A toner refill or ink refill puts new toner or ink into the cartridge you already have, for less than a new one. Done properly it is a good way to cut printing costs and keep plastic out of the landfill. Done badly it gives faint pages, leaks and a printer full of loose powder. The difference is in the supplier: whether they only top up the cartridge or clean it and replace the parts that wear. Tell us what you need refilled and we pass your request to independent refill and remanufacturing services near you, who quote you directly.
Refilled or remanufactured
A refilled cartridge is opened, the old toner or ink is topped up, and it goes back in the printer. A remanufactured cartridge is stripped down, the waste toner is emptied, the shell is cleaned, and worn parts such as the drum, the wiper blade or the roller are replaced before it is filled and tested. Remanufactured cartridges usually cost more than a simple refill and print more reliably. Ask the supplier which one they are quoting for, and what parts they replace.
What can be refilled, and how often
Most laser printer cartridges and many inkjet cartridges can be refilled, but not every cartridge suits it, and not every time. A cartridge with a built-in drum has a drum that wears with each cycle, so after one or two refills it should be remanufactured or replaced. Ink cartridges with a printhead built in eventually fail at the head. A good refiller will tell you when a cartridge is past it. Copier toner bottles are usually not refilled; for those, see our page on toner cartridges.
Chips, resets and the printer's warning
Many cartridges carry a chip that counts pages. After a refill, the chip may still say the cartridge is empty, so the refiller resets or replaces it. On some printers the chip cannot be reset and a new chip must be fitted, which adds to the price. You may also see a message that a non-original cartridge is installed; the printer usually still works. Ask the supplier whether your model has any known chip problems before you book.
Quality, guarantees and swap services
Ask for a guarantee that covers leaks, streaks and a cartridge that is not recognised, and ask what the refiller does if a cartridge damages a printer. Many refill services run a swap: they bring a refilled cartridge and take your empty one away, so you never wait. Offices can set up a regular collection. A cartridge that keeps coming back faulty may be a sign of a worn drum or a printer fault, which a printer repair workshop can check.
- Laser printer cartridges
- Ink cartridges for home printers
- Swap and collection services
- Chip resets and replacements
What to put in your request
- The printer model and cartridge codes
- How many cartridges and of which colours
- Refill only or remanufactured
- Drop off, collection or a swap service
- Any chip or not recognised messages
Toner and Ink Refills for offices, schools and home offices
- Home offices: a laser cartridge refilled while you wait instead of buying a new one each time
- Small businesses and shops: a refill swap service so the office printer never stands empty
- Corporate and head offices: remanufactured cartridges on a regular swap for printers outside the copier contract
- Schools, colleges and universities: refilled cartridges for classroom and admin printers to stretch a tight budget
- Medical practices, clinics and hospitals: a refill service collecting empties from consulting rooms and dropping off full ones
- Law firms, accountants and agents: refilled black cartridges for printers that run letters and statements daily
- Government and municipalities: remanufactured cartridges supplied to offices on a quotation with a guarantee
- Factories, mines and warehouses: refilled cartridges for depot printers, checked for dust before each fill
- Churches, NGOs and community groups: low cost refills for an office printer that runs bulletins and minutes
Frequently asked questions
Will a refilled cartridge damage my printer?
How many times can a toner cartridge be refilled?
Can I refill a cartridge myself?
Do you refill cartridges yourselves?
Toner and Ink Refills by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg