What Toner Does the HP LaserJet P3005dn Use?

by William Elward Last Updated: October 25, 2026

Quick answer: The HP LaserJet P3005dn, and the rest of the P3005 series (P3005, P3005n, P3005d and P3005x), uses the HP 51A (Q7551A) or high-yield HP 51X (Q7551X) black toner cartridge. Castle Ink stocks compatible HP 51X and HP 51A.

HP 51 isn't the same as HP 55A/55X, which fits the later LaserJet P3015.

CastleScore · October 2026

69/100 — Situational

HP LaserJet P3005dn

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 51X toner (13,000 pages).
Reliability (18%)	82	Most-reported problems: recurring jams at the fuser entrance or exit that survive a fuser swap; sticky pendulum or idler gears; smeared toner on jammed sheets; memory or formatter errors on older units
Features (11%)	48	Print only, fast (35 ppm), auto two-sided printing on d/dn/x, Ethernet on n/dn/x, USB, 600-sheet input. No Wi-Fi, no scanner.
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's P3005 pages say the printer has been discontinued and to shop for supplies. HP 51A and 51X 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 P3005dn Take?

Cartridge	HP part no.	Approx. yield	Castle Ink option
HP 51A	Q7551A	~6,500 pages	Compatible HP 51A
HP 51X (high yield)	Q7551X	~13,000 pages	Compatible HP 51X

Yields are HP's ISO/IEC 19752 figures. The drum is built into the cartridge. Our 51X actually costs less than our 51A and prints twice as many pages, so it's the one to buy.

What Does HP 51 Toner Cost Now?

On October 25, 2026, Quill listed the original HP 51A at $177.99. Our compatible HP 51X is $59.95 for 13,000 pages (under half a cent a page), and our 51A is $79.95.

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 P3005 shows a non-HP supply notice when a third-party cartridge goes in, but we found no firmware that blocks compatibles. Press the check button to clear the notice and keep printing.

How Do I Replace the Toner in the P3005dn?

Open the top cover over the cartridge bay.
Pull the used cartridge out by its handle.
Unpack the new cartridge and rock it gently side to side to spread the toner.
Pull off the sealing tape and remove the packing material.
Slide the cartridge in until it seats, then close the cover.

Which Other Printers Use HP 51A / 51X?

HP 51A and 51X fit the whole LaserJet P3005 series and the LaserJet M3027 and M3035 MFPs, including the M3027x and M3035xs.

What P3005dn 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.

Paper keeps jamming at the fuser even after I replaced the fuser.

Technicians on EduGeek and CopyTechNet report that fusers and boards often don't fix it. Cleaning and lubricating the pendulum or idler gear assembly, or replacing the fuser drive motor, cured several units.

Does a firmware update fix the fuser jam?

One owner said an update helped for about two months before the jam returned, so treat it as a short-term fix.

Which P3005 models print two-sided automatically?

The P3005d, P3005dn and P3005x. The P3005 and P3005n duplex manually.

The cartridge door won't latch after I put in new toner.

One owner found a hook on the cover had come loose. Check the hinge and hook before forcing the door.

When does it need a maintenance kit?

The fuser and rollers are wear parts. Resellers list the Q7812 maintenance kit at about 200,000 pages.

P3005dn quirks worth knowing

HP rates it at up to 35 pages a minute on letter paper, with a duty cycle of up to 100,000 pages a month.
Memory runs from 48 MB on the base model to 80 MB on the n, dn and x, with a 400 MHz processor.
Standard input is 600 sheets; the P3005x adds a third 500-sheet tray for 1,100.
It connects by USB and built-in Ethernet on the n, dn and x; there's no Wi-Fi.

Frequently Asked Questions