Also fits: This cartridge fits the Ricoh Aficio MP C306, MP C307, MP C406 and MP C407 — the same machines also sold under the Savin and Lanier brands with the same model names. Ricoh's rated yields for this platform are 17,000 pages for black and 6,000 pages for each color.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the black cartridge in a color machine like this do most of the work?

Because everyday office output is overwhelmingly text. Letters, invoices, statements, and the copies and faxes this compact MFP handles all day are black-only jobs, and even a color page usually lays black down for its text. That is why this black cartridge is rated at 17,000 pages while each color in the same machine is rated at just 6,000 — black is the cartridge that actually earns its keep.

What does a black page realistically cost with this cartridge?

At $60.34 for a rated 17,000 pages, the maths works out to roughly 0.35¢ per page — genuinely inexpensive black printing. That figure assumes standard coverage of about 5% of the page; dense documents with heavy graphics will use more toner per page and land somewhat higher, while plain correspondence often comes in at or under the rating.

Is this cartridge made only for the MPC306 named in the listing?

No. The listing is titled for one model, but this cartridge belongs to the whole Ricoh MP C306, MP C307 and MP C406 family of compact color MFPs, and every machine in that platform takes the same 842091 black cartridge. If your printer is part of that family, this is the correct black cartridge for it regardless of which model name appears in the listing title.

How long will 17,000 black pages last in a small office?

For a workgroup printing around 1,000 black pages a month, roughly a year and a half. At 2,000 pages a month, expect about eight to nine months. Because the color cartridges in this platform are rated far lower, you will almost certainly change colors several times before this black cartridge runs dry.

The color cartridges are empty but I only print documents — can I keep going?

That depends on the machine's settings and state; many jobs can continue in black-only mode, but the printer may insist on all cartridges being present and may pause color functions entirely. The honest answer is that a depleted color will eventually need replacing even in a mostly-text office — but there is no need to replace colors early just because black was changed.

What protection does this cartridge come with?

It is covered by a 1-year warranty and a full year of free returns, with the full terms on our shipping and returns page. If the cartridge misbehaves within that year, contact us rather than discarding it — support answers Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM CST.

About This Ricoh 842091 Black Toner Cartridge

The working cartridge of the compact Ricoh color MFP platform: 17,000 rated black pages for $60.34, about 0.35¢ a page, sized for the text-heavy reality of small-office printing. See the rest of the family in the Ricoh range at Clever Supplies. Orders ship from our IL, PA, GA, or CA warehouses, and every cartridge is backed by a 1-year warranty with free returns for a year.