What Ink Does the HP DeskJet 2541 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP DeskJet 2541 uses two cartridges: an HP 61 or HP 61XL black and an HP 61 or HP 61XL tri-color. HP's 2026 refresh adds a new HP 61 High Yield Black and a single HP 61 Tri-color, and both fit. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured HP 61XL Black, HP 61XL Tri-color and a 61XL combo pack.
The 2541 is one of HP's DeskJet 2540 series, and every model in that series takes the same ink, including the DeskJet 2540 and 2542. It also shares cartridges with the DeskJet 1510, 1050 and 3050. European 2540-series printers use HP 301 cartridges instead. We couldn't confirm those work in a U.S. printer, so buy by the U.S. numbers below. For a side-by-side of the two sizes, see HP 61 vs HP 61XL.
CastleScore · October 2026
75/100 — Recommended
HP DeskJet 2541
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 88 | 4.48★ average across 704 ratings at Best Buy for the DeskJet 2545, another model in the same DeskJet 2540 series (shown as 4.5) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 62 | Average of six European tests of the DeskJet 2540, as scored out of 100 by Galaxus: CHIP Online 57 and 58, PC Welt 65, Stiftung Warentest 64, Computer Bild 68 and Konsument 60 (2013 to 2015) |
| Cost per page (24%) | 76 | About 6.9¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured HP 61XL black (430 pages) and HP 61XL tri-color (300 pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 80 | Most-reported problems: all lights blinking in an error state that needs a power reset; cartridge lights blinking after a cartridge change; dropping off Wi-Fi; slow printing |
| Features (12%) | 52 | Print, copy and scan with a flatbed, over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Wireless Direct, AirPrint or USB. Manual two-sided printing only. No document feeder, no borderless printing, no text display, no fax. |
| Value (5%) | 78 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Discontinued. HP launched the DeskJet 2540 series in 2013, and Best Buy listed the 2540 at a regular $79.99 in 2015. HP now lists the 2540 as discontinued and sells only its supplies. In October 2026, HP 61XL cartridges were in stock at 4inkjets and HP's refreshed 2026 HP 61 cartridges were sold at Staples.
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 21, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 61XL BlackCH563WN · ~430 pages
HP 61XL Tri-colorCH564WN · ~300 pages
HP 61XL comboBlack + Tri-color
HP 61XL Black
HP 61XL Tri-color
HP 61XL comboOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Cartridges Does the HP DeskJet 2541 Take?
| Cartridge | HP part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 61 Black | CH561WN | ~170 pages | — |
| HP 61XL Black (high yield) | CH563WN | ~430 pages | Remanufactured HP 61XL Black |
| HP 61 High Yield Black (2026) | C0PA4AN | ~360 pages | — |
| HP 61 Tri-color | CH562WN | ~150 pages | — |
| HP 61 Tri-color (2026) | C0PA5AN | ~200 pages | — |
| HP 61XL Tri-color (high yield) | CH564WN | ~300 pages | Remanufactured HP 61XL Tri-color |
| HP 61XL Black + Tri-color combo | — | ~430 / 300 pages | Remanufactured 61XL combo |
Yields are the current figures retailers list. HP's own DeskJet 2540 page still shows its older ratings of about 190, 165, 480 and 330 pages. The tri-color goes in the left slot and the black in the right. Our remanufactured 61XL cartridges are built from original HP shells and keep the HP chip.
Are HP 61XL Cartridges Worth It?
Yes. The 61XL black prints about 430 pages against about 170 for the standard 61, and the 61XL tri-color about 300 against about 150. On October 21, 2026, 4inkjets listed HP's 61XL black (CH563WN) at $66.99 (about 15.6¢ a page) and the 61XL tri-color (CH564WN) at $67.99 (about 22.7¢ a page), both in stock. Staples listed HP's newer high-yield black (C0PA4AN, about 360 pages) at $49.99 (about 13.9¢ a page) and the new tri-color (C0PA5AN, about 200 pages) at $52.99 (about 26.5¢ a page). Walmart had the standard HP 61 black at $28.92 (about 17¢ a page). Our remanufactured HP 61XL black is $23.95 and the HP 61XL tri-color is $24.95, about 5.6¢ and 8.3¢ a page, or $35.99 for the combo pack.
