HP 21, 21XL, 22, 22XL Ink Cartridges
The HP 21, 21XL, 22, and 22XL ink cartridge series provides flexible standard and high-yield choices alongside affordable compatible alternatives designed to drop domestic printing bills. Our 4.8 Google Star rating shows how experienced customers seamlessly maintain their setups using reliable consumables supplied by Ink Depot. Selecting our premium compatible options or genuine replacements prevents nozzle blocks while ensuring constant print outputs across your home layout.
Printers Compatible with HP 21 & 22 Ink Cartridges
Choosing between genuine and compatible options
Under Australian Consumer Law, using compatible cartridges does not void your printer warranty. Opting for premium compatible replacements lets you run home printers at a fraction of the cost without compromising internal printer safety. Check out our technical assessment breakdown via our genuine vs compatible cartridges guide.
Pro Tip
Unlike independent single-colour setups, these cartridges use integrated printheads built into the base of the plastic housing itself. Every time you swap an empty cartridge, you receive a completely clean firing mechanism, meaning you can resolve persistent horizontal streaking or poor ink delivery issues caused by a dried-up printhead simply by installing a fresh cartridge.
Expected page output and replacement cycles
Calculated page output follows the strict ISO/IEC 24711 diagnostic standard used across basic consumer inkjet lines. Standard-yield black cartridges deliver 185 pages, whereas the tri-colour variants output 170 pages before running dry.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Standard | Black | 185 | $0.24 |
| 22 | Standard | Colour | 170 | $0.34 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage). Prices based on Genuine cartridges.
Best way to stock these cartridges
If you print mainly text documents, purchasing a standalone black cartridge shields you from overpaying for colour ink pools you rarely use. Budget-conscious households looking to save on upfront costs will benefit from compatible alternatives, which carry a full money-back guarantee via our Returns policy. Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply), with all items dispatched rapidly from our central storage hubs in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Browse the comprehensive catalogue by exploring our main HP ink cartridges range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install an XL-capacity cartridge if my printer arrived with standard HP 21 or 22 inks?
Yes, the physical dimensions of the cartridge housings remain identical regardless of the internal capacity. The XL variant simply holds more ink volume within the internal reservoir sponge, fitting into the exact same physical slot inside your home printer without modifications.
Why does my HP 22 tri-colour cartridge show as empty when I can still see yellow ink printing?
The tri-colour tank partitions cyan, magenta, and yellow ink into three separate internal chambers. If your documents use a heavy amount of one specific colour, that isolated chamber will run dry first, forcing you to replace the entire unit even if the remaining two colours are partially full.
How do I prevent these specific cartridges from drying out if I only print occasionally?
Integrated printhead cartridges are prone to ink evaporation if left idle. To avoid wasting ink on automatic head cleaning cycles, run a single test page containing all four colours once every fortnight, and ensure you turn off the printer using its physical power button to seal the printhead carriage properly.
