What Toner Does the HP LaserJet 1020 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP LaserJet 1020 uses the HP 12A (Q2612A) black toner cartridge, rated at roughly 2,000 pages. HP never made a genuine high-yield version for this printer, so the 12A (Q2612A) is the only cartridge it takes. The imaging drum is built into the cartridge — there is no separate drum to buy.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP LaserJet 1020
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (20%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (18%) | 92 | About 2¢ per page all-in with our compatible 12A toner (2,000 pages; drum built in). |
| Reliability (18%) | 84 | Most-reported problems: worn pickup roller and separation pad cause misfeeds, no-pick or multi-sheet pulls on older units |
| Features (11%) | 40 | Print only, over USB. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| 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 lists the LaserJet 1020 as discontinued and names no newer model, but the HP 12A cartridge is still sold.
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 7, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
HP 12A Toner
HP 12A JumboOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
HP LaserJet 1020 Toner Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Type / Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| 12A (Q2612A) | Black (standard) | ~2,000 pages |
The LaserJet 1020 is one of the longest-lived printers HP ever built. It is USB-only and has no network port, but it is famously reliable, and the HP 12A cartridge it uses remains one of the cheapest and most widely stocked toners on the market.
Is There a High-Yield Version?
No — and this is worth being clear about, because you will see listings that suggest otherwise. HP produced only one cartridge for the HP LaserJet 1020: the 12A (Q2612A), at around 2,000 pages. You will see cartridges advertised as "12X" or "Q2612X". HP never made one — those are aftermarket overfills of the standard cartridge.
If you find a cartridge advertised as a high-yield version for this printer, it is an aftermarket product that has been overfilled rather than an HP part. We sell one ourselves, our compatible HP 12A Jumbo, and we sell it as a compatible, not as an HP part. Some work perfectly well; others overfill the chamber and cause leakage or poor print quality. If you want to try one, buy from a seller with a real replacement guarantee.
To compare running costs against a newer printer, our Printer Ink Cost Calculator will show you the cost per page at any cartridge price.
Good News: There's No Separate Drum to Buy
Unlike most Brother mono lasers, the HP LaserJet 1020 uses an all-in-one cartridge. The imaging drum is built into the HP 12A (Q2612A) itself, so every time you replace the toner you are also fitting a brand-new drum. There is no second consumable to track, no drum-life counter to watch, and no separate part to order.
This matters when you compare running costs across brands. A Brother machine may show a lower price per toner cartridge, but a drum unit comes due every few cartridges on top of that. With the HP LaserJet 1020, the cartridge price is the whole story — which also means print quality resets completely with every replacement.
It is also why you should be sceptical of any listing offering a "drum unit" for this printer. If you see one, it is either for a different model or it is a refill kit, and neither is what you want.
What Actually Ships in the Box
HP's 2005 datasheet lists the HP 12A (Q2612A) cartridge, rated at about 2,000 pages, as the one that shipped with the printer. Given the age of these printers, almost every one in service today is running a replacement.
Chips and Compatibility
The 12A is a chipless cartridge — there is no electronic communication between the cartridge and the printer at all. The 1020 has no toner gauge as a result, and it will simply keep printing until output fades. That also means there is nothing that can lock out a compatible cartridge: any correctly built 12A will work.
How to Replace the Toner in the HP LaserJet 1020
- Open the front cartridge door. On most models this is the panel just above the paper tray.
- Grip the handle on the used cartridge and pull it straight out toward you.
- Take the new HP 12A (Q2612A) out of its packaging and rock it gently back and forth several times to loosen the toner inside.
- Pull the orange tab to remove the full length of the sealing tape from the cartridge, then remove the orange protective shield from the drum if one is fitted. Do not touch the green or grey drum surface with your fingers.
- Line the cartridge up with the rails inside the printer and slide it in until it seats firmly.
- Close the door. The printer warms up and returns to Ready; a mono laser like this has no calibration cycle.
- Print a test page to check the output. The 1020 has no toner gauge, so there is no supply level to reset.
Keep the packaging for a few days. If the cartridge turns out to be faulty, most sellers — Castle Ink included — will want it returned in its original box.
