Compatible
HP 305 compatible: real alternatives and what to check
Compatible cartridges come from companies other than HP. Below are real products currently listed at a UK retailer, each with its own figures — and what to check before you buy.
Content updated:
- Cartridge Save Premium 305XL Tri-colour (remanufactured): £13.64 for about 375 colour pages (seller's figure) — the same composition in original HP currently costs £18.19 for 200 colour pages (HP).
- Cartridge Save Premium 305XL Black (remanufactured): £14.89 for about 650 black pages (seller's figure) — the same composition in original HP currently costs £19.86 for 240 black pages (HP).
- TonerGiant compatible HP 305XL black: £17.15 for about 240 black pages (seller's figure) — the same composition in original HP currently costs £19.86 for 240 black pages (HP).
- Premium compatible HP 305XL black: £19.99 for about 240 black pages (seller's figure) — the same composition in original HP currently costs £19.86 for 240 black pages (HP).
- Cartridge Save Premium 305XL 2-pack (black + tri-colour, remanufactured): £28.39 for about 650 black + 375 colour pages (seller's figure) — the same composition in original HP currently costs £38.05 for 240 black + 200 colour pages (HP).
- TonerGiant compatible HP 305XL black + tri-colour multipack: £30.86 for about 240 black + 200 colour pages (seller's figure) — the same composition in original HP currently costs £38.05 for 240 black + 200 colour pages (HP).
Original HP reference offers
Direct, checked original offers for a like-for-like check. Compatible and remanufactured products stay separate below.
-
HP 305 Black
3YM61AE
View offer£13.99
HP Store -
HP 305 Tri-colour
3YM60AE
View offer£13.99
HP Store -
HP 305XL Black
3YM62AE
View offer£19.86
Cartridge Save -
HP 305XL Tri-colour
3YM63AE
View offer£18.19
Cartridge Save
| Product | Stated pages | Price | Original HP 305XL, same composition | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartridge Save Premium 305XL Tri-colour (remanufactured) Remanufactured 1× tri-colour · remanufactured | colour 375 | £13.64 checked 23 September 2026 | £18.19 colour 200 pages | At Cartridge Save |
| Cartridge Save Premium 305XL Black (remanufactured) Remanufactured 1× black · remanufactured | black 650 | £14.89 checked 23 September 2026 | £19.86 black 240 pages | At Cartridge Save |
| TonerGiant compatible HP 305XL black Compatible 1× black · compatible | black 240 | £17.15 checked 27 September 2026 | £19.86 black 240 pages | At  |
| Premium compatible HP 305XL black Compatible 1× black · compatible | black 240 | £19.99 checked 27 September 2026 | £19.86 black 240 pages | At  The Cartridge Centre |
| Cartridge Save Premium 305XL 2-pack (black + tri-colour, remanufactured) Remanufactured 1× black + 1× tri-colour · remanufactured | black 650 · colour 375 | £28.39 checked 23 September 2026 | £38.05 black 240 · colour 200 pages | At Cartridge Save |
| TonerGiant compatible HP 305XL black + tri-colour multipack Compatible 1× black + 1× tri-colour · compatible | black 240 · colour 200 | £30.86 checked 27 September 2026 | £38.05 black 240 · colour 200 pages | At |
Check more retailers (5)
Not ranked: where no exact HP 305 listing has been verified, we show a shop or range link only — never an invented price.
- Check retailer
TonerGiant
Original + compatible HP 305 checked - Check retailer
CartridgeMonkey
Original + compatible HP 305 checked - Check retailer
The Cartridge Centre
Compatible / remanufactured HP 305 checked - Check retailer
Staples UK
Original Exact offer not checked - Check retailer
Office Monster
Original Exact offer not checked
We only found and could read one UK own-brand range this round (Cartridge Save). Currys' own "Essentials" twin pack couldn't be checked because the Currys site was unavailable.
What does compatible mean?
A compatible cartridge is made or rebuilt by a company other than HP and sold for printers in the 305 family. "Compatible", "generic", "own brand" and "remanufactured" aren't the same technical category: a remanufactured cartridge uses a used HP shell, a newly made compatible doesn't. So judge the actual product, not the label.
Cartridge Save describes its "Premium" 305XL cartridges as made from recycled HP cartridges, so they are remanufactured. The shop doesn't describe the chip. Its yields are stated "@ 5% average coverage" and aren't measured to HP's standard.
Five things to check before you buy
- Exact printer model. "For HP 305" is weaker than a list that includes your model variant.
- Black or tri-colour. Check which position you're replacing and which OEM code is the reference.
- Electronic chip. Does the seller explain which chip is used and what happens after a firmware update?
- Returns and warranty. A clear policy for a cartridge that isn't recognised reduces your risk.
- Where the yield claim comes from. A big number on the box isn't a test. The figures in the table above come from the seller.
Dynamic security
On the product pages of the DeskJet 2820e, 4220e and ENVY 6420e, among others, HP states that these printers are intended only for cartridges with new or reused HP electronic circuitry, and that firmware updates can block cartridges that worked before. A remanufactured cartridge with a reused HP chip fits that description; a cartridge with its own chip does not. So the outcome depends on the electronics and the printer firmware, not just the shell.
Compatible HP 305 questions
Is a compatible HP 305 cartridge safe for my printer?
A compatible cartridge comes from a company other than HP and is made to fit the same printer. Its yield, chip and compatibility claims are the seller's statements, not facts confirmed by HP, and 305-ink.com hasn't tested them. HP's dynamic security may apply depending on your printer model; check this before you buy.
Can firmware affect compatible cartridges?
Yes. HP states dynamic security on the product pages of the DeskJet 2820e, 4220e and ENVY 6420e, among others: these printers are intended for cartridges with new or reused HP electronic circuitry, and firmware updates can block cartridges that worked before. Whether an alternative keeps working therefore depends on its chip and on future updates.
How do I judge a compatible cartridge without test data?
Check the seller, the exact list of printer models, chip information, warranty, returns and how open they are about the contents. Don't treat a yield claim as an independently proven result.
What's the difference between compatible and remanufactured?
'Compatible' is a broad label for an alternative, often newly made. Remanufactured means a returned cartridge shell has been cleaned and refilled. Cartridge Save's 'Premium' 305XL range, for example, is described as made from recycled HP cartridges. What exactly a seller supplies should be stated on the product page.
Can I combine original black with a compatible colour cartridge?
The positions work independently, but whether a particular alternative works still depends on the product and printer. Check the model claim and the seller's returns policy.
Sources (4)
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Yields as stated by the shop (@ 5% average coverage); not tested by us.
Checked: 23 September 2026
- Retailer HP 305 product pages at HP Store UK, Argos, Cartridge Save and Amazon.co.uk — HP Store UK · Argos · Cartridge Save · Amazon.co.uk
Price, availability and delivery per exact listing, read live.
Checked: 23 September 2026
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Product pages of the DeskJet 2820e/2822e/2823e/4220e/4230e and ENVY 6420e with HP's statements on dynamic security and HP+; the successors DeskJet 2920/4320e and ENVY 6120e/6122e/6532e list HP 308 as the replacement cartridge.
Checked: 23 September 2026
- Manufacturer · support HP ink cartridge issues including incompatible, missing and not recognized errors — HP Support
Checked: 23 September 2026
Facts from HP and standards bodies are labelled as such. Calculations (cost per page and annual cost) are estimates by the 305-ink.com editorial team. Last reconciled on .