What Toner Does the HP LaserJet 4000n Use?

by William Elward Last Updated: October 25, 2026

Quick answer: The HP LaserJet 4000n, and the rest of the 4000 series (4000, 4000t, 4000tn and 4000se), uses the HP 27A (C4127A) or high-yield HP 27X (C4127X) black toner cartridge. The drum is built into the cartridge. Castle Ink stocks compatible HP 27X and HP 27A.

The same cartridges fit the LaserJet 4050 series. HP 27 is not the same as HP 42A/42X, which fits the later LaserJet 4250.

CastleScore · October 2026

69/100 — Situational

HP LaserJet 4000n

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%)	98	About 0.5¢ per page with our compatible HP 27X toner (10,000 pages).
Reliability (18%)	86	Most-reported problems: 13.1 jam errors with no paper stuck (worn rollers and torque limiter); intermittent misfeeds from the 500-sheet cassette; Tray 1 separation pad wear; no official Windows 10/11 driver
Features (11%)	35	Print only, 17 ppm, PCL and PostScript emulation, JetDirect Ethernet on n/tn, parallel port, 600-sheet input. No USB, no Wi-Fi, no built-in auto two-sided printing.
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 replaced the 4000 series with the 4050 in 1999. HP 27A and 27X toner 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 25, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

The toner, pictured

Our own compatible toner, photographed in-house.

What Toner Cartridges Does the HP LaserJet 4000n Take?

Cartridge	HP part no.	Approx. yield	Castle Ink option
HP 27A	C4127A	~6,000 pages	Compatible HP 27A
HP 27X (high yield)	C4127X	~10,000 pages	Compatible HP 27X

Yields are HP's ratings at about 5% coverage. The 27X costs only a few dollars more and nearly doubles the page count, so it's the better buy for a printer that's still in daily use.

What Does HP 27X Toner Cost Now?

On October 25, 2026, Staples listed the original HP 27X at $208.49. Our compatible HP 27X is $51.95 for 10,000 pages, about half a cent a page, and the 27A is $48.95.

Toner cartridges at Castle Ink are newly manufactured compatibles. See compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM for what that means. Orders placed by 4 PM ET ship the same day, and U.S. orders over $50 ship free.

Using compatible toner: The 4000 series predates HP's chipped cartridges, so there's nothing to block third-party toner. Owners report remanufactured and compatible cartridges working normally.

How Do I Replace the Toner in the 4000n?

Open the top cover.
Lift the used cartridge out by its handle.
Rock the new cartridge side to side to spread the toner.
Pull the sealing tape out completely.
Slide the cartridge into its guides until it seats, then close the cover.

Which Other Printers Use HP 27A / 27X?

HP 27A and 27X fit the whole LaserJet 4000 series (4000, 4000n, 4000t, 4000tn, 4000se) and the LaserJet 4050 series (4050, 4050n, 4050t, 4050tn, 4050se).

What 4000n owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, support forums and owner reviews, answered in our words.

Can I use a LaserJet 4000 with Windows 11?

There's no official Windows 11 driver. Community answers on HP's forum recommend HP's Universal Print Driver (PCL 6 or PostScript), added by IP address. Basic printing works; some advanced features may not.

How do I connect it to a PC with no parallel port?

Use the built-in JetDirect Ethernet card on the n and tn models. Otherwise a parallel-to-USB adapter works for basic printing.

Why does it show a 13.1 jam when no paper is stuck?

Repliers on HP's forum point to a worn or dirty torque limiter and pickup rollers in the affected tray. Cleaning or replacing them is the usual fix.

Should I buy 27A or 27X?

Both fit. The 27X is rated for about 10,000 pages and the 27A for about 6,000.

Will remanufactured or compatible toner work?

Yes. Staples reviewers with a 4000 report third-party toner printing normally.

4000n quirks worth knowing

The suffixes mean n = network (JetDirect) and t = an extra paper tray. There's no built-in duplex model; HP sold a duplexer as an add-on.
It prints at 17 pages a minute at up to 1,200 dpi, with PCL 6, PCL 5e and PostScript Level 2 emulation.
It connects by parallel port and EIO card slots; there's no USB.
HP introduced it in 1997, and original 27X cartridges were still on sale new at Staples in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions