HP Toner Cartridge Numbers & Compatibility
 
Finding the correct HP toner cartridge number is an important part of replacing toner in an HP LaserJet or Color LaserJet printer. HP uses different cartridge references for different printer platforms, cartridge capacities, imaging systems and regional markets. Knowing the number helps you identify the correct replacement before purchasing.
Your printer model identifies the machine, while the toner cartridge number identifies the consumable designed for that particular printing system. At Vandeberg Imaging Supplies, this page acts as a central directory connecting customers in Kenya with the individual HP toner cartridge pages available on the website.
Whether you are searching for HP 85A toner, HP 26A toner, HP 12A toner, HP 05A toner or another cartridge reference, start here to understand the numbering system and find the relevant cartridge page.
How HP Toner Cartridge Numbers Work
HP toner cartridges commonly have a short commercial designation and a longer manufacturer product reference. The shorter designation is usually easier to remember and search for, while the longer code provides a more precise product identification.
For example, HP 85A is associated with the detailed product reference CE285A. Similarly, HP 05A is associated with CE505A, HP 12A with Q2612A, HP 17A with CF217A, HP 26A with CF226A, and HP 30A with CF230A.
When ordering toner, either reference can be useful. However, the safest approach is to provide both the cartridge number and the complete printer model whenever possible.
Why HP Toner Numbers Matter
An HP toner number is not simply a name attached to a cartridge. It identifies a particular product family intended for particular printer platforms.
Two cartridges can appear similar but still have different physical dimensions, internal components, toner characteristics, electronic identification or printer compatibility. Installing an incorrect cartridge can result in recognition errors, poor print quality, incorrect fitting or a printer that cannot operate normally.
This is why the cartridge number should always be checked against the exact printer model before purchase.
HP Toner Number vs Printer Model
Customers generally identify toner from one of two directions. Some know the printer model but do not know the cartridge number. Others have an empty cartridge and know its toner number but are unsure which printers use it.
This directory connects both searches. When you know the printer model, the appropriate toner family can be identified. When you know the cartridge number, the corresponding product page can provide information about compatible printers, genuine and compatible options, yield, pricing, installation and common problems.
The result is a simple path from printer model to cartridge or from cartridge number to compatible printer.
HP Toner Cartridge Directory
The directory below focuses first on commercially important cartridge families for which dedicated pages can provide useful product and compatibility information.
HP 05A Toner
HP 05A / CE505A is a black monochrome LaserJet toner family used by selected HP LaserJet printers. Customers looking for this cartridge can use the dedicated HP 05A Toner page to review compatible printers, genuine and compatible options, pricing and installation information.
Open: HP 05A Toner
HP 12A Toner
HP 12A / Q2612A is a widely recognised black LaserJet toner family associated with several older HP LaserJet printers and multifunction machines. The dedicated page provides information for customers maintaining supported legacy printers.
Open: HP 12A Toner
HP 17A Toner
HP 17A / CF217A is a black toner family used by selected HP LaserJet Pro printer platforms. Customers can use the individual page to identify supported machines and understand the available replacement options.
Open: HP 17A Toner
HP 26A Toner
HP 26A / CF226A is a black LaserJet cartridge associated with selected HP LaserJet Pro M426-series printers. The dedicated page focuses on compatibility, cartridge variants, yield, pricing and replacement requirements.
Open: HP 26A Toner
HP 30A Toner
HP 30A / CF230A is a black LaserJet toner family used by selected HP LaserJet Pro printers. The individual cartridge page provides more specific information than this directory, including supported printer models and related cartridge variants.
Open: HP 30A Toner
HP 35A Toner
HP 35A / CB435A is a regional black LaserJet toner designation associated with selected HP P1000-series printers. Regional cartridge differences make it particularly important to verify the exact printer before purchasing.
Open: HP 35A Toner
HP 44A Toner
HP 44A / CF244A is a regional black LaserJet toner designation associated with selected HP printer platforms in the relevant market. The dedicated product page should be used to confirm the correct regional cartridge before ordering.
