What Ink Does the HP DeskJet 6988 Use?

by Lauren Elward Last Updated: October 24, 2026

Quick answer: The HP DeskJet 6988 uses two cartridges: an HP 96 black and an HP 97 tri-color. For photos you can swap the black for an HP 99 photo or HP 100 gray photo cartridge. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured HP 96 Black, HP 97 Tri-color, HP 99 Photo, HP 100 Gray Photo and a 96 + 97 combo pack.

It shares these cartridges with the DeskJet 6940 and DeskJet 6540. The 6988dt and 6988xi are retail versions of the same printer and take the same ink. Some sellers also list the HP 95 tri-color for the 6988, but HP's own feature sheet lists only the 96, 97, 99 and 100, so stick with those.

CastleScore · October 2026

69/100 — Situational

HP DeskJet 6988

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%)	94	About 1.8¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured HP 96 black (860 pages) and HP 97 tri-color (560 pages). Photo printing with the HP 99 (about 130 pages) or HP 100 gray costs more.
Reliability (13%)	84	Most-reported problems: we found few owner reports for this model; seller guides cover cartridges not being recognized and print head cleaning; some remanufactured cartridges leak when first opened
Features (12%)	46	Print only, with built-in Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB and a front PictBridge port. Auto two-sided printing and a 250-sheet second tray are optional on the 6988 and included on the 6988dt. No scanner, no display, no memory card slots, no fax.
Value (5%)	78	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.

Older model. HP announced the DeskJet 6988 on August 28, 2007, at an estimated $129, or $179 for the 6988dt. We couldn't find an HP status page for it. In October 2026, original HP 96 and 97 cartridges were out of stock at the resellers we checked.

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 24, 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.

What Ink Cartridges Does the HP DeskJet 6988 Take?

Cartridge	HP part no.	Approx. yield	Castle Ink option
HP 96 Black	C8767WN	~860 pages	Remanufactured HP 96 Black
HP 97 Tri-color	C9363WN	~560 pages	Remanufactured HP 97 Tri-color
HP 99 Photo (optional)	C9369WN	~130 photos	Remanufactured HP 99 Photo
HP 100 Gray Photo (optional)	C9368AN	See note	Remanufactured HP 100 Gray Photo
HP 96 + 97 combo	C9353FN	~860 / 560 pages	Remanufactured 96 + 97 combo

Yields are seller-listed figures; we didn't find them on an HP page. Sellers disagree on the HP 100's yield, with figures from about 80 to 115 photos. The photo cartridges go in the black slot, so you swap them in and out by hand.

Is the HP 96 + 97 Combo Worth It?

Not from us: our two singles are a cent cheaper. On October 24, 2026, tonerbuzz listed HP's 96 black at $60.66 (about 7.1¢ a page) and the 97 tri-color at $87.07 (about 15.5¢ a page), with HP's 96 + 97 combo at $132.08, all out of stock. Inktechnologies had the 97 at $91.95, also out of stock. Our remanufactured HP 96 black and HP 97 tri-color are $12.95 each, about 1.5¢ and 2.3¢ a page. That's $25.90 for the pair, against $25.99 for our combo pack. Our HP 99 photo is $12.95 and the HP 100 gray photo $23.95.

How Do I Replace the Ink in the HP DeskJet 6988?

Turn the printer on and open the top cover.
Wait for the print carriage to stop moving.
Lift the cartridge latch and take out the old cartridge.
Pull the protective tape off the new cartridge, holding it by the black plastic and not the copper contacts, and slide it into the cradle.
Close the latch and the cover, then let the printer print an alignment page if it asks.

Which Other Printers Use HP 96 and 97?

The DeskJet 6988dt and 6988xi, the DeskJet 6940 and 6940dt, and the DeskJet 6540 and 6543. Other HP printers of the same era take HP 96 and 97 too, but some take only one of the two black sizes, so check your model's own list.

What DeskJet 6988 owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer in HP's feature sheet, launch coverage and ink seller listings, answered in our words.

Does the 6988 print on both sides automatically?

Only with HP's optional Q5712A two-sided printing accessory. The 6988dt comes with it, along with a second 250-sheet tray.

Does it have Wi-Fi?

Yes. It has built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, plus Ethernet and USB 2.0. Bluetooth needs HP's optional bt450 adapter.

What is the HP 99 photo cartridge for?

Six-ink photo printing. Take out the HP 96 black, put an HP 99 photo (or HP 100 gray photo) in its place and keep the 97 tri-color installed.

Can I print photos from a camera without a computer?

Yes, through the PictBridge USB port on the front. There are no memory card slots.

DeskJet 6988 quirks worth knowing

HP rated it at up to 36 pages a minute in black and 27 in color in Fast Draft, and 9.6 pages a minute in black in Normal mode. It predates ISO speed ratings.
The input tray holds 150 sheets, with 50 in the output tray. HP's optional 250-sheet tray brings it to 400.
It has an automatic media sensor and prints at up to 4800 optimized dpi. It weighs 13.8 pounds, or 19.5 for the 6988dt.
CompAndSave warns its remanufactured cartridges may be overfilled and suggests opening them over a sink. It's a sensible habit with any refilled cartridge.

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