What Ink Does the HP DeskJet 2542 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP DeskJet 2542 uses HP 61 (standard) or HP 61XL (high-yield) black and tri-color ink cartridges. For black, buy high-yield: the old standard black was rated about 170–190 pages, HP's current high-yield black (C0PA4AN) about 360, and our remanufactured 61XL black about 430. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured HP 61XL black and tri-color, with free U.S. shipping on orders over $50.
The DeskJet 2542 is a compact home all-in-one from HP's DeskJet 2540 series.
2026 change: In July 2026 HP retired the original HP 61 cartridges (CH561WN–CH564WN) and replaced them with refreshed ones: a standard black, a high-yield black, C0PA4AN (about 360 pages), which HP calls New HP 61 High Yield Black, and a single HP 61 tri-color, C0PA5AN (about 200 pages). There is no longer a separate XL tri-color from HP. HP says the new cartridges work in the same printers with no settings changes. The earlier cartridges, including the 61XL we remanufacture, still fit the DeskJet 2542.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP DeskJet 2542
| 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%) | 77 | About 6.5¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 61XL (430 / 300 pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 87 | Most-reported problems: blinking control-panel lights with no text screen to explain errors |
| Features (12%) | 56 | Print, copy, scan, Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| 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. With neither owner ratings nor a published expert score, we cap this printer at 69 (Situational) until better data is available.
Discontinued. HP marks the DeskJet 2540 series, which includes the 2542, as discontinued and names no successor. HP 61 cartridges are still sold under refreshed 2026 part numbers.
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 8, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 61XL 2-packBlack + Tri-color
HP 61XL BlackCH563WN · ~430 pages
HP 61XL Tri-colorCH564WN · ~300 pages
HP 61XL 2-pack
HP 61XL Black
HP 61XL Tri-colorOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
HP DeskJet 2542 Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Color | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|
| HP 61 (CH561WN, retired 2026) | Black | ~170–190 pages |
| HP 61 (CH562WN, retired 2026) | Tri-Color | ~150–165 pages |
| HP 61XL (CH563WN, retired 2026) | Black | ~430 pages |
| HP 61XL (CH564WN, retired 2026) | Tri-Color | ~300 pages |
| New HP 61 High Yield Black (C0PA4AN, 2026) | Black | ~360 pages |
| New HP 61 Tri-Color (C0PA5AN, 2026) | Tri-Color | ~200 pages |
How tri-color cartridges work: cyan, magenta and yellow share one housing. When any single color runs out the whole cartridge is finished, even with ink left in the other two. If you mostly print text, setting the driver to black-only or greyscale is the cheapest change you can make.
Old and New HP 61 Part Numbers
HP is not selling two HP 61 lines side by side. In July 2026 it retired all four original HP 61 cartridges and replaced them with a refreshed line. The refreshed high-yield black, C0PA4AN, is rated about 360 pages, while the original CH563WN 61XL black is now listed at about 430 (HP's first rating was 480). The new C0PA5AN tri-color, about 200 pages, replaces both the standard and XL tri-color. Original-part cartridges are still on some shelves as leftover stock, and they still work in the 2542.
If you are comparing prices, compare part numbers and page ratings, not just the "61XL" name. Our full HP 61 vs HP 61XL guide covers yields, cost per page and HP's 2026 lineup changes.
Watch the Model Number
HP's budget lines use nearly identical model numbers with different cartridges. ENVY 4500 series and DeskJet 2540 series use HP 61. ENVY 4520 and DeskJet 2130/3630 use HP 63, and the DeskJet 2652 uses HP 65; since July 2026 HP sells both as a combined HP 63/65 line. The DeskJet 2755 uses HP 67. They are physically similar and electrically incompatible.
A Warning About Second-Hand Cartridges
Instant Ink cartridges are locked to the subscription and stop printing when a plan lapses, so a used "HP 61" pulled from an Instant Ink machine may be dead on arrival. Buy retail, remanufactured or compatible cartridges rather than second-hand ones.
Is the DeskJet 2542 Discontinued?
Yes. HP marks the DeskJet 2540 series, which includes the 2542, as discontinued and names no successor. HP 61 cartridges are still sold, under the refreshed 2026 part numbers.
What DeskJet 2542 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.
Will the new 2026 HP 61 cartridges work in my 2542?
Yes. HP says the refreshed HP 61 cartridges work in the same printers as before, with no new hardware and no settings to change.
Is there still an XL tri-color cartridge?
Not from HP's new line. HP folded the standard and XL tri-color into one HP 61 tri-color (C0PA5AN, about 200 pages). The original 61XL tri-color (CH564WN, about 300 pages) is still around as leftover stock, and we sell it remanufactured.
Can I sign the 2542 up for HP Instant Ink?
Probably not. In 2017 an HP Community expert found the DeskJet 2540 series missing from HP's Instant Ink eligibility list, though one owner recalled it being eligible when bought in 2015. Check HP's site with your exact model before counting on it.
The lights are blinking and there is no screen. How do I tell what is wrong?
HP has a support document for the DeskJet 2540–2549 series that maps each blinking pattern of the Attention, cartridge, wireless and media-error lights to a fix. Look up the pattern there before buying new ink.
Can it print on both sides automatically?
No. Two-sided printing is manual: the printer prints one side, then you flip the stack and reload it.
DeskJet 2542 quirks worth knowing
- There is no text screen. The "Number of Copies" digit display doubles as the paper (media) error indicator, so check it for a paper problem before you blame the ink.
- It has a Wireless Direct button and light, so a phone can print to it without a router.
- HP's 2026 refresh drops the "XL" name for HP 61. The high-capacity black is now sold as "New HP 61 High Yield Black", so search for that name as well as "61XL".
- It is slow and light-duty by design: HP rates it at 7 pages per minute in black and 4 in color, with a duty cycle of up to 1,000 pages a month and 400 recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the HP DeskJet 2542 use?
HP 61 or HP 61XL, in black and tri-color.
Is HP 61 or 61XL better value?
High-yield black, clearly. The original standard black was rated about 170–190 pages, against about 360 for HP's current high-yield black (C0PA4AN) and about 430 for the original 61XL black (CH563WN).
Why do two HP 61XL black cartridges have different page counts?
HP refreshed the line in 2026. The original CH563WN is rated about 430 pages; the refreshed C0PA4AN is rated about 360. Check the part number, not just the name.
Can I use remanufactured HP 61XL cartridges?
Yes. The DeskJet 2542 is not an HP+ printer, and we have not found it on any list of HP dynamic-security models. Our remanufactured 61XL cartridges reuse original HP shells and keep the original HP chip.
My printer ran out of ink almost immediately — is it faulty?
Probably not. These printers shipped with setup cartridges that hold noticeably less than a retail HP 61.
Other printers that use HP 61
HP Envy 4500 · HP OfficeJet 4630 · HP DeskJet 3050 · HP ENVY 4502 · HP ENVY 4501 · HP DeskJet 1000 · HP OfficeJet 4635 · HP Envy 5530
More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · 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 8, 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.