Before you buy toner, document the quality and cost effectiveness of your current brand, noting how long a cartridge or bottle lasts and the quality of printing.

When you buy new toner, make sure it properly fits into your machine, and then test some pages. Compare the output with pages from the old batch, watching for streaking or gray areas.

As you use the toner, note how many pages it produces. If it does not last as long as previous supplies, make sure the price is low enough to make up for the shortage.