Comparison
HP 305 vs 305XL: difference, yield and cost
305 and 305XL fit the same printers and print equally well. The difference is the amount of ink — and so the cost per page.
Content updated:
The HP 305 range comes in two capacities: HP 305 (standard) and HP 305XL (high yield). Both fit the same HP DeskJet and ENVY 305-series printers and give the same print quality. The practical difference is the amount of ink — and whether that pays off per page depends entirely on the current retailer price divided by the stated yield.
The difference in one table
HP 305 vs HP 305XL — key figures
- Capacity class
- 305 Standard yield 305XL High yield (XL)
- Black yield (ISO/IEC 24711)
- 305 Approx. 120 pages 305XL Approx. 240 pages
- Tri-colour yield (ISO/IEC 24711)
- 305 Approx. 100 pages 305XL Approx. 200 pages
- OEM codes
- 305 3YM61AE (black) · 3YM60AE (tri-colour) 305XL 3YM62AE (black) · 3YM63AE (tri-colour)
- Cartridge changes
- 305 More frequent 305XL Less frequent
- Cost per page
- 305 Depends on current price ÷ yield 305XL Depends on current price ÷ yield
- Upfront price
- 305 Compare current offers 305XL Compare current offers
| Measure | HP 305 | HP 305XL |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity class | Standard yield | High yield (XL) |
| Black yield (ISO/IEC 24711) | Approx. 120 pages | Approx. 240 pages |
| Tri-colour yield (ISO/IEC 24711) | Approx. 100 pages | Approx. 200 pages |
| OEM codes | 3YM61AE (black) · 3YM60AE (tri-colour) | 3YM62AE (black) · 3YM63AE (tri-colour) |
| Cartridge changes | More frequent | Less frequent |
| Cost per page | Depends on current price ÷ yield | Depends on current price ÷ yield |
| Upfront price | Compare current offers | Compare current offers |
Already leaning one way? Check current prices and available options for each capacity.
Difference per colour (OEM codes and yield)
| Colour | 305 standard yield | 305XL high yield |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 3YM61AE Approx. 120 pages | 3YM62AE Approx. 240 pages |
| Tri-colour | 3YM60AE Approx. 100 pages | 3YM63AE Approx. 200 pages |
What does it cost per page right now?
Cost per page = cartridge price ÷ stated yield. Below we work that out per colour using the lowest checked price we currently find at UK retailers — no example figures.
| 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.
Ready to compare the actual offers?
The calculation above uses the latest checked prices. The 305 and 305XL pages show current retailer options by cartridge.
Calculator: what does a year of printing cost?
Enter your pages per month. Prices are prefilled with the lowest checked price; you can change them.
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.
Current prices per original HP cartridge
HP Store UK, Argos and Cartridge Save prices were read live from the exact product page. Amazon.co.uk is listed too, but without an amount: we only show Amazon prices via Amazon's own API.
Original HP 305 cartridges
- View prices
HP 305 Black
3YM61AE · approx. 120 pages
- View prices
HP 305 Tri-colour
3YM60AE · approx. 100 pages
Original HP 305XL cartridges
- View prices
HP 305XL Black
3YM62AE · approx. 240 pages
- View prices
HP 305XL Tri-colour
3YM63AE · approx. 200 pages
Can you mix HP 305 and HP 305XL?
Yes. The printer checks each colour position (black or tri-colour) for a valid cartridge; standard or XL makes no difference to it. You can switch at any time without changing settings.
When does HP 305 suit you better?
HP 305 usually costs less per purchase and can make sense with light use. Always check the current price and your expected yearly spend.
When does HP 305XL suit you better?
HP 305XL holds more ink and needs changing less often. Whether it's also cheaper follows only from the current price, HP's yield and the number of whole cartridges you need.
Singles or a 2-pack?
If you need black and colour at (almost) the same time, the original HP 305 2-pack (6ZD17AE) may be cheaper than two standard singles — compare the current prices. There's also an official 305XL 2-pack (6ZA94AE), sold by UK retailers.
HP 305 2-pack (black + tri-colour) — prices
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Cartridge Save Original HP Lowest checked price Last checked: 23 September 2026
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HP Store Original HP Last checked: 23 September 2026
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Argos Original HP Last checked: 23 September 2026
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Original HP Price at retailer
View offer
Original, remanufactured and compatible compared
Seller yield claims are not independent tests. The badges show which products are explicitly described as remanufactured and which are sold only as compatible.
Original HP reference offers
Direct, checked original offers for a like-for-like check. Compatible and remanufactured products stay separate below.
