What Toner Does the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw Use?

The HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw uses HP 206A and HP 206X toner cartridges — four cartridges in black, cyan, magenta and yellow. It shares its toner with the M282 and M283 all-in-ones, and it shares their firmware behaviour too, which is worth understanding before you buy.

The toner, pictured

• HP 206X BlackW2110X · ~3,150 pages
• HP 206X CyanW2111X · ~2,450 pages
• HP 206X MagentaW2113X · ~2,450 pages
• HP 206X YellowW2112X · ~2,450 pages

Our own compatible toner, photographed in-house.

HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw Toner Cartridges at a Glance

Yields are the manufacturer's published estimates at roughly 5% page coverage — a normal text page. Photos, graphics and heavy colour fills will use considerably more than that, so treat these as a planning number rather than a promise.

About the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw

• Colour laser printer — print only, no scanner
• Automatic two-sided printing
• 250-sheet input tray
• Wireless, Ethernet and USB
• Four toner cartridges with integrated drums

Because the M255dw is print-only, it tends to sit in a corner running long document jobs rather than one-off copies, and that changes which cartridge you replace most. Black goes first, usually by a wide margin. Buying a 206X black on its own, rather than a four-colour set, is often the right call.

Firmware and Non-HP Chip Warnings

HP ships firmware on this generation that can reject cartridges whose chip it does not recognise — a policy HP calls dynamic security. A cartridge that worked last month can start throwing a "Non-HP chip detected" or "Supply Problem" message after an automatic update, with no other change.

The fix is to get ahead of it: open the printer's embedded web server, turn automatic firmware updates off, and leave them off. Our guide on how to stop HP firmware updates from blocking your ink walks through it screen by screen. Do this before you install a compatible cartridge, not after.

Standard or XL — Which HP 206A Cartridge Should You Buy?

The high-yield cartridge is almost always the cheaper way to print, because you are paying once for the shell, the chip and the shipping regardless of how much toner is inside it. If you want to see the difference for your own volume, run the numbers through our Printer Ink Cost Calculator.

How to Replace the Toner in the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw

1. Power the printer on and wait for it to finish any startup cycle.
2. Open the front access door and pull the toner drawer or cartridge straight out by its handle.
3. Take the new cartridge out of its packaging and rock it gently end to end five or six times to distribute the toner evenly.
4. Remove the orange or clear shipping seal and protective sheet. Do not touch the green drum surface underneath.
5. Slide the cartridge back along its rails until it seats with a firm stop, then close the door.
6. Print the printer's own colour calibration or status page so the machine registers the new cartridge and re-aligns.

Troubleshooting the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw

"Non-HP chip detected". HP's dynamic security. Check the firmware level and disable automatic updates from the printer's embedded web server before installing compatible toner.

Faded print on one side of the page. Usually toner settling unevenly in a cartridge that has been stored on its side. Remove it, rock it gently end to end five or six times, and reinstall.

Colour registration slightly off. Run the colour calibration from the printer's control panel; the M255dw drifts after a cartridge change.

Pages come out light overall. Check whether EconoMode or toner-save is switched on in the driver.

Repeating marks at even intervals down the page. Measure the gap between marks. A repeating defect points at a roller or the drum rather than a low cartridge.

Cartridges That Do Not Fit the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw

These come up constantly in mistaken orders. None of them will work in an HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw:

• HP 202A / 202X — Color LaserJet Pro M254 / M281 series
• HP 218A / 218X — Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw, which replaced the M255dw
• HP 414A / 414X — Color LaserJet Pro M454 / M479 series
• HP 216A — Color LaserJet Pro M182 / M183 series

What Color LaserJet Pro M255dw 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.

How long do the cartridges in the box last?

HP rates the introductory cartridges at about 800 pages for black and about 700 for color. That is less than a standard 206A, so plan on buying toner early.

Will remanufactured or compatible 206A/206X toner work?

HP says the M255dw is designed to work only with cartridges that have a new or reused HP chip, and its dynamic security blocks non-HP chips. Remanufactured cartridges that reuse the HP chip are the safest choice. Compatible cartridges, including our 206X, use their own chips, so whether one is accepted depends on your firmware. Turn off automatic updates before you install one.

Is it still sold, and what replaced it?

HP lists it as discontinued and points to the Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw. That printer uses HP 218A/218X, so 206 toner doesn't carry over.

How much can it print each month?

HP rates the duty cycle at up to 40,000 pages a month and recommends 150 to 2,500 pages a month for regular use.

Color LaserJet Pro M255dw quirks worth knowing

• It has dual-band (2.4 and 5 GHz) Wi-Fi plus Wi-Fi Direct, which is unusual for an entry-level color laser.
• A front USB port lets you print straight from a flash drive, without a computer.
• Even though it only prints, it has a 2.7-inch color touchscreen.
• RTINGS describes it as a simple color laser for people who print mostly in black and white, which matches how most owners use it: the black cartridge runs out long before the colors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the M255dw use HP 206A or 206X?
Either. 206A is standard yield, 206X is high yield at roughly 3,150 black pages.

Is there a separate drum for the M255dw?
No — the drum is part of each toner cartridge.

Is the M255dw toner the same as the M283fdw?
Yes, both use the HP 206 family.

How many pages does HP 206A black print?
About 1,350 pages at 5% coverage.

Does the M255dw scan or copy?
No. It is a print-only laser printer; the M282 and M283 are the all-in-one versions.

Is shipping free?
On orders over $50, yes. We offer free U.S. shipping on orders over $50, and orders placed by 4 PM ET ship the same day.

Other printers that use HP 206A and 206X toner

HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw

More HP ink guides: HP LaserJet Pro M402n · HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw · HP LaserJet Pro M201dw · 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 8, 2026 and will change over time.

• HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw product page (specs, dynamic security)
• HP 206X black toner page
• HP 206A black toner page
• HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw product page
• RTINGS Color LaserJet Pro M255dw review