HP Toner Cartridge Numbers


Finding the correct HP toner cartridge number is one of the easiest ways to make sure you order the right consumable for your printer. HP uses individual cartridge references to distinguish toner products across different LaserJet and Color LaserJet printer families.
These references may appear as combinations such as 05A, 12A, 17A, 26A, 30A, 35A, 44A, 85A, or as the longer HP product codes printed on the cartridge and packaging.
The important point is that an HP toner number is not simply a general product name. It identifies a particular cartridge family, and the exact reference must be matched to the printer for which it is designed.
What Is an HP Toner Cartridge Number?
An HP toner cartridge number is an identification reference used to distinguish one toner product from another.
For example, a cartridge may be marketed as HP 05A Toner, while its detailed HP product code may be CE505A. Another cartridge may be known as HP 12A, with the longer reference Q2612A.
Customers therefore encounter both short cartridge-family names and longer manufacturer product codes.
Knowing either reference can make it easier to locate the correct toner, but checking the printer model remains essential before purchase.
How HP Toner Numbers Work
HP cartridge references generally follow a family-based naming system. The number identifies the cartridge family, while letters such as A or X can distinguish different cartridge variants.
For example, a printer may support both:
HP 80A
HP 80X
These belong to the same broader family, but they are different cartridge variants and may offer different page capacities.
The same principle applies across many other HP toner families.
What Do the Letters A and X Mean?
The final letter can help distinguish cartridge variants.
An A designation is commonly associated with a standard cartridge variant, while an X designation is commonly used for a higher-yield variant on supported HP printer families.
For example:
HP 85A and HP 85X
or
HP 55A and HP 55X
The exact specifications and compatibility depend on the printer. An X cartridge should never be assumed to work simply because the printer uses the same numerical family.
Why the Cartridge Number Matters
The cartridge number helps determine whether the toner is physically and electronically suitable for the printer.
Using the wrong toner can result in an incorrect fit, cartridge-recognition errors, poor print quality, incorrect page-yield information, or a printer that simply will not operate correctly with the cartridge.
This is why identifying the number before ordering is much safer than purchasing based only on the printer brand.
Where to Find the HP Toner Number
The cartridge number can usually be found on the existing toner cartridge, its original packaging, or the printer documentation.
You may also find a longer HP product reference such as CE, CF, or Q followed by a series of numbers and letters.
If the cartridge label is unclear, the printer's complete model number can be used to identify the correct toner family.
Short HP Cartridge Names vs Full Product Codes
It is common to see an HP toner described in two ways.
For example:
HP 05A — short cartridge family name
HP CE505A — detailed product reference
Likewise:
HP 12A — short name
HP Q2612A — detailed product reference
Both references can be useful when searching for a replacement.
HP Black Toner Cartridge Numbers
Monochrome HP LaserJet printers generally use black toner cartridges. Some common cartridge families include 05A, 12A, 17A, 26A, 30A, 35A, 44A, 85A, 87A, 90A, and many others.
The number alone does not tell you which printer uses the cartridge. It must be checked against the printer's model and supported consumables.
HP Color Toner Cartridge Numbers
Colour LaserJet printers use separate toner cartridges for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow.
A single colour printer may therefore have four related cartridge references. Depending on the printer family, you may encounter ranges such as 126A, 128A, 201A, 202A, 203A, 206A, 207A, 410A, 414A, 415A, 416A, 508A, 609A, 643A, and others.
When ordering colour toner, specify the colour you need as well as the cartridge number.
HP Toner Cartridge Directory
The directory below provides the starting structure for individual cartridge pages on the Vandeberg Imaging Supplies website.
