What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Use?

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Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 uses four cartridges: HP 950 black plus HP 951 cyan, magenta and yellow, or the high-yield 950XL/951XL versions (about 2,300 black and 1,500 color pages). Castle Ink's remanufactured 950XL black is $17.95, 951XL colors are $14.95 each, and the 950XL/951XL 4-pack is $59.95.

CastleScore · October 2026

81/100 — Highly Recommended

HP OfficeJet Pro 8620

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 76 3.90★ average across 1,692 ratings at Amazon (3.9)
Expert reviews (18%) 80 PCMag 4.0/5
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%) 77 Most-reported problems: 'Missing or Failed Printhead' error that persists after reseating; printhead problems prompting owners to ask whether to repair or replace the printer; 2016 dynamic security firmware made the 8620 reject third-party cartridges with cloned chips, showing a 'damaged cartridge' error
Features (12%) 92 Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm).
Value (5%) 81 Running cost and owner satisfaction

Discontinued. HP no longer sells the 8620 new and points buyers to the OfficeJet Pro 8035e. HP still lists 950 and 951 supplies for it.

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 10, 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.

What Ink Cartridges Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Use?

Cartridge Color Approx. yield Castle Ink
HP 950 / 951 (standard) Black / C / M / Y ~1,000 black, ~700 color Upgrade to XL
HP 950XL (CN045AN) Black ~2,300 pages 950XL black, $17.95
HP 951XL (CN046AN) Cyan ~1,500 pages 951XL cyan, $14.95
HP 951XL (CN047AN) Magenta ~1,500 pages 951XL magenta, $14.95
HP 951XL (CN048AN) Yellow ~1,500 pages 951XL yellow, $14.95
950XL/951XL 4-pack K/C/M/Y One of each 4-pack, $59.95

Yields are the manufacturer's ISO estimates at about 5% coverage; photos and heavy graphics use more ink. Castle Ink prices checked September 2026.

Which Printers Use the Same Ink as the OfficeJet Pro 8620?

HP 950/951 cartridges fit a whole generation of OfficeJet Pro printers: the 8100, 8600, 8600 Plus, 8610, 8615, 8620, 8625, 8630, 8640 and 8660, plus the OfficeJet Pro 251dw and 276dw. See what HP printers use 950 and 951 ink. Look up any model in our find ink by printer directory.

Should I Buy HP 950/951 or 950XL/951XL?

XL, almost always. The 950XL black prints over twice as many pages as the standard 950, and 951XL colors about twice as many as standard 951s, for a much lower cost per page. These printers are built for office volumes, so XL cartridges rarely sit long enough to dry out.

How Do I Replace the Ink in the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620?

  1. Turn the printer on and open the ink cartridge access door; wait for the carriage to move to the center and stop.
  2. Press the front of the empty cartridge to release it and pull it out.
  3. Unwrap the new cartridge, holding it by the sides (don't touch the contacts), and slide it into its color-coded slot until it clicks.
  4. Close the access door. The 950/951 system uses a separate printhead that you can remove and reseat, so the printer may run a short priming or alignment routine.

Will Remanufactured Ink Work in the OfficeJet Pro 8620?

Yes, if they keep the original HP chip. Our remanufactured 950XL and 951XL cartridges are rebuilt from original HP cartridges, chip included. That matters on the 8620: it has HP dynamic security, which rejects cartridges with non-HP chips, and an HP firmware update in 2016 tightened that check on this model. Turning off automatic firmware updates is sensible, but it won't make a cartridge with a cloned chip safe. And if the printer is enrolled in HP Instant Ink, it only accepts subscription cartridges until you cancel. See how to stop HP firmware updates from blocking your ink. Using third-party ink does not void your warranty (here's why).

Why Does My OfficeJet Pro 8620 Say the Cartridge Isn't Recognized?

Remove the cartridge, make sure all protective tape and caps are off, wipe the chip or copper contacts gently with a dry lint-free cloth, and reinstall until it clicks. Confirm the part number matches this printer, then restart. If the message started right after a firmware update, the update may be blocking third-party chips. Full steps: ink cartridge not recognized.

How Do I Fix Streaky or Faded Prints on the OfficeJet Pro 8620?

Open HP Smart (or the printer's Tools/Printer Maintenance menu) and run Clean Printhead, then print a quality report. One or two cycles usually clear minor clogs. See faded or streaky prints.

What Are the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620's Key Features?

The OfficeJet Pro 8620 is a small-business 4-in-1 (print, scan, copy, fax) with automatic two-sided printing, a 50-sheet automatic document feeder, a 4.3-inch color touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB, and NFC touch-to-print.

HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Ink FAQs

What ink does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 use?

HP 950 black and HP 951 cyan, magenta and yellow cartridges, or the high-yield 950XL and 951XL versions.

Can I mix HP 950 and 951XL cartridges?

Yes. Standard and XL cartridges fit the same slots, so you can mix sizes freely.

Why does my printer say "Printhead Problem" after changing ink?

HP support's steps: open the cartridge access door, unplug the printer, lift the carriage latch, lift the printhead slightly, then push it back in while rocking it gently and close the latch. HP says to repeat this up to three times. If the error persists, the printhead may need replacing.

Will HP 952 or 902 cartridges fit?

No. Those belong to newer OfficeJet Pro models and won't fit the 950/951 series.

Can I print with a color cartridge empty?

No. All four cartridges must contain ink for the printer to work.

Need help choosing? Contact us with your printer model. Orders placed by 4 PM ET Monday–Friday ship the same day, with free shipping over $50.

What OfficeJet Pro 8620 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.

"Missing or Failed Printhead" won't clear after reseating. What else can I try?

HP's forum moderators suggest a hard reset, then cleaning the contacts on the printhead and in the carriage with a lint-free cloth and distilled water or isopropyl alcohol. If the error still comes back, the printhead usually needs replacing, and owners on HP's forum weigh that cost against a newer printer.

Does it come with a USB cable?

No. The automatic two-sided printing unit is in the box, but HP doesn't include a USB cable. Most owners connect it over Wi-Fi or Ethernet instead.

Can I print from my phone?

Yes. It supports NFC touch-to-print from compatible phones, plus HP ePrint, AirPrint and Mopria.

Can I share the fax line with a phone?

Yes. It has two RJ-11 phone ports, one for the line coming in and one to connect a phone.

OfficeJet Pro 8620 quirks worth knowing

  • The 8620 was one of the printers hit in September 2016, when an HP firmware update began rejecting cartridges with cloned, non-HP chips with a "damaged cartridge" error. HP later released an optional update that removed the block, but cartridges that keep the original HP chip are still the safer choice.
  • The printhead is a separate part that sits under the cartridges. HP support's first fix for printhead errors is to reseat it, so it is worth trying before you replace anything.
  • HP rates it for up to 30,000 pages a month but recommends 250 to 1,500.

Other printers that use HP 950 and HP 951

HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8615 · 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 10, 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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