Troubleshooting Tips
Print gradually fades with no warning: Expected behaviour — the 1020 has no toner sensor. Rock the cartridge end to end to redistribute what is left, and keep a spare on hand.
Repeating marks or grey background: The drum is inside the 12A cartridge, so a replacement cartridge resolves it.
Printer not recognised on Windows 11: The 1020 needs the legacy HP driver rather than a generic one. HP's support site still hosts a compatible package, and many users have success with the built-in "HP LaserJet 1015" driver.
Paper jams or multiple sheets pulled: The separation pad and pickup roller harden with age. Both are inexpensive and simple to replace.
Prints only blank pages: Check that the sealing tape was fully removed from the new cartridge — the strip runs the full length of the cartridge.
Which Other Printers Use the Same Cartridge?
The HP 12A (Q2612A) cartridge is used across a wide range of machines, which is good news for buyers — high production volume keeps compatible cartridge prices low and availability high. If you run more than one of these printers, a single cartridge type covers all of them:
- HP LaserJet 1010 / 1012 / 1015 / 1018 / 1020 / 1020 Plus / 1022 / 1022n / 1022nw
- HP LaserJet 3015 / 3020 / 3030
- HP LaserJet 3050 / 3052 / 3055
- HP LaserJet M1005 MFP
- HP LaserJet M1319f MFP
Always confirm the cartridge number printed on the supply you are replacing before ordering, since manufacturers occasionally use similar-looking numbers across families. You can also look your machine up on our Find Ink by Printer directory, which lists the correct cartridge for several hundred printers.
What LaserJet 1020 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.
Can the LaserJet 1020 go on my network or Wi-Fi?
No. Its only connection is USB 2.0. To share it you need a computer that shares the printer, or an external print server.
Can it print on both sides of the page?
Only by hand. There is no automatic duplexer, so you print one side, turn the stack over and feed it back in.
How much printing is it built for?
HP's support specs give a maximum of 8,000 pages a month and an average of 1,000. The original 2005 datasheet quoted a 5,000-page duty cycle.
I have a LaserJet 1020 Plus. Same toner?
Yes. Retailers list the 1020 Plus as compatible with the same HP 12A (Q2612A).
Does HP sell a 12A twin pack?
Yes, the HP 12A 2-pack (Q2612D), though Staples showed it out of stock in October 2026. Each cartridge is the same 2,000-page Q2612A.
LaserJet 1020 quirks worth knowing
- It is a host-based printer: it only understands HP's ZjStream data from the computer. That is why it needs HP's own driver and won't work with a generic PCL or PostScript driver.
- HP's original datasheet lists drivers only for Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000 and 32-bit XP. Every install on a modern PC relies on later HP or Windows Update drivers.
- Above the 150-sheet tray is a single-sheet priority slot for one-off envelopes and labels. Pages come out face-down into a 125-sheet bin.
- There is no screen and only 2 MB of memory. Status comes from the LED lights, which is why there is no toner gauge or low-toner message.
Frequently Asked Questions
What toner does the HP LaserJet 1020 use? The HP 12A (Q2612A) black toner cartridge, rated at roughly 2,000 pages. The imaging drum is built in.
Is there a high-yield 12A? Not from HP. Any "12X" or "Q2612X" cartridge is an aftermarket overfill rather than a genuine HP part.
Why does my 1020 have no toner level indicator? The 12A has no chip, so the printer cannot measure toner. It prints until output fades.
Does the LaserJet 1020 need a separate drum? No. The drum is integrated into the 12A cartridge.
Will compatible 12A toner work properly? Yes. With no chip involved there is nothing to reject a third-party cartridge, which makes this one of the safest printers to run on compatible toner.
Can I still use a LaserJet 1020 on Windows 11? Usually yes, using the legacy HP driver or the HP LaserJet 1015 driver. It is USB-only, so it will not appear as a network printer.
What other printers use the HP 12A? The 12A also fits the LaserJet 1010, 1012, 1015, 1018, 1022, 3015, 3020, 3030, 3050, 3052, 3055, M1005 MFP and M1319f MFP.
Other printers that use HP 12A toner
HP LaserJet 1018 · HP LaserJet 1022 · HP LaserJet 3015
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 7, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement HP toner cartridges? Shop HP toner cartridges at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.