What Toner Does the HP LaserJet 1022 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP LaserJet 1022 uses HP 12A black toner, part number Q2612A, rated for about 2,000 pages. That is the only cartridge HP made for it — there is no 12X — and the imaging drum is built into the cartridge, so there is no separate drum to buy.
The same cartridge covers the 1022n and 1022nw as well as the LaserJet 1010, 1012, 1015 and 1020.
CastleScore · October 2026
78/100 — Recommended
HP LaserJet 1022
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 76 | 3.90★ average across 115 ratings at Amazon (3.9) |
| 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%) | 87 | Most-reported problems: paper-feed wear: D-shaped pickup roller is a common replacement part on this chassis |
| Features (11%) | 46 | Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 84 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Discontinued. HP launched the LaserJet 1022 series in 2005 and no longer sells it. HP 12A toner is still widely made.
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 11, 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 12A toner at a glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Page Yield | Drum | High Yield? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 12A Black | Q2612A | ~2,000 pages | Integrated | None exists |
| HP 12A Dual Pack | Q2612D | 2 x 2,000 pages | Integrated | — |
If you see a cartridge advertised as a "12X" or "Q2612X high yield", it is an aftermarket overfill rather than an HP part. Those exist and some work fine, but the page claims are the seller's, not HP's. Our own 12A Jumbo is one of these: a compatible cartridge we rate at about 4,000 pages. We also sell a standard compatible HP 12A (Q2612A). U.S. orders over $50 ship free, and orders placed by 4 PM ET ship the same day.
Before you buy: the Windows 11 driver problem
This is the practical issue with a LaserJet 1022 today, and it has nothing to do with toner.
Unlike the LaserJet 1018 and 1020, which are purely host-based, the 1022 supports HP PCL 5e as well as host-based printing, which gives it more driver options. HP no longer lists a Windows 11 driver for it. HP's support forums carry many threads from owners whose 1022 or 1022n will not install or will not print on Windows 11 — some get it working with a legacy driver package or one supplied through Windows Update, others do not. On the 1022nw, there is a second problem: its 802.11b/g radio will not join a modern 5 GHz-only network and struggles with current security settings.
If you have inherited a 1022, confirm it installs and prints on the computer you intend to use before buying toner. If it works, the toner is cheap and the printer will run for years.
How to replace the toner
- Open the print-cartridge door on the front of the printer.
- Take hold of the cartridge handle and pull it straight out.
- Unpack the new Q2612A and rock it gently from side to side five or six times to distribute the toner.
- Bend the tab on the end of the cartridge until it snaps free, then pull the sealing tape completely out.
- Slide the cartridge into the printer along the guides until it seats, and close the door.
- Print a test page. Quality should be at full strength immediately, since the drum is new too.
Troubleshooting a LaserJet 1022
- Repeated jams or multi-feeds. The pickup roller and separation pad harden with age and are the leading cause of paper-feed trouble on this chassis. Both are inexpensive user-replaceable parts and should be changed together.
- Faded print. Rock the cartridge to redistribute toner and confirm EconoMode is off in the driver.
- Repeating marks down the page. The drum lives in the cartridge, so a replacement resolves them.
- Nothing prints and no error shows. This is usually a driver or spooler problem rather than hardware. Reinstall the driver and confirm the correct port.
- 1022nw will not connect. Its wireless is 802.11b/g only. A 5 GHz-only network, or one using modern security settings, will not work. Ethernet (on the 1022n and 1022nw) or USB is the reliable route.
- Toner-low warnings that never end. The printer estimates rather than measures. Keep printing until quality actually drops.
Which printers use HP 12A toner?
- LaserJet 1010, 1012, 1015, 1018, 1020, 1022, 1022n, 1022nw
- LaserJet 3015, 3020, 3030, 3050, 3052, 3055
- LaserJet M1005 MFP and M1319 MFP series
The 12A does not fit the LaserJet 1300 series, which uses the HP 13A (Q2613A) — see our guide to what toner the HP LaserJet 1300 uses. It also does not fit the LaserJet 1150, which takes the Q2624A.
About the HP LaserJet 1022 itself
The 1022 is a compact monochrome laser printer — print only, with no scanner, copier or fax. HP rates it at up to 18 pages per minute on A4 (reviewers list 19 on letter). It has a 266 MHz processor and 8 MB of RAM, and offers manual duplex only. Connectivity is USB 2.0 on the base model; the 1022n adds internal Ethernet and the 1022nw adds 802.11b/g wireless.
It is long discontinued but mechanically durable, and toner is about as cheap as laser toner gets. The driver situation, not the hardware, is what decides whether one is worth keeping.
What LaserJet 1022 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.
It stops printing partway through a page on Windows 11. What helps?
An HP agent on HP's forum suggested keeping the Windows class driver as the default, restarting the Print Spooler, clearing the print queue, and plugging the USB cable straight into the computer rather than a hub.
Should I use HP's Universal Print Driver?
HP's forum agents advise against it for the 1022. They point owners to HP's legacy host-based package for the 1018, 1020 and 1022, or a PCL 5 or PCL 6 driver.
How much paper does it hold?
A 250-sheet main tray plus a 10-sheet priority slot for envelopes or single sheets.
My HP 12A runs out faster than 2,000 pages. Why?
The 2,000-page rating is at 5% coverage, which is a light page of text. Graphics and heavier pages use more; TrustedReviews called the 1022 "toner hungry".
How do I get the 1022nw onto Wi-Fi?
Connect it by Ethernet first. TrustedReviews found it needed a wired connection to get an IP address before it could join the wireless network.
LaserJet 1022 quirks worth knowing
- It uses HP's Instant-on fusing, so the first page comes out in under 8 seconds with no warm-up.
- HP rates it for up to 8,000 pages a month, which is a lot for a printer this small.
- The pickup roller (RL1-0266-000) is the same part used in the LaserJet 1010, 1012, 1015, 1018, 1020, 3015, 3020 and 3030, so it is cheap and easy to find.
FAQ
What toner does the HP LaserJet 1022 use?
HP 12A, part number Q2612A, rated for approximately 2,000 pages.
Is there a high-yield 12X cartridge?
No. HP never made one. Anything sold as a "12X" is an aftermarket overfill.
Does the LaserJet 1022 need a separate drum unit?
No. The drum is part of the cartridge and is replaced along with the toner.
Can I use HP 13A instead?
No. The 13A (Q2613A) is for the LaserJet 1300 series and is a different cartridge.
Will the LaserJet 1022 work on Windows 11?
Often, but HP no longer lists a Windows 11 driver for it. Owners get it working with the built-in Windows class driver, HP's legacy 1018/1020/1022 host-based package, or a PCL 5 or PCL 6 driver. Test before investing in supplies.
Does it print double-sided automatically?
No. Manual duplex only.
Other printers that use HP 12A toner
HP LaserJet 1020 · HP LaserJet 1018 · 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 11, 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.