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HP 305 cost per page: calculator with current prices

Cost per page = current price ÷ stated yield, per colour position. The calculator works out your year in whole cartridges.

Content updated:

Adjust prices (prefilled: lowest checked price, 23 September 2026)

Assumption: black pages use the black cartridge, colour pages the tri-colour cartridge; yield = HP's figure (ISO/IEC 24711). In practice a colour page often uses some black too and cleaning cycles use ink, so treat the result as a lower bound. You buy whole cartridges, so the calculator rounds up per year.

Cost per page today

Calculated with the lowest checked product price for each cartridge (checked on 23 September 2026). Yield = HP-stated ISO/IEC 24711 yield.
Colour 305 price 305 per page 305XL price 305XL per page Lower cost
Black £13.99 HP Store · approx. 120 pages 11.7p £19.86 Cartridge Save · approx. 240 pages 8.3p XL · 29%
Tri-colour £13.99 HP Store · approx. 100 pages 14.0p £18.19 Cartridge Save · approx. 200 pages 9.1p XL · 35%

Current result

At the currently checked prices, 305XL has the lower cost per page for 2 of 2 compared colours. This is a snapshot; the result can change when retailer prices change.

Extra 305 → XL price and capacity

  • Black: +£5.87 for 120 extra stated pages
  • Tri-colour: +£4.20 for 100 extra stated pages

Cost per 100 black pages: 305 £11.66 · 305XL £8.28. The yield is HP's stated figure under ISO/IEC 24711 with continuous printing; actual yield can vary considerably.

Use the right yield

HP states about 120 pages for 305 black, 100 for 305 tri-colour, 240 for 305XL black and 200 for 305XL tri-colour (ISO/IEC 24711). Never add black and colour into one figure: they don't run out at the same time, and the cost per page differs per position.

Estimating a year's cost

Multiply your monthly volume by twelve and round up per cartridge — the calculator does this. That also lets you compare a subscription such as HP Instant Ink over the same period; check the included pages, extra pages and the connection requirement.

Cost per page questions

Is the HP 305 2-pack (6ZD17AE) cheaper than two single cartridges?

The official 2-pack 6ZD17AE contains one standard black and one standard tri-colour cartridge. Whether it's cheaper than buying them separately depends on the current pack price versus the sum of the single prices — compare both before you buy. There is also an official 305XL 2-pack (6ZA94AE); UK retailers sell it, but HP Store UK's own page for it returned an error on 23 September 2026.

How do I work out the cost per page of an HP 305 cartridge?

Cost per page = cartridge price ÷ stated page yield. For HP 305 black (3YM61AE, about 120 pages) and HP 305XL black (3YM62AE, about 240 pages), divide each current price by its yield. HP's yield is an average under ISO/IEC 24711 with continuous printing; with occasional printing or lots of colour photos your real yield can differ.

Will I always get HP 305's stated page yield?

Not necessarily. HP's figure (120/100/240/200 pages) is an average measured under ISO/IEC 24711 by printing a test document continuously. Occasional printing, cleaning cycles after long idle periods and pages with heavy colour coverage all reduce the real yield compared with HP's figure.

Is an alternative always cheaper per page?

Not automatically. An alternative's yield is the seller's own figure, usually '@ 5% coverage' and not measured to the same HP standard. Also factor in delivery costs and the chance of a return if a cartridge isn't recognised.

Sources (5)

Facts from HP and standards bodies are labelled as such. Calculations (cost per page and annual cost) are estimates by the 305-ink.com editorial team. Last reconciled on .