Buying the right HP 212A / 212X toner is simple once you know three things: the printer models it fits, the page yield of each version, and how the price per page compares. Here is all of it in one place. Every cartridge listed below is a genuine HP original, brand new and factory sealed, with free shipping across the USA.
Which printers use HP 212A / 212X?
HP 212A / 212X cartridges are made for the following HP printers:
- HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M554dn
- HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M555dn, M555x
- HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M578dn, M578f
- HP Color LaserJet Enterprise Flow MFP M578c, M578z
- HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M554dn, M555dn, M555x
Tip: the model number is printed on the front or top of the printer and on the sticker inside the toner door. If your model is not listed here, check the cartridge number on the old cartridge itself — HP prints it on the label.
HP 212A / 212X cartridge lineup
| Cartridge | Part number | Color | Page yield* | Price | Cost per page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 212A Toner Cartridge | W2120A | Black | 5,500 pages |
|
3.4¢ |
| HP 212X Toner Cartridge | W2120X | Black | 13,000 pages |
|
2.1¢ |
| HP 212X Cyan Toner Cartridge | W2121X | Cyan | 10,000 pages |
|
3.4¢ |
| HP 212X Magenta Toner Cartridge | W2123X | Magenta | 10,000 pages |
|
3.4¢ |
| HP 212X Yellow Toner Cartridge | W2122X | Yellow | 10,000 pages |
|
3.4¢ |
*Yields are HP's declared values (ISO/IEC 19752 for mono, ISO/IEC 19798 for color) at 5% page coverage. Real-world yield depends on what you print: dense graphics use more toner than text.
212A vs 212X: which one should you buy?
Both cartridges fit the same printers and produce identical print quality — the difference is capacity and price. The 212A holds enough toner for about 5,500 pages; the 212X high-yield version prints about 13,000 pages, roughly 2.4× more. At our prices that works out to 3.4¢ per page for the 212A and 2.1¢ per page for the 212X — the high-yield cartridge is about 38% cheaper per page.
Choose the 212A if you print a few hundred pages a month, want a lower upfront cost, or the printer is lightly used (toner can settle in a cartridge that sits for a year). Choose the 212X if you print 2,750+ pages a month, share the printer in an office, or simply want fewer cartridge changes.
Black, cyan, magenta, yellow: how color cartridges are used
Color HP laser printers hold four cartridges and use them independently. Black is consumed on every text page; cyan, magenta and yellow are consumed only when color is printed — and, in most modes, a little of each is used to create rich composite black in graphics. In practice the black cartridge runs out first in most offices, followed by whichever color your logo or charts lean on. That is why we sell the HP 212A / 212X colors individually as well as in CMY (three colors) and CMYK (all four) packs.
You do not need to replace all four at once. The printer keeps working with a low color cartridge until it hits the hard stop; replace only the cartridge the printer flags. If the printer refuses to print mono because a color cartridge is empty, check the driver or front-panel setting that allows black-only printing.
Multipacks: when they pay off
| Pack | Cartridges | Pack price | Bought singly | You save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 212A Toner Cartridge 2-Pack | 2 |
|
$378.00 | 3% |
| HP 212X Toner Cartridge 2-Pack | 2 |
|
$558.00 | — |
| HP 212X Toner Cartridge CMY 3-Pack | 3 |
|
$1,032.00 | — |
| HP 212X Toner Cartridge CMYK 4-Pack | 4 |
|
$1,311.00 | — |
Every cartridge in a GS TONER multipack is the same genuine HP 212A sold individually — full yield, same packaging, same warranty. Packs make sense when you already know you will use every cartridge within about a year; unopened HP toner stores well for at least that long in its sealed bag, away from heat and sunlight.
How long will an HP 212A last you?
Use your monthly page count (the printer's usage page reports it) to see how often you will change cartridges and what toner costs per month with each version.
| Monthly volume | 212A: cartridge life / toner cost per month | 212X: life / cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| 250 pages | 22.0 months / $8.59 | 52.0 months / $5.37 |
| 500 pages | 11.0 months / $17.18 | 26.0 months / $10.73 |
| 1,000 pages | 5.5 months / $34.36 | 13.0 months / $21.46 |
| 2,000 pages | 2.8 months / $68.73 | 6.5 months / $42.92 |
Below about 458 pages a month a cartridge would sit in the printer for more than a year, so the standard version is the better fit; above 1,833 pages a month the high-yield version (if one exists for this family) pays back quickly and halves the number of cartridge changes.
Genuine HP vs compatible HP 212A / 212X
Search results for “HP 212A / 212X” are full of compatible and remanufactured cartridges at a fraction of the price. They can work, but the trade-offs are real: yield claims are not measured to the same ISO standard, toner formulation differs from the one the fuser was tuned for, chip errors after firmware updates are common, and a leaking cartridge can put a drum or fuser repair on your bill. HP's warranty does not cover damage caused by non-HP supplies. We sell only original HP cartridges — the ones with HP's security label — because for a workgroup printer the difference in cost per page is small next to the cost of downtime.
How to check yours is genuine: the box carries a HP security label, the cartridge has HP's part number (W2120A for the 212A) molded or printed on it, and the printer's supplies page identifies it as an original HP cartridge after installation.
Replacing the HP 212A / 212X cartridge
- Open the cartridge door (front or top, depending on the model) and pull the old cartridge straight out by its handle.
- Take the new cartridge out of its bag. Rock it gently end to end five or six times to distribute the toner — do not shake it vertically.
- Remove the orange shipping clips and pull the sealing tape straight out if the cartridge has one (many current HP models do not).
- Align the cartridge with the guides and slide it in until it seats; close the door. The printer calibrates for a few seconds and reports the new cartridge on the supplies page.
Keep the old cartridge for recycling: HP Planet Partners takes back original HP cartridges free of charge in the US.
Frequently asked questions
Which printers is HP 212A / 212X compatible with?
HP 212A / 212X fits HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M554dn, HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M555dn, M555x, HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M578dn, M578f, HP Color LaserJet Enterprise Flow MFP M578c, M578z, HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M554dn, M555dn, M555x. The full list is above and on each product page.
How many pages does the 212A print?
About 5,500 pages at 5% coverage, which is a typical business letter. Heavy graphics or full-page images reduce that noticeably.
Is the 212X the same as the 212A?
Same printers, same print quality. The 212X is the high-yield version with about 13,000 pages instead of 5,500, and a lower cost per page.
Do I have to replace all HP 212A / 212X colors at the same time?
No. Replace only the cartridge the printer reports as empty. Colors are consumed at different rates depending on what you print.
Are your HP 212A / 212X cartridges genuine HP?
Yes. GS TONER sells only original HP cartridges, brand new and factory sealed, sourced from authorized distribution. No compatibles, no refills.
How fast do you ship?
Orders placed before 2 PM Eastern ship the same business day from our US warehouse, with free shipping to all 50 states.
Related guides
- HP 206A Toner Guide: Colors, Yields, Printers & Packs
- HP 202A vs 202X Toner: Yields, Printers & Cost Per Page
- How to Tell If HP Toner Is Genuine (7 Checks)
Ready to order? Every HP 212A / 212X cartridge and pack above is in stock at GS TONER with free US shipping and 30-day returns.
