What Toner Does the HP LaserJet 1300 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP LaserJet 1300 uses HP 13A (Q2613A) standard-yield black toner or HP 13X (Q2613X) high-yield black toner. Both fit every 1300 variant, and the imaging drum is built into the cartridge, so there is no separate drum unit.
One correction worth making up front, because it causes a lot of wrong orders: the LaserJet 1300 does not use the HP 12A (Q2612A). The 12A is for the 1010/1020/1022 and 3015–3055 families. The two cartridges are physically and electrically different.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP LaserJet 1300
| 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%) | 96 | About 1¢ per page all-in with our compatible 13X toner (4,000 pages; drum built in). |
| Reliability (18%) | 90 | No recurring hardware or connection complaints in owner reviews. |
| Features (11%) | 45 | Fast (20+ ppm). 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 ended sales of the base LaserJet 1300 around 2004 (Icecat lists its end of life as October 2004) and names no successor. HP 13A and 13X toner is still sold, including our compatibles.
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 8, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
HP 13X Toner
HP 13A TonerOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
HP 13A vs 13X at a glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Page Yield | Drum | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 13A | Q2613A | 2,500 pages | Integrated | LaserJet 1300 series |
| HP 13X | Q2613X | 4,000 pages | Integrated | LaserJet 1300 series |
HP's own 1150/1300 user guide describes the 1300 as taking "a 4000- or 2500-page print cartridge," so both are officially supported. Yields assume print density 3, EconoMode off and 5% coverage.
Should you buy 13A or 13X?
The 13X is rated for 4,000 pages against 2,500 for the 13A, 60% more, so it usually costs less per page. On a printer this old it also means fewer occasions where you discover the cartridge is empty mid-job.
The 13A is the sensible choice if the machine only sees occasional use, or if you are not sure how much life it has left and would rather not put a large cartridge into it.
Watch out: 13A vs 12A vs 24A
Three similar-looking HP cartridges from the same era get confused constantly, and HP's own documentation covers two of them in a single manual, which does not help:
| Cartridge | Part Number | Yield | Printer family |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 12A | Q2612A | 2,000 pages | LaserJet 1010, 1020, 1022, 3015–3055 |
| HP 13A | Q2613A | 2,500 pages | LaserJet 1300 series |
| HP 24A | Q2624A | 2,500 pages | LaserJet 1150 |
None of these are interchangeable. Order by the part number on your old cartridge, not by which one looks familiar.
How to replace the toner
- Open the print-cartridge door on the front of the printer.
- Lift the used cartridge out by its handle, keeping it level.
- Unpack the new Q2613A or Q2613X and rock it gently 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.
- Close the door and print a test page.
Troubleshooting a LaserJet 1300
- Jams and multi-feeds. Pickup roller and separation pad wear is the near-universal fault on printers of this age. Both are cheap and easy to replace, and doing them together is the usual fix.
- Faded print. Rock the cartridge to redistribute toner and confirm EconoMode is off. On a machine this old, also consider fuser wear if faintness persists across new cartridges.
- Repeating marks down the page. The drum is inside the cartridge; a new cartridge resolves them.
- Driver trouble on a modern computer. It understands PCL 6, PCL 5e and PostScript Level 2 emulation, so a generic PCL or PostScript driver built into Windows or macOS usually works. That is a real advantage over host-based printers of the same era.
- Networking accessories. The 1300's LIO slot accessories, and the Bluetooth adapter HP once sold, are long obsolete. The 1300n's built-in JetDirect card is the practical way to network one.
- Cartridge not recognized. There is no cartridge-blocking firmware on this printer. Clean the contacts and reseat.
Which printers use HP 13A and 13X toner?
- LaserJet 1300
- LaserJet 1300n
- LaserJet 1300xi (listed by UK retailers)
If you also run a 1010/1020/1022-class machine, see our guide to what toner the HP LaserJet 1022 uses — that family takes the 12A instead.
About the HP LaserJet 1300 itself
The 1300 is a compact monochrome laser printer — print only, no scanner or copier. It prints 20 pages per minute on letter, carries 16 MB of RAM expandable to 80 MB, and offers manual duplex only.
Connectivity is USB, with parallel available through the LIO slot; the 1300n adds an HP Jetdirect print server card. It is long discontinued, but because it speaks a standard printer language rather than depending on a proprietary host-based driver, it tends to survive operating-system changes better than its contemporaries.
What LaserJet 1300 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 I put the 1300 on a network?
The 1300n has an HP Jetdirect 200m print server built into its LIO slot. The base 1300 can be networked with an external HP Jetdirect print server such as the 175x or 310x.
How much memory can I add?
It ships with 16 MB and takes up to 80 MB through its single 100-pin DIMM slot.
Will it work with a computer HP no longer writes drivers for?
Usually. It understands PCL 6, PCL 5e and PostScript Level 2 emulation, so a generic PCL or PostScript driver built into the operating system normally works.
Can I add a second paper tray?
Yes. It holds 250 sheets as standard and 500 with the optional second tray.
Does it really print 20 pages a minute?
Not quite in practice. In one UK retailer's test it managed about 16 pages a minute on text and under 12 on images.
LaserJet 1300 quirks worth knowing
- The base 1300 ships with a parallel (IEEE 1284) adapter in its LIO slot. On the 1300n, that slot holds the Jetdirect network card instead.
- It has 45 TrueType and 35 PostScript fonts built in, which was unusual for a personal laser printer of its time.
- HP offered a Bluetooth wireless printer adapter as an accessory.
- The printer shipped with a full 2,500-page cartridge rather than a reduced starter cartridge.
FAQ
What toner does the HP LaserJet 1300 use?
HP 13A (Q2613A, 2,500 pages) or HP 13X (Q2613X, 4,000 pages) black toner.
Can I use HP 12A in a LaserJet 1300?
No. The 12A is for the 1010/1020/1022 and 3015–3055 families and is not compatible.
Does the LaserJet 1300 need a separate drum?
No. The drum is part of the cartridge.
Is HP 13A the same as HP 24A?
No. The 24A (Q2624A) is the LaserJet 1150 cartridge. Both are rated 2,500 pages, which is exactly why they get confused.
Does the 1300 print double-sided automatically?
No. Manual duplex only.
Will compatible toner cause a firmware block?
No. This printer predates cartridge-blocking firmware entirely.
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.
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.