What Toner Does the HP LaserJet 4050 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP LaserJet 4050 uses HP 27A (C4127A) standard-yield black toner or HP 27X (C4127X) high-yield black toner. The imaging drum is built into the cartridge, so there is no separate drum to buy.
The same two cartridges cover the whole family — 4050, 4050n, 4050t and 4050tn — and also fit the earlier LaserJet 4000 series, which is useful if you run both.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP LaserJet 4050
| 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 all-in with our compatible HP 27X (10,000 pages; drum built in). |
| Reliability (18%) | 81 | Most-reported problems: worn pickup and separation rollers and the Tray 1 separation pad cause misfeeds on ageing units; fuser needs periodic maintenance-kit replacement |
| 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 retired the 4050 series long ago and names no direct successor. Refurbished units and HP 27A/27X toner are still easy to find.
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 27X Toner
HP 27A TonerOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
HP 27A vs 27X at a glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Page Yield | Drum | Also fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 27A | C4127A | 6,000 pages | Integrated | LaserJet 4000 series |
| HP 27X | C4127X | 10,000 pages | Integrated | LaserJet 4000 series |
These are pre-ISO figures declared by HP at roughly 5% coverage, so treat them as comparative rather than guaranteed. Both cartridges are physically interchangeable in the 4050 — the X simply holds more toner.
Should you buy 27A or 27X?
The 27X carries two-thirds more toner but does not cost two-thirds more, so cost per page favors it clearly. On a printer that is usually shared across a small office, it also means fewer interruptions.
The 27A makes sense if the machine is lightly used or close to retirement and you would rather not leave money sitting in a half-used cartridge.
How to replace the toner
- Open the top cover of the printer.
- Lift the used cartridge out by its handle. These are large cartridges — use both hands and keep it level.
- Unpack the new C4127A or C4127X and rock it gently front to back five or six times to distribute the toner.
- Bend and snap the tab at the end of the cartridge, then pull the sealing tape all the way out in one motion.
- Line the cartridge up with the guides and slide it in until it seats fully.
- Close the top cover and print a configuration page from the control panel to confirm.
Troubleshooting a LaserJet 4050
- 50.x fuser error. The classic failure on this generation. A 50-series error on the display points at the fuser, not the toner. Replacement fusers and maintenance kits are still available and are the standard fix.
- Multi-feeds, jams and skewed pages. Pickup rollers and the separation pad harden with age on essentially every surviving 4050. Both are cheap, user-replaceable parts and should be treated as routine maintenance.
- Faded print. Rock the cartridge to redistribute toner and confirm EconoMode is off in the driver.
- Repeating marks down the page. The drum is inside the cartridge, so a repeating defect means a worn cartridge and a replacement resolves it.
- Cannot get it onto a modern computer. Windows still offers LaserJet 4050 Series PCL6, PCL5 and PostScript drivers, and HP staff recommend PCL6 first. A parallel-only 4050 will need a JetDirect card or a USB-to-parallel adapter; the 4050n and 4050tn have Ethernet built in, which is far easier.
Which printers use HP 27A and 27X toner?
- LaserJet 4050, 4050n, 4050t, 4050tn
- LaserJet 4000, 4000n, 4000t, 4000tn
The 4050 succeeded the 4000 in 1999 and kept the same cartridge, so a spare works across both. The later LaserJet 4100 moved to the HP 61A/61X cartridge and is not compatible.
About the HP LaserJet 4050 itself
The 4050 is a monochrome workgroup laser printer — print only, no scanning or copying. It runs at 17 pages per minute on letter, and carries 8 MB of RAM on the base and 4050T models or 16 MB on the 4050N and 4050TN, expandable to 192 MB.
Automatic two-sided printing was an optional accessory rather than standard equipment on any 4050 variant — worth knowing if you are buying used and expect duplex. Every model has IEEE 1284 parallel, RS-232 serial and two EIO slots; the 4050n and 4050tn add an HP JetDirect 10/100Base-TX Ethernet card and built-in Fast Infrared printing.
It is long discontinued, but the engine was built for far heavier duty than most offices ever gave it, which is why so many are still running.
What LaserJet 4050 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.
Which Windows driver should I use on Windows 10?
Windows offers LaserJet 4050 Series PCL6, PCL5 and PostScript drivers. In an HP Community thread, HP staff recommended the PCL6 driver. One owner found PCL6 printed a single garbled line after moving to 64-bit Windows 10; if that happens, try PCL5 or PostScript.
How much memory can I add?
It ships with 8 MB (4050 and 4050T) or 16 MB (4050N and 4050TN) and takes up to 192 MB across three slots.
What is the difference between the 4050, 4050T, 4050N and 4050TN?
The T models swap the single 500-sheet tray for two 250-sheet trays, both alongside the 100-sheet Tray 1. The N models add an HP JetDirect 10/100 network card and 16 MB of memory.
Which maintenance kit fits it?
The 110 V maintenance kit, with the fuser and rollers, is C4118-67902.
Can it hold jobs or do private printing?
Only with the optional hard disk installed. Proof and Hold, Private Printing, Quick Copy and Stored Jobs all need it.
LaserJet 4050 quirks worth knowing
- It is rated for up to 65,000 pages a month, far beyond what most small offices ever ask of it.
- The 4050N and 4050TN have Fast Infrared printing built in. On the 4050 and 4050T it was an option (the C4103A receiver).
- Accessories still turn up used under these part numbers: C4123A duplexer, C4122A 75-envelope feeder and C4124A 500-sheet feeder. With extra trays it holds up to 1,100 sheets.
- It launched in May 1999 at a $1,099 list price.
FAQ
What toner does the HP LaserJet 4050 use?
HP 27A (C4127A, 6,000 pages) or HP 27X (C4127X, 10,000 pages) black toner.
Does the LaserJet 4000 use the same toner?
Yes. The 4000 and 4050 series share the C4127A and C4127X cartridges.
Does the 4050 need a separate drum unit?
No. The drum is part of the toner cartridge and is replaced with it.
Can I use HP 61A (C8061A) instead?
No. That is the LaserJet 4100 cartridge and is not compatible with the 4050.
Does the 4050 print double-sided?
Only with the optional C4123A duplex accessory fitted. It was never standard on this model.
Will compatible toner cause a firmware block?
No. This printer predates cartridge-blocking firmware entirely.
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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.