What Toner Does the HP LaserJet 3015 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP LaserJet 3015 all-in-one uses HP 12A black toner, part number Q2612A, rated for 2,000 pages. There is no high-yield version, and there is no separate drum unit — the drum is built into the cartridge.
Before you order, check which "3015" you have. Two very different HP printers are commonly called the 3015, and they take completely different toner. This is the single biggest source of wrong orders on this model.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP LaserJet 3015
| 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%) | 87 | Most-reported problems: worn pickup rollers and separation pads cause misfeeds and multi-sheet pulls on 1010-class engines of this age |
| Features (11%) | 64 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, fax. No auto two-sided printing, 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. The LaserJet 3015 went on sale in 2004 and reached end of life in 2006; HP names no successor. Genuine HP 12A toner is still on sale.
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 10, 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.
LaserJet 3015 vs LaserJet P3015: which do you have?
| Printer | Year | What it is | Toner | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP LaserJet 3015 | 2004 | Mono laser all-in-one — print, copy, scan, fax | HP 12A (Q2612A) | 2,000 pages |
| HP LaserJet P3015 | 2009 | Mono laser printer only, workgroup class | HP 55A (CE255A) / 55X (CE255X) | 6,000 / 12,500 pages |
If your machine has a document feeder on top, a fax keypad and a two-line display, it is the LaserJet 3015 all-in-one and it takes the 12A. If it is a plain rectangular printer with no scanner, it is the P3015 — see our guide to what toner the HP LaserJet P3015 uses. The model name is printed on the front of the machine and on the configuration page.
HP 12A toner at a glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Page Yield (ISO) | Drum | High Yield? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 12A Black | Q2612A | 2,000 pages | Integrated | None exists |
| HP 12A Dual Pack | Q2612D | 2 x 2,000 pages | Integrated | — |
HP never made a 12X. Two thousand pages is the ceiling for this cartridge, so on a machine that also handles copies and incoming faxes, keeping a spare on the shelf is sensible. We sell a compatible HP 12A (Q2612A).
How to replace the toner in a LaserJet 3015
- Open the print-cartridge door on the front of the printer.
- Take hold of the cartridge handle and pull it straight out toward you.
- 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 left 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. Print quality should be at full strength immediately — the drum is new too.
Troubleshooting a LaserJet 3015
- Copies are streaked but computer prints are clean. That is a scanner problem, not a toner problem. The 3015 scans through its document feeder only, so clean the narrow strip of scan glass and check the feeder's pickup roller and separation pad.
- Faded print. Rock the cartridge to redistribute toner and check that EconoMode is off in the driver.
- Repeating marks down the page. The drum lives in the cartridge, so a replacement resolves them.
- Jams and multi-feeds. Pickup rollers and separation pads harden with age on any printer this old. Both are inexpensive, user-replaceable parts.
- Incoming faxes print blank. The 3015 prints faxes in black only. An empty cartridge means blank pages even though the fax was received — replace the toner and reprint from fax memory.
- Cartridge not recognized. The 3015 has no cartridge-blocking firmware. Clean the contacts and reseat.
Which printers use HP 12A toner?
- LaserJet 1010, 1012, 1015, 1018, 1020, 1022
- LaserJet 3015, 3020, 3030, 3050, 3052, 3055
- LaserJet M1005 MFP and M1319 MFP series
The 12A does not fit the LaserJet 1300 series — that machine uses the HP 13A (Q2613A), a different cartridge with a 2,500-page yield and a genuine high-yield 13X option.
About the HP LaserJet 3015 itself
The LaserJet 3015 is a compact monochrome laser all-in-one: print, copy, scan and fax. It is built on the same 1010-class engine as HP's entry-level laser printers of the era, with a 30-sheet document-feeder scanner and a fax modem added. Connectivity is USB and parallel. There is no built-in network port; HP's optional external Jetdirect 10/100 print server adds one, and the same applies to the 3020 and 3030.
It is long discontinued and out of HP support. Driver availability on current operating systems is the main practical limitation on a machine of this age — worth checking before you invest in supplies for one you have inherited.
What LaserJet 3015 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.
Does the 3015 scan from a glass flatbed?
No. HP's spec for the 3015 lists a 30-sheet automatic document feeder and no flatbed. The LaserJet 3030 is the model in this family with a flatbed as well as a feeder.
Can I put it on my network?
Not on its own. It has USB and parallel ports only. Networking needs HP's optional external Jetdirect 10/100 print server.
How many faxes can it hold in memory?
About 110 pages, in 2 MB of flash memory. Faxes that arrive while the toner is empty are kept, so you can reprint them after you change the cartridge.
Is the LaserJet 3020 the same machine?
It is the same family and takes the same HP 12A, but the 3020 has no fax modem. Only the 3015 and 3030 fax.
How fast does it print?
Up to 15 pages a minute at 600 × 600 dpi with HP's REt smoothing (Icecat lists 14 ppm on A4). That figure predates today's ISO speed ratings.
LaserJet 3015 quirks worth knowing
- There is a 10-sheet priority input slot above the 150-sheet main tray, handy for envelopes or letterhead without emptying the tray.
- The fax side stores up to 120 speed-dial entries.
- The document feeder scans and copies at up to 12 pages a minute, with a 600 ppi contact image sensor.
- HP's product code for the 3015 is Q2669A. Icecat records its end of life as May 31, 2006, so check driver support for your computer before you stock up on toner.
FAQ
What toner does the HP LaserJet 3015 use?
HP 12A, part number Q2612A, rated for 2,000 pages.
Is the LaserJet 3015 the same as the P3015?
No. The 3015 is a 2004 all-in-one that takes the 12A. The P3015 is a 2009 workgroup printer that takes the 55A or 55X. They are not related and their cartridges are not interchangeable.
Is there a high-yield 12X cartridge?
No. HP never made one. The Q2612A at 2,000 pages is the only option.
Can I use HP 13A (Q2613A) instead?
No. The 13A is for the LaserJet 1300 series and will not work in a 3015.
Does the LaserJet 3015 need a separate drum?
No. The drum is integrated into the Q2612A cartridge.
Will compatible toner cause problems?
No. This printer has no cartridge-blocking firmware, and third-party supplies do not void a US printer warranty.
Other printers that use HP 12A toner
HP LaserJet 1020 · HP LaserJet 1018 · HP LaserJet 1022
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 10, 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.