If your printer takes the HP 312A / 312X 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 312A / 312X?
HP 312A / 312X cartridges are made for the following HP printers:
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 312A / 312X cartridge lineup
| Cartridge | Part number | Color | Page yield* | Price | Cost per page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 312A Toner Cartridge | CF380A | Black | 2,400 pages |
|
4.1¢ |
| HP 312A Cyan Toner Cartridge | CF381A | Cyan | 2,700 pages |
|
4.7¢ |
| HP 312A Magenta Toner Cartridge | CF383A | Magenta | 2,700 pages |
|
4.7¢ |
| HP 312A Yellow Toner Cartridge | CF382A | Yellow | 2,700 pages |
|
4.7¢ |
| HP 312X Toner Cartridge | CF380X | Black | 4,400 pages |
|
2.9¢ |
*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.
312A vs 312X: which one should you buy?
Both cartridges fit the same printers and produce identical print quality — the difference is capacity and price. The 312A holds enough toner for about 2,400 pages; the 312X high-yield version prints about 4,400 pages, roughly 1.8× more. At our prices that works out to 4.1¢ per page for the 312A and 2.9¢ per page for the 312X — the high-yield cartridge is about 30% cheaper per page.
Choose the 312A 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 312X if you print 1,200+ 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 312A / 312X 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 312A Toner Cartridge 2-Pack | 2 |
|
$196.00 | 3% |
| HP 312X Toner Cartridge 2-Pack | 2 |
|
$252.00 | 3% |
| HP 312A Toner Cartridge CMY 3-Pack | 3 |
|
$378.00 | 4% |
| HP 312A Toner Cartridge CMYK 4-Pack | 4 |
|
$476.00 | 5% |
Every cartridge in a GS TONER multipack is the same genuine HP 312A 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 312A 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 | 312A: cartridge life / toner cost per month | 312X: life / cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| 250 pages | 9.6 months / $10.21 | 17.6 months / $7.16 |
| 500 pages | 4.8 months / $20.42 | 8.8 months / $14.32 |
| 1,000 pages | 2.4 months / $40.83 | 4.4 months / $28.64 |
| 2,000 pages | 1.2 months / $81.67 | 2.2 months / $57.27 |
Below about 200 pages a month a cartridge would sit in the printer for more than a year, so the standard version is the better fit; above 800 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 312A / 312X
Search results for “HP 312A / 312X” 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 (CF380A for the 312A) molded or printed on it, and the printer's supplies page identifies it as an original HP cartridge after installation.
Replacing the HP 312A / 312X 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 312A / 312X compatible with?
HP 312A / 312X fits HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M476dn, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M476dw, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M476nw. The full list is above and on each product page.
How many pages does the 312A print?
About 2,400 pages at 5% coverage, which is a typical business letter. Heavy graphics or full-page images reduce that noticeably.
Is the 312X the same as the 312A?
Same printers, same print quality. The 312X is the high-yield version with about 4,400 pages instead of 2,400, and a lower cost per page.
Do I have to replace all HP 312A / 312X 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 312A / 312X 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 305A vs 305X Toner: Yields, Printers & Cost Per Page
- HP 304A Toner (CC530A) Guide: Yield, Printers & Price
- How to Tell If HP Toner Is Genuine (7 Checks)
Ready to order? Every HP 312A / 312X cartridge and pack above is in stock at GS TONER with free US shipping and 30-day returns.
