What Ink Does the HP DeskJet 3520 Use?

by Last Updated:

Correction: an earlier version of this article said the DeskJet 3520 uses five cartridges, including photo black. It uses four: HP 564 black, cyan, magenta, and yellow.

CastleScore · October 2026

80/100 — Highly Recommended

HP DeskJet 3520

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 76 3.90★ average across 534 ratings at Amazon (3.9)
Expert reviews (18%) — No published numeric expert score we could verify.
Cost per page (24%) 90 About 2.7¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 564XL (550 black / 750 color pages).
Reliability (13%) 83 Most-reported problems: black stops printing after a cartridge change even with new 564XL and repeated Clean Printhead cycles; printhead clogs and failures; system error codes reported by owners
Features (12%) 64 Print, copy, scan, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no fax, no touchscreen.
Value (5%) 83 Running cost and owner satisfaction

Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.

No longer sold new. HP introduced the DeskJet 3520 in 2012 and we found no current retail listings. HP 564 cartridges are still easy to find.

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 11, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

The cartridges, pictured

Our own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.

Quick answer: what ink does the HP DeskJet 3520 use?

The HP DeskJet 3520 uses four individual HP 564 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. High-yield HP 564XL cartridges fit the same slots, and you replace only the color that runs out. The print head is built into the printer, not the cartridges.

HP DeskJet 3520 ink chart: HP 564/564XL cartridges, yields, and printers that use the same ink
HP 564/564XL cartridges for the HP DeskJet 3520, and the printers that share them.

Cartridge options at a glance

Cartridge Part number Approx. yield*
HP 564 black CB316WN ~250 pages
HP 564 cyan / magenta / yellow CB318WN / CB319WN / CB320WN ~300 pages each
HP 564XL black CN684WN ~550 pages
HP 564XL cyan / magenta / yellow CB323WN / CB324WN / CB325WN ~750 pages each

*Approximate HP-rated yields based on ISO/IEC test pages. Real-world results depend on coverage and how often the printer runs cleaning or calibration cycles.

Common questions about HP DeskJet 3520 ink

Should I buy HP 564 or 564XL?

564XL. The XL black is rated for about 550 pages versus 250, and the XL colors about 750 versus 300, so the cost per page drops by more than half. See Is XL ink actually worth it? Standard vs. XL with real numbers.

Can I mix standard and high-yield cartridges?

Yes. Each cartridge is read separately, so any mix of standard and high-yield sizes works.

What other printers use HP 564/564XL?

The same cartridges fit the Photosmart B110, Photosmart 5520, Photosmart 6510, Photosmart 6520, Photosmart 7510, Photosmart 7520, OfficeJet 4620, DeskJet 3070A, and Photosmart B109, B209, and B210. If you own more than one, a single stock covers them all.

Will other HP cartridges fit the DeskJet 3520?

No. HP 364 is the same shape but is sold outside North America and is region-coded, so it won't work in a U.S. printer. HP 920 (OfficeJet 6500) and HP 60/61 are different sizes. Always match the number on your current cartridge.

Are compatible or remanufactured cartridges safe for the DeskJet 3520?

Yes. The 3520 dates from 2012, before HP introduced dynamic security, and we found no reports of it locking out non-HP cartridges. It may show a used or non-HP cartridge message; choose OK or Continue. Our 564XL cartridges are remanufactured from original HP shells, and using non-HP ink doesn't void your warranty under U.S. law. More: How to stop HP firmware updates from blocking your ink, Compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM ink and toner, and Does compatible ink void your printer warranty?.

How do I replace the ink in the DeskJet 3520?

Turn the printer on and open the cartridge access door; wait for the carriage to stop. Press the tab on the empty cartridge and pull it out. Unwrap the new cartridge, pull off the orange tab or cap (don't touch the copper contacts), and slide it into its color-coded slot until it clicks. Close the door; the printer may print an alignment page. Step by step: How to change the ink in an HP printer.

Why does the DeskJet 3520 say a cartridge is missing, damaged, or incompatible?

Reseat the cartridge until it clicks, make sure all protective tape is off, and wipe the copper contacts with a dry lint-free cloth. Power the printer off for a minute. If it only rejects third-party cartridges after an update, the firmware is the cause. More fixes: How to fix an “incompatible cartridge” message on an HP printer and Printer says ink cartridge not recognized: how to fix it.

Does the DeskJet 3520 use a photo black cartridge?

No. It has four slots: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow.

Does the DeskJet 3520 print double-sided?

Yes. It supports automatic two-sided printing and wireless printing with HP ePrint.

DeskJet 3520 key facts

  • Type: wireless e-All-in-One (print, scan, copy); flatbed scanner, no document feeder, no fax
  • Duplex: automatic two-sided printing
  • Ink: 4 individual HP 564 cartridges (black, cyan, magenta, yellow)
  • Photo black: not used

What DeskJet 3520 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.

The printer says a cartridge is low. Should I replace it now?

Not yet. HP says ink-level warnings are estimates. Keep a spare on hand and change the cartridge when print quality is no longer acceptable.

Prints are streaky right after I put in new cartridges.

HP says shipping or rough handling can cause this. Leave the printer on for a few hours so its automatic servicing can finish, then print again.

Is it OK to switch the printer off at the wall?

HP says no. Always turn it off with the Power button, and never leave a cartridge slot empty, or you risk damaging the printhead and ink system.

Black stopped printing after I changed the cartridge. Is the printhead dead?

Owners on HP's forum suggest running Clean Printhead several times on plain paper. If black still doesn't print with a new cartridge, the printhead built into the printer is probably failing.

DeskJet 3520 quirks worth knowing

  • The 564 cartridges have a twist-off orange cap. HP says to pull off the orange tab and plastic wrap completely before twisting off the cap. A small tear in the label is normal; it lets the cartridge vent.
  • The printhead is not sold as a user part. Owners on HP's forum have removed it by hand (it is held by springs and three ribbon cables), but if the encoder strip isn't put back in its sensor, the printer reports a carriage jam.
  • HP introduced the 3520 in July 2012. It is one of the few entry-level HP 564 printers with automatic two-sided printing. Scanning is flatbed only, with no document feeder and no fax.
  • HP sold the 564XL color cartridges under two sets of part numbers: CB323WN, CB324WN and CB325WN, and later CN685WN, CN686WN and CN687WN. Both fit.

Other printers that use HP 564

HP Photosmart 7520 · HP Photosmart 5520 · HP Photosmart 7510 · HP Photosmart 6510 · HP OfficeJet 4620 · HP Photosmart 6520 · HP Photosmart B110

More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on October 11, 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.

Written and reviewed by — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.

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