What Toner Does the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480f Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all HP 414A & 414X Toner Cartridges – W2020A–W2023X → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Quick answer: The HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480f uses HP 414A (standard) or HP 414X (high-yield) cartridges in black, cyan, magenta and yellow. HP's 414X page lists the M480f (3QA55A) by name. Castle Ink's compatible 414X Black with chip is rated at about 7,500 pages and the 414X colors at about 6,000 each; a no-chip 414X Black is available if you transfer your HP chip.
CastleScore · October 2026
68/100 — Situational
HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480f
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 56 | 2.78★ average across 46 ratings at Staples (2.8) |
| Expert reviews (20%) | — | |
| Cost per page (18%) | 80 | About 3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our compatible 414X toner with chip (7,500 black / 6,000 color pages). Docked because firmware can reject toner without the maker's chip. |
| Reliability (18%) | 65 | Most-reported problems: hard setup; driver problems; jobs stuck in the queue; misprints and noise; scanning faults. |
| Features (11%) | 90 | Print, copy, scan, single-pass two-sided document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Ethernet, touchscreen, Enterprise security, fast (20+ ppm). Wi-Fi only with an add-on. |
| Value (5%) | 60 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a last-seen price of $989 (out of stock) |
Limited data: No expert review of this exact model was found, so the expert pillar's weight is spread across the other pillars.
Hard to find new. Staples listed the M480f at $989 but out of stock in October 2026. There is no HP+ version.
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 29, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
HP 414X BlackW2020X · with chip · ~7,500 pages
HP 414X CyanW2021X · with chip · ~6,000 pages
HP 414X MagentaW2023X · with chip · ~6,000 pages
HP 414X YellowW2022X · with chip · ~6,000 pages
HP 414X Black
HP 414X Cyan
HP 414X Magenta
HP 414X YellowOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480f Toner Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 414A Black | W2020A | Black | ~2,400 pages |
| HP 414A Cyan | W2021A | Cyan | ~2,100 pages |
| HP 414A Magenta | W2023A | Magenta | ~2,100 pages |
| HP 414A Yellow | W2022A | Yellow | ~2,100 pages |
| HP 414X Black | W2020X | Black | ~7,500 pages |
| HP 414X Cyan | W2021X | Cyan | ~6,000 pages |
| HP 414X Magenta | W2023X | Magenta | ~6,000 pages |
| HP 414X Yellow | W2022X | Yellow | ~6,000 pages |
| Castle Ink HP 414X Black, no chip | W2020X | Black (reuse your HP chip) | ~7,500 pages |
Chip warning for the M480f: Retail listings carry HP's statement that this printer is "intended to work only with cartridges that have a new or reused HP chip," and that firmware updates can block cartridges that previously worked. The M480f was on the list of printers hit by HP's April 2022 update (event code 10.00.46). If your M480f is managed through HP Web Jetadmin or FutureSmart, have IT pause firmware pushes before you install with-chip compatible toner. HP never sold an HP+ "e" version of the M480f. More on this in our firmware update guide.
Its single-function sibling, the Enterprise M455dn, takes the same cartridges, as do the M479fdw, M479fdn, M479dw, M454dw and M454dn.
The M480f is HP's entry Enterprise color all-in-one: print, copy, scan and fax, a 50-sheet single-pass two-sided document feeder, a 4.3-inch color screen, 2 GB of memory and 16 GB of storage, with Ethernet as standard.
Do not confuse HP 414 with HP 415: HP's European M480f specification lists 415A/415X cartridges, which are region-coded and will not work in a North American M480f.
Comparing toner options for a fleet? Our HP 414X compatible toner buying guide has per-page costs.
How to Replace the Toner in the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480f
- Open the front door beneath the control panel. The scanner and feeder stay closed.
- Grasp the handle of the empty cartridge and pull it out horizontally.
- Shake the new cartridge gently from end to end five or six times.
- Strip off the orange packing piece and tape, without touching the drum.
- Insert the cartridge into its color slot until it is fully seated, close the door, and confirm the level on the Supplies screen.
Troubleshooting Tips
Jobs stuck in the queue or service codes printing on pages: Staples reviewers describe both. Clear the job queue from the control panel, restart, and reinstall the latest HP driver for your operating system; one reviewer's problems stopped after new drivers.
Cartridge blocked for a non-HP chip: Check whether firmware was updated. Return the cartridge to the seller for a replacement, or use a no-chip cartridge with your original HP chip.
Misprints or uneven color: Rock the cartridge for the faulty color, reinstall it, and run a calibration and cleaning page from the control panel's maintenance tools. Our laser printer streaks and lines page has more fixes.
What M480f owners ask
Drawn from Staples reviews, retailer listings and HP's spec sheet, answered in our words.
Does the M480f have wireless?
No, not out of the box, and Staples reviewers who assumed it did were unhappy. Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and NFC come from HP's optional Jetdirect 3100w accessory (3JN69A).
Why is setup so hard?
Several owners call it difficult to get running. It is built for IT-managed networks, with FutureSmart firmware and an Embedded Web Server for settings. Set a fixed IP address and install HP's full driver package rather than a generic one.
Can the feeder scan both sides in one pass?
Yes. HP specifies single-pass two-sided scanning at up to 49 images a minute in black on letter paper.
Does it come with full cartridges?
Yes. Retail listings and HP's spec sheet put the in-box cartridges at about 2,400 pages for black and 2,100 for each color.
Is it still available?
Staples showed it at $989 but out of stock when we checked. HP 414 toner for it is easy to find.
M480f quirks worth knowing
- Owner ratings are poor: 2.8 stars from about 50 reviews at Staples, with nearly half at one star. Setup, missing Wi-Fi, driver and scanning problems lead the complaints.
- It is rated for up to 55,000 pages a month; HP recommends 900 to 4,800.
- It supports card readers, PIN pull printing and HP's Secure Print tools, which matter in shared offices.
- One buyer warns that a "Certified Refurbished" unit never worked right; inspect refurbished units closely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the M480f need a separate drum?
No. The drum is part of each 414A or 414X cartridge.
Is the M480f's toner different from the M479's?
No. The Enterprise M480f and the Pro M479 models use identical HP 414A and 414X cartridges.
Will compatible toner affect HP's on-site warranty?
Using compatible toner doesn't void the warranty under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. HP could deny a repair only if it shows the toner caused the fault.
Other printers that use HP 414A and 414X toner
HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw · HP LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw · HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dn · HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdn · HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479dw · HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M455dn
More HP ink guides: HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M553 · HP LaserJet Pro M402n · HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Brother HL-L2460DW — CastleScore 90
- Brother MFC-L2820DW — CastleScore 90
- HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw — CastleScore 82
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 29, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement HP 414A & 414X Toner Cartridges – W2020A–W2023X? Shop HP 414A & 414X Toner Cartridges – W2020A–W2023X at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.