What Toner Does the HP LaserJet P2015 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP LaserJet P2015 uses HP 53A (Q7553A) standard-yield black toner or HP 53X (Q7553X) high-yield black toner. Both work in every P2015 variant. The imaging drum is built into the cartridge, so there is no separate drum unit.
HP's own P2015 documentation describes the printer as taking "a 3,000-page or 7,000-page print cartridge" — in other words, both sizes are officially supported. That is worth stating clearly, because the closely related P2035 takes only the standard 05A. (The P2055 series takes both 05A and the high-yield 05X.)
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP LaserJet P2015
| 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 0.6¢ per page all-in with our compatible 53X toner (7,000 pages; drum built in). |
| Reliability (18%) | 78 | Most-reported problems: formatter board failure: lights stuck on, false jams, network or USB connection loss; error light and loss of PC communication that returns after power-cycling; paper jam light stays on / false jams |
| Features (11%) | 45 | Fast (20+ ppm). 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. The P2015 is sold only refurbished now. HP's next models, the LaserJet P2035 and P2055, moved to HP 05A/05X toner. HP 53A and 53X are 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 8, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
HP 53X Toner
HP 53A TonerOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
HP 53A vs 53X at a glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Page Yield | Fits P2015 | Fits P2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 53A | Q7553A | ~3,000 pages | Yes | Yes |
| HP 53X | Q7553X | ~7,000 pages | Yes | No |
Note the last column. The sibling LaserJet P2014 takes only the 53A. If you run both models, they are not fully cross-stockable — check the label on the front before ordering the X.
Should you buy 53A or 53X?
On cost per page the 53X wins comfortably: more than double the yield for well short of double the price. For a shared office printer it also means far fewer cartridge changes.
Stick with the 53A if the printer is lightly used, if you also keep a P2014 and want one cartridge that covers both, or if you would rather not tie up money in toner you will take two years to use.
Before you buy: the P2015 formatter problem
If you are buying a used P2015, or troubleshooting one that has stopped working, this is the thing to know.
The P2015 has a very widely documented formatter board failure. Solder joints under the board's main chip crack over time, and the printer ends up with stuck indicator lights — commonly the jam and toner lights on solid — and refuses to print at all. It is not a toner fault, not a paper-path fault, and no cartridge will fix it. The lasting fix is a replacement formatter board. A reflow repair usually works only for a while.
It is also why used P2015s are so cheap. If yours prints fine, the toner is inexpensive and the machine will keep going; if it has the stuck-lights symptom, spend nothing on supplies until the board is sorted.
How to replace the toner
- Open the print-cartridge door on the front of the printer.
- Pull the used cartridge straight out by its handle, keeping it level.
- Unpack the new Q7553A or Q7553X and rock it gently side to side five or six times.
- Bend and snap the tab on the end of the cartridge, then pull the sealing tape completely out.
- Slide the new cartridge in along the guides until it seats.
- Close the door and print a configuration page to confirm.
Troubleshooting a P2015
- Stuck lights and no printing. See the formatter problem above — this is the classic symptom.
- Faded print. Rock the cartridge to redistribute toner and check that EconoMode is off in the driver.
- Vertical white line. Toner is not reaching part of the drum. Rocking may help temporarily; a new cartridge is the fix.
- Jams and multi-feeds. Pickup roller and separation pad wear, as on every laser of this age. Cheap parts, easy swap.
- "Toner low" far too early. The chip estimates rather than measures. Keep printing until quality actually drops.
- Cartridge not recognized. There is no cartridge-blocking firmware on this printer. Clean the chip contacts and reseat.
Which printers use HP 53A and 53X toner?
- LaserJet P2015, P2015d, P2015dn, P2015x — 53A or 53X
- LaserJet P2014 and P2014n — 53A only
- LaserJet M2727 MFP — 53A or 53X
The later P2035 and P2055 moved to the HP 05A/05X cartridge and are not compatible — see our guides to the LaserJet P2035 and LaserJet P2055dn.
About the HP LaserJet P2015 itself
The P2015 is a monochrome laser printer — print only, no scanner or copier. It runs at 27 pages per minute on letter with a first page out in about 8.5 seconds, and carries 32 MB of RAM expandable to 288 MB.
Configurations matter here: the base P2015 has no automatic duplexer, while the P2015d, P2015dn and P2015x have automatic two-sided printing. USB 2.0 is on every model; the dn and x add an internal network port.
What LaserJet P2015 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.
The error light comes on and my PC loses the printer, but turning it off and on fixes it for a while.
Technicians link this to engine error 50007, where the formatter board and the print engine stop talking to each other. Fresh drivers and a cold reset are worth trying, but if it keeps coming back the formatter board is the likely cause.
Will it work with a new computer?
Usually. It understands PCL 5e, PCL 6 and PostScript Level 3 emulation and switches between them automatically, so generic drivers built into current operating systems normally work.
Which P2015 models print two-sided automatically?
The P2015d, P2015dn and P2015x. The base P2015 does manual two-sided printing through the driver.
Can I add more paper capacity?
Yes. The standard trays hold 300 sheets (a 50-sheet Tray 1 and a 250-sheet Tray 2). The optional 250-sheet Tray 3 (Q5931A) brings it to 550, and the P2015x comes with it.
Can I upgrade the memory?
Yes. It has 32 MB and takes up to 288 MB through one 144-pin DIMM slot.
LaserJet P2015 quirks worth knowing
- According to iFixit, the formatter failures come from first-generation lead-free solder and no heatsinks on the processor or network chip. A stick-on heatsink may help a working printer last longer.
- It has an "instant-on" fuser and a 400 MHz processor, so the first page comes out in under 8.5 seconds even from sleep.
- HP's manual notes that some printer features, such as supply-level reporting, need genuine HP supplies. Non-HP cartridges still print.
- MICR versions of the 53A are sold for the P2015, for printing checks with magnetic ink toner.
FAQ
What toner does the HP LaserJet P2015 use?
HP 53A (Q7553A, ~3,000 pages) or HP 53X (Q7553X, ~7,000 pages).
Can I use 53X in a P2015?
Yes. Unlike the P2035, the P2015 officially supports both the standard and the high-yield cartridge.
Can I use 53X in a P2014?
No. The P2014 takes the 53A only.
Does the P2015 need a separate drum?
No. The drum is integrated into the cartridge.
My P2015 has lights on and won't print. Is it out of toner?
Probably not. Stuck indicator lights on this model usually mean the formatter board has failed — a known defect that a new cartridge will not fix.
Will compatible toner trigger a firmware block?
No. The P2015 has no cartridge-blocking firmware.
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 8, 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.