What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet 3830 Use?

Last updated: August 21, 2026.

Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet 3830 uses HP 63 Black and HP 63 Tri-color ink cartridges, or the high-yield HP 63XL versions for a much better cost-per-page.

HP OfficeJet 3830 Ink Cartridges at a Glance

• HP 63 Black — ~190 pages
• HP 63 Tri-color — ~165 pages
• HP 63XL Black (high-yield) — ~480 pages
• HP 63XL Tri-color (high-yield) — ~330 pages

The HP OfficeJet 3830 is an entry-level wireless all-in-one popular with home offices. It uses two cartridges total — one Black and one Tri-Color. The XL high-yield versions deliver more than double the page yield for only a small price bump.

Standard 63 vs. 63XL: Which Should You Buy?

If you only print occasionally, the standard HP 63 cartridges work fine. But if you print more than 20 pages a week, the XL versions almost always win on cost-per-page. Need a deeper breakdown? See our HP 63 vs HP 63XL comparison.

Save on HP OfficeJet 3830 Ink with Compatible Cartridges

Genuine HP 63XL ink can run $40+ per cartridge at retail. Castle Ink's HP 63XL Compatible Ink Cartridge Set matches OEM print quality at a fraction of the price — every cartridge ships same-day from the U.S. and is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.

How to Replace Ink in the HP OfficeJet 3830

1. Power on the printer and open the cartridge access door.
2. Wait for the carriage to slide to the center and stop.
3. Press down on the empty cartridge to release it, then pull it out.
4. Unwrap the new cartridge and remove the plastic protective tape — don't touch the gold contacts.
5. Slide the new cartridge in at a slight upward angle and push until it clicks. Black goes in the right slot; Tri-color goes in the left.
6. Close the cartridge door and let the printer run alignment.

Troubleshooting Tips

• "Cartridge problem" error: Wipe the gold chip with a lint-free cloth and reseat the cartridge.
• Blank or streaky pages: Run print head cleaning from the printer's Tools menu.
• "Used or counterfeit cartridge" warning: Tap "OK" — this notice doesn't block printing.

Official HP OfficeJet 3830 Resources

For drivers and the user manual, visit the official HP OfficeJet 3830 support page.

HP 63 vs 63XL at a Glance

The black cartridge gets the bigger XL uplift — two and a half times the pages against double for colour — so if you print mostly documents, an XL black paired with a standard tri-colour is a perfectly sensible combination. The printer does not mind mixing sizes.

Other Printers That Use HP 63

HP 63 is one of HP’s most widely shared cartridges, which is worth knowing if you own more than one HP — you may be able to keep a single spare that covers all of them.

• OfficeJet: 3830, 3831, 3832, 3834, 4650, 4652, 4654, 4655, 5252, 5255, 5258, 5260
• DeskJet: 1110, 1112, 2130, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2136, 3630, 3631, 3632, 3633, 3634, 3635, 3636, 3637, 3638
• ENVY: 4511, 4512, 4516, 4520, 4522, 4523, 4524, 4525, 4526, 4527, 4528

Two Things That Catch OfficeJet 3830 Owners Out

The cartridges in the box are setup cartridges. They hold less ink than retail ones and exist to prime the system on first use. Your first replacement will therefore come round sooner than the yield figures suggest — that is normal, not a fault or a sign you got a bad printer.

This printer is Instant Ink eligible, and that choice has consequences. If you enrol, cartridges arrive by subscription and the printer expects Instant Ink cartridges; if you later cancel, those subscription cartridges stop working and you go back to buying retail or compatible HP 63. It is worth deciding deliberately rather than clicking through the setup prompts, because the enrolled and unenrolled paths lead to different cartridges.

Common Messages and What They Mean

"Cartridge problem" or "cartridge not recognised." Nearly always the contacts. Remove the cartridge, check the protective tape is fully off, wipe the copper contacts with a dry lint-free cloth, and reseat until it clicks.

"Non-HP chip detected." Informational, not a fault. Acknowledge it and the printer carries on. Worth knowing that HP firmware updates have occasionally changed which third-party cartridges are accepted, so if a cartridge that worked stops working for no visible reason, that is usually why — you can set firmware updates to notify rather than install automatically in the printer’s settings.

Low-ink warnings that arrive very early. The 3830 estimates rather than measures ink level, and it errs on the cautious side. Keep printing until quality actually drops.

FAQ

What ink does the HP OfficeJet 3830 use?

HP 63 black and HP 63 tri-colour, or the high-yield HP 63XL versions of each. All four fit the same printer.

Can I put 63XL in an OfficeJet 3830?

Yes. The XL is physically identical and simply holds more ink. There is no setting to change.

Will it print with just the black cartridge?

No. Both cartridges must be installed for the printer to print anything, including black-and-white documents.

Is HP 63 the same as HP 64 or HP 65?

No, and they are not interchangeable. HP 64 and 65 are different cartridge families for different printer ranges, despite the similar numbering. Check the number on the cartridge you are replacing.

Why does my new cartridge show as empty?

Ink-level reporting reads the cartridge chip rather than the ink, so it is often inaccurate on refilled or compatible cartridges. Judge by print quality instead.

Bottom Line

The HP OfficeJet 3830 takes HP 63 and HP 63XL Black and Tri-color ink cartridges. Choose the XL versions and pick up Castle Ink's compatible 2-pack to keep your office printing costs down.