HP 72, 72B Ink Cartridges
The HP 72 and 72B ink cartridge series supplies wide-format technical printers requiring precise line accuracy and deep grey scales. This six-colour ink system uses separate single-colour cartridges to prevent premature replacement, with high-volume six-packs and twelve-packs available to reduce individual procurement costs. Our 4.8 Google Star rating shows that our customers consistently receive high-quality cartridges backed by reliable performance.
Printers Compatible with HP 72 & 72B Ink Cartridges
Cartridge yield and consumption patterns
Wide-format technical printing consumption depends entirely on line work versus solid graphic fills. While specific page metrics are not declared due to the large-scale variations in CAD drawing and GIS mapping sizes, these cartridges adhere to strict factory volume standards to ensure uniform droplet delivery across continuous rolls.
The actual physical volume and yield capacities for this series are split into two sizes:
1. Standard Capacity
Volume:69 ml of ink.
Best For: Low-volume or occasional printing environments. These are less cost-effective per millilitre but keep the upfront cost low if the printer sits idle frequently.
2. High Capacity
Volume:130 ml of ink.
Best For: High-volume commercial environments, continuous roll printing, and long print runs. This size drastically lowers your long-term running costs compared to the 69 ml variants.
Real-World Consumption Expectations
Because there is no official page count, wide-format printing experts calculate consumption based on ink coverage per square metre:
CAD / Line Drawings (Blueprints): Typically consume roughly 0.5 ml to 1.5 ml of ink per square metre. A high-capacity 130 ml Matte Black cartridge can yield well over 80 to 100 large-format (A1/A0) line drawings before needing a replacement.
GIS Maps / Heavy Graphics / Renderings: Consume significantly more ink—often between 5 ml to 10 ml per square metre due to solid block colour fills. If you are printing full-bleed colour posters, a 130 ml cartridge will deplete much faster, giving you around 15 to 25 full-coverage prints.
Managing multi-colour wide-format cartridge setups
Technical wide-format printers use a specific six-colour ink array containing Matte Black, Photo Black, Grey, Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow. CAD architectural drawings deplete Matte Black rapidly for structural lines, whereas rendering work draws heavily from the Photo Black and Grey slots to produce accurate gradients. Purchasing standard individual replacements satisfies single depletion events, but high-volume architectural environments reduce operational downtime by keeping full multi-packs on hand.
Stock up on your required consumables online to avoid stopping mid-plot. Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply). All orders are packed and dispatched directly from our regional stock locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth to ensure minimal transit delays. If an items arrives damaged or incorrect, our comprehensive returns policy provides a straightforward resolution path. View our full range of HP ink cartridges to match your exact printer.
Pro Tip
Do not mistake the Matte Black slot for Photo Black. The HP 72B Matte Black cartridge uses pigment-based ink designed to adhere to standard bond and tracing papers without feathering, while the Photo Black and Grey cartridges use dye-based formulations engineered for smooth tones on satin and glossy media. Mixing these roles or installing the incorrect black formulation will cause smudging on technical roll papers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix older HP 72 cartridges with newer HP 72B cartridge models in the same printhead assembly?
Yes. The HP 72B variants are direct functional updates designed to slide alongside original HP 72 slots without inducing communication faults or colour balance drift. The printer internal firmware treats both iterations identically across the six-channel manifold.
Why does my DesignJet require a separate printhead consumable if the ink tanks are separate?
The ink cartridges serve as static fluid reservoirs that feed the active printhead via an internal tube network. The printhead assembly contains the firing nozzles and wears out independently due to thermal stress, requiring separate periodic renewal when lines show gaps despite full ink volumes.
What causes the Matte Black cartridge to deplete faster than all colour channels combined?
Technical plotters rendering CAD blueprints, architectural schematics, and engineering layouts utilise monochrome vector lines as their foundational data layer. Since structural boundaries require deep contrast on uncoated bond paper, the printer activates the high-capacity pigment channel almost exclusively during draft cycles.