Cartridge PageIndividual Toner Page
HP 05AHP 05A Toner
HP 05XHP 05X Toner
HP 12AHP 12A Toner
HP 17AHP 17A Toner
HP 26AHP 26A Toner
HP 26XHP 26X Toner
HP 30AHP 30A Toner
HP 30XHP 30X Toner
HP 35AHP 35A Toner
HP 44AHP 44A Toner
HP 48AHP 48A Toner
HP 49AHP 49A Toner
HP 53AHP 53A Toner
HP 55AHP 55A Toner
HP 55XHP 55X Toner
HP 59AHP 59A Toner
HP 80AHP 80A Toner
HP 80XHP 80X Toner
HP 81AHP 81A Toner
HP 83AHP 83A Toner
HP 85AHP 85A Toner
HP 85XHP 85X Toner
HP 87AHP 87A Toner
HP 87XHP 87X Toner
HP 90AHP 90A Toner
HP 90XHP 90X Toner
HP 94AHP 94A Toner
HP 96AHP 96A Toner
HP 105AHP 105A Toner
HP 106AHP 106A Toner
HP 107AHP 107A Toner
HP 110AHP 110A Toner
HP 111AHP 111A Toner
HP 117AHP 117A Toner
HP 118AHP 118A Toner
HP 125AHP 125A Toner
HP 126AHP 126A Toner
HP 128AHP 128A Toner
HP 131AHP 131A Toner
HP 132AHP 132A Toner
HP 133AHP 133A Toner
HP 134AHP 134A Toner
HP 135AHP 135A Toner
HP 136AHP 136A Toner
HP 137AHP 137A Toner
HP 138AHP 138A Toner
HP 139AHP 139A Toner
HP 142AHP 142A Toner
HP 147AHP 147A Toner
HP 148AHP 148A Toner
HP 149AHP 149A Toner
HP 150AHP 150A Toner
HP 151AHP 151A Toner
HP 152AHP 152A Toner
HP 153AHP 153A Toner
HP 154AHP 154A Toner
HP 155AHP 155A Toner
HP 201AHP 201A Toner
HP 202AHP 202A Toner
HP 203AHP 203A Toner
HP 206AHP 206A Toner
HP 207AHP 207A Toner
HP 210AHP 210A Toner
HP 211AHP 211A Toner
HP 212AHP 212A Toner
HP 213AHP 213A Toner
HP 214AHP 214A Toner
HP 215AHP 215A Toner
HP 216AHP 216A Toner
HP 217AHP 217A Toner
HP 218AHP 218A Toner
HP 219AHP 219A Toner
HP 230AHP 230A Toner
HP 230XHP 230X Toner
HP 231AHP 231A Toner
HP 232AHP 232A Toner
HP 233AHP 233A Toner
HP 234AHP 234A Toner
HP 305AHP 305A Toner
HP 305XHP 305X Toner
HP 410AHP 410A Toner
HP 410XHP 410X Toner
HP 414AHP 414A Toner
HP 414XHP 414X Toner
HP 415AHP 415A Toner
HP 415XHP 415X Toner
HP 416AHP 416A Toner
HP 416XHP 416X Toner
HP 426AHP 426A Toner
HP 426XHP 426X Toner
HP 430AHP 430A Toner
HP 430XHP 430X Toner
HP 507AHP 507A Toner
HP 507XHP 507X Toner
HP 508AHP 508A Toner
HP 508XHP 508X Toner
HP 609AHP 609A Toner
HP 610AHP 610A Toner
HP 643AHP 643A Toner
HP 645AHP 645A Toner
HP 655AHP 655A Toner
HP 656XHP 656X Toner
HP 657XHP 657X Toner
HP 659AHP 659A Toner
HP 660AHP 660A Toner
How to Use This HP Toner Directory
The directory is designed to make navigation easier.
Instead of putting every cartridge specification onto one enormous page, each important cartridge family can have its own dedicated page. The directory page then acts as the central index linking those pages together.
A visitor searching for HP 85A toner, for example, can move directly from this directory to the dedicated HP 85A Toner page, where the printer models, cartridge code, compatibility, yield, genuine and compatible options, availability, and purchasing information can be explained in greater detail.
HP Toner Numbers and Printer Compatibility
A cartridge number should always be treated as part of a larger compatibility system.
The same numerical pattern may not indicate that two cartridges are interchangeable. The exact printer generation, cartridge suffix, regional product reference, and manufacturer specification all matter.
For this reason, the individual cartridge pages should include a dedicated compatible printers section.
HP Toner Number vs Printer Model
Customers often start with either the cartridge number or the printer model.
If you know the cartridge number, the dedicated toner page can help you identify supported printers.
If you only know the printer model, the appropriate cartridge page should be found through the printer-model and series pages.
This creates a useful two-way navigation system between printer pages and cartridge pages.
HP Toner Cartridge Directory for Nairobi and Kenya
Customers searching for HP toner numbers in Kenya often want more than the name of a cartridge. They may also want to know whether the product is available, whether it is genuine or compatible, what printers it supports, and where they can obtain it.
Vandeberg Imaging Supplies can use this directory as the central navigation point for its HP toner category in Nairobi and across Kenya.
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.
What does the A mean in HP 85A?
The A is part of the cartridge designation and distinguishes that product from other variants in the same family.
What does X mean in HP 85X?
An X designation is commonly associated with a higher-yield cartridge variant on supported HP printer families.
Can I use any HP toner with an HP LaserJet printer?
No. The cartridge must be compatible with the specific printer model.
Where can I find my cartridge number?
Check the cartridge label, original packaging, printer documentation, or the manufacturer's information for your printer.
What if I only know my HP printer model?
The printer model can be used to identify the appropriate cartridge family.
Are HP toner numbers the same as full HP product codes?
Not always. A short designation such as HP 05A may correspond to a longer product reference such as CE505A.
Can one toner number work in several HP printers?
Yes. A single cartridge family can support multiple compatible printer models, which is why individual toner pages should list the supported machines.
Find Your HP Toner Cartridge Number
Use the directory above to find the HP toner family you need, then open the corresponding individual cartridge page for detailed information.
For broader information, return to HP Toner Cartridges to explore the complete HP toner category, including HP LaserJet Toner Cartridges, HP Color LaserJet Toner Cartridges, Genuine HP Toner Cartridges, Compatible HP Toner Cartridges, and the individual cartridge-number pages.
Vandeberg Imaging Supplies — HP toner cartridges, cartridge identification, printer supplies, parts, maintenance and repair in Nairobi, Kenya.