If you're interested in using cheap printer ink cartridges on your UK inkjet printer, you'll need to know is the OEM cartridge number. OEM stands for "original equipment manufacturer" and is the brand of cartridge that came with the printer. Many stores and Internet sites that sell cheap ink cartridges cross reference them with the OEM printer cartridge number.

Locate the OEM Cartridge Number

Remove the print cartridge from the printer. Look for a number on the outside of the cartridge and remember that the cartridge ID may be a combination of letters and numbers, such as 999ABC or 9876ABC543. Even if the cartridge number of the cheap printer ink cartridge is different from the OEM cartridge, the replacement cartridge may still work in your printer. If it seems that there are extra numbers and letters added to the OEM cartridge, such coding identifies the cartridge capacity, ink colour and other information. This is especially true for HP ink cartridges, but also may apply to a Canon cartridge or an Epson cartridge. Here's some information to help you decode the numbers on printer ink cartridges.

Cartridge Codes That Apply to All Brands of Printers

Here's a list of common cartridge codes:

xxxxB identifies a black colour
xxxxY identifies a yellow colour
xxxxM identifies a magenta colour
xxxxC identifies a cyan colour
xxxxA indicates that an HP cartridge is filled to capacity
xxxxX indicates a HP high-yield
xxxxG indicates a HP "starter" filled to about 30% of its capacity. Code is not widely used
xxxxD indicates a HP filled to about 50% of its capacity. Code is not widely used
xxxxE indicates a HP for the European region
xxxxEE indicates a HP for the UK region
xxxxL indicates a HP for the Latin American region
xxxxN indicates a HP for the North American region.
xxxxP indicates a HP for the Asia-Pacific region
xxxxW indicates a HP for the Western hemisphere region
xxxxWL indicates a HP for the Mexico region

Other Important Inkjet Cartridge Information

Sometimes a fourth colour cartridge is present in printers. This cartridge usually contains black ink. Although the 3 colours usually contained in a cartridge, cyan, magenta and yellow, can be combined to produce a rather muddy black colour, most printer manufacturers now provide a separate black cart. To buy this type of cartridge, look for the code CMYK, which stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and black. The K is used to avoid confusion with B, that often stands for blue. K is the first letter of "kohle," the German word for coal, which is black in colour.

Cheap printer ink cartridges are very plentiful in the marketplace. Once you have your OEM cartridge number, you should be able to find compatible ink jet cartridges for every popular UK printer brand.