How Many Envelopes Can You Frank With One Ink Cartridge?
A single franking ink cartridge usually prints somewhere between 1,000 and 65,000 impressions, and the figure depends far more on which machine you run than on the ink itself. Entry level desktop franking machines are typically rated at roughly 1,000 to 4,500 franks per cartridge, mid volume machines at around 17,000 to 18,000, and high capacity mailroom systems at 60,000 or more. Those numbers are manufacturer averages measured under test conditions, so the yield you actually see shifts with what you print, how often the machine wakes from standby and how clean the printhead is kept. This guide sets out published yields for popular UK machines, explains what moves the number up or down, and shows you how to work out your own cost per franked item.
Typical franking ink cartridge yields by machine
The table below shows published impression yields for a cross section of franking machines in use across the UK. Each figure comes from the manufacturer specification for that cartridge, and the same yield applies to our compatible and refilled versions as it does to the original part.
| Machine family | Cartridge type | Rated impressions |
|---|---|---|
| Pitney Bowes DM60 and K722 | Standard smart blue | 1,050 |
| Neopost IS240, IS280 and Autostamp 2 | Standard smart blue | 2,500 |
| Pitney Bowes DM110i, DM160i and DM220i | Standard smart blue | 4,379 |
| Pitney Bowes Connect+ 1000 to 3000 | Standard capacity | 17,200 |
| FP Mailing Postbase range | 42ml cartridge | Around 18,000 |
| Pitney Bowes Connect+ high capacity | High capacity smart blue | 60,900 |
The pattern is consistent. Small desktop machines take small cartridges because they are built for a postbag of a few dozen items a day, while mailroom systems take reservoir style cartridges sized for tens of thousands. If you are not certain which part your machine takes, our guide on how to find the right franking ink cartridge walks through checking the model plate and part number.
Why two identical machines give different yields
Published yields assume a plain postage indicium printed continuously onto standard envelopes. Very few real mailrooms work like that, which is why one office reports 2,300 franks from a cartridge rated at 2,500 and another reports 1,800.
What you print alongside the postage mark
Most Mailmark machines can print a return address block, a dated slogan or an advertising logo next to the postage impression. Every one of those elements is extra ink laid down on every single item. A busy advert can add a meaningful percentage to ink consumption, so switching adverts off for internal or routine post is one of the easiest savings available.
How often the machine sits idle
Inkjet printheads dry out. To prevent that, franking machines run automatic purge and cleaning cycles when they wake from standby, and each cycle spends ink without franking anything. A machine that is switched on and off six times a day for a handful of letters will burn through a cartridge noticeably faster than one that runs a single batch each afternoon. Batching your post is genuinely one of the most effective ink savings you can make.
Envelopes, labels and paper stock
Absorbent, textured or recycled envelope stock soaks up more ink and can force you to print darker to keep the barcode readable. Smooth, bright white stock such as our self seal envelopes holds a crisper impression at a lower ink density. The same applies to parcels: use proper franking machine labels rather than trying to run thick packaging through the deck, where a smudged frank means reprinting and paying twice.
How to work out your real cost per franked item
The arithmetic is simple: divide the price of the cartridge by its rated impressions. A cartridge costing around £150 and rated for 2,500 impressions works out at roughly 6p of ink per item. A high capacity cartridge costing around £340 but rated for 60,900 impressions works out at well under 1p per item. That gap is why ink cost per frank is one of the more revealing numbers to look at when comparing machines, and why it is worth knowing before you sign a new lease.
Two adjustments make the figure honest. First, use the price you actually pay rather than the manufacturer's list price, because compatible and refilled cartridges carry the identical rated yield at a considerably lower cost. Our article on original versus compatible franking ink covers how that works and why Royal Mail approval matters. Second, add the cost of any cartridge you throw away part used, which brings us neatly to shelf life.
Six ways to get more from every cartridge
- Batch your post. One run a day rather than six triggers far fewer cleaning cycles.
- Turn off decorative adverts on mail that does not need them.
- Leave the machine powered on during the working day rather than switching it off between batches, so the printhead stays capped and primed.
- Use franking labels for parcels instead of forcing awkward items through the feed deck.
- Store spare cartridges correctly. Sealed, upright, at room temperature and away from radiators or windows. See how long franking ink lasts for the detail.
- Keep the printhead clean. A weekly wipe and the built in cleaning routine, as covered in our franking machine maintenance checklist, prevents the partial blockages that make people crank up ink density.
When a low yield is actually a fault
If you are getting well under half the rated impressions, treat it as a fault rather than a fact of life. The usual culprits are a partially blocked printhead, a cartridge that was left unsealed before fitting, ink density turned up to compensate for a print quality problem, or a cartridge that was already past its shelf life when installed. Streaky or pale output is the giveaway, and our guide to why a franking machine prints faded works through the fixes in order.
It matters commercially as well as practically. Royal Mail sorting equipment has to read every Mailmark barcode, and mail that cannot be read can be delayed or returned, as explained on the Royal Mail franking pages. If a fresh cartridge still will not produce a clean impression, Royal Mail also publishes franking machine troubleshooting guidance before you escalate to your maintainer.
Frequently asked questions
How many envelopes can you frank with one ink cartridge?
Between roughly 1,000 and 65,000 envelopes, depending entirely on the machine. A Pitney Bowes DM60 cartridge is rated at 1,050 impressions, a Neopost IS240 cartridge at 2,500, an FP Mailing Postbase 42ml cartridge at around 18,000 and a Pitney Bowes Connect+ high capacity cartridge at 60,900.
Do compatible franking ink cartridges print fewer impressions than originals?
No. A properly manufactured compatible or refilled cartridge is filled to the same volume and carries the same rated yield as the original part. What matters is that the ink is Royal Mail approved so the impression is readable by the sorting machines.
Why is my franking machine using ink faster than the rated yield?
The most common causes are printing an advert or return address alongside every impression, switching the machine on and off repeatedly so it runs frequent cleaning cycles, absorbent envelope stock, and a high ink density setting compensating for a partly blocked printhead.
Can you use up a franking cartridge after its expiry date?
You can usually keep printing with a cartridge that is already installed and working, but franking ink does have a shelf life and dried or separated ink causes faded, unreadable impressions. Buy quantities you will use within a few months and keep spares sealed until needed.
Does the ink level shown on the machine tell me how many franks are left?
Only approximately. Most machines estimate remaining ink from an impression counter rather than measuring the fluid, so the display is a guide. Order a replacement when it reaches the low warning rather than waiting for it to empty mid batch.
Knowing your yield turns ink from an unpredictable expense into a line you can budget for. Franking Ink stocks Royal Mail approved original, compatible and refilled cartridges for every major machine on the UK market, all with the same rated yields as the manufacturer parts. Browse the cartridges and labels for your model, for example the FP Mailing Postbase range or the Neopost IS240 and IS280 range, or get in touch with our team and we will confirm the correct cartridge and its yield for your machine.