HP 210A is the standard-capacity toner for the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201 and MFP 4301 series: the black W2100A prints about 2,000 pages and each color about 1,800. The high-yield HP 210X fits the same printers and prints about 7,500 black or 5,500 color pages, which cuts the cost per page by more than half.
Which printers use HP 210A and 210X toner?
HP lists the 210A and 210X cartridges for the US versions of its current compact color LaserJet Pro line:
- HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201 series: 4201dn, 4201dw
- HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301 series: MFP 4301dw, MFP 4301fdn, MFP 4301fdw
The same printer bodies are sold elsewhere as the 4202/4302 and 4203/4303. Those regional versions take differently numbered cartridges (HP 220 for the 4202, HP 230 for the 4203), and HP states that its cartridges are for use only with their designated product. If the model sticker on your printer ends in 4201 or 4301, HP 210 is the right family. If you are not sure, check the number printed on the cartridge already in the printer or use our cartridge finder.
HP 210A vs 210X: part numbers and page yields
Each printer holds four cartridges. All eight singles below are genuine HP, and each contains its own imaging drum, so there is no separate drum unit to buy.
| Cartridge | Part number | Color | Page yield* |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 210A Black | W2100A | Black | ~2,000 pages |
| HP 210A Cyan | W2101A | Cyan | ~1,800 pages |
| HP 210A Yellow | W2102A | Yellow | ~1,800 pages |
| HP 210A Magenta | W2103A | Magenta | ~1,800 pages |
| HP 210X Black (high yield) | W2100X | Black | ~7,500 pages |
| HP 210X Cyan (high yield) | W2101X | Cyan | ~5,500 pages |
| HP 210X Yellow (high yield) | W2102X | Yellow | ~5,500 pages |
| HP 210X Magenta (high yield) | W2103X | Magenta | ~5,500 pages |
*HP declared yields, measured to ISO/IEC 19798 (the color-printer standard, applied to all four cartridges) at about 5% coverage per color. Photos, logos and solid fills use more toner per page.
A and X versions of the same color are physically identical in fit and can be mixed: a 210X black next to three 210A colors is a common setup. Note that a new 4201 or 4301 ships with smaller introductory cartridges (HP quotes about 1,200 black and 1,000 color pages), so your first replacement comes sooner than later ones.
Cost per page: when the HP 210X pays off
At current GS TONER prices the 210X black costs about 1.5× the 210A black but prints 3.75× the pages, so each black page costs roughly 60% less. The color 210X cartridges cost about 1.4× their 210A counterparts and print about 3× the pages, so each color page costs roughly 54% less.
A simple decision rule:
- Choose 210A if you print fewer than about 300 pages a month, rarely print color, or the printer is new and you want to learn your real usage first.
- Choose 210X if you print more than about 300 pages a month, share the printer in an office, or simply want three to four times fewer cartridge changes. For most offices the 210X black is the single best-value purchase in this family.
- Mix them if you print mostly black text: 210X black plus 210A colors keeps upfront cost down where toner is used least.
HP 210 multipacks
Our packs contain the same genuine HP cartridges sold individually. The saving is modest, so buy a pack when you know you will use every cartridge within about a year.
| Pack | Contents | Saving vs singles |
|---|---|---|
| HP 210A 2-Pack | 2 × W2100A black | about 3% |
| HP 210X 2-Pack | 2 × W2100X black | about 3% |
| HP 210A CMY 3-Pack | Cyan, magenta, yellow 210A | about 4% |
| HP 210X CMY 3-Pack | Cyan, magenta, yellow 210X | about 4% |
| HP 210A CMYK 4-Pack | Full 210A set | about 5% |
| HP 210X CMYK 4-Pack | Full 210X set | about 5% |
How the 4201 and 4301 use each color
Black is used on almost every page, while cyan, magenta and yellow are used only for color content. In a mostly-text office the black cartridge therefore runs out well before the colors, which is why a spare black is the most useful cartridge to keep on the shelf. Replace colors one at a time as they run low rather than swapping the full set; our guide on replacing one cartridge or the full set explains why.