Open: HP 44A Toner
HP 48A Toner
HP 48A / CF248A is another black LaserJet toner family used with selected HP printers. Customers should confirm the complete printer model because closely related regional cartridge numbers can differ.
Open: HP 48A Toner
HP 49A Toner
HP 49A / Q5949A is a legacy black LaserJet toner family that remains relevant for customers operating supported older HP printers.
Open: HP 49A Toner
HP 53A Toner
HP 53A / Q7553A is a black LaserJet toner family for selected HP printers. The dedicated page can provide printer compatibility and product-specific information.
Open: HP 53A Toner
HP 55A and HP 55X Toner
HP 55A / CE255A and HP 55X / CE255X belong to the same broader toner family, with the X designation associated with a higher-capacity option where supported. Customers should confirm which version their specific printer accepts.
Open: HP 55A Toner
Open: HP 55X Toner
HP 59A Toner
HP 59A / CF259A is a black LaserJet toner family used by selected newer HP printer platforms. The dedicated page should be used to check compatibility before purchasing.
Open: HP 59A Toner
HP 80A and HP 80X Toner
HP 80A / CF280A and HP 80X / CF280X are related black LaserJet toner families. Where supported, the X version provides a higher-capacity alternative. Compatibility should always be checked against the printer model.
Open: HP 80A Toner
Open: HP 80X Toner
HP 83A Toner
HP 83A / CF283A is a black toner family associated with selected compact HP LaserJet Pro printers. Customers can use the dedicated page to confirm the supported printer models.
Open: HP 83A Toner
HP 85A and HP 85X Toner
HP 85A / CE285A is an important black LaserJet cartridge family and one of the priority individual pages in this architecture. Where the printer supports the higher-capacity version, HP 85X may also be relevant.
The individual pages should clearly distinguish the standard and higher-yield options rather than treating them as universally interchangeable.
Open: HP 85A Toner
Open: HP 85X Toner
HP 87A and HP 87X Toner
HP 87A and HP 87X are black LaserJet toner variants used by selected HP printers. The higher-yield X version should only be selected where the printer specifically supports it.
Open: HP 87A Toner
Open: HP 87X Toner
HP 90A and HP 90X Toner
HP 90A and HP 90X are black LaserJet toner families associated with selected higher-volume HP printer systems. The individual pages should explain compatibility and cartridge capacity in more detail.
Open: HP 90A Toner
Open: HP 90X Toner
HP Color LaserJet Cartridge Numbers
Not every HP toner cartridge is black-only. HP Color LaserJet printers normally use separate toner cartridges for black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Colour toner families include references such as HP 126A, 128A, 201A, 202A, 203A, 206A, 207A, 410A, 415A, 416A, 508A, 609A, 643A and 655A, among others.
For colour cartridges, the individual product page should identify the specific colour, cartridge reference, compatible printers and whether the customer needs one cartridge or a complete CMYK set.
HP A-Series Toner
Many HP toner cartridges use an A suffix as part of their product designation. Examples include 05A, 12A, 17A, 26A, 30A, 35A, 44A and 85A.
The suffix forms part of the cartridge identification and should not be omitted when searching for a replacement. A number without its relevant suffix may refer to a different cartridge or variant.
HP X-Series Toner
Some HP printer families offer higher-capacity toner cartridges identified with an X suffix. Examples include 05X, 26X, 30X, 55X, 80X, 85X, 87X and 90X.
The X designation commonly indicates a higher-yield variant within a supported cartridge family, but it does not mean that the cartridge is automatically compatible with every printer using the same numerical family.
The exact printer specification must always be checked.
Regional HP Toner Numbers
HP toner references can vary between markets, which is particularly important when sourcing cartridges in Kenya.
For example, HP documentation distinguishes between certain 35A and 88A regional designations associated with the same broader P1000 printer family. There are also regional distinctions involving 44A and 48A on selected M28-family printers.
This means that a cartridge number found on an overseas website should not automatically be assumed to be the correct Kenyan-market cartridge. The printer model and regional configuration should be verified before purchase.
How to Find Your HP Toner Number
The cartridge number is normally printed on the existing cartridge, packaging or printer documentation.
