What Toner Does the HP LaserJet 4100 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP LaserJet 4100 and every variant (4100n, 4100tn, 4100dtn, 4100mfp and 4101mfp) use the HP 61A (C8061A, about 6,000 pages) or the high-yield HP 61X (C8061X, about 10,000 pages) black toner cartridge.
The look-alike HP 27A/27X from the LaserJet 4000 and 4050 and the HP 38A/39A from the LaserJet 4200 and 4300 do not fit. Castle Ink sells compatible 61A and 61X cartridges.
CastleScore · October 2026
78/100 — Recommended
HP LaserJet 4100 (Scored on HP LaserJet 4100 ratings)
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 80 | 4.48★ average across 25 ratings on eBay's LaserJet 4100N product page (small sample) |
| Expert reviews (20%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (18%) | 97 | About 0.5¢ per page with our compatible HP 61X toner (10,000 pages). |
| Reliability (18%) | 72 | Most-reported problems: 13.x Tray 2 jams from worn pickup rollers; Perform Printer Maintenance at 200,000 pages; Tray 1 misfeeds |
| Features (11%) | 60 | Print only, 25 ppm, true 1200 dpi, 600 sheets standard (1,100 on tn/dtn), optional duplexer, parallel and EIO/JetDirect Ethernet. No Wi-Fi, no USB. |
| Value (5%) | 65 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a launch price of $1,099 (used units run $400 to $600 today) |
Limited data: We could not find a published numeric expert score for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars; owner ratings are a small sample.
Retired. HP discontinued the 4100 series in 2003 and ended the genuine 61X in 2025; the printer sells used or refurbished only.
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 28, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
HP 61X
HP 61AOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
What Toner Does the HP LaserJet 4100 Take?
| Cartridge | HP part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 61X Black (high yield) | C8061X | ~10,000 pages | Castle Ink HP 61X, $48.95 |
| HP 61A Black (standard) | C8061A | ~6,000 pages | Castle Ink HP 61A, $39.95 |
| HP 61X dual pack | C8061D | 2 × ~10,000 pages | Amazon |
| Maintenance kit (fuser, transfer roller, feed rollers) | C8057A (110 V) | ~200,000 pages | Amazon |
Yields are HP's ISO 19752 figures from the LaserJet 4100 user guide, confirmed by 4inkjets, LD Products and Printerland. Amazon links are tagged (as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases).
What Does LaserJet 4100 Toner Cost per Page?
HP has effectively ended the genuine cartridges: CDW shows the OEM 61X as discontinued on May 10, 2025, and 123inkjets flags the 61A as discontinued. On October 28, 2026, remaining OEM 61X stock was listed at $147.99 at 4inkjets and $234.95 at Precision Roller (about 1.5¢ to 2.3¢ a page), and the OEM 61A at $83.99 at 4inkjets (about 1.4¢ a page). Our compatible 61X is $48.95 (about 0.5¢ a page) and our 61A is $39.95 (about 0.7¢ a page).
Will Compatible Toner Work?
Yes. The 4100 reads an E-label chip on the cartridge to drive its supplies gauge, but it is a 2001 printer with no dynamic-security firmware, and compatible 61X cartridges have been the normal way to run these machines for years. One thing to know: UniNet's remanufacturing tests found the C8061X typically runs dry around 8,800 pages rather than the rated 10,000, so budget a little under the headline yield.
How Do I Replace the Toner in the LaserJet 4100?
- Open the top cover; the cartridge sits directly beneath it.
- Lift the old cartridge out by its handle and set it aside for recycling.
- Take the new 61A or 61X out of its bag. The 4100 cartridge is HP's "no-shake" design, so vigorous rocking is not needed; a gentle side-to-side tilt is fine.
- Pull the sealing tape tab straight out until the whole strip is removed.
- Slide the cartridge into the guide rails and push until it seats.
- Close the top cover. The printer reads the cartridge chip and resets the supplies gauge; print a supplies status page from the control panel to confirm.
If the display shows PERFORM PRINTER MAINTENANCE, that is the 200,000-page fuser and roller kit (C8057A), not the toner. After fitting the kit, hold the minus sides of the Item and Value keys while powering on and release when RESET MAINTENANCE COUNT appears.
Which Other Printers Use HP 61A and 61X?
Only the LaserJet 4100 family: the 4100, 4100n, 4100tn, 4100dtn, 4100mfp and 4101mfp. The earlier LaserJet 4000 and 4050 use the 27A/27X, and the later 4200 and 4300 use the 38A and 39A.
What LaserJet 4100 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, manufacturer support communities and owner reviews, answered in our words.
Will the 27X from my old LaserJet 4000 fit the 4100?
No. The two cartridges look nearly identical, but the 61X has a 62-tooth drum gear (the 4000's has 60), sealed end pins and an E-label chip, and retailer compatibility lists for the 27X name only the 4000 and 4050. UniNet warns that a 4000-series drum run in a 4100 can damage the printer.
Is the genuine HP 61X still available?
Not from HP. CDW marks it discontinued as of May 2025 and resellers are selling down remaining stock at $148 to $235. Compatible 61X cartridges run $50 to $60.
Can I run a LaserJet 4100 on Windows 10 or 11?
Yes. The LaserJet 4100 PCL 5 driver is built into Windows; owners on HP's forum found it under Add Printer, and clicking Windows Update in the driver list pulls in additional 4100 drivers. For a networked 4100n/tn/dtn, check the TCP/IP port address if the printer does not respond.
Why does Tray 2 keep jamming (13.1 or 13.2 errors)?
Worn RG5-3114 pickup and feed rollers are the usual cause, and they come in the maintenance kit. One iFixit contributor traced persistent 13.x jams to a magnetic clutch on the pickup-roller shaft fouled with iron filings.
LaserJet 4100 quirks worth knowing
- It was one of the first LaserJets with a no-shake cartridge and a supplies status page with a toner gauge driven by the cartridge chip.
- The 4100 was the last LaserJet built in the United States; its successor, the 4200, was made in Japan.
- The maintenance kit comes in two voltages, C8057A for 110 V and C8058A for 220 V; most aftermarket kits sold in the US are 120 V only.
- Standard memory is 16 MB (32 MB on the n/tn/dtn, 64 MB on the mfp), expandable to 256 MB; complex PostScript jobs can stall a base unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What toner does the HP LaserJet 4100 use?
HP 61A (C8061A, about 6,000 pages) or HP 61X (C8061X, about 10,000 pages). The same cartridges fit the 4100n, 4100tn, 4100dtn and 4100mfp.
Does the LaserJet 4100 use the same toner as the 4000 or 4200?
No. The 4000 and 4050 use the 27A/27X and the 4200 uses the 38A; only the 61A and 61X fit the 4100.
What is the LaserJet 4100 maintenance kit?
C8057A (110 V): a fuser, transfer roller, six feed and separation rollers and a Tray 1 pickup roller, due every 200,000 pages.
More HP ink guides: HP LaserJet 4000N · HP LaserJet 4050 · HP LaserJet 4200 · 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 28, 2026 and will change over time.
- HP LaserJet 4100 user guide (PDF)
- 4inkjets: HP LaserJet 4100 toner and parts
- CDW: HP 61X original toner (discontinued notice)
- Precision Roller: HP LaserJet 4100 specs and toner
- UniNet: remanufacturing the HP 4100 (C8061) cartridge (PDF)
- Truman State ITS: resetting the maintenance count on HP LaserJets
- HP Support Community: LaserJet 4100 driver for Windows 10
- eBay: HP LaserJet 4100N product ratings
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.