What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8730 Use?
Last Updated:Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said HP had not listed the 8700 series as a dynamic-security printer. HP's own 8730 page says it is one, and it blocks cartridges with non-HP chips.
Quick answer: the HP OfficeJet Pro 8730 uses HP 952 ink. Black comes in three sizes — 952, 952XL and 956XL. Color comes in two — 952 and 952XL. They are all the same cartridge family and mix freely in the printer.
That last sentence is the part most sites get wrong. 956XL is a black cartridge only. There is no 956XL cyan, magenta or yellow, and there is no plain "HP 956". If a seller offers you a 956XL color set, it is not an HP product configuration.
CastleScore · October 2026
82/100 — Highly Recommended
HP OfficeJet Pro 8730
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 80 | PCMag 4.0/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | 80 | About 3.4¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 952XL (2,000 black / 1,450 color pages). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip. |
| Reliability (13%) | 81 | Most-reported problems: printhead missing/failed errors on the 8700 platform; 'Problem with the supply system' error that persists after replacing flagged cartridges |
| Features (12%) | 92 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm). |
| Value (5%) | — | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Discontinued. HP no longer lists the 8730 in the U.S. and marks its 8710, 8720 and 8740 siblings discontinued, pointing 8720 owners to the OfficeJet Pro 9015e. HP 952 ink is 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 10, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 952XL 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
HP 952XL BlackF6U19AN · ~2,000 pages
HP 952XL CyanL0S61AN · ~1,450 pages
HP 952XL MagentaL0S64AN · ~1,450 pages
HP 952XL YellowL0S67AN · ~1,450 pages
HP 952XL 4-pack
HP 952XL Black
HP 952XL Cyan
HP 952XL Magenta
HP 952XL YellowOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8730 ink at a glance
| Cartridge | Family | Part Number | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black (standard) | HP 952 | F6U15AN | ~900 pages |
| Cyan (standard) | HP 952 | L0S49AN | ~630 pages |
| Magenta (standard) | HP 952 | L0S52AN | ~630 pages |
| Yellow (standard) | HP 952 | L0S55AN | ~630 pages |
| Black (high yield) | HP 952XL | F6U19AN | ~2,000 pages |
| Cyan (high yield) | HP 952XL | L0S61AN | ~1,450 pages |
| Magenta (high yield) | HP 952XL | L0S64AN | ~1,450 pages |
| Yellow (high yield) | HP 952XL | L0S67AN | ~1,450 pages |
| Black (extra high yield) | HP 956XL | L0R39AN | ~3,000 pages |
Figures are HP's, taken from HP's US store listings and the 8730 datasheet. The 8730 datasheet still shows HP's older, higher color figures (about 700 for 952 and 1,600 for 952XL). HP has since cut those ratings to 630 and 1,450, and black 952 from 1,000 to 900. Either way the XL tier more than doubles them.
Which black should you buy?
On a machine rated for up to 2,000 pages a month, the standard 952 black at 900 pages is barely a fortnight of work. The honest ranking:
- 956XL (3,000 pages) if you print a lot of black text. Best cost per page in the family by a clear margin.
- 952XL (2,000 pages) if you want the widest availability — HP has been winding 956XL down, so 952XL is the safer long-term choice.
- 952 (900 pages) only if you print occasionally.
One caution worth knowing: HP has published a notice that 956XL black is discontinued. Some retailers still have stock, but if you plan to standardise your office on one part number for years, standardise on 952XL. We sell remanufactured 952XL cartridges that keep the original HP chip.
About the HP OfficeJet Pro 8730
Print, scan, copy and fax at 24 ppm black and 20 ppm color, with automatic duplex printing and a 50-sheet ADF that does single-pass two-sided scanning — a genuinely useful feature at this price and one the cheaper 8710 does not have. 250-sheet input, 4.3-inch touchscreen, Ethernet plus 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. HP put the recommended monthly volume at 250 to 2,000 pages.
