What Toner Does the HP LaserJet 4200 Use?

Quick answer: The HP LaserJet 4200 series uses HP 38A black toner, part number Q1338A, rated for 12,000 pages. There is no high-yield version, and there is no separate drum to buy — the Q1338A is an all-in-one "Smart Print Cartridge" containing the toner, developer, imaging drum and waste bin.

This covers the LaserJet 4200, 4200n, 4200tn, 4200dtn and 4200dtnsl. It does not cover the LaserJet 4300, which uses the HP 39A (Q1339A).

HP 38A toner at a glance

Twelve thousand pages from a single cartridge is what makes a twenty-year-old 4200 still worth running. Cost per page on this machine remains competitive with printers built two decades later.

Watch out for "universal" 38A/39A cartridges

Search for 4200 toner and you will find remanufactured cartridges advertised as covering Q1338A, Q1339A, Q5945A and Q5942X in one SKU. Those are third-party universal cartridges built to fit several chassis — they are not an HP part, and their existence is the main reason search results and marketplace listings wrongly cross-list the 38A and the 39A as interchangeable.

The OEM cartridges are not interchangeable. If you have a 4200, the HP part is Q1338A. Buy a clearly labeled 38A compatible rather than a universal cartridge whose fit depends on which revision you happen to receive.

Castle Ink recommendation

• HP 38A Black Toner Cartridge (Q1338A) — Compatible

Browse the full HP compatible toner range for other LaserJet models.

How to replace the toner in a LaserJet 4200

1. Open the top cover of the printer.
2. Grip the handle on the used cartridge and pull it straight out. These are large, heavy cartridges — use both hands and keep it level.
3. Unpack the new Q1338A and rock it gently front to back five or six times to distribute the toner.
4. Bend and snap the tab on the end of the cartridge, then pull the entire sealing tape out in one steady motion.
5. Line the cartridge up with the guides and slide it into the printer until it seats.
6. Close the top cover and print a configuration page from the control panel to confirm.

Troubleshooting a LaserJet 4200

• Loud grinding noise from inside the printer. This is the signature 4200 fault: the swing-plate assembly that drives the fuser wears out. It is a well-documented, inexpensive repair and it is not a reason to scrap the machine — but it will not fix itself, and it gets worse.
• Smearing or poor fusing on early units. Some early-production 4200 fusers suffered foil delamination; later revisions corrected it. If you are buying used, ask what fuser revision is fitted.
• "Cartridge not detected" on a cheap remanufactured cartridge. The Q1338A was one of the first LaserJet cartridges to carry an HP smart chip. There is no firmware lockout on this printer, but a badly made chip on a bargain cartridge can fail to read. Clean the contacts and reseat; if it still fails, the cartridge is at fault.
• Faded print. Rock the cartridge and confirm EconoMode is off in the driver.
• Repeating marks down the page. The drum is inside the cartridge, so a new cartridge resolves them.

Which 4200 models have what

All of them take the same Q1338A cartridge. The differences are duplexing, paper trays and networking, not supplies.

Genuine HP 38A vs compatible toner

The 4200 launched in November 2002, long before HP introduced firmware that blocks non-HP chips. There is no dynamic security on this platform and there is no prospect of an update adding it. Compatible and remanufactured Q1338A cartridges install and print normally, and using them does not void a printer warranty in the US.

On a 12,000-page cartridge the quality difference between a well-built compatible and a poor one shows up over thousands of pages rather than immediately — look for consistent fill and a properly seated drum rather than the lowest price.

About the HP LaserJet 4200 itself

The 4200 is a monochrome workgroup laser printer — print only, with no scanner or copier. It prints around 33 pages per minute with a first page out in under 8.5 seconds at 1200 dpi, runs a 300 MHz processor with 48 to 64 MB of memory, and holds 600 sheets in its base configuration expandable to 2,600. Duty cycle is up to 150,000 pages a month.

Connectivity is IEEE 1284 parallel as standard with two EIO slots; the n, tn, dtn and dtnsl models have embedded JetDirect Ethernet. There is no wireless, and the base configuration shipped without USB. It is long discontinued, but parts and toner are cheap and abundant, and the engine was built for far more work than most offices ever gave it.

FAQ

What toner does the HP LaserJet 4200 use?

HP 38A, part number Q1338A, rated for 12,000 pages.

Is there a high-yield cartridge for the 4200?

No. HP never produced a high-yield version of the 38A. The 12,000-page Q1338A is the only option.

Can I use Q1339A (39A) in a LaserJet 4200?

No. Q1339A is the LaserJet 4300 cartridge. Third-party "universal" cartridges are sold that claim to cover both, but the OEM parts are not interchangeable.

Does the LaserJet 4200 need a separate drum?

No. The Q1338A is an all-in-one cartridge containing the toner, developer, drum and waste bin.

My 4200 is making a grinding noise. Is the toner the problem?

Almost certainly not. That is the swing-plate assembly, a known wear item on this model and a straightforward repair.

Will compatible toner trigger a firmware block?

No. The 4200 predates HP's dynamic security entirely.

Shop HP 38A toner now

Order the HP 38A (Q1338A) compatible toner cartridge, or find your model on our Find Ink by Printer page.