What Toner Does the HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n Use?

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.

HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n Toner Cartridges at a Glance

The LaserJet Pro 400 M401n is a workhorse network mono laser from HP's most reliable era, and enormous numbers are still running. It uses an all-in-one cartridge with the drum built in, and it predates every one of HP's cartridge-locking programmes.

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 6900 pages versus 2700, 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.

What Actually Ships in the Box

The M401n shipped with a full 80A cartridge of roughly 2,700 pages. If you have bought one secondhand, though, assume the cartridge in it is well used.

Chips and Compatibility

The 80A and 80X carry chips for toner-level reporting, but this printer predates HP's Dynamic Security programme entirely. Compatible cartridges — chipped or not — work without lockouts, and at worst a missing chip costs you the level indicator rather than the ability to print. This is one of the least troublesome HP lasers to run on third-party toner.

How to Replace the Toner in the HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n

1. Open the front cartridge door. On most models this is the panel just above the paper tray.
2. Grip the handle on the used cartridge and pull it straight out toward you.
3. Take the new HP 80X (CF280X) out of its packaging and rock it gently back and forth several times to loosen the toner inside.
4. 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.
5. Line the cartridge up with the rails inside the printer and slide it in until it seats firmly.
6. Close the door and wait for the printer to finish its calibration cycle.
7. 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.

Compatible vs. OEM: What You're Actually Buying

The single biggest cost decision for a HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n owner is whether to buy HP-branded cartridges or compatible ones. It is worth understanding what the difference actually is, because the marketing on both sides tends to obscure it.

An OEM cartridge is made by HP and sold under its brand. A compatible cartridge is newly manufactured by a third party to the same physical and electrical specification. A remanufactured cartridge is an original shell that has been collected, stripped, cleaned, fitted with new wear parts and refilled. All three will print on a HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n; what varies is price, consistency and who stands behind it.

The honest summary is that quality in the compatible market is uneven, and that is exactly why the seller matters more than the label. A cheap cartridge from a marketplace listing with no return path is a gamble. Castle Ink tests HP 80X (CF280X) cartridges individually before they ship and backs every one with a replacement-or-refund guarantee, which is what turns a 50–70% saving from a risk into a straightforward decision.

One myth worth putting to rest: using a compatible cartridge does not void your printer warranty. In the United States, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prevents a manufacturer from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of its own consumables. A manufacturer would have to demonstrate that the third-party cartridge itself caused the specific failure being claimed.

How to Make a Cartridge Last Longer on the HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n

Toner yields are quoted at 5% page coverage, which is a fairly sparse business letter. Real documents are often denser than that, which is why so many people feel their cartridges run out early. A few settings changes genuinely stretch a cartridge:

• Use draft or toner-save mode for internal documents. It reduces toner density and can extend a cartridge noticeably. Reserve full-quality output for anything leaving the office.
• Print duplex. It does not save toner, but it halves paper use, and on most machines it is a one-time driver setting.
• Rock the cartridge when the low warning first appears. Removing the cartridge and tilting it gently end to end redistributes the remaining powder and commonly yields another hundred pages or more.
• Do not print a test page after every job. Configuration and status pages are full-coverage prints and add up faster than people expect.
• Choose a smaller, lighter font for drafts. Moving from a 12pt heavy serif to an 11pt lighter face measurably reduces coverage across a long document.

Ignore advice to store cartridges in a freezer or to drill and refill them yourself. Neither helps, and both are good ways to ruin a cartridge and make a mess.

Official HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n Resources

• HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n support page
• HP driver and software downloads
• How to stop HP firmware updates from blocking your ink
• How to recycle used cartridges

Bottom Line

The M401n is one of the best-value printers you can still be running, and the 80X is the reason. At roughly 6,900 pages it more than doubles the standard 80A yield, the drum is built in, and there is no Dynamic Security to work around. Compatible 80A and 80X cartridges are inexpensive and widely available, which makes keeping this printer going a genuinely economical decision.

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 roughly 2.5 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? No. The M401 series predates HP's Dynamic Security programme, so third-party cartridges work without firmware lockouts.

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 cartridge lockouts make it inexpensive to run compared with many new printers.

Written and reviewed by William Elward — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer and ink industry. Last updated August 2026.

Shop Compatible Toner at Castle Ink

Save 50–70% on replacement toner for the HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n. Every cartridge is individually tested before it ships and backed by Castle Ink's compatibility guarantee — if it does not work in your printer, we replace it or refund you.

• HP 80A (CF280A) black toner (compatible)
• HP 80X (CF280X) high-yield black toner (compatible)
• Shop all HP toner at Castle Ink

Buy the HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n on Amazon: HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401n on Amazon

See also: Find Ink by Printer | Printer Ink Cost Calculator | Best Printers Buying Guide