What Ink Does the HP Photosmart C7280 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP Photosmart C7280 uses six separate HP 02 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan and light magenta. There's no XL version of the black. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured HP 02 Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Light Cyan and Light Magenta.
HP 02 fits a long run of mid-2000s Photosmart printers, including the C5180, C6180, C7180, C8180, 3210, 8250 and D7360. In Europe the same cartridges are sold as HP 363, with a different region code on the part number. Region-coded HP cartridges generally won't work in a U.S. printer, so shop by the HP 02 numbers.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP Photosmart C7280
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | Reviewed by Macworld in 2008, without a numeric score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 77 | About 6.5¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured HP 02 cartridges (660 black pages; 220 to 500 pages per color). |
| Reliability (13%) | 62 | Most-reported problems: 'Ink System Failure' errors (such as 0xc18a0206) that lock the printer, and the printhead can't be replaced; cartridges rejected as not original, missing or damaged; expired HP 02 stock refused or clogging; occasional Wi-Fi dropouts |
| Features (12%) | 88 | Print, copy, scan, fax, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 2.4-inch color screen, memory card slots, separate 4x6/5x7 photo tray. No CD/DVD printing. |
| Value (5%) | — | 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 launched the Photosmart C7280 in September 2007 and no longer sells it new. HP 02 cartridges are getting scarce, with many shown as out of stock or backordered at big ink sellers.
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 02 BlackC8721WN · ~660 pages
HP 02 CyanC8771WN · ~400 pages
HP 02 MagentaC8772WN · ~370 pages
HP 02 YellowC8773WN · ~500 pages
HP 02 Light CyanC8774WN · ~220 pages
HP 02 Black
HP 02 Cyan
HP 02 Magenta
HP 02 Yellow
HP 02 Light CyanOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Cartridges Does the HP Photosmart C7280 Take?
| Cartridge | HP part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 02 Black | C8721WN | ~660 pages | Remanufactured HP 02 Black |
| HP 02 Cyan | C8771WN | ~400 pages | Remanufactured HP 02 Cyan |
| HP 02 Magenta | C8772WN | ~370 pages | Remanufactured HP 02 Magenta |
| HP 02 Yellow | C8773WN | ~500 pages | Remanufactured HP 02 Yellow |
| HP 02 Light Cyan | C8774WN | ~220 pages | Remanufactured HP 02 Light Cyan |
| HP 02 Light Magenta | C8775WN | ~220 pages | Remanufactured HP 02 Light Magenta |
Yields are retailer-listed figures, and sellers differ slightly (yellow 490 to 500, light cyan and light magenta 220 to 240). HP also sold a black two-pack (C9500FN) and a five-color pack (CC604FN). One retailer lists higher-capacity HP 02 colors, but we couldn't confirm them with HP.
Is There an HP 02 XL?
Not for the black. On October 16, 2026, 4inkjets listed HP's 02 black at $33.99 (about 5.2¢ a page) and the light cyan at $24.74, both backordered. Staples listed the 02 cyan at $17.99 (about 4.5¢ a page), but it was out of stock. Some HP 02 stock still sold online is past its install-by date, so check the box. Our remanufactured HP 02 cartridges are $10.95 each, or about 1.7¢ a page for the black and 2.7¢ for the cyan.
How Do I Replace the Ink in the HP Photosmart C7280?
- With the printer on, lift the ink cartridge access door at the front until it locks open. Wait for the carriage to stop.
- Press the tab under the empty cartridge's latch and lift the latch.
- Pull the empty HP 02 cartridge out toward you.
- Unwrap the new cartridge, slide it into the slot with the matching color and press the latch down until it clicks.
- Close the access door. The printer may run a short ink check before it prints.
Which Other Printers Use HP 02?
The Photosmart 3100, 3200 and 3300 series (such as the 3110, 3210 and 3310), the 8200 series (8230, 8250), the C5100, C6100, C6200, C7100, C7200 and C8100 series (such as the C5180, C6180, C6280, C7180 and C8180), and the D6100, D7100, D7200, D7300 and D7400 series (such as the D6160, D7160, D7360 and D7460).
What Photosmart C7280 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 'Ink System Failure' with a code like 0xc18a0206.
The printhead or ink system has failed a self-test. Unplug the printer for at least 60 seconds and plug it straight into the wall. If that fails, owners use the hidden support menu to clear the error, then run Clean Printhead from Setup, Tools. If it keeps failing, the printer needs service or replacing.
Can I replace the printhead myself?
No. An HP community expert says the C7280 has a permanent printhead that can't be removed, so a failed head means service or a new printer.
It says 'install original cartridges' or a cartridge is missing or damaged.
The printer isn't reading a cartridge's chip. This often happens after an ink-system reset or with refilled cartridges. Reseat each cartridge until the latch clicks, clean the contacts, and swap them one at a time to find the bad one.
Do I have to replace all six cartridges at once?
No. Each color is a separate cartridge, so replace only the one that runs out. Macworld put a full set of HP ink at about $68 in 2008.
Photosmart C7280 quirks worth knowing
- HP rated it at up to 34 pages a minute in black and 33 in color. That predates ISO ratings, and Macworld timed a 10-page Word document at 1 minute 50 seconds.
- It prints, copies, scans and faxes, with a 50-page document feeder and automatic two-sided printing.
- It has Wi-Fi (802.11g), Ethernet and USB. Macworld noted occasional Wi-Fi dropouts, and Bluetooth needs HP's optional bt500 adapter.
- Any ink error locks out scanning, copying and faxing too, so clear the ink problem first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the HP Photosmart C7280 use?
Six HP 02 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan and light magenta.
Will European HP 363 cartridges fit?
They're the European version of HP 02 with a different region code. Region-coded HP cartridges generally won't work in a U.S. printer.
Can the C7280 print on CDs or DVDs?
No. HP gave disc printing to the Photosmart C8180, not the C7280.
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.