What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet 5252 Use?

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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. We sell remanufactured HP 63XL cartridges that keep the original HP chip.

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.

2026 change: HP has merged HP 63 and HP 65 into a single HP 63/65 cartridge line. HP says the new cartridges have the same printer compatibility, and retailers list the OfficeJet 5252, but they are rated for fewer pages: about 100 for the new tri-color and 300 for the new high-yield black. Older HP 63 cartridges still work in the 5252.

CastleScore · October 2026

78/100 — Recommended

HP OfficeJet 5252

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) — No retailer rating with enough reviews to use.
Expert reviews (18%) 80 PCMag (5255) 4.0/5
Cost per page (24%) 73 About 5.3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 63XL (430 / 300 pages). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip.
Reliability (13%) 84 Most-reported problems: 'Ink Cartridge Problem' / 'Cartridge Failure' errors after installing new 63XL cartridges, even after cleaning contacts; persistent 'Carriage Jam' errors with no paper present on 5200-series units, often ending in a repair recommendation
Features (12%) 78 Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi. No touchscreen.
Value (5%) — Running cost and owner satisfaction

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

Discontinued. HP no longer sells the OfficeJet 5252 new and names no direct successor. For the related OfficeJet 5255, HP points to the ENVY Pro 6455.

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 9, 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.

HP OfficeJet 5252 Ink Cartridges at a Glance

Cartridge Color Approx. Yield
HP 63 (F6U62AN) Black ~170 pages
HP 63 (F6U61AN) Tri-Color ~150 pages
HP 63XL (F6U64AN) Black ~430 pages
HP 63XL (F6U63AN) Tri-Color ~300 pages
HP 63/65XL (B7RT5AN) — new line Black ~300 pages
HP 63/65 (B7RT2AN) — new line Tri-Color ~100 pages

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 says HP 63 and HP 65 are now one cartridge, HP 63/65, with the same printer compatibility. Older HP 63 cartridges still work.

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 direct successor. On its page for the closely related OfficeJet 5255, HP points shoppers to the ENVY Pro 6455. 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 remanufactured HP 63XL cartridges before the subscription lapses, or you will have a printer you cannot use.

What OfficeJet 5252 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 HP 63/65 cartridges work in my 5252?

Yes. Staples lists the OfficeJet 5252 as compatible with the HP 63/65 tri-color (B7RT2AN), and HP says the merged line has the same printer compatibility as HP 63.

Can the 5252 block non-HP cartridges even though it is not an HP+ model?

Yes. The OfficeJet 5200 series uses HP dynamic security, which blocks cartridges with modified or non-HP chips, and HP warns that firmware updates can stop cartridges that worked before. Cartridges that reuse the original HP chip, like our remanufactured 63XL, are the safer choice.

My new 63XL cartridges show "Ink Cartridge Problem". What should I try?

HP's suggested check is to put the old cartridges back in. If the error clears, the new cartridges are likely faulty, so return or replace them.

It says "Carriage Jam" but there is no paper inside.

This is a known complaint on the 5200 series. Owners on HP's forum report it persisting with nothing visibly stuck, and those threads often end with HP recommending a repair. It is not an ink problem.

Does it scan multi-page documents and print double-sided?

Yes. The OfficeJet 5200 series has a 35-page document feeder and automatic two-sided printing, and it can fax.

OfficeJet 5252 quirks worth knowing

  • The 5252 is a retail version of HP's OfficeJet 5200 series. HP documents most of its specs under the OfficeJet 5255, which takes the same HP 63 cartridges.
  • The new HP 63/65 line has no high-yield tri-color. If you print much color, the legacy 63XL tri-color (about 300 pages) is the better buy while stock lasts.
  • Current listings rate HP 63 black at about 170 pages and 63XL black at about 430. Older packaging shows 190 and 480 pages for the same cartridges.
  • HP lists dual-band Wi-Fi for the 5200 series, and rates it at 10 ISO pages per minute in black and 7 in color.

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.

Other printers that use HP 63

HP Envy 4520 · HP OfficeJet 4650 · HP OfficeJet 5255 · HP DeskJet 3630 · HP DeskJet 1112 · HP OfficeJet 3833 · HP OfficeJet 5258 · HP OfficeJet 4655

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 9, 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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