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Buying guide

Cheap HP 218 toner: 6 ways to save

Saving on HP 218 toner works in several ways — some without any risk, some with a trade-off. Here they are, each with today's checked numbers.

Content updated:

1. Compare cost per page, not the sticker price

Which capacity is cheaper per page follows from one sum: price ÷ stated yield. Today, black costs $3.59 per 100 pages with 218X ($114.89 at Best Buy) against $6.07 with 218A ($78.89 at Staples). Your print volume does not change that ratio — it only decides how many cartridges you buy per year and how often you swap. See 218A vs 218X.

2. Buy a 4-pack only when it beats singles

  • 218X: the cheapest checked set ($511.89 at Best Buy) is $4.67 less than the four cheapest singles ($516.56).
  • 218A: the cheapest checked set ($353.89 at Best Buy) is $3.67 less than the four cheapest singles ($357.56).

U.S. "4-packs" are retailer or marketplace bundles, not an HP pack, so their prices vary a lot. If you print mostly black, buying black alone is usually more economical than a whole set each time. Details: 218X multipack, 218A multipack.

3. Buy each color where it is cheapest

The lowest checked price differs per cartridge and per store. Each line links to the full comparison:

HP 218X (high yield)

  • HP 218X Black

    W2180X · ~3,200 pages

    from $114.89 Best Buy · 7 stores priced

    Compare prices

  • HP 218X Cyan

    W2181X · ~2,500 pages

    from $133.89 Staples · 5 stores priced

    Compare prices

  • HP 218X Yellow

    W2182X · ~2,500 pages

    from $133.89 Staples · 6 stores priced

    Compare prices

  • HP 218X Magenta

    W2183X · ~2,500 pages

    from $133.89 Staples · 7 stores priced

    Compare prices

HP 218A (standard yield)

  • HP 218A Black

    W2180A · ~1,300 pages

    from $78.89 Staples · 6 stores priced

    Compare prices

  • HP 218A Cyan

    W2181A · ~1,200 pages

    from $92.89 Staples · 7 stores priced

    Compare prices

  • HP 218A Yellow

    W2182A · ~1,200 pages

    from $92.89 Staples · 6 stores priced

    Compare prices

  • HP 218A Magenta

    W2183A · ~1,200 pages

    from $92.89 Staples · 6 stores priced

    Compare prices

4. Work it out per page

A cheap cartridge with a low yield can cost more per page than a pricier one with a high yield. Compare price ÷ yield:

$

Lowest checked price at Staples (September 23, 2026), before tax — replace it with the price you see.

pages

HP's ISO yield for originals, or the yield the compatible seller states.

/mo

Estimates whole cartridges and yearly spend for this color.

Cost per page

6.07¢

$6.07 per 100 pages

Estimate. Cost per page = price ÷ stated yield. HP's yield (ISO/IEC 19798, continuous printing) is not a prediction of your use; content, coverage and settings change real yield. For a color page, add black, cyan, yellow and magenta together in the yearly cost calculator.

5. Consider compatibles — with open eyes

The lowest stated cost per page among eligible compatibles is $1.87 per 100 pages (CompAndSave, on its seller's own stated yield), against $3.59 for the cheapest Original HP cartridge per page (W2180X). Compatible and remanufactured toner costs less; how much exactly is shown per product in the compatible comparison. Weigh dynamic security and firmware updates, and buy from a seller with a clear return route. For business or critical use, original remains the safe choice.

6. Watch shipping, the seller and the listing title

  • Shipping: a lower cartridge price disappears with a shipping charge. We show "shipping not shown" when a listing gives no amount — it is never counted as free.
  • Sales tax: all prices here are before sales tax, which depends on your state and address.
  • The seller: on Walmart, Best Buy Marketplace, Newegg and Amazon you often buy from a third-party seller. Some marketplace sets say "sold without manufacturer warranty".
  • Timing: order when the printer first reports low toner — there are usually pages left, and you avoid paying for rush delivery.

HP 218X multipack — compare prices

3 of 4 listings with a checked price · before sales tax

  • Lowest checked price

    $511.89
    Not calculable Work out your own mix

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Best Buy

    Sold by Staples, Inc.

    SKU 12523446 · model W2180XQ1

    4.9/5 · 46 reviewsReviews shared across listing variants

    Get it Thu, Sep 24 (Best Buy estimate for ZIP 08817)

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $511.89
    Not calculable Work out your own mix

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Walmart

    Sold by Staples

    Item 19934954757 · W2180XQ1

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $516.96
    Not calculable Work out your own mix

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Toner Buzz

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked yesterday ·

Additional retailer · no price shown

Amazon.com

Exact Amazon product page (ASIN B0GD87GZ6K). Amazon shows its current price and seller after you click; we only show Amazon prices from Amazon's own approved feed.

Check price at Amazon Paid link

Comparison of 3 retailers with a checked price. Shipping to the contiguous U.S. is known for each, so the ranking uses the subtotal before sales tax. How we compare →

218X black — original and compatible side by side

13 of 16 listings with a checked price · before sales tax

  • Lowest checked product price

    $59.95
    $1.87/100 pp 1.9¢/page · seller yield

    Free standard shipping (contiguous U.S.) · before sales tax

    CompAndSave

    CompAndSave

    TONER-HP-W2180X

    Chip not stated

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked today ·
  • $59.99
    $1.87/100 pp 1.9¢/page · seller yield

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Swift Ink

    Swift Ink

    Chip included

    "Usually ships same day" (Swift Ink)

    In stock when checked

    24-month guarantee (Swift Ink).

