HP Envy 4500 Ink Cartridges
Your HP Envy 4500 uses the 61, 61XL cartridge series, consisting of one black and one tri-colour cartridge. This two-cartridge system is designed for home users who value simplicity, but it requires careful management of the tri-colour unit. Since cyan, magenta, and yellow are combined, the entire cartridge must be replaced even if only one colour is exhausted. Users often find that switching to the high-yield 61XL variants provides more reliable performance for household printing and significantly reduces the frequency of cartridge swaps compared to standard capacities.
Choosing between genuine and compatible options
For those looking to manage household printing costs, we offer a range of compatible HP 61XL cartridges. These units provide a cost-effective alternative to genuine cartridges without sacrificing the usability of your printer. Under Australian Consumer Law, using compatible cartridges does not void your printer warranty. For added peace of mind, our compatibles come with a money-back guarantee. You can find more detailed information on this topic in our guide to genuine vs compatible cartridges.
Expected page output and replacement cycles
Page yields for the HP 61 series are determined by the ISO/IEC 24711 standard for inkjet printing, which simulates continuous printing under specific conditions. In a home environment, actual results will vary depending on how much ink is used for maintenance cycles and the density of your documents. The 61XL high-yield black cartridge is designed for approximately 480 pages, making it a better choice for students or home offices that print multi-page documents. Because the colour cartridge is a tri-colour system, printing a single image with heavy blue tones will deplete the cyan ink and render the whole cartridge empty, even if plenty of yellow remains.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Standard | Black | 190 | $0.25 |
| 61 | Standard | Colour | 165 | $0.35 |
| 61XL | High Yield | Black | 480 | $0.21 |
| 61XL | High Yield | Colour | 330 | $0.33 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage). Prices based on Genuine cartridges.
Best way to stock these cartridges
If you mainly print school assignments or text documents, the high-yield 61XL black cartridge is the most critical item to keep in stock. However, for the best value, most HP Envy 4500 owners opt for bundle packs. These packs reduce the cost per unit compared to buying single cartridges. You can browse our full range of HP ink cartridges to find the right configuration for your needs. We ship from warehouses in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply). If you are ever unsure about a purchase, please refer to our returns policy.
Pro Tip
Since the HP 61 system uses an integrated printhead (the firing nozzles are on the cartridge itself), replacing the cartridge effectively gives your printer a "new" head. If your HP Envy 4500 is producing streaky prints even after a cleaning cycle, moving to a new cartridge often resolves the hardware issue instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a 61XL cartridge even if my printer came with a standard 61?
Yes, the 61XL and standard 61 cartridges have identical physical dimensions and fit into the same slots. The XL version simply contains a larger volume of ink, allowing for a higher number of prints before needing a replacement.
Why is my printer saying the tri-colour cartridge is empty when I only print in black?
The HP Envy 4500 uses a small amount of colour ink during startup and maintenance cycles to keep the nozzles from clogging. Additionally, some "black" text is actually printed using a mix of inks (composite black) to improve sharpness, which depletes the tri-colour cartridge over time.
What happens if one colour runs out in the tri-colour cartridge?
Because the 61 series tri-colour cartridge houses cyan, magenta, and yellow in a single unit, the entire cartridge must be replaced once any one of those colours is exhausted. This is why users who print specific colours heavily often find bundles more economical to manage the inevitable imbalance.
