Can my HP ink cartridges be refilled? Are there any tricks?

1) Refill HP cartridges before empty...
Most Hewlett Packard ink cartridges (with print-head) are pretty easy to refill, but the cartridges should never be allowed to run out of ink. Refilling cartridges before or as soon as any colour (or black) starts to fade, can considerably extend the ink cartridge/print-head life. Topping the cartridges up frequently is the best approach, but be careful not to overfill them.

3) Read (and follow) the refilling instructions...
While many HP cartridges may look similar, ink volumes and the refill process can be different from one cartridge to the next.   

4) Invest in high capacity (XL) cartridges or ink tanks...
Many recent HP cartridges are available in either standard or high yield version. In the past, the only difference between high yield and standard cartridges was the amount of ink they came with. These days, not only do the standard cartridges come filled with less ink, but more often than not, the internal sponge that holds the ink is smaller as well. In other words, it may not be possible to fill these cartridges to full capacity. Note: some cartridges (eg 564 & 564XL are the same)

Ink levels and HP...

Refill kits for HP # 564 now available...

HP original # 564 and 564XL cartridges as used in Photosmart B8550, C5380, C6375, C6380, D5460 etc are fairly easy and very economical to refill. The ink chips fitted to these cartridges can not be reset, so you will lose the ink level indicators, but as these printers continue to function with "empty" cartridges, it's not a major problem. As the 564 ink tanks are not transparent, working out when to refill can be difficult without removing and inspecting the cartridges through the "window" on the bottom.

Note: HP #564 and 564XL are identical, the only difference is that # 564 are sold 1/2 filled only.

Tip: Save the original cartridge outlet (orange plastic) clips that come with new cartridges. You need one for the thin cartridges and one for the fat (564 black) if you want to refill genuine #564 cartridges.

Most original HP individual ink tanks (one for each colour) # 02, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 82, & 88 etc are not that easy to refill. If you want to refill any printer using these cartridges, take a look at refill friendly cartridges. They are easy to fill and fitted with auto-reset ink level chips.