Orders placed by 4:00 PM MST get
SAME DAY SHIPPING
for items listed as in stock
Contact
Visit Precision Roller on Facebook
Follow Precision Roller on Twitter Watch Precision Roller on YouTube Follow Precision Roller on Pinterest
Save Today by Signing Up for Special Offers on Printer Ink, Toner, and Supplies

Toner Buying Guide

Toner is the dry powder used in laser printers, laser fax machines and photocopiers that forms the text and images on the paper.

Info About Toner

The term toner refers to the dry "ink" plastic powder used to print by printers, copiers and fax machines that use a laser printing process. Unlike the ink used in inkjet printers, which is liquid sprayed onto the page and allowed to dry, toner is put on the page then run through a heating process that melts the plastic onto the paper. Since toner is not a liquid, it does not experience the "bleeding" that ink can if the paper gets wet after printing.

As you shop for replacement toner and toner cartridges for your printer, copier, fax machine or multi-function device (MFD), you may have come across terms you were unfamiliar with, or may have had questions about what type of toner you should buy. We hope this buying guide helps make your toner shopping experience a little easier. This section is a brief overview, and for more detail, browse through other sections, especially Attributes.

  • Get the toner for your model: Usually, the easiest way to find your toner is by the manufacturer's part number of the toner (sometimes printed on the cartridge/bottle or on the printer/copier/fax itself). If the part number isn't available, most vendors will have a way to browse to the exact product you need (for example, our Quick Finder or Browse Our Catalog page) using the manufacturer's name and the model number of the printer/copier/fax.
  • Get the appropriate type of toner: Many vendors will offer the original manufacturer's (OEM) brand and a less expensive compatible brand. (see the Attributes section for more information)
  • Choose the best option: Some toner cartridges are available with higher-yield options. If one is available, the longer-life, higher-yield cartridge will generally cost less per copy, saving you money and time.
  • Don't forget to order all colors: Generally, color laser printers use a different toner cartridge for each color. If one cartridge runs out, you may wish to order the other colors to have them on hand when they are empty, too.
  • Order ahead: If not exposed to heat or excessive moisture and kept in the original, sealed packaging, toner cartridges have quite a long shelf life. Keeping an extra on hand (of each color if your printer is a color device) will help you be sure that when the current cartridge is empty, you will not have a delay waiting for the new one.
  • Think carefully about refill toner: Refill kits are not recommended except by technicians who are trained to use refill kits properly. It’s typically not just a 'fill and forget' process. There are sometimes many steps involved which vary depending on model and manufacturer. If not done correctly, refilled cartridges can result in quite a mess in your printer or copier.

Once you receive your new cartridge, there are a couple of other points to be aware of:

  • Before installing your cartridge, shake it to loosen toner that has compacted during shipping. The best method to do this is to hold the cartridge level with one hand on each end of the cartridge and shake it gently from side to side.
  • Check the old cartridge before disposing of it. On some models, the toner and drum units appear to be one unit; however, the toner is actually a seperate unit, and requires re-use of the drum cartridge. Be sure what you are disposing of is the same as what you purchased.
  • Install carefully; never force the cartridge into the machine.
  • If print quality is important, use high-quality paper. This is often overlooked and can improve your print quality whether you are using OEM or compatible toner.

For more detail, continue to the Attributes section.

General Questions
For all other general/miscellaneous inquiries such as: account information, ordering (including rush processing), shipping, or assistance with a recently- placed order, please direct your correspondence to our customer service or fill out our online contact form. If you prefer, you may email us through your default email handler at imaging@precisionroller.com.

Didn’t find the answer to your question?
At Precision Roller, we do our best to provide the finest customer service and support for our customers! We are making improvements to our site daily in hopes of providing you with the best online shopping experience. Please help us improve our site by giving us your opinion, suggestion and comments. Please write us with your suggestion at Website Suggestions: webmaster@precisionroller.com.