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HP 305 Black
3YM61AE
View offer£13.99
HP Store -
HP 305 Tri-colour
3YM60AE
View offer£13.99
HP Store -
HP 305XL Black
3YM62AE
View offer£19.86
Cartridge Save -
HP 305XL Tri-colour
3YM63AE
View offer£18.19
Cartridge Save
| Product | Stated pages | Price | Original HP 305XL, same composition | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartridge Save Premium 305XL Tri-colour (remanufactured) Remanufactured 1× tri-colour · remanufactured | colour 375 | £13.64 checked 23 September 2026 | £18.19 colour 200 pages | At Cartridge Save |
| Cartridge Save Premium 305XL Black (remanufactured) Remanufactured 1× black · remanufactured | black 650 | £14.89 checked 23 September 2026 | £19.86 black 240 pages | At Cartridge Save |
| TonerGiant compatible HP 305XL black Compatible 1× black · compatible | black 240 | £17.15 checked 27 September 2026 | £19.86 black 240 pages | At  |
| Premium compatible HP 305XL black Compatible 1× black · compatible | black 240 | £19.99 checked 27 September 2026 | £19.86 black 240 pages | At  The Cartridge Centre |
| Cartridge Save Premium 305XL 2-pack (black + tri-colour, remanufactured) Remanufactured 1× black + 1× tri-colour · remanufactured | black 650 · colour 375 | £28.39 checked 23 September 2026 | £38.05 black 240 · colour 200 pages | At Cartridge Save |
| TonerGiant compatible HP 305XL black + tri-colour multipack Compatible 1× black + 1× tri-colour · compatible | black 240 · colour 200 | £30.86 checked 27 September 2026 | £38.05 black 240 · colour 200 pages | At |
Check more retailers (5)
Not ranked: where no exact HP 305 listing has been verified, we show a shop or range link only — never an invented price.
- Check retailer
TonerGiant
Original + compatible HP 305 checked - Check retailer
CartridgeMonkey
Original + compatible HP 305 checked - Check retailer
The Cartridge Centre
Compatible / remanufactured HP 305 checked - Check retailer
Staples UK
Original Exact offer not checked - Check retailer
Office Monster
Original Exact offer not checked
FAQ: 305 or 305XL
Should I buy HP 305 or HP 305XL?
305 and 305XL fit the same printers and print equally well. The difference is the amount of ink: HP states about 120 pages (black) and 100 pages (tri-colour) for the standard cartridges, and about 240 and 200 pages for the XL versions (ISO/IEC 24711, continuous printing). Whether XL is cheaper per page depends only on the current price divided by that yield — we work that out with the prices checked now, not with a rule of thumb.
Can I use an HP 305 and an HP 305XL in the same printer?
Yes. The printer checks each position (black or tri-colour) for a valid cartridge; standard or XL makes no difference to it. A common combination is XL for the colour you use up fastest and standard for the other.
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.
What are the official HP 305 part numbers?
HP 305 black is 3YM61AE, HP 305 tri-colour is 3YM60AE, HP 305XL black is 3YM62AE and HP 305XL tri-colour is 3YM63AE. The official 2-packs are 6ZD17AE (standard black + tri-colour) and 6ZA94AE (305XL black + tri-colour).
Why don't you show a price for Amazon.co.uk?
We only show Amazon prices from Amazon's own product API. Until that is connected, we link to the exact Amazon listing without an amount rather than publishing a figure we read off the page, which goes out of date quickly.
Why aren't Currys or Cartridge People in the comparison?
When we checked on 23 September 2026, Currys showed a 'We'll be back soon' page and Cartridge People showed an automated bot check, so we couldn't read a price from either. We only list a shop once we've read its exact product page.
Sources (4)
- Retailer HP 305 product pages at HP Store UK, Argos, Cartridge Save and Amazon.co.uk — HP Store UK · Argos · Cartridge Save · Amazon.co.uk
Price, availability and delivery per exact listing, read live.
Checked: 23 September 2026
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Official product pages for 3YM61AE, 3YM60AE, 3YM62AE, 3YM63AE and 6ZD17AE: codes, yields, prices and reviews.
Checked: 23 September 2026
- Standard ISO/IEC 24711: method for determining ink cartridge yield — International Organization for Standardization
The measurement behind HP's stated yield for the HP 305 series.
Checked: 22 September 2026
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Cost per page = current product price ÷ stated yield, per colour position; delivery is not included.
Checked: 23 September 2026
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 .