What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet 6950 Use?
Last Updated:Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said the HP 906XL black cartridge fits the OfficeJet 6950. We could not confirm that. Retailer compatibility lists for the 906XL name the OfficeJet 6962 and OfficeJet Pro 6960/6970 models but not the 6950, so we have removed the claim.
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 are rated for about 750 pages each, against about 300 pages for the standard black and 315 for each standard color. The 6950 is an HP dynamic-security printer, so use cartridges with an HP chip. Our remanufactured 902XL black, cyan, magenta and yellow keep the original HP chip, and U.S. orders over $50 ship free.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP OfficeJet 6950
| 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%) | 77 | About 4.2¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 902XL (about 750 pages each). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip. |
| Reliability (13%) | 86 | Most-reported problems: printhead failure: 'There is a problem with the print head' persists after resets. HP treats it as a hardware issue needing service, since the printhead isn't user-removable. Another owner needed 2-3 cleanings per job and was told the head was defective at 9 months; 'Printer failure' error 0x6100004a asking the owner to clear a paper jam that isn't there |
| Features (12%) | 83 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | — | 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.
Discontinued. HP's OfficeJet 6950 product page is marked discontinued and names no successor; HP support suggests the OfficeJet Pro 8125 as a comparable printer. HP 902 cartridges are still sold.
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 8, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 902XL BlackT6M14AN · OEM chip · ~750 pages
HP 902XL CyanT6M02AN · OEM chip · ~750 pages
HP 902XL MagentaT6M06AN · OEM chip · ~750 pages
HP 902XL YellowT6M10AN · OEM chip · ~750 pages
HP 902XL Black
HP 902XL Cyan
HP 902XL Magenta
HP 902XL YellowOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
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 | ~750 pages |
| HP 902XL Cyan, Magenta, Yellow (high-yield) | T6M02AN / T6M06AN / T6M10AN | ~750 pages each |
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.
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 a printhead cleaning from the printer's control panel 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.
What OfficeJet 6950 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.
Can I turn off dynamic security so cartridges with non-HP chips work?
Only on printers built before December 1, 2016. HP's firmware update disables dynamic security on those units and keeps it on later ones, so turning off automatic updates doesn't remove the check on a newer 6950. Cartridges that keep the original HP chip, like our remanufactured 902XL, avoid the problem.
Is the 902XL good for 825 pages or 750?
HP now rates the 902XL black at about 750 pages, and Staples lists the 902XL colors at 750 too. The 825 figure comes from older listings.
Will HP 903 or 905 cartridges bought abroad work in a U.S. 6950?
Plan on buying 902. The same printer takes HP 903 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and HP 905 in Asia-Pacific, but the U.S. model is specified for HP 902 and 902XL.
It says "There is a problem with the print head" and resets don't help. Can I replace the printhead myself?
Not easily. In the HP Community case, the printhead had no user release latch, and after power-cycle resets failed HP's agent called it a hardware fault and referred the owner to HP service.
Can the document feeder scan both sides, and can I plug it into Ethernet?
No to both. The 35-sheet feeder handles one-sided originals only, and the printer connects over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or USB, with no Ethernet port.
OfficeJet 6950 quirks worth knowing
- HP's own datasheet calls the 6950 a dynamic security enabled printer, intended only for cartridges with an HP chip, and warns that non-HP-chip cartridges that work today may not work in the future. Our single 902XL cartridges reuse the original HP chip.
- Owners of 902-series printers also report a firmware message rejecting cartridges as an "older generation". In one OfficeJet Pro 6968 case, HP replaced the cartridges as a one-time exception.
- The setup cartridges in the box print about 265 black and 310 color pages, according to HP's datasheet. HP recommends 200–800 pages a month, far below its 15,000-page duty cycle.
- Color is much slower than black: Expert Reviews measured 14.6 pages a minute in black and 4.4 in color.
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?
We can't confirm it does. The 906XL black (T6M18AN, about 1,500 pages) is listed for the OfficeJet 6962 and OfficeJet Pro 6960/6970 models, but the retailer compatibility lists we checked leave out the 6950, and the cartridge now shows as backordered or discontinued. Stick with 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.
Other printers that use HP 902
HP OfficeJet 6978 · HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 · HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 · HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 · HP OfficeJet 6958 · HP OfficeJet Pro 6960 · HP OfficeJet Pro 6975
More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
- HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw (laser) — CastleScore 82
- HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e — CastleScore 79
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 8, 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.