What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet 6950 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet 6950 uses four individual HP 902 cartridges: Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. The high-yield HP 902XL cartridges fit the same slots and print roughly two and a half times as many pages. For heavy black-and-white printing, the extra-high-yield HP 906XL black also fits the 6950 and lasts around 1,500 pages.
HP OfficeJet 6950 Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| HP 902 Black (standard) | T6L98AN | ~300 pages |
| HP 902 Cyan (standard) | T6L86AN | ~315 pages |
| HP 902 Magenta (standard) | T6L90AN | ~315 pages |
| HP 902 Yellow (standard) | T6L94AN | ~315 pages |
| HP 902XL Black (high-yield) | T6M14AN | ~825 pages |
| HP 902XL Cyan, Magenta, Yellow (high-yield) | T6M02AN / T6M06AN / T6M10AN | ~825 pages each |
| HP 906XL Black (extra-high-yield) | T6M18AN | ~1,500 pages |
The same cartridges fit the rest of the OfficeJet 6950 family (6951, 6954, 6958) and the OfficeJet Pro 6960 and 6970 series, including the HP OfficeJet 6978. HP 902 does not fit OfficeJet Pro 8710, 8720 or 9010 printers, which take HP 952/954/962.
The 6950 uses a separate, permanent printhead that sits in the printer. HP 902 cartridges are ink tanks only, which is one reason they're cheaper to replace than cartridges with a printhead built in.
Save on HP 902XL Ink for the OfficeJet 6950
The 902XL 4-pack is the easiest way to cut your cost per page on the 6950. Castle Ink's remanufactured HP 902XL BCMY 4-pack covers all four colors, and orders over $50 ship free in the U.S. If one color keeps running out first, buy it on its own: 902XL Black, 902XL Cyan, 902XL Magenta or 902XL Yellow. For mostly text documents, the HP 906XL Black goes the furthest.
Shop the HP 902XL Black + CMY 4-Pack →
One thing to know before switching from HP-brand ink: some HP firmware updates block cartridges with older third-party chips. Our guide on how to stop HP firmware updates from blocking your ink shows how to turn automatic updates off. Wondering whether XL is worth it? Here's standard vs. XL with real numbers.
How to Replace Ink in the HP OfficeJet 6950
- Turn the printer on and open the ink cartridge access door on the front. Wait for the carriage to move to the center and stop.
- Press the front of the cartridge you're replacing to release it, then pull it straight out.
- Take the new cartridge out of its packaging and remove any orange tape. Don't touch the copper contacts.
- Slide it into the slot with the matching color dot and push until it clicks.
- Close the access door. The printer may ask you to print an alignment page. It's worth doing after a full set change.
Troubleshooting Tips
"Cartridge problem" or "missing or damaged cartridge": Take the cartridge out, check that all the tape is off, wipe the contacts with a lint-free cloth and reinstall it. If it still isn't recognized, see printer says ink cartridge not recognized.
Streaks or missing lines: Run "Clean Printhead" from the printer's Tools menu or the HP Smart app, then print a quality report. One or two cycles are usually enough. Running more just burns ink. See faded or streaky prints for the full checklist.
Ink running low faster than expected: The 6950 uses a little ink every time it services the printhead. Leaving it on in sleep mode, instead of unplugging it, keeps those servicing cycles to a minimum.
Official HP Resources
Bottom Line
The HP OfficeJet 6950 takes HP 902 or 902XL in four colors, plus the 906XL black if you print a lot of text. Buy XL, replace only the color that runs out, and keep automatic firmware updates off if you use compatible or remanufactured cartridges.
Written and reviewed by William Elward — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix HP 902 and 902XL cartridges in the OfficeJet 6950?
Yes. Standard and XL cartridges use the same slots, so you can mix them freely, for example an XL black with standard colors.
Does the HP 906XL fit the OfficeJet 6950?
Yes. The 906XL is a higher-capacity black made for the 6950 and OfficeJet Pro 6960/6970 series. There is no 906 color cartridge, so colors stay 902 or 902XL.
Will HP 952 or HP 962 cartridges work in the OfficeJet 6950?
No. Those are for the OfficeJet Pro 8710/8720 and 9010/9020 series. The shapes and chips are different.
Does using remanufactured ink void my HP warranty?
No. Under the U.S. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, HP can't void your printer warranty just because you used third-party cartridges. Damage caused by a specific cartridge wouldn't be covered, but the rest of the warranty still applies.
How are page yields measured?
They're approximate figures based on HP's ISO/IEC 24711 testing. Your real results depend on what you print and how much color is on each page.
Shop Compatible Ink at Castle Ink
Find the right cartridge for the HP OfficeJet 6950 and every other printer we cover on the Find Ink by Printer page, or work through a fault at our printer troubleshooting center.
See also: what ink the HP OfficeJet 6978 uses | printer printing the wrong colors | printer ink cost calculator
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