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HP 80A vs 80X Toner: Yields, Printers & Cost Per Page

HP 80A vs 80X Toner: Yields, Printers & Cost Per Page

Buying the right HP 80A / 80X 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 80A / 80X?

HP 80A / 80X 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 80A / 80X cartridge lineup

Cartridge Part number Color Page yield* Price Cost per page
HP 80A Toner Cartridge CF280A Black 2,700 pages $101.00 $91.00 3.4¢
HP 80X Toner Cartridge CF280X Black 6,900 pages $153.00 $138.00 2.0¢

*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.

80A vs 80X: which one should you buy?

Both cartridges fit the same printers and produce identical print quality — the difference is capacity and price. The 80A holds enough toner for about 2,700 pages; the 80X high-yield version prints about 6,900 pages, roughly 2.6× more. At our prices that works out to 3.4¢ per page for the 80A and 2.0¢ per page for the 80X — the high-yield cartridge is about 41% cheaper per page.

Choose the 80A 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 80X if you print 1,350+ pages a month, share the printer in an office, or simply want fewer cartridge changes.

Multipacks: when they pay off

Pack Cartridges Pack price Bought singly You save
HP 80A Toner Cartridge 2-Pack 2 $195.83 $176.25 $182.00 3%
HP 80X Toner Cartridge 2-Pack 2 $297.47 $267.72 $276.00 3%

Every cartridge in a GS TONER multipack is the same genuine HP 80A 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 80A 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 80A: cartridge life / toner cost per month 80X: life / cost per month
250 pages 10.8 months / $8.43 27.6 months / $5.00
500 pages 5.4 months / $16.85 13.8 months / $10.00
1,000 pages 2.7 months / $33.70 6.9 months / $20.00
2,000 pages 1.4 months / $67.41 3.5 months / $40.00

Below about 225 pages a month a cartridge would sit in the printer for more than a year, so the standard version is the better fit; above 900 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 80A / 80X

Search results for “HP 80A / 80X” 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 (CF280A for the 80A) molded or printed on it, and the printer's supplies page identifies it as an original HP cartridge after installation.

Replacing the HP 80A / 80X 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 80A / 80X compatible with?

HP 80A / 80X fits HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401a / M401d / M401dn / M401dne / M401dw / M401n, HP LaserJet Pro 400 MFP M425dn / M425dw, HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401a, M401d, M401dn, M401dw, M401n, HP LaserJet Pro MFP M425dn, M425dw. The full list is above and on each product page.

How many pages does the 80A print?

About 2,700 pages at 5% coverage, which is a typical business letter. Heavy graphics or full-page images reduce that noticeably.

Is the 80X the same as the 80A?

Same printers, same print quality. The 80X is the high-yield version with about 6,900 pages instead of 2,700, and a lower cost per page.

Are your HP 80A / 80X 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.

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Ready to order? Every HP 80A / 80X cartridge and pack above is in stock at GS TONER with free US shipping and 30-day returns.