What Toner Does the HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n uses HP 80A (CF280A) (~2,700 pages) or HP 80X (CF280X) high-yield (~6,900 pages) black toner cartridges. They are the same cartridge in two capacities, and the imaging drum is built in — there is no separate drum to buy. For most owners the HP 80X (CF280X) gives the lowest cost per page.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n
| 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%) | 97 | About 0.6¢ per page all-in with our compatible 80X toner (6,900 pages; drum built in). |
| Reliability (18%) | — | Not enough owner complaint data to score. |
| Features (11%) | 49 | Ethernet, 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, published expert scores or owner complaint data 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. It is no longer stocked new at major retailers: Newegg lists it out of stock, and the only new listing we found was a third-party Walmart seller at $695. This score rates it for current owners.
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 80X Toner
HP 80A TonerOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n Toner Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Type / Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| 80A (CF280A) | Black (standard) | ~2,700 pages |
| 80X (CF280X) | Black (high-yield) | ~6,900 pages |
The LaserJet Pro 400 M401n is a network mono laser that prints only; it does not scan, copy or fax. It uses an all-in-one cartridge with the drum built in, and it is not an HP+ printer. We sell compatible 80A and 80X cartridges for it.
Standard vs. High-Yield: Which One Should You Buy?
Almost everyone with a HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n should be buying the high-yield HP 80X (CF280X) rather than the standard HP 80A (CF280A). The high-yield cartridge is physically the same size and installs identically — it is simply filled with more toner. At roughly 6,900 pages versus 2,700, it prints about 2.6x as much for a price that is nowhere near 2.6x higher, which is why the cost per page always lands in its favor.
The only reason to choose the standard cartridge is if you print so little that a cartridge would sit in the machine for years. Toner is a dry powder and does not dry out the way inkjet ink does, so even very light users are usually better off with the high-yield version.
To run the math on your own printer, our Printer Ink Cost Calculator will show you the cost per page for any cartridge price and yield combination.
Good News: There's No Separate Drum to Buy
Unlike most Brother mono lasers, the HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n uses an all-in-one cartridge. The imaging drum is built into the HP 80X (CF280X) itself, so every time you replace the toner you are also fitting a brand-new drum. There is no second consumable to track, no drum-life counter to watch, and no separate part to order.
This matters when you compare running costs across brands. A Brother machine may show a lower price per toner cartridge, but a drum unit comes due every few cartridges on top of that. With the HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n, the cartridge price is the whole story — which also means print quality resets completely with every replacement.
It is also why you should be sceptical of any listing offering a "drum unit" for this printer. If you see one, it is either for a different model or it is a refill kit, and neither is what you want.
Chips and Compatibility
The 80A and 80X carry chips that report toner level. The M401 is not an HP+ printer, and we found no HP statement that it uses dynamic security. When a compatible cartridge goes in, the printer shows a "Non-HP supply" notice, which you can acknowledge and print past.
How to Replace the Toner in the HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n
- Open the front cartridge door. On most models this is the panel just above the paper tray.
- Grip the handle on the used cartridge and pull it straight out toward you.
- Take the new HP 80X (CF280X) out of its packaging and rock it gently back and forth several times to loosen the toner inside.
- Pull the orange tab to remove the full length of the sealing tape from the cartridge, then remove the orange protective shield from the drum if one is fitted. Do not touch the green or grey drum surface with your fingers.
- Line the cartridge up with the rails inside the printer and slide it in until it seats firmly.
- Close the door and wait for the printer to finish its calibration cycle.
- Print a configuration or test page to confirm the printer recognises the new cartridge and the supply level has reset.
Keep the packaging for a few days. If the cartridge turns out to be faulty, most sellers — Castle Ink included — will want it returned in its original box.
Troubleshooting Tips
"Non-HP supply installed" message: Acknowledge it and continue. On this generation the message is informational and does not stop printing.
Faded print across the page: Remove the cartridge and rock it end to end. If quality returns only briefly, fit a replacement.
Repeating marks at regular intervals: The drum is inside the cartridge, so this is a cartridge fault. A new 80A or 80X clears it.
Printer drops off the network: Assign a static IP through your router rather than relying on DHCP. Common on long-serving M401 units.
Toner rubs off the paper: The fuser is at the end of its life. Replaceable, but weigh the cost against the age of the machine.
Which Other Printers Use the Same Cartridge?
The HP 80A / 80X cartridge is used across a wide range of machines, which is good news for buyers — high production volume keeps compatible cartridge prices low and availability high. If you run more than one of these printers, a single cartridge type covers all of them:
- HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401a / M401d / M401dn
- HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401dne / M401dw / M401n
- HP LaserJet Pro 400 MFP M425dn
- HP LaserJet Pro 400 MFP M425dw
Always confirm the cartridge number printed on the supply you are replacing before ordering, since manufacturers occasionally use similar-looking numbers across families. You can also look your machine up on our Find Ink by Printer directory, which lists the correct cartridge for several hundred printers.
What LaserJet Pro 400 M401n 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.
Does the M401n print double-sided automatically?
No. Two-sided printing is manual on the M401n. Automatic duplex is on the M401dn and M401dw.
Can I print to it over Wi-Fi?
Not directly. The M401n has Gigabit Ethernet and USB 2.0 but no wireless. Connect it to your router with a cable and it is available to every device on the network. The M401dw is the wireless model.
A listing says it copies and scans. Does it?
No. The M401n is print-only. The all-in-one version of this printer is the LaserJet Pro 400 MFP M425, which takes the same 80A/80X toner.
How much paper does it hold?
300 sheets: a 50-sheet multipurpose Tray 1 plus a 250-sheet Tray 2. The output bin holds 150 sheets.
How many pages a month is it built for?
HP rates it for up to 50,000 pages a month and recommends 750 to 3,000.
LaserJet Pro 400 M401n quirks worth knowing
- The "n" means network: the M401n has the same 35 ppm engine as the M401dn and M401dw but lacks their automatic duplexer, and the Wi-Fi of the dw.
- Its 800 MHz processor and 128 MB of memory are fixed. The memory cannot be expanded.
- Tray 1 takes heavier media (up to 163 g/m²) than the main tray (60–120 g/m²), so feed card stock through the front slot.
- It is rated at 35 pages a minute on letter paper and 33 on A4, which is why U.S. and UK spec sheets disagree.
Frequently Asked Questions
What toner does the HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n use? HP 80A (CF280A, ~2,700 pages) or HP 80X (CF280X, ~6,900 pages) black toner cartridges, with the imaging drum built in.
Is the 80X worth it over the 80A? Yes for most users. It prints about 2.6 times as many pages for a much smaller price premium.
Does the M401n use a separate drum? No. Both cartridges are all-in-one units with the drum integrated.
Will compatible toner cause problems on this printer? We know of no lockout on this model. It is not an HP+ printer, and we found no HP statement that the M401 series uses dynamic security.
What does "Non-HP supply in use" mean? It is an informational notice, not an error. The printer will keep working normally.
What other printers use 80A and 80X? The same cartridges fit the LaserJet Pro 400 M401a, M401d, M401dn, M401dne, M401dw and the M425dn/M425dw all-in-ones.
Is the M401n still worth maintaining? If it prints reliably, yes. Cheap high-yield toner and no HP+ restrictions make it inexpensive to run compared with many new printers.
Other printers that use HP 80A and 80X toner
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.