Coverage
The average amount of toner or ink deposited on a page, typically expressed as a percentage.
Detailed Explanation
Coverage refers to the percentage of a page covered by toner or ink. Industry standard testing and yield calculations use 5% coverage, which approximates 1-2 paragraphs of text or a typical business letter. Coverage significantly affects toner consumption and cost per page - a page with 20% coverage uses four times more toner than a page with 5% coverage. Graphics, images, and solid colors increase coverage dramatically. Understanding your typical coverage helps calculate accurate printing costs and choose appropriate toner yields. High-coverage printing (marketing materials, photos) costs significantly more per page than standard text documents.
Examples
- 5% coverage: Standard letter, 1-2 paragraphs
- 15% coverage: Document with graphics
- 50% coverage: Marketing brochure
- 100% coverage: Full-page photo or solid color
Related Terms
Toner
Fine powder used in laser printers and copiers to create text and images on paper.
Yield
The number of pages a toner cartridge can print before needing replacement, usually at 5% coverage.
Cost Per Page (CPP)
The total cost to print a single page, including toner, maintenance, and other consumables.
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