When a cartridge reports "very low," it does not have to be replaced yet. On the 4201, go to Menu > Settings > Supplies > Very Low Behavior to choose Stop, Prompt or Continue, and for color cartridges a Print Black option lets you keep printing black-only pages while you wait for a color. On the MFP 4301, look for the same Very Low Behavior option in the Supplies settings on the touchscreen; exact menu names can vary with firmware.
Genuine HP 210 cartridges, chips and Dynamic Security
HP's datasheets for these printers state that they are intended to work only with cartridges that have a new or reused HP chip, and that dynamic security measures block cartridges with a non-HP chip; periodic firmware updates can block cartridges that previously worked. In practice, a compatible 210A with a cloned chip may print today and stop after an update. Remanufactured cartridges built on a reused HP chip are not blocked. Our explainer on HP Dynamic Security and genuine cartridges covers what this means for your fleet.
Two related settings, Cartridge Policy (accept only genuine HP) and Cartridge Protection (lock cartridges to one printer), are off by default and can be enabled by an administrator.
To recognize a genuine box, check the part number (W2100A to W2103A, or W2100X to W2103X) and the HP security label: tilting it shifts the icons and the word "ORIGINAL," and its QR code can be checked on HP's anti-counterfeit page. After installation, the supplies status page should report an original HP cartridge. More checks are in how to tell if HP toner is genuine.
How to replace an HP 210A or 210X cartridge
- Press the button on the left side panel to open the front door.
- Pull out the cartridge drawer by its blue handle.
- Lift the empty cartridge straight up by its handle.
- Open the new cartridge's packaging with the release tab and set the old cartridge in the empty shell for recycling.
- Hold the new cartridge at both ends and rock it gently end to end to distribute the toner. Do not touch the imaging drum on the underside.
- Insert it into the drawer slot whose color marker matches the cartridge's, close the drawer, then close the front door.
If colors look shifted after a swap, run a calibration from the printer's print-quality tools before suspecting the new cartridge.
Recycling empty HP 210 cartridges
In the US, HP includes a prepaid shipping label in the 210A/210X box. Pack the empty cartridge in the new cartridge's box, attach the label and drop it off with the carrier; HP Planet Partners recycles it free of charge. Never put toner cartridges in a fire or loose toner in household trash. See how to recycle HP toner cartridges for drop-off options.
The bottom line
Buy the HP 210X black first. It is the cartridge you will replace most often and the one where high yield saves the most per page. Add 210X colors if you print color weekly, or 210A colors if color is occasional. Every cartridge we sell is genuine HP, brand new and factory sealed, with free US shipping and same-day dispatch on orders placed before 2 PM ET.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between HP 210A and 210X?
Capacity. Both fit the same printers and give the same print quality. The 210A black prints about 2,000 pages and each 210A color about 1,800; the 210X black prints about 7,500 pages and each 210X color about 5,500.
What is the part number of the HP 210A black toner?
The HP 210A black cartridge is W2100A. The colors are W2101A cyan, W2102A yellow and W2103A magenta. The high-yield versions use the same numbers ending in X, for example W2100X.
Can I mix 210A and 210X cartridges in one printer?
Yes. Each slot accepts either the A or the X version of its color, so you can run a 210X black with 210A colors or any other combination.
Does the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201 need a separate drum?
No. Each HP 210A and 210X cartridge has its own imaging drum built in, so replacing a toner cartridge also replaces the drum for that color.
Will HP 210A toner work in a 4203 or 4303 printer?
No. The 4202/4302 and 4203/4303 are regional versions that use HP 220 or HP 230 cartridges. HP 210A and 210X are for the 4201 and MFP 4301 series.
How do I dispose of an empty HP 210A cartridge?
Recycle it through HP Planet Partners. In the US a prepaid shipping label comes in the new cartridge's box, so pack the empty cartridge in that box, attach the label and send it back free of charge.
