What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 Use?

Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said compatible cartridges work normally in the OfficeJet Pro 8740 because it is not an HP+ printer. HP says the 8740 has HP dynamic security and is meant only for cartridges with an HP chip.

Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 uses HP 952 (standard) or HP 952XL (high-yield) ink in four separate cartridges. Castle Ink sells a remanufactured 952XL 4-pack (black, cyan, magenta and yellow) built from original HP cartridges that keep the HP chip.

The OfficeJet Pro 8740 is a business-class all-in-one with dual paper trays, single-pass duplex scanning and fax.

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

Our own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.

HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 Ink Cartridges at a Glance

Why the 952XL Is Worth It

HP 952XL black is rated at 2,000 pages. For context, HP 67XL black — the cartridge in HP's budget home printers — is rated at 240. If you print in any volume, this is the difference between an inkjet that makes financial sense and one that does not.

A Note on Published Yields

HP has revised these figures downward and the old numbers are still everywhere. You will see 700 pages quoted for 952 colours and 1,600 for 952XL colours; HP's current figures are 630 and 1,450. That is roughly a 10% cut on the colours. We list HP's current numbers here.

Is the OfficeJet Pro 8740 Discontinued?

Yes. HP's store lists the 8740 as discontinued. If you are looking at the OfficeJet Pro 9015e as a replacement, one thing to weigh first: the 9015e is an HP+ model, so enrolling at setup locks it to Original HP ink for the life of the printer. The 8740 has no HP+ lock, but it does have HP dynamic security, so it is still meant for cartridges with an HP chip.

What OfficeJet Pro 8740 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 there is a problem with the supply system, even after I replaced the cartridges it named.

HP support's steps: unplug the printer for 60 seconds, clear the small vent hole on top of each cartridge with a pin or paper clip, and make sure no orange tabs are left on. If that fails, replace the full set.

It keeps asking me to reinstall the printhead.

Lift the latch, reseat the printhead, wipe its contacts and unplug the printer for 60 seconds. If it then reports the printhead as missing (error 0xc19a0023 is one owners see), the head has usually failed, and a new one can cost more than the printer is worth.

How long do the cartridges that came in the box last?

HP rates the setup cartridges at about 1,000 pages black and about 625 pages for the colors combined, so they last less than a full 952XL set.

Can it scan both sides of a page in one pass?

Yes. The 50-sheet document feeder scans two-sided originals in a single pass, which is faster than feeders that flip the page.

OfficeJet Pro 8740 quirks worth knowing

• Both 250-sheet paper trays come standard on the 8740 (500 sheets total). That is one of the main differences from the OfficeJet Pro 8720 and 8730.
• HP's own 8740 product page still shows the old 952 yields (about 1,000 black, 700 color, 1,600 XL color). HP's cartridge pages now list 900, 630 and 1,450.
• It has two RJ-11 phone ports for fax, color fax and a 100-page fax memory.
• HP rates it for up to 30,000 pages a month and recommends 250–2,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ink does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 use?
HP 952 or HP 952XL, in four separate cartridges: black, cyan, magenta and yellow.

How many pages does HP 952XL print?
Up to 2,000 pages black and about 1,450 per colour on HP's current figures.

Is there an HP 952XXL?
Not in the US. HP's 952 line is standard and XL only here.

Can I use compatible HP 952XL cartridges?
Remanufactured ones, yes. The 8740 is not an HP+ printer, but HP says it has dynamic security and is meant only for cartridges with an HP chip; cartridges with non-HP chips may not work now or after a future firmware update. Our remanufactured 952XL cartridges keep the original HP chip.

Should I upgrade to the OfficeJet Pro 9015e?
That is your call, but know that it is an HP+ model. If you enroll during setup, it is restricted to Original HP ink for the life of the printer.

Other printers that use HP 952

HP OfficeJet Pro 8710 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8720 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8210 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8730

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 8, 2026 and will change over time.

• HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 product page (specs, dynamic security)
• HP 952 black cartridge page
• HP 952XL cyan cartridge page (current yields)
• HP Community: supply system problem error
• JustAnswer: OfficeJet Pro 8740 asking to reinstall the printhead