What Ink Does the HP DesignJet T520 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: the HP DesignJet T520 uses HP 711 ink — four cartridges — plus a separate HP 711 printhead (C1Q10A), which is its own user-replaceable part.
The expensive mistake is HP 712. It looks like the same cartridge and it is not: 712 fits the newer DesignJet T210, T230, T250, T630 and T650. The T120, T125, T130, T520, T525 and T530 are the HP 711 machines. Also watch for HP 728, which belongs to the T730 and T830 — the T830 is the scanner-equipped plotter people most often confuse with this class.
CastleScore · October 2026
68/100 — Situational
HP DesignJet T520
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | — | Not scored: HP rates 711 cartridges by ink volume, not page yield, so we cannot calculate an honest cost per page. |
| Reliability (13%) | 80 | Most-reported problems: 'Printer Failure' / 'There is a problem with the printer or ink system' message that survives power-cycling; 'Printhead Startup Failure' then PHF error after installing a new printhead and new genuine cartridges; carriage stuck on the right / won't move to the access door after cartridge removal, blocking printhead service |
| Features (12%) | 55 | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax. |
| Value (5%) | — | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings or published expert scores for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars.
Discontinued. HP replaced the T520 with the DesignJet T525 and T530, which take the same HP 711 cartridges and C1Q10A printhead.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 10, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 711XL/711 4-color pack80 ml black + 29 ml C/M/Y
HP 711XL Black 80 mlCZ133A · OEM chip
HP 711 Cyan 29 mlCZ130A · OEM chip
HP 711 Magenta 29 mlCZ131A · OEM chip
HP 711XL/711 4-color pack
HP 711XL Black 80 ml
HP 711 Cyan 29 ml
HP 711 Magenta 29 mlOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
HP DesignJet T520 ink at a glance
| Item | Family | Part Number | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | HP 711 | CZ129A | 38 ml |
| Black (large) | HP 711 | CZ133A | 80 ml |
| Cyan | HP 711 | CZ130A | 29 ml |
| Magenta | HP 711 | CZ131A | 29 ml |
| Yellow | HP 711 | CZ132A | 29 ml |
| Cyan 3-pack | HP 711 | CZ134A | 29 ml each |
| Magenta 3-pack | HP 711 | CZ135A | 29 ml each |
| Yellow 3-pack | HP 711 | CZ136A | 29 ml each |
| Printhead kit | HP 711 | C1Q10A | — |
Large-format ink is sold by volume rather than page yield. Black comes in 38 ml and 80 ml; on a plotter doing drawings, the 80 ml is almost always the right choice.
The printhead is a consumable
The T520 uses a single user-replaceable printhead for all four colors, kit C1Q10A. HP calls it long-life and designed to last the life of the printer, and publishes no replacement schedule — you replace it on failure or when cleaning cannot recover print quality.
Set expectations before you buy one, though. "Missing or failed printhead" on the T520 is a well-documented error on HP's own community, and owners have replaced C1Q10A only to see the same message return — experienced responders point to the carriage board or main board instead. Reseat the printhead and restart the printhead replacement routine first; that costs nothing.
Common problems on this model
"Missing or failed printhead"
The headline fault on the T520. Before buying parts: remove and reseat the printhead with clean contacts, then re-run the printhead replacement routine from the front panel. If a new printhead does not clear it, the fault is upstream in the carriage or main board rather than the head itself.
"There is a problem with the printer or ink system"
Same family of causes. Owners on HP's community find the culprit this way: take out all four cartridges, power on, then put them back one at a time and see which one brings the message back. If it still appears with known-good cartridges, the printhead is the usual suspect.
Roll jams and skewed loading
Almost always a roll that is not seated tightly on the spindle, or a leading edge that is not cut square. Both are quick to fix and both cause repeat jams if ignored.
Banding, blurred lines or color inaccuracy
Run the printhead cleaning routine, then a printhead alignment, then a color calibration for the specific media loaded. On a plotter, calibration per media type matters far more than on a desktop printer.
What DesignJet T520 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, HP's support forum and owner reviews, answered in our words.
Is there a T520 that prints 36-inch drawings?
Yes. The T520 came in two widths: CQ893A takes rolls up to 36 inches (914 mm), and CQ890A is the 24-inch version. Both use the same HP 711 ink and printhead.
Do the newer T525 and T530 take the same ink and printhead?
Yes. The T120, T125, T130, T520, T525 and T530 all use HP 711 cartridges and the C1Q10A printhead kit.
Why does printhead setup reject my cartridges?
Installing a printhead primes it with ink from the cartridges, and owners report the printer wants new or well-filled ones for that step. Have a full set on hand before you fit a new head. Owners also report HP support can supply a bypass code. We sell the ink but not the C1Q10A printhead.
How much faster is it than the T120?
HP rates the T520 at 35 seconds per A1 line drawing, about 70 an hour. The T120 is rated at 70 seconds, about 40 an hour.
Do your remanufactured 711 cartridges have HP chips?
We sell them two ways: with the original HP chip reused (listed as "OEM chip") and with a new chip.
DesignJet T520 quirks worth knowing
- One printhead does all four colors. HP's single C1Q10A head has 1,376 nozzles.
- Besides front roll loading, it has a built-in A3/B+ sheet tray and a media bin, which is unusual on a plotter this size.
- It can print up to 45.7 m (150 ft) long from a roll.
- Wi-Fi is 802.11b/g only, so there is no 5 GHz. It has 1 GB of memory and no hard disk.
FAQ
What ink does the HP DesignJet T520 use?
HP 711 in black, cyan, magenta and yellow, plus the HP 711 printhead kit C1Q10A.
Does the T520 use HP 712?
No. HP 712 fits the T210, T230, T250, T630 and T650.
Does the T520 take the same ink as the T120?
Yes. Both are HP 711 machines with the same C1Q10A printhead. The T520 is faster and available in 36-inch as well as 24-inch.
What about HP 727 or HP 728?
HP 727 fits the T920, T930, T1500 and T2500. HP 728 fits the T730 and T830. Neither fits a T520.
Is there a page yield for HP 711?
Not in the way there is for desktop cartridges. Large-format ink is sold by volume — 29 ml colors and 38 or 80 ml black.
Other printers that use HP 711
More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · find any printer
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 10, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement HP ink cartridges? Shop HP ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.