How to Store Toner Properly

Toner cartridges are practically indefinitely durable. When buying double packs or savings packs, you can save a lot of money.

How to Store Toner Properly

Toner, unlike ink, mainly consists of powder, developer, magnetizable metal oxides, and binders.

All components are in powder form in the cartridge, so they do not dry out or spoil. Although some cartridges have a production date or expiration date printed on them (some of these in encrypted form), the expiration date for toner is not of significant importance because they are delivered in climate-proof and padded packaging. It is therefore highly unlikely that the powder in the cartridge will clump without external interference.

Unlike ink with a limited shelf life, under certain circumstances, it makes sense to stock up on toner cartridges.

Toner should be stored in the installation position (horizontally).

The toner should be lightly shaken before inserting it into the printer to distribute the toner evenly. The packaging prevents toner powder from leaking into the environment. Toner cartridges can still be used after years of storage. It is important to store them at room temperature and moderate humidity, without direct sunlight, and in their original packaging.

When storing toner cartridges, it is essential to ensure that temperature limits during transport in containers, which vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, are not exceeded, as this can cause the toner to clump inside the cartridges.

Can Toner Dry Out or Go Bad?

Unlike toner, printer cartridges contain ink as the coloring agent. Ink mainly consists of water (50 to 90%), additives (solvents such as isopropanol, alcohol), and color pigments.

The composition causes printer ink to change over time due to external influences such as UV light and oxygen.

Toner, on the other hand, is not a liquid but a powder made up of tiny particles, so it cannot dry out. However, if stored incorrectly (upright), the powder may accumulate in one spot inside the cartridge. In that case, you should place the toner cartridge in the horizontal installation position and move the cartridge back and forth a few times to redistribute the powder inside.

Even cartridges that have been in devices for years rarely clump up, even after long periods of disuse and fluctuating temperatures and humidity, and still deliver good prints. This is often the case with original toner.
Pictured: A Samsung toner cartridge in protective packaging. Nothing can "spoil." For long-term storage, the cartridge should remain in the outer box. Clumping due to extremely high ambient temperatures is a serious issue.

Why Is It Worth Stocking Up on Toner?

Stocking up on toner is worthwhile for several reasons, and based on the circumstances described above, you take no risk by doing so.

You can, for example, take advantage of the savings when purchasing toner double packs and multipacks. Additionally, toners rarely get cheaper over time. Instead, they tend to become more expensive as the devices get older and less common. Also, you might want to use your device as long as possible, so it's a good idea to have some toner in stock.

You should buy toner while it's still available—especially if you have an older device.

Anyone who always has a spare toner on hand won't have to deal with their printer or copier being idle, and you won't be unpleasantly surprised by suddenly empty toner cartridges.