What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 251dw Use?

by William Elward Last Updated: November 6, 2026

Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet Pro 251dw uses HP 950 black and HP 951 cyan, magenta and yellow, or the high-yield 950XL / 951XL. Castle Ink sells a remanufactured 950XL/951XL 4-pack with the original HP chip and singles: 950XL Black, 951XL Cyan, 951XL Magenta and 951XL Yellow.

CastleScore · November 2026

69/100 — Situational

HP OfficeJet Pro 251dw

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%)	90	About 0.8¢ per black page and 1.1¢ per color cartridge-page with our remanufactured 950XL (2,300 pages) and 951XL (1,500 pages).
Reliability (13%)	74	Owners of this generation report printhead and 'cartridge problem' errors, especially after firmware updates.
Features (12%)	58	Color print only, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, Ethernet. No scanner.
Value (5%)	—	Not scored without owner ratings

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.

Older model. This printer is no longer a current model, but its HP 950 and HP 951 cartridges are still widely sold, including our remanufactured versions.

CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked November 6, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 251dw Take?

Cartridge	HP part no.	Approx. yield	Castle Ink option
950XL Black	CN045AN	~2,300 pages	Remanufactured, $17.95
951XL Cyan	CN046AN	~1,500 pages	Remanufactured, $15.95
951XL Magenta	CN047AN	~1,500 pages	Remanufactured, $15.95
951XL Yellow	CN048AN	~1,500 pages	Remanufactured, $15.95
950XL + 951XL 4-pack (original HP chip)	CN045AN–CN048AN	One of each	Remanufactured, $59.95

Yields are HP's figures. Standard 950 (about 1,000 pages) and 951 (about 700) fit too. Our cartridges are genuine HP shells, cleaned, refilled and print-tested.

What Does OfficeJet Pro 251dw Ink Cost per Page?

About 0.8¢ per black page and 1.1¢ per color cartridge-page with our remanufactured XL cartridges.

Original HP Chip or Aftermarket Chip?

HP's dynamic security can block cartridges with non-HP chips after a firmware update. Our 950XL/951XL 4-pack comes with the original HP chip, which is the safest choice if your printer updates itself. If you use aftermarket-chip cartridges, turn off automatic firmware updates first.

How Do I Replace the Ink in the OfficeJet Pro 251dw?

Turn the printer on and open the cartridge access door.
Wait for the carriage to stop.
Press the front of the empty cartridge to release it and pull it out.
Unwrap the new cartridge and push it into the matching color slot until it clicks.
Close the door.

Which Other Printers Use HP 950 and 951?

The OfficeJet Pro 276dw, 8100, 8600, 8610 and 8620.

What OfficeJet Pro 251dw owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, support forums and owner reviews, answered in our words.

Does the 251dw scan?

No. It's print-only; the OfficeJet Pro 276dw is the multifunction version with the same ink.

Why does it say "Cartridge Problem"?

Reseat the cartridge, check the protective tape is off, and check whether a firmware update has blocked an aftermarket chip.

Frequently Asked Questions