If the number is difficult to read, identify the complete printer model instead. The printer model can then be used to determine the appropriate cartridge family.
A clear photograph of the existing cartridge or printer identification label is also useful when the original packaging is no longer available.
What If You Only Know Your Printer Model?
You do not need to know the toner number before contacting Vandeberg Imaging Supplies.
Provide the complete HP printer model and the correct cartridge family can be identified from the machine's specifications.
This is particularly helpful when the customer has lost the toner packaging or is maintaining an older printer whose cartridge reference is no longer visible.
What If You Only Know the Cartridge Number?
Start with the corresponding cartridge page in this directory.
The individual page should explain which printers use that cartridge and provide information about genuine and compatible options, page yield, installation, pricing and common problems.
This creates a straightforward path from cartridge number to compatible printer.
Genuine and Compatible HP Toner
The individual cartridge pages should also help customers compare genuine HP toner with compatible HP toner.
Genuine toner is manufactured by HP, while compatible toner is produced by an independent manufacturer for specified HP printers.
The choice can depend on print quality requirements, budget, printer usage, reliability expectations and procurement policies.
HP Toner Cartridge Pages
Each individual cartridge page should contain enough useful information to satisfy a customer who is ready to purchase or needs help identifying a replacement.
The page should explain the cartridge number, compatible printers, genuine toner, compatible toner, expected yield, price considerations, installation, recognition problems and common print-quality issues.
This makes the individual cartridge page a genuine product-information resource rather than a thin page created only to target the cartridge keyword.
HP Toner Cartridge Numbers in Kenya
Customers searching for HP toner numbers in Kenya may have very different intentions.
Someone may be checking the price of a cartridge, another person may want to know whether it fits a particular HP LaserJet, while someone else may simply have an empty cartridge in hand and need help identifying the replacement.
This directory provides the navigation layer that directs each customer toward the relevant individual cartridge page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an HP toner cartridge number?
It is the product reference used to identify a particular HP toner cartridge family or variant.
Is the short cartridge name the same as the full HP part number?
Not always. For example, HP 85A is associated with the more detailed reference CE285A.
Can one HP toner number work in several printers?
Yes. A single cartridge family can support multiple compatible HP printer models.
Can similar HP toner numbers be interchangeable?
Not necessarily. Compatibility must be checked against the exact printer model and cartridge specification.
What does the X mean in HP toner numbers?
The X designation commonly identifies a higher-yield cartridge variant within supported HP toner families.
Why do HP toner numbers sometimes differ between regions?
HP can use different cartridge designations for related printers in different markets.
How do I find the correct toner for my HP printer?
Start with the complete printer model and compare it with the cartridge compatibility information for that printer.
Can you identify my HP toner from a photograph?
Yes. A clear photograph of the printer model label or existing cartridge can help identify the correct cartridge.
Find Your HP Toner Cartridge
Use this directory to locate the individual cartridge page that matches your printer or existing toner.
The priority cartridge pages currently include HP 05A, HP 12A, HP 17A, HP 26A, HP 30A, HP 35A, HP 44A and HP 85A, with additional pages added selectively where the cartridge has sufficient product relevance and useful information to justify a dedicated page.
HP Toner Cartridge Architecture
The recommended site hierarchy is simple.
HP Toner Cartridges is the broad category covering the complete HP toner range.
↓
HP Toner Cartridge Numbers & Compatibility is the central directory that explains the numbering system and connects visitors to individual cartridge pages.
↓
Individual HP Toner Pages contain the detailed product information for each commercially important cartridge.
This structure avoids having separate pages for HP Toner Cartridge Numbers and HP Toner by Cartridge Number, which would substantially overlap in purpose and could create unnecessary internal competition.
Find HP Toner by Cartridge Number
Looking for a specific HP toner cartridge number in Kenya?
Start with the relevant cartridge family above and move to its individual page for detailed compatibility, genuine and compatible options, yield, price, installation and troubleshooting information.
For broader information about HP toner, return to HP Toner Cartridges.
Vandeberg Imaging Supplies — HP toner cartridges, cartridge identification, printer supplies, parts, maintenance and repair support in Nairobi, Kenya.