HP 30A vs 30X Toner: Yields, Printers & Cost Per Page

If your printer takes the HP 30A / 30X toner, this guide answers the practical questions: which printers it fits, how many pages each cartridge really prints, what a page costs you, and when a high-yield or multipack option saves money. Every cartridge listed below is a genuine HP original, brand new and factory sealed, with free shipping across the USA.

Which printers use HP 30A / 30X?

HP 30A / 30X cartridges are made for the following HP printers:

• HP LaserJet Pro M203 series
• HP LaserJet Pro MFP M227 series
• HP LaserJet Pro M203d, M203dn, M203dw
• HP LaserJet Pro MFP M227fdn, M227fdw, M227sdn

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 30A / 30X cartridge lineup

*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.

30A vs 30X: which one should you buy?

Both cartridges fit the same printers and produce identical print quality — the difference is capacity and price. The 30A holds enough toner for about 1,600 pages; the 30X high-yield version prints about 3,500 pages, roughly 2.2× more. At our prices that works out to 4.4¢ per page for the 30A and 2.9¢ per page for the 30X — the high-yield cartridge is about 34% cheaper per page.

Choose the 30A 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 30X if you print 800+ pages a month, share the printer in an office, or simply want fewer cartridge changes.

Multipacks: when they pay off

Every cartridge in a GS TONER multipack is the same genuine HP 30A 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 30A 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.

Below about 133 pages a month a cartridge would sit in the printer for more than a year, so the standard version is the better fit; above 533 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 30A / 30X

Search results for “HP 30A / 30X” 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 (CF230A for the 30A) molded or printed on it, and the printer's supplies page identifies it as an original HP cartridge after installation.

Replacing the HP 30A / 30X cartridge

1. Open the cartridge door (front or top, depending on the model) and pull the old cartridge straight out by its handle.
2. 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.
3. Remove the orange shipping clips and pull the sealing tape straight out if the cartridge has one (many current HP models do not).
4. 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 30A / 30X compatible with?

HP 30A / 30X fits HP LaserJet Pro M203 series, HP LaserJet Pro MFP M227 series, HP LaserJet Pro M203d, M203dn, M203dw, HP LaserJet Pro MFP M227fdn, M227fdw, M227sdn. The full list is above and on each product page.

How many pages does the 30A print?

About 1,600 pages at 5% coverage, which is a typical business letter. Heavy graphics or full-page images reduce that noticeably.

Is the 30X the same as the 30A?

Same printers, same print quality. The 30X is the high-yield version with about 3,500 pages instead of 1,600, and a lower cost per page.

Are your HP 30A / 30X 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 32A Imaging Drum (CF232A) Guide: Yield, Printers & Price
• HP 26A vs 26X Toner: Yields, Printers & Cost Per Page
• How to Tell If HP Toner Is Genuine (7 Checks)

Ready to order? Every HP 30A / 30X cartridge and pack above is in stock at GS TONER with free US shipping and 30-day returns.