It is a 2016-generation machine and long discontinued, but ink and firmware support continue and the whole 7720, 7740, 8210, 8710, 8720, 8730 and 8740 family shares the same cartridges.
Common problems on this model
"Printhead missing, failed or incompatible"
The signature fault of this generation, often with an error code beginning 0xc19a. The printhead is a separate user-serviceable part on this printer, so before assuming the machine is dead: remove the printhead, clean the electrical contacts on both the printhead and the carriage with a lint-free cloth and distilled water, let them dry, reinstall, then hard-reset by unplugging at the wall for 60 seconds while the printer is on. That clears a good share of these.
"Non-HP chip" cartridge messages
HP's own product page calls the 8730 a "dynamic security enabled printer". It uses dynamic security to block cartridges with a non-HP chip and is meant to work only with cartridges that carry a new or reused HP chip. The 8700 series is also on the list HP published in its settlement with Euroconsumers. Owners of sister models have lost working third-party cartridges after firmware updates. That is why we sell remanufactured 952XL cartridges that keep the original HP chip. Our guide to firmware updates and third-party ink explains how updates are delivered and how to control them.
Multiple sheets pulled at once
Clean the pickup rollers with a lint-free cloth and distilled water, fan the stack before loading, and do not overfill the tray.
Banding or missing colors
Clean the printhead from the Tools menu on the touchscreen, then align it. Print a nozzle check before running a second cleaning cycle rather than after.
What OfficeJet Pro 8730 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.
It says "problem with the supply system" even after I replaced the flagged cartridges. Why?
On this printer family, HP forum experts have traced that error to a blocked vent on top of a cartridge. Check the top of each cartridge for leftover tape or label before assuming the printer is at fault.
Can it scan both sides of a page in one pass?
Yes. HP lists two-sided feeder scanning at up to 23 pages a minute in black and 12 in color, which points to a single-pass feeder. The cheaper 8710 flips each page and manages about 4.
Can I add a second paper tray?
Yes. HP sells an optional second 250-sheet tray to go under the standard 250-sheet tray.
Can I print from a USB stick?
Yes. Besides the USB port for a computer, it has a host USB port for walk-up printing.
OfficeJet Pro 8730 quirks worth knowing
- Outside the U.S. the same printer takes HP 953/953XL and 957XL black (the 956XL equivalent). Cartridges are region-coded, so they are not interchangeable with U.S. 952s.
- It has two RJ-11 phone ports for fax, so it can share a line with a phone.
- The printhead is a separate part. When it fails for good, a new head costs more than many owners think the printer is worth.
- HP has cut its 952 ratings over the years, so older boxes and datasheets show higher numbers than today's listings.
FAQ
What ink does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8730 use?
HP 952 black, cyan, magenta and yellow, or the high-yield 952XL versions. Black is also available as the extra-high-yield 956XL.
Is there a 956XL color cartridge?
No. 956XL is black only. Colors go up to 952XL.
Does the 8730 use HP 962 or 965 ink?
No. Those belong to the newer OfficeJet Pro 9010 and 9020 series — the 9015, 9018 and 9025. Physically different cartridges.
Does it use HP 950 or 951XL?
No. That is the OfficeJet Pro 8600, 8610, 8620 and 8630 generation. This is a very common upgrade-path mistake.
What about HP 953XL or 955XL?
Same cartridges under regional part numbers. Outside the U.S. the 8730 takes HP 953/953XL and 957XL black (the 956XL equivalent), and 955XL and 959XL are sold in Asia-Pacific. They are region-locked and a US 8730 will reject them, which catches people buying from grey-market sellers.
Do the 8710, 8720 and 8740 use the same ink?
Yes, the whole family runs HP 952. Their hardware differs. The 8710 also has a 50-sheet feeder, but it scans two-sided pages with a slower reversing feeder (about 4 pages a minute) rather than in one pass. The cartridges are identical.
Other printers that use HP 952
HP OfficeJet Pro 8710 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8720 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8210 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8715
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 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.