What Ink Does the HP Photosmart 8450 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP Photosmart 8450 prints with three cartridges at once: an HP 94 or HP 96 black, an HP 95 or HP 97 tri-color, and a photo cartridge, either the HP 99 photo or the HP 100 gray photo. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured HP 96 Black, HP 97 Tri-color, HP 94 Black, HP 95 Tri-color, HP 99 Photo, HP 100 Gray Photo and a 96 + 97 combo pack.
It shares the black and tri-color cartridges with the Photosmart 2610, OfficeJet 7410 and OfficeJet 7310. It does not use HP 98, 102 or 02. European 8450s take cartridges with different numbers, such as HP 338 black and HP 343 tri-color, so buy the U.S. numbers below for a U.S. printer.
CastleScore · October 2026
80/100 — Highly Recommended
HP Photosmart 8450
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 90 | PhotographyBlog: 4.5/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | 92 | About 2.5¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured HP 94 black (480 pages) and HP 97 tri-color (560 pages). Photo printing with the HP 99 (about 130 pages) or HP 100 (about 115) costs more. |
| Reliability (13%) | 74 | Most-reported problems: blank pages from cartridges that dried out in storage; no Windows 11 driver; cartridges running out sooner than HP claims; cartridge errors after installing a new one |
| Features (12%) | 52 | Print only, with USB, Ethernet, a 2.5-inch tilting color screen, memory card slots, a PictBridge port and a separate 4x6 photo tray. Auto two-sided printing needs an optional accessory. No scanner, no copier, no fax, no Wi-Fi. |
| Value (5%) | 76 | 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 launched the Photosmart 8450 in fall 2004 at $299.99, and its HP store page now points to the ENVY Inspire 7955e as the newer model. In October 2026 original HP 94, 96 and 97 cartridges were backordered or out of stock, and 4inkjets listed HP's 99 and 100 as discontinued.
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 16, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 96 BlackC8767WN · ~860 pages
HP 97 Tri-colorC9363WN · ~560 pages
HP 96 + 97 comboBlack + Tri-color
HP 99 PhotoC9369WN · ~130 pages
HP 100 Gray PhotoC9368AN · ~115 pages
HP 96 Black
HP 97 Tri-color
HP 96 + 97 combo
HP 99 Photo
HP 100 Gray PhotoOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Cartridges Does the HP Photosmart 8450 Take?
| Cartridge | HP part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 94 Black | C8765WN | ~480 pages | Remanufactured HP 94 Black |
| HP 96 Black (large) | C8767WN | ~860 pages | Remanufactured HP 96 Black |
| HP 95 Tri-color | C8766WN | ~330 pages | Remanufactured HP 95 Tri-color |
| HP 97 Tri-color (large) | C9363WN | ~560 pages | Remanufactured HP 97 Tri-color |
| HP 99 Photo | C9369WN | ~130 pages | Remanufactured HP 99 Photo |
| HP 100 Gray Photo | C9368AN | ~115 pages | Remanufactured HP 100 Gray Photo |
| HP 94 + 95 combo | C9354FN | ~480 / 330 pages | Remanufactured 94 + 95 combo |
| HP 96 + 97 combo | C9353FN | ~860 / 560 pages | Remanufactured 96 + 97 combo |
The photo slot takes either the HP 99 for color photos or the HP 100 gray for black-and-white. Yields are seller-listed figures; older listings rate the HP 95 at 260 pages.
Are HP 96 and 97 Worth It?
Yes, if you can find them. On October 16, 2026, 4inkjets listed HP's 96 black at $52.99 (about 6.2¢ a page), backordered, and Walmart listed HP's 97 tri-color at $79.89 (about 14.3¢ a page), out of stock. Staples had the smaller 95 tri-color at $72.99 (about 22¢ a page), and 4inkjets listed HP's 99 and 100 as discontinued. Our remanufactured HP 96 black and HP 97 tri-color are $12.95 each, about 1.5¢ and 2.3¢ a page, or $25.99 for the combo pack. The HP 99 photo is $12.95 and the HP 100 gray $23.95.
How Do I Replace the Ink in the HP Photosmart 8450?
- Turn the printer on and lift the main top cover. The carriage moves to the center.
- Lift the latch over the cartridge you're replacing and pull it out. Put a photo or gray cartridge you still want to use in the storage area.
- Unpack the new cartridge and pull off the pink tape. Don't touch the copper contacts or nozzles.
- Slide the cartridge into its slot and push the latch closed until it snaps.
- Close the cover and let the printer print its calibration page. It does this after every cartridge change.
Which Other Printers Use HP 94, 95, 96 and 97?
The HP 95 and 97 family also fits the Photosmart 2610, 2710, 8150, 8750, D5160 and B8350; the DeskJet 5740, 6520, 6540, 6620, 6840, 6940, 6980 and 9800; the OfficeJet 100, 150, 6210, 7210, 7310, 7410, H470 and K7100; and the PSC 1600, 1610, 2350, 2610 and 2710. Check the black cartridge for each model, as some take a different one.
What Photosmart 8450 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer in HP's support community and owner reviews, answered in our words.
It prints blank pages, but the cartridges look full.
The ink has probably dried in cartridges that sat unused for a long time, which is common on secondhand printers. Replace them; nozzle cleaning rarely brings long-dried cartridges back.
Is there a Windows 11 driver?
Not a dedicated one. HP's forum admin suggests Add a printer with the built-in Windows driver from Windows Update, or HP's Universal Print Driver.
What do the different-colored cartridge cases mean?
The case color shows the cartridge type, not the ink inside. Go by the number on the label: 94 or 96 black, 95 or 97 tri-color, 99 photo, 100 gray.
Can it print two-sided?
Only with HP's optional automatic two-sided printing accessory.
Photosmart 8450 quirks worth knowing
- It prints with up to eight inks from three cartridges. PhotographyBlog praised its color and neutral black-and-white prints.
- Trusted Reviews found the cartridges fell more than 100 pages short of HP's yields. The calibration page after each change uses ink too.
- Best quality is slow: PhotographyBlog timed 6.5 minutes for a borderless A4 print and 13 at 4800 dpi. Trusted Reviews measured about 5.5 pages a minute for text.
- It has a 2.5-inch tilting screen, four card slots (one card at a time), Ethernet and a separate 4x6 photo tray. It weighs 17.6 pounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the HP Photosmart 8450 use?
HP 94 or 96 black, HP 95 or 97 tri-color, and an HP 99 photo or HP 100 gray photo cartridge.
Does it use HP 98 or HP 02?
No. It takes only the 94 to 97 black and tri-color cartridges plus the 99 or 100 photo cartridge.
Should I use the HP 99 or the HP 100?
The HP 99 is for color photos. The HP 100 gray gives better gray tones in black-and-white prints.
Other printers that use HP 94, 95, 96 and 97
HP Photosmart 2610 · HP OfficeJet 7410 · HP OfficeJet 7310 · HP DeskJet 6940 · HP OfficeJet H470
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 16, 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.