What Ink Does the HP Photosmart C3180 Use?

by Lauren Elward Last Updated: October 15, 2026

Quick answer: The HP Photosmart C3180 uses two cartridges: an HP 92 black and an HP 93 tri-color. For photos you can add an optional HP 99 photo cartridge. There are no XL versions of HP 92 or 93. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured HP 92 Black, HP 93 Tri-color and HP 99 Photo cartridges.

It shares HP 92 and 93 with the rest of the C3100 series, the Photosmart C4180, the PSC 1510 and the DeskJet 5440. Don't mix it up with HP 94, 95, 96 or 97: ink sellers don't list them for the C3180, and one owner reported an HP 97 wouldn't work. UK and European units take HP 338 and 343, which won't fit a U.S. printer.

CastleScore · October 2026

69/100 — Situational

HP Photosmart C3180

Pillar (weight)	Score	What it is based on
Owner ratings (28%)	—	No retailer rating with enough reviews to use.
Expert reviews (18%)	—	No published numeric expert score we could verify.
Cost per page (24%)	80	About 5.8¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured HP 92 black and HP 93 tri-color (220 pages each).
Reliability (13%)	78	Most-reported problems: 'print cartridge cradle cannot move' carriage errors; an alignment page printing again and again after a new cartridge; cartridges not recognized after refilling
Features (12%)	42	Print, copy, scan, memory card slots, text display. USB only. No Wi-Fi, no document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax.
Value (5%)	72	Running cost and owner satisfaction

Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings or published expert scores for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars. With neither owner ratings nor a published expert score, we cap this printer at 69 (Situational) until better data is available.

Discontinued. HP sold the Photosmart C3180 around 2006 and 2007. HP 93 cartridges are still sold, but HP 92 was backordered at ink sellers in October 2026.

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 15, 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 Photosmart C3180 Take?

Cartridge	HP part no.	Approx. yield	Castle Ink option
HP 92 Black	C9362WN	~220 pages	Remanufactured HP 92 Black
HP 93 Tri-color	C9361WN	~220 pages	Remanufactured HP 93 Tri-color
HP 92/93 Combo 2-pack	C9513FN	~220 pages each	—
HP 99 Photo (optional)	C9369WN	~130 pages	Remanufactured HP 99 Photo

HP 92 and 93 come in one size only. HP's own HP 99 photo cartridge is listed as discontinued at ink sellers. Yields come from retailer listings.

Is There an HP 92XL or 93XL?

No. HP only made HP 92 and 93 in standard yield, about 220 pages each. On October 15, 2026, we couldn't find a current U.S. retail price for Original HP 92 or 93: HP's store page for the 93 showed no price, and ink sellers had the 92 backordered. Our remanufactured HP 92 black is $12.95 (about 5.9¢ a page) and the HP 93 tri-color $11.95 (about 5.4¢ a page).

How Do I Replace the Ink in the HP Photosmart C3180?

Turn the printer on and open the print cartridge door. Wait for the carriage to move to the center and stop.
Push down slightly on the old cartridge and pull it toward you. Tri-color goes on the left, black or photo on the right.
Unwrap the new cartridge and pull off the pink tape by its tab. Don't touch the copper contacts or ink nozzles.
Slide the cartridge into its slot, nozzles down and contacts toward the printer, and push until it clicks.
Close the door. When the alignment page prints, place it on the scanner glass and press the button the display asks for.

Which Other Printers Use HP 92 and 93?

The Photosmart C3150, C3170, C3175, C3183, C3188, C3190 and C3193; the Photosmart C4180; the PSC 1510; and the DeskJet 5440 and D4160.

What Photosmart C3180 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 says the print cartridge cradle cannot move.

Something is blocking the carriage, or the mechanism has failed. Turn the printer off, open the door, remove any paper scraps, slide the carriage by hand and turn it back on. If the error keeps coming back, HP says it's likely a hardware fault.

Why does it keep printing an alignment page?

The printer wants you to finish an alignment. Place the page face down on the scanner glass and press the button it asks for. If it repeats, reseat the cartridge.

Can I use HP 94, 95, 96 or 97 cartridges?

Stick to HP 92 and 93. Ink sellers list only 92, 93 and 99 for the C3180, and an owner reported an HP 97 didn't work.

Can I print photos without a computer?

Yes, from a memory card in the front slots. There's no PictBridge camera port.

Photosmart C3180 quirks worth knowing

HP claimed up to 22 pages a minute in draft mode. Computerwoche found it very slow in testing.
It has a simple text display, not a color photo screen.
The input tray holds 100 sheets, and it connects by USB only.
HP 92 and 93 have the printhead built into each cartridge, so a new cartridge also means fresh nozzles.

Frequently Asked Questions