How Do I Replace the Ink in the HP DeskJet 2541?
- Make sure the printer is on and load plain paper.
- Open the cartridge access door and wait for the carriage to move to the center of the printer.
- Press down on the old cartridge to release it, then pull it out of its slot.
- Unpack the new cartridge and pull off the plastic tape with the pink pull tab.
- Slide the cartridge into its slot until it clicks, close the door, and align the cartridges when the HP software asks you to.
Which Other Printers Use HP 61 and 61XL?
The DeskJet 1000, 1010, 1050, 1510, 2050, 2540, 2542 and 3050; the Envy 4500 and 5530; and the OfficeJet 4630. Each of those families has several variant numbers, such as the DeskJet 1051, 1056 and 3052A, that take the same two cartridges.
What DeskJet 2541 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer in HP's support community and owner reviews, answered in our words.
Do the new 2026 HP 61 cartridges fit?
Yes. HP says the refreshed HP 61 cartridges work in the printers that already took HP 61, with no hardware or settings changes. The older CH561WN to CH564WN cartridges still fit too.
Both cartridge lights are blinking.
A cartridge is missing, still has its pink tape on, is very low, or is faulty. Check both are installed with the tape removed, then reseat them. Replace the one that keeps causing the error.
Every light on the panel is blinking at once.
The printer is in an error state. With it on, unplug the power cord, wait about a minute, plug it straight into a wall outlet rather than a power strip, and turn it back on. HP also suggests updating the firmware if it keeps happening.
Can it print with only one cartridge?
Yes. If you take one cartridge out, it switches to single-cartridge mode and still prints and copies. Put both cartridges back to leave that mode. If it says one is missing when both are in, check for leftover tape on the contacts.
Can it print on both sides of the page?
Only by hand. The driver prints one side, then tells you to flip the pages and reload them.
DeskJet 2541 quirks worth knowing
- HP rates the series at 7 pages a minute in black and 4 in color (ISO). Reviewers found it slow, especially for photos.
- Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only. It also has Wireless Direct for printing from a phone without a router, plus AirPrint and USB.
- The input tray holds about 50 sheets of plain paper. HP rates it for up to 1,000 pages a month and recommends 300 to 400.
- It can't print borderless photos, and its display is a simple copy-count digit with icons rather than a text screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the HP DeskJet 2541 use?
HP 61 or HP 61XL black and HP 61 or HP 61XL tri-color. HP's 2026 HP 61 High Yield Black and HP 61 Tri-color also fit.
Is the DeskJet 2541 the same as the 2540?
It's part of the same DeskJet 2540 series and takes the same HP 61 and 61XL cartridges.
Will HP 301 cartridges fit?
HP 301 is the European number for this series. We couldn't confirm it works in a U.S. 2541, so buy by the U.S. HP 61 numbers.
Other printers that use HP 61 and 61XL
HP DeskJet 2540 · HP DeskJet 2542 · HP DeskJet 1510 · HP DeskJet 3050 · HP Envy 4500
More HP ink guides: HP DeskJet 3755 · HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP OfficeJet 200 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
- HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw (laser) — CastleScore 82
- HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e — CastleScore 79
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 21, 2026 and will change over time.
- HP: DeskJet 2540 All-in-One specifications
- HP DeskJet 2540 series user guide: replacing cartridges
- HP: HP 63/65 and HP 61 cartridge changes explained
- Best Buy: HP DeskJet 2545 owner reviews
- Galaxus: HP DeskJet 2540 test results
- 4inkjets: HP DeskJet 2541 cartridges
- Staples: HP 61 high-yield black C0PA4AN
- HP Community: DeskJet 2540 error state
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.