarly official. Only one of them is any use.
| Looks like | Where | |
|---|---|---|
| Model number — this one | MFC-J491DW, HL-L2375DW, ET-2810, OfficeJet Pro 8710 |
On the front of the printer, and again on a label on the back or underneath |
| Serial number — not this one | A long mix of letters and digits, often under a barcode | Same label, usually below the model |
Where each brand puts it
- Brother — front panel above the display, and on a white label on the back. Starts with MFC-, DCP-, HL-.
- Epson — front of the case, and on a label underneath. EcoTank models start with ET-, others with XP-, WF- or L.
- Canon — front of the case. PIXMA, MAXIFY or the G / GX MegaTank series.
- HP — front of the case, and inside the cartridge door on many models. DeskJet, ENVY, OfficeJet, LaserJet, Smart Tank.
Read it to us
If you cannot find it or you are not sure which of the numbers is the right one, call 0800 INKINK and read us what is on the label. We do this every day and we will tell you in seconds. It costs you nothing and it saves a return.
Coming soon: photograph the label with your phone and the site will find your cartridge for you. We are building the lookup table first — a photo feature that fails on half the printers in New Zealand is worse than no photo feature.
One thing worth knowing about “XL”
Most cartridge numbers come in a standard and a high-yield version — LC3311 and LC3313, HP 63 and 63XL, Epson 220 and 220XL. Both fit the same printer. The XL simply holds more ink and costs less per page. If you print more than a few pages a week, the XL is almost always the better buy.
Where we sell both, the product page says which is which.