Printer Ink vs Toner: What Is the Difference?

Printer ink and toner are both consumables used for printing, but they work in very different ways. Ink is a liquid used by inkjet printers, while toner is a fine powder used by laser printers.

Quick answer

Ink cartridges contain liquid ink for inkjet printers. Toner cartridges contain powder for laser printers. Your printer type determines which consumable you need, so an ink cartridge cannot normally replace a toner cartridge.

How does printer ink work?

Inkjet printers place tiny droplets of liquid ink onto paper through print-head nozzles. Inkjet printers are commonly used for documents, colour graphics and photographs.

How does toner work?

Laser printers use toner powder and an electrostatic imaging process to transfer the toner onto paper, where heat helps fuse it to the page. Laser printing is commonly used for fast document printing.

Which is cheaper?

There is no universal winner. The total cost depends on the printer, cartridge price, page yield, print volume and document type. A high-volume office may benefit from laser printing, while a home user may prefer the flexibility of an inkjet printer.

Compatible toner and ink

Inkshop supplies both ink and toner options. For example, the compatible Brother TN1170 toner cartridge is a toner product for compatible Brother laser printers, while Brother LC431 products are ink cartridges for compatible inkjet printers.

How do I know which one I need?

Check the printer model and the consumable number. If your printer uses a toner cartridge, search for its toner reference. If it uses liquid ink, identify the ink cartridge number.

FAQ

Is toner the same as ink?

No. Toner is a dry powder used in laser printers, while ink is a liquid used in inkjet printing systems.

Can I put toner in an inkjet printer?

No. Inkjet and laser printers use different printing technologies and consumables.

Which lasts longer, ink or toner?

It depends on the cartridge and printer. Page yield, document coverage and printing volume matter more than the word ink or toner alone.