What's The Shelf Life of Toner?

You might be wondering about the shelf life of a toner. Since you don’t use several toners at the same time, sometimes you feel the need to store the others so you have stock whenever you run out of ink. This is good if you use a lot of ink, which lets you replace toners every now and then; however, it is also unwise if you don’t know how long you could keep your stocks in the shelf.

Toners, regardless the type or model has the same shelf life. It doesn’t matter if it is an EOM type, re-manufactured or a refilled type. All of these types are shipped with an 18 month to 24 month shelf life. The shelf life of a toner refers to the duration of time given before it is considered to be unsuitable for sale or use. It is the recommended time during which the product is stored and can work in good condition. After reaching its shelf life, the toner becomes useless.

Toners are packed tightly and stocked up in moist proof packages to avoid moisture, heat as well as light from overriding with its performance. However, a shelf life of 18 to 24 months won’t endure if they are exposed to particles for a period of time. While heat causes the toner to combine prematurely, dampness makes the particles wet and excessive light exposure wipes out the toner’s photosensitivity. Any of these three factors might submit the toner powders in poor condition for printing thus shortening the expiration date.

Hard-wearing packaging, however, is not perfect. Even if they’re packed tightly, the toner can still combine prematurely, and they can clump together whenever they are left in a hot environment. Shaking could never loosen the particles once they’re clumped together. In this case, the toner can never be used for printing anymore. However, when the toner is enclosed in a tightly packed container and stocked in a perfect environment, it can outlive the shelf life, and it can be used for 10 years and beyond.

The ideal environment for the toner is a place that fosters a relative humidity of 50% and at a temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. When the toner is stored there, the powders could last until the cartridge dries up. This proves that the shelf life does not depend on how long it is unused.

Filling up empty cartridges with a type of toner that is compatible to it is a plus factor for every client. The newly refilled toner can be utilized for printing for an indefinite period of time. This is regardless of the expiration date and for as long as its humidity and temperature needs are being followed.

The shelf life of a laser toner can either be lengthened or shortened. It only depends on how serious you are in keeping the necessary measures in mind. If you follow the guidelines, your toner can be stocked for up to 24 months.