What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet 5252 Use?

Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet 5252 uses HP 63 (standard) or HP 63XL (high-yield) black and tri-color ink cartridges. The XL versions are the only ones that make financial sense. Castle Ink stocks compatible and remanufactured HP 63XL with free U.S. shipping and a one-year guarantee.

The OfficeJet 5252 is a compact home all-in-one that HP sold heavily as an Instant Ink bundle. It uses the same cartridges as the rest of the HP 63 family.

HP OfficeJet 5252 Ink Cartridges at a Glance

One thing to know about tri-color cartridges: cyan, magenta and yellow share a single housing. When any one color runs out the whole cartridge is finished, even with ink left in the other two. It is the main reason cost per page on this class of printer looks worse than the sticker price suggests.

Important: HP Has Merged HP 63 and HP 65

HP has consolidated the HP 63 and HP 65 lines into a single HP 63/65 cartridge. HP's own wording is "HP 63 and HP 65 Ink Cartridges are now one cartridge: HP 63/65. Same printer compatibility." No firmware or hardware change is needed.

There is a catch for HP 63 owners. The new HP 63/65XL black (B7RT5AN) is rated at 300 pages, while the legacy HP 63XL black (F6U64AN) was rated at 430 pages. The new tri-color (B7RT2AN) is rated 100 pages against the legacy 63XL tri-color's 300. If you print more than occasionally, it is worth buying legacy 63XL stock while it is still available.

HP has also quietly revised the published yields on this family downward. You may see 480 and 330 pages quoted for 63XL on older packaging and reseller sites; HP's current figures are 430 and 300. We list HP's current numbers here.

Is the OfficeJet 5252 Discontinued?

Yes, HP has discontinued it and names no successor. Cartridges are still easy to find.

If You Cancel Instant Ink, Read This First

The 5252 was often sold with Instant Ink included, and a lot of owners do not realise that Instant Ink cartridges stop working when the subscription ends. Those cartridges belong to the service, not to you. If you are planning to cancel, buy retail or compatible HP 63XL cartridges before the subscription lapses, or you will have a printer you cannot use.

Save on Ink at Castle Ink

Castle Ink carries HP 63XL for the OfficeJet 5252:

• HP 63XL Ink Cartridge Set – 1 Black + 1 Tri-Color — $45.95
• Remanufactured HP 63XL (F6U64AN) Black — $18.99
• Remanufactured HP 63XL (F6U63AN) Tri-Color — $19.99
• Remanufactured HP 63XL (F6U64AN) Black MICR — $40.99

All Castle Ink orders ship free in the U.S. and are backed by a one-year quality guarantee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ink does the HP OfficeJet 5252 use?
HP 63 or HP 63XL, in black and tri-color. HP now also sells these as the combined HP 63/65 line.

Is HP 63 or 63XL better?
63XL, comfortably. The standard black holds about 170 pages against roughly 430 for the XL, at nowhere near two and a half times the price.

What is the difference between HP 63XL and HP 63/65XL?
HP merged the 63 and 65 lines into one cartridge. The new 63/65XL black is rated 300 pages, where the legacy 63XL black was rated 430. Same printer compatibility, lower yield.

Can I use compatible HP 63XL cartridges?
Yes. This is not an HP+ printer, so compatible and remanufactured HP 63XL cartridges work normally.

Why does my color cartridge run out when only one color is empty?
Cyan, magenta and yellow share one housing. When any single color is exhausted the cartridge stops, even with ink left in the other two.

See Also

• Find Ink by Printer Model
• Best Printers: Top Picks for Every Use Case and Budget
• PrinterIQ Finder — find your next printer in about 60 seconds

By William Elward, Founder of Castle Ink — 20+ years helping people solve printer and ink problems. Last updated August 23, 2026.