Brother vs HP Toner Cost
Which brand costs less per page? We compare real toner prices and yields to help you save money.
Average cost per page:
HP wins at R0.56/page
vs R0.61/page for Brother
Brother Mono Laser
Best for: Home offices, small businesses
TN-279XXLBK
6,000 pages
R0.37
R2,199
TN-3617XL
6,000 pages
R0.42
R2,499
TN-279XLBK
3,000 pages
R0.50
R1,499
TN-3607
3,000 pages
R0.57
R1,699
TN-3480
3,000 pages
R0.60
R1,799
TN-2280
2,600 pages
R0.62
R1,599
TN-2420
1,500 pages
R0.87
R1,299
TN-2421
1,000 pages
R0.90
R899
- Lower average cost per page
- More high-yield (XL) options available
- Excellent ink tank printers (DCP-T series)
- Standard yield toners expensive per page
HP Mono Laser
Best for: Enterprise, high-volume printing
W1331X
4,000 pages
R0.42
R1,699
CF281X
6,800 pages
R0.44
R2,999
CF237Y
2,300 pages
R0.52
R1,199
CF280A
2,300 pages
R0.56
R1,299
CF280XD
2,300 pages
R0.56
R1,299
W1331A
1,500 pages
R0.60
R899
CF280X
2,300 pages
R0.65
R1,499
CF410A
1,500 pages
R0.73
R1,099
- Very high yield XL cartridges (6800 pages)
- Excellent enterprise printers
- Wide availability of compatible toners
- Higher average cost per page
- Fewer budget-friendly options
Real Cost Comparison: 500 pages/month
Brother (TN-3617XL)
HP (W1331X)
At 500 pages/month, Brother and HP are nearly identical. The difference grows with higher print volumes — Brother wins at 1000+ pages/month.
The Verdict
For most South African homes and small businesses, Brother offers better value with lower cost-per-page toners and excellent ink tank printers. HP is better for enterprise environments with high-yield requirements.