# Laser printer toner aging **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-printer-toner-aging/618140 "2012-04-08T01:45:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kjkolb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ec8ea/32.png) [@kjkolb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjkolb)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-printer-toner-aging/618140/1 "2012-04-08T01:45:26Z")
I was wondering how long a laser printer’s toner cartridge will last. In this case, I am not talking about how many pages it will print. I need to know whether it will go bad somehow after a couple of years. It will be used, but at a slow rate. I am hoping for at least a three-year life. Is that an unrealistic amount of time? I am aware that laser printers are typically used in high volume printing, but I was hoping that maybe someone has a laser printer that is not used much or that was put into storage for a time. Thank you very much, Kjkolb ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-printer-toner-aging/618140/2 "2012-04-08T04:26:11Z")
I’m using a laser where the toner is 6 years old and it still works. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-printer-toner-aging/618140/3 "2012-04-08T12:58:43Z")
I had an old HP laser printer that my employer discarded. It had a toner cartridge in it when I got it, I never changed the cartridge but used it for a few dozen pages a year then handed it off to someone else 7 years later with the same cartridge in it. Worked great. It may or may not have mattered that it had a genuine HP cartridge in it - not a generic or refurb. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-printer-toner-aging/618140/4 "2012-04-08T13:13:45Z")
I had an HP laser printer that I only replaced after twelve years because the original toner cartridge finally ran out and I decided to replace the printer instead of the cartridge. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-printer-toner-aging/618140/5 "2012-04-09T13:42:04Z")
I have a 19 year old HP printer that I have only replaced the cartridge on 2-3 times. I print to it maybe 3-4 times a month, and I’ve never had any problems with the toner. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-printer-toner-aging/618140/6 "2012-04-09T13:51:58Z")
You should be aware that a lot of budget laser printers these days come with “starter” toner cartridges that have half the capacity (or less) of a new retail cartridge. Their decreased capacity could make it seem like they’re wearing out prematurely. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-printer-toner-aging/618140/7 "2012-04-09T17:05:35Z")
Unless for some reason it loses its static charge, printer toner should last more-or-less indefinitely. It’s essentially finely-powdered plastic – so fine, it makes talcum powder look like boulders. As long as it has a static charge, so it can be electrically-attracted to the oppositely-charged portions of the paper, and then melted, it will never “go bad.” Of course, I’m terribly oversimplifying the process, but I think you get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![kjkolb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ec8ea/32.png) [@kjkolb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjkolb)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-printer-toner-aging/618140/8 "2012-04-10T02:05:25Z")
I really appreciate everyone who has answered. Thank you very much. You have given me all the information that I need, including some things I had not thought to ask about. I tried online searches at first, but I kept getting results about how many pages the toner would last. Anyway, I do not think anymore replies are needed. Thanks again, Kjkolb ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-printer-toner-aging/618140/9 "2012-04-10T02:30:13Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > Unless for some reason it loses its static charge, printer toner should last more-or-less indefinitely. It’s essentially finely-powdered plastic – so fine, it makes talcum powder look like boulders. As long as it has a static charge, so it can be electrically-attracted to the oppositely-charged portions of the paper, and then melted, it will never “go bad.” Of course, I’m terribly oversimplifying the process, but I think you get the idea. The toner itself doesn’t have any charge. The charge is applied to the drum, and that attracts the toner, just like a comb will attract bits of (uncharged) paper when run through your hair. Toner is extremely stable, and will last for many years - even decades. I suppose it might eventually clump due to humidity.