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $75.99
    $2.37/100 pp 2.4¢/page · seller yield

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Staples

    Staples Remanufactured

    Item 24652446

    Chip includedRemanufactured

    1.8/5 · 6 reviewsReviews shared across listing variants

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    100% performance guarantee (Staples brand).

    View deal Checked today ·
  • $82.99
    $2.59/100 pp 2.6¢/page · seller yield

    Shipping not verified · sales tax at checkout

    True Color Toner

    True Color Toner (TCT)

    HP-218X-W2180X

    Chip included

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $91.99
    Not calculable

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Walmart

    Sold by Toner Cartridge Store

    Clover Imaging

    Item 17788708166

    Chip includedRemanufactured

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $98.99
    $3.09/100 pp 3.1¢/page · seller yield

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Quill

    Quill Remanufactured

    Item 901-201668PR

    Chip not statedRemanufactured

    Free delivery Mon, Sep 28 – Mon, Oct 5 (Quill estimate)

    In stock when checked

    2-year defect guarantee; lifetime satisfaction warranty (Quill brand).

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $114.89
    $3.59/100 pp 3.6¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Best Buy

    Sold by Staples, Inc.

    SKU 10757542

    Get it by Fri, Sep 25 (Best Buy estimate for ZIP 08817)

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $114.89
    $3.59/100 pp 3.6¢/page

    Shipping not verified · sales tax at checkout

    Walmart

    Sold by Toner Planet

    Item 5507481614

    4.2/5 · 95 reviewsReviews of this exact listing

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $114.99
    $3.59/100 pp 3.6¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Quill

    Item 901-24595414

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked today ·
  • $114.99
    $3.59/100 pp 3.6¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    HP Store

    Sold by HP

    W2180X

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $114.99
    $3.59/100 pp 3.6¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Staples

    Item 24595414

    4.5/5 · 759 reviewsReviews shared across listing variants

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $114.99
    $3.59/100 pp 3.6¢/page

    + $2.99 shipping · $117.98 before sales tax

    Newegg

    Sold by Official HP Store (on Newegg)

    Item 9SIAR0TKC47740 · MPN W2180X

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $114.99
    $3.59/100 pp 3.6¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Toner Buzz

    W2180X

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·

Additional retailer · no price shown

Amazon.com

Exact Amazon product page (ASIN B0CV4K9ZHN). Amazon shows its current price and seller after you click; we only show Amazon prices from Amazon's own approved feed.

Check price at Amazon Paid link

Exact listings we could not price-check — price at the retailer

  • B&H Photo

    Exact B&H listing. B&H blocked our automated check (bot verification) on 2026-09-23, so no price is shown.

    View at B&H Photo
  • CDW

    Exact CDW listing. CDW refused our automated check on 2026-09-23, so no price is shown.

    View at CDW

Comparison of 13 retailers with a checked price. Shipping is not verified for at least one retailer, so the ranking uses the product price before shipping and sales tax. How we compare →

Frequently asked questions about buying HP 218 cheaply

Should I buy HP 218A or HP 218X?

Both fit the same printers and print the same quality; the difference is how much toner is inside. HP states about 1,300 pages for 218A black and about 3,200 for 218X black; for the colors about 1,200 versus 2,500 (ISO/IEC 19798, continuous printing).

Which one is cheaper per page follows from one division: price ÷ stated yield. That depends on today's prices, not on how much you print — our 218A vs 218X page does the math with the prices we checked.

Your volume decides something else: how many cartridges you buy per year, how much cash you tie up at once and how often you swap. Light users may prefer 218A's lower upfront price; heavy users save swaps with 218X.

Is an HP 218 multipack cheaper than single cartridges?

Not automatically. HP sells the cartridges individually; U.S. "4-packs" are retailer or marketplace bundles of the same four Original HP cartridges (for example model W2180AQ1 or W2180XQ1). Our checks have found a four-pack that cost more than the same four singles at the same retailer, and another that cost less.

Always compare the set price with the sum of the four single prices on the multipack pages. Some marketplace sets are sold "without manufacturer warranty" — read the listing title before you buy.

Do your prices include sales tax?

No. U.S. prices are shown before sales tax, because the tax depends on your address and is only calculated at checkout. Where the listing showed the shipping cost, we add it and label the result "before sales tax"; where shipping was not shown, we say so instead of treating it as free.

Can I use 218A and 218X in the same printer at the same time?

Yes. Every color slot takes either the A or the X version of that color, so you can mix freely — for example 218X black with 218A cyan, yellow and magenta. HP lists all eight cartridges as replacements for each of the U.S. 3201/3301 models.

Mixing is often the most sensible setup for offices that print mostly black: the black cartridge empties first because it is used on color pages too.

Why do you show a different page yield for compatible cartridges?

Because a compatible cartridge's yield is the seller's own claim, not HP's. We never copy HP's ISO figure onto a third-party product. If a seller states no number — or contradicts itself — we show no cost per page for it.

Many U.S. sellers happen to state the same figures as HP (1,300/1,200 for A, 3,200/2,500 for X) at "5% coverage"; they are still labeled as seller claims.

Is 218X always cheaper per page than 218A?

Usually, but not by rule. 218X holds about 2.5 times the black toner of 218A and about 2.1 times the color toner, but it also costs more. It is cheaper per page whenever its price is less than that multiple of the 218A price. Our A vs X page recalculates this from the currently checked prices.

Sources (4)

Facts from HP, retailers and standards bodies are labeled as such. Calculations (cost per page, yearly cost) are estimates by 218toner.com. Last reconciled on .