Does Walmart Refill Ink Cartridges in 2024? (Your Full Guide)

As a retail industry analyst, I frequently receive questions around big box stores‘ printer ink cartridge policies. Specifically, whether retail giants like Walmart refill empty cartridges for customers.

The short answer is no – Walmart does not offer in-store ink cartridge refilling services based on recent 2023 information. However, this article will break down all you need to know about:

• What ink cartridge options Walmart does provide
• Where else you can get cartridges refilled
• The pros, cons, and cost savings of refilling vs. buying new
• Step-by-step guides for professional vs. DIY refills

Overview of Ink Cartridge Market and Usage

To understand Walmart‘s policies and consumer refilling interest, it helps to grasp key printer supplies market statistics:

• 664 million ink cartridges estimated sold annually in the U.S. as of 2022 [1]
• Estimated 58% of cartridges replaced yearly are remanufactured/refilled units [2]
• Households with wireless printers use approx. $120 of ink per year [3]

This shows why shoppers show so much interest in refilling – buying new OEM cartridges frequently generates substantial annual costs.

Walmart‘s Ink Cartridge Offerings

Walmart sells the following print supplies in-store and online:

• OEM cartridges – New HP, Canon, Epson, etc. cartridges
• Compatible cartridges – Cheaper third-party replacements
• Ink refill kits – Supplies for DIY refilling

Price comparison between Walmart and Amazon/Target on OEM cartridges

Walmart provides affordable pricing for those that don‘t refill empty cartridges. But how do their offerings compare for supporting refills?

Getting Ink Cartridges Professionally Refilled

While Walmart itself doesn‘t refill ink cartridges, major competing retailers like Walgreens, Costco, and 123 Ink Refill specialize in affordable, professional refills using high-quality ink formulas.

Walgreens in particular refills cartridges at over 9,000+ U.S. locations with most refills taking under 60 minutes. Their ink cartridge refill price averaged just $10-$15 per cartridge in 2022 depending on model [4].

That represents big potential savings over buying new OEM cartridges (often $25-$60 apiece!). No wonder why refilling appeals to frequent home printer users.

Refilling Cartridges Yourself at Home

For those comfortable doing it themselves, ink cartridge at-home refill kits provide an even more affordable way to reuse cartridges long-term.

Walmart sells full printer refill kits with ink bottles, syringes, and accessories for under $25. After the initial purchase, each cartridge refill using the kit only costs a few dollars depending on model and ink volume needed.

Here are some best practices for DIY ink refills:

• Carefully peel off cartridge label plugs guarding fill holes
• Draw ink into syringe and inject slowly into fill holes
• Refill holes very gradually to avoid over-injecting ink
• Let cartridge sit 8+ hours upright before using
• Always refill cartridges over paper towels or disposable surface

Pros vs. Cons of Refilling Ink Cartridges

Before deciding on buying new vs. professionally refilling vs. DIY refills, weigh the comparative pros and cons:

Conclusion

While Walmart doesn‘t directly refill ink cartridges themselves, they offer affordable OEM cartridges alongside at-home ink refill kits.

For substantial savings over the long haul, consider getting empty cartridges refilled at major retailers like Walgreens instead. Or become a refill pro yourself using DIY ink kits!

I hope this full breakdown better helps you decide which option – buying new, professional refills, or self-service refills – works best for your household‘s printing needs. Let me know if any other Walmart ink cartridge questions come up!

Sources
[1] Clover Imaging Group
[2] InfoTrends
[3] Labeledita
[4] Walgreens.com