What Toner Does the HP LaserJet Pro 200 Color M251nw Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all HP 131A & 131X Toner Cartridges – CF210A–CF213A → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Quick answer: The HP LaserJet Pro 200 Color M251nw uses HP 131A toner in black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Black also comes as the high-yield HP 131X (CF210X), rated at about 2,400 pages; HP makes no high-yield color version in the US. The drum is built into each cartridge.
The M251nw is HP's 2012-era compact color laser printer: print only, with Wi-Fi, Ethernet and a 3.5-inch touchscreen. HP has discontinued it, but the toner is still easy to get. Castle Ink sells compatible 131A cartridges in all four colors and a compatible 131X black.
CastleScore · November 2026
73/100 — Recommended
HP LaserJet Pro 200 Color M251nw (Scored on HP LaserJet Pro 200 Color M251nw ratings)
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 92 | 4.8★ average across 29 ratings on eBay's product page (small sample) |
| Expert reviews (20%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify (Trusted Reviews and PCWorld reviewed it without an overall score we could confirm). |
| Cost per page (18%) | 72 | About 2.3¢ per black page with our compatible HP 131X and about 10.4¢ per full-color page. |
| Reliability (18%) | 58 | Most-reported problems: 59.C0 motor errors; 10.000x supply memory errors; color misregistration; driver install failures on Windows 11 |
| Features (11%) | 55 | Print only, 14 ppm, 3.5-inch color touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB with ePrint and AirPrint, 150-sheet tray. Manual two-sided printing only. |
| Value (5%) | 62 | Owners like it and compatible toner is cheap, but it is slow and long discontinued |
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 lists the M251nw as discontinued; it sells used or refurbished only. HP 131A and 131X toner is still widely 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 November 2, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
HP 131A Black
HP 131X BlackOur own compatible toner, from our product listings.
What Toner Does the HP M251nw Take?
| Cartridge | HP part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 131A Black | CF210A | ~1,520 pages | Castle Ink HP 131A Black, $48.95 |
| HP 131X Black (high yield) | CF210X | ~2,400 pages | Castle Ink HP 131X Black, $54.95 |
| HP 131A Cyan | CF211A | ~1,800 pages | Castle Ink HP 131A Cyan, $48.95 |
| HP 131A Yellow | CF212A | ~1,800 pages | Castle Ink HP 131A Yellow, $48.95 |
| HP 131A Magenta | CF213A | ~1,800 pages | Castle Ink HP 131A Magenta, $48.95 |
Yields are HP's current ISO figures from its HP 131 toner page. Older HP datasheets rated the 131A black at 1,600 pages; HP now lists 1,520. HP's store lists the M251nw (CF147A) as compatible, and Staples says the cartridges work with the M251nw and M276nw. The printer shipped with introductory cartridges rated at about 700 pages, so the first change comes early.
What Does M251nw Toner Cost per Page?
On November 2, 2026, Staples listed HP's 131A black at $104.99 (about 6.9¢ a page), the 131X black at $133.99 (about 5.6¢) and the 131A cyan at $132.99 (about 7.4¢).
Our compatible 131X black is $54.95, about 2.3¢ a page, and each 131A color is $48.95, about 2.7¢ a page. A full-color page uses all four cartridges, so it runs about 10.4¢ with our 131X black and 131A colors. Since the 131X costs only $6 more than our 131A black and lasts more than half again as long, it is the one to buy.
Will Compatible Toner Work in the M251nw?
Yes. The 131 cartridges are chipped and compatible ones are widely used in this printer, and we found no M251-specific reports of firmware blocking them. If you see a 10.000x Supply Memory Error after a change (the last digit points to the color: 0 black, 1 cyan, 2 magenta, 3 yellow), pull the cartridge, remove any orange packing, wipe the chip contacts and reseat it firmly. HP's community has seen the same error with genuine HP cartridges, so it is not always the toner's fault.
How Do I Replace the Toner in the M251nw?
- Open the front door and pull out the toner cartridge drawer.
- Grasp the old cartridge by its handle and lift it straight up.
- Gently rock the new cartridge front to back to spread the toner.
- Remove the plastic shield without touching the imaging drum, then set the cartridge in its color slot.
- Pull the tab on the left end straight up to remove the sealing tape, then close the drawer and the front door.
Which Other Printers Use HP 131A and 131X?
HP lists the 131A and 131X for the LaserJet Pro 200 color M251 series and the MFP M276 series: the M251n, M251nw, M276n and M276nw. The later M252dw looks similar but takes HP 201A/201X, which will not fit.
What M251nw owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, HP's support community and owner reviews, answered in our words.
Error 59.C0 will not clear. What now?
HP's first steps are to unplug the printer, plug it straight into a wall outlet rather than a power strip, update the firmware and do a cold (NVRAM) reset. If 59.C0 keeps coming back, it usually means a motor has failed, and on a printer this age that is rarely worth repairing.
Yellow prints out of line after a toner change. Why?
Make sure every cartridge is fully seated, then clean the transfer belt and laser window as HP describes and run a cold reset. HP's agents fixed a shifted-yellow case this way.
The driver install fails with a fatal error on Windows 11.
Run HP Print and Scan Doctor, remove old HP software, then install as an administrator. If the full package still fails, install the basic driver manually with Add Printer and Have Disk.
Can it print on both sides automatically?
No. Two-sided printing is manual: the driver prints one side and tells you how to reload the paper.
M251nw quirks worth knowing
- It is slow: HP rates it at 14 pages a minute, and PCWorld measured about 9 ppm on text.
- Paper loads into one 150-sheet tray.
- A front USB port lets you print straight from a flash drive.
- The product number is CF147A; the M251n (no Wi-Fi) is a different SKU but takes the same toner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What toner does the HP LaserJet Pro 200 Color M251nw use?
HP 131A: CF210A black (about 1,520 pages), CF211A cyan, CF212A yellow and CF213A magenta (about 1,800 pages each). The high-yield HP 131X black, CF210X, is rated at about 2,400 pages.
Is there a high-yield color cartridge for the M251nw?
No. HP makes a high-yield 131X only in black. Cyan, magenta and yellow come in the 131A size only.
Does HP 201A toner fit the M251nw?
No. HP 201A and 201X are for the newer M252 and M277 series. The M251nw takes HP 131A or 131X only.
Other printers that use HP 131A / 131X
HP LaserJet Pro 200 Color MFP M276nw
More HP ink guides: HP LaserJet Pro M252dw · HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M277dw · HP Color LaserJet CP2025 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw — CastleScore 84
- Canon imageCLASS MF743Cdw — CastleScore 85
- HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw — CastleScore 82
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on November 2, 2026 and will change over time.
- HP: HP 131 toner cartridges, part numbers and yields
- HP: 131A black compatible printers
- HP LaserJet Pro 200 color M251 datasheet (PDF)
- Staples: HP 131A black price and compatible printers
- Staples: HP 131X black price
- eBay: HP LaserJet Pro M251nw product ratings
- PCWorld: HP LaserJet Pro 200 Color M251nw review
- HP Support Community: M251nw 59.C0 error
- HP Support Community: 10.0001 supply memory error
- HP LaserJet Pro 200 color M251 user guide
Need replacement HP 131A & 131X Toner Cartridges – CF210A–CF213A? Shop HP 131A & 131X Toner Cartridges – CF210A–CF213A at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.