What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 Use?

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Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 uses HP 950 black with HP 951 colors, or the high-yield HP 950XL and 951XL. Four separate cartridges, no tri-color waste. We sell remanufactured HP 950XL and 951XL cartridges that keep the original HP chip. Shipping is free on U.S. orders over $50, and orders placed by 4 PM ET ship the same day.

The OfficeJet Pro 8100 is a single-function business inkjet — print only, with duplex and Ethernet.

CastleScore · October 2026

80/100 — Highly Recommended

HP OfficeJet Pro 8100

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 74 3.80★ average across 347 ratings at Amazon (3.8)
Expert reviews (18%) 90 PCMag 4.5/5
Cost per page (24%) 86 About 1.7¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 950XL (2,300 pages) and 951XL (1,500 pages). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip.
Reliability (13%) 87 Most-reported problems: printhead failure / ink leaking from printhead causing missing lines even with new genuine cartridges
Features (12%) 63 Auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, fast (20+ ppm). No document feeder, no fax, no touchscreen.
Value (5%) 80 Running cost and owner satisfaction

Discontinued. HP no longer sells the OfficeJet Pro 8100 new. HP 950/951 and 950XL/951XL 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 8100 Ink Cartridges at a Glance

Cartridge Color Approx. Yield
HP 950 (CN049AN) Black ~1,000 pages
HP 951 (CN050AN / CN051AN / CN052AN) Cyan / Magenta / Yellow ~700 pages each
HP 950XL (CN045AN) Black ~2,300 pages
HP 951XL (CN046AN / CN047AN / CN048AN) Cyan / Magenta / Yellow ~1,500 pages each

Individual Colors Are the Point

Four separate cartridges means you replace only the color that runs out. Combined with a 2,300-page XL black, this is a far better cost-per-page platform than HP's tri-color home printers — the 950XL black alone is rated for roughly five to six times the pages of an HP 61XL black.

The Printhead Is a Separate Part

Unlike HP's home inkjets, the printhead on the 8100 is its own serviceable component rather than part of the cartridge. That is good news: persistent banding, missing colors or streaking on this model is usually a clogged or failing printhead, not bad ink, and replacing the printhead often brings a written-off printer back. Try a deep clean from the printer's own maintenance menu before buying anything.

A Note on Firmware

HP firmware updates in September 2016 and September 2017 turned on dynamic security on the 8100, which blocks cartridges with non-HP chips. HP later posted firmware that turned it off again, so the firmware your printer runs decides what it accepts. Cartridges that keep the original HP chip, like our remanufactured 950XL and 951XL, are the safer choice. Once your printer is working with the cartridges you use, turn automatic firmware updates off in the printer's settings or the embedded web server.

Is the OfficeJet Pro 8100 Discontinued?

Yes. HP has discontinued it. Newer OfficeJet Pro models such as the 8210 take HP 952/952XL ink, so 950/951 cartridges do not carry over.

What OfficeJet Pro 8100 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 950XL suddenly shows as damaged after a printer update. Why?

HP firmware released in September 2016 and again in September 2017 turned on dynamic security on the 8100, which blocks cartridges with non-HP chips. HP later posted firmware that switched it off, so what your printer accepts depends on the firmware it runs. Cartridges that keep the original HP chip, like our remanufactured 950XL and 951XL, are the safer choice.

Can I add a second paper tray?

Yes. HP sells an optional 250-sheet second tray, which brings the 8100 to 500 sheets.

How fast does it print?

HP rates it at 20 pages per minute in black and 16 in color (ISO), with automatic two-sided printing as standard.

How many pages a month is it built for?

HP recommends 250 to 1,250 pages a month, with a maximum duty cycle of 25,000 pages.

OfficeJet Pro 8100 quirks worth knowing

  • All four inks are pigment, color included.
  • The printhead (HP part CM751-80013A) is the same one used in the OfficeJet Pro 8600 series and the 251dw and 276dw.
  • There is no touchscreen. The control panel is a small status display with five buttons and three lights.
  • It is print-only, but well connected for an office: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB and AirPrint, with a 150-sheet output tray.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ink does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 use?
HP 950 black with HP 951 cyan, magenta and yellow, or the high-yield 950XL and 951XL.

How many pages does HP 950XL print?
About 2,300 pages black. The 951XL colors are about 1,500 pages each.

Why is my print quality bad even with new cartridges?
On this model the printhead is separate from the cartridge and is the usual culprit. Run a deep clean first; a printhead replacement often fixes it.

Can I use non-HP 950XL cartridges?
Cartridges that keep the original HP chip, like our remanufactured 950XL, are the safer choice. HP firmware has blocked cartridges with non-HP chips on this model before, so turn automatic updates off once your cartridges are working.

Do I have to replace all four cartridges at once?
No. Each color is separate.

Other printers that use HP 950 and HP 951

HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8615 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8625 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8630

More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP DeskJet 4100 · 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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