What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 6960 Use?

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Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet Pro 6960 uses HP 902 (standard) or HP 902XL (high-yield) ink in four separate cartridges — black, cyan, magenta and yellow. For heavy black printing, the extra-high-yield HP 906XL black (about 1,500 pages) also fits. We sell remanufactured 902XL and 906XL cartridges that keep the original HP chip.

The OfficeJet Pro 6960 is a home-office all-in-one with duplex printing, a document feeder and fax. HP has discontinued it. On the page for the near-identical OfficeJet Pro 6968, HP points buyers to the OfficeJet Pro 8025e. HP 902 cartridges are still easy to find.

CastleScore · October 2026

69/100 — Situational

HP OfficeJet Pro 6960

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat 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%) 80 About 3.5¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 906XL black (1,500 pages) and 902XL colors (about 750 pages). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip.
Reliability (13%) 89 Most-reported problems: fatal 'printhead missing or not detected' errors on HP OfficeJet Pro inkjets
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 no longer sells the 6960 and, on its page for the sibling 6968, points buyers to the OfficeJet Pro 8025e. HP 902, 902XL and 906XL 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 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 Pro 6960 Ink Cartridges at a Glance

Cartridge Color Approx. Yield
HP 902 (T6L98AN) Black ~300 pages
HP 902 (T6L86AN / T6L90AN / T6L94AN) Cyan / Magenta / Yellow ~315 pages each
HP 902XL (T6M14AN) Black up to 750 pages
HP 902XL (T6M02AN / T6M06AN / T6M10AN) Cyan / Magenta / Yellow up to 750 pages each
HP 906XL (T6M18AN) Black only (extra high yield) ~1,500 pages

Individual Colors Are a Real Advantage

Unlike HP's budget DeskJet and ENVY models, this printer uses four separate cartridges. You replace only the color that runs out, with no tri-color waste. It is the main reason cost per page on the OfficeJet Pro line is so much better than on the home models.

A Note on Published Yields

You will still see 825 pages quoted for HP 902XL black on older packaging and many reseller sites. HP's own current figure is 750 pages. We list HP's current numbers here.

The Printhead Is Built Into the Printer

Worth knowing before you stock up on ink: on this generation the printhead is part of the printer, not part of the cartridge. If the printhead fails on a discontinued machine like this one, that is usually the end of the printer. Two practical consequences: do not leave the printer unused for long stretches, and think twice before buying a large ink stock for an ageing unit.

New Chip or OEM Chip?

Castle Ink lists remanufactured 902XL singles in both "New Chip" and "OEM Chip" versions. For this printer we recommend the OEM Chip versions, which reuse the original HP chip and are the more reliable choice against HP's firmware updates. Our OEM Chip versions: 902XL black, cyan, magenta, yellow and the 906XL black. Our 902XL multipacks use new chips, so on this printer we suggest the singles.

What OfficeJet Pro 6960 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.

My 6960 used to accept refilled or third-party cartridges and now rejects them. Why?

HP lists the 6960 family as a dynamic-security printer. A 2021 firmware update locked out some aftermarket HP 902/903-family cartridges on the 6960 and its siblings, and owners still report non-HP-chip cartridges showing as not recognized. Cartridges that keep HP's original chip, like our remanufactured 902XL and 906XL, are the safer choice. Installing a newer update will not make a rejected cartridge work.

Is the 6960 an HP+ printer?

No. It has no "e" in the name and predates HP+. But HP still marks this printer family as dynamic-security enabled, so cartridges with non-HP chips may stop working now or after an update.

Does the HP 906XL fit the 6960?

Yes, in the black slot only. The 906XL black is rated at about 1,500 pages, twice a 902XL black. The colors stay 902 or 902XL. We sell a remanufactured 906XL that keeps the original HP chip.

Which other printers take the same cartridges?

Retailers list HP 902XL for the OfficeJet 6950, 6951, 6954, 6958 and 6962, the OfficeJet Pro 6960 to 6979 models, and some OfficeJet 6850, 6860 and 6870 models.

What replaced the OfficeJet Pro 6960?

HP has discontinued the 6960 line. Its page for the near-identical OfficeJet Pro 6968 points buyers to the OfficeJet Pro 8025e.

OfficeJet Pro 6960 quirks worth knowing

  • HP's store page for the 6960 family (the 6968) says it is a dynamic security enabled printer, intended only for cartridges with an HP original chip. Cartridges with non-HP chips may stop working.
  • Outside the U.S. the same printer (for example model T0F32A) takes HP 903 cartridges instead of HP 902. The 2021 firmware lockout reported by The Recycler targeted aftermarket 903 cartridges on these models.
  • In December 2020 Italy's competition authority fined HP 10 million euros over undisclosed Dynamic Security cartridge blocking on printers that included this family.
  • HP rates the 6960 family at 18 pages a minute in black and 10 in color (ISO), with a 35-page document feeder, a touchscreen, fax and automatic two-sided printing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ink does the HP OfficeJet Pro 6960 use?
HP 902 or HP 902XL, in four separate cartridges: black, cyan, magenta and yellow.

How many pages does HP 902XL print?
Up to about 750 pages per cartridge on HP's current figures, against roughly 300–315 for standard HP 902.

Is there an HP 902XXL?
No. HP's 902 line has standard and XL only.

Which HP 902XL should I buy, New Chip or OEM Chip?
OEM Chip. It reuses the original HP chip and holds up better against firmware updates.

Do I have to replace all four cartridges at once?
No. Each color is separate, so you replace only what runs out.

Other printers that use HP 902 and 906XL

HP OfficeJet 6978 · HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 · HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 · HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 · HP OfficeJet 6958 · HP OfficeJet Pro 6975 · HP OfficeJet 6950

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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