What Toner Does the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP LaserJet Pro M402dn uses HP 26A (CF226A) (~3,100 pages) or HP 26X (CF226X) high-yield (~9,000 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 26X (CF226X) gives the lowest cost per page.
CastleScore · October 2026
82/100 — Highly Recommended
HP LaserJet Pro M402dn
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 87 | 4.43★ average across 450 ratings at Amazon (4.3), Best Buy (4.7) |
| Expert reviews (20%) | 80 | PCMag (M402dw) 4.0/5 |
| Cost per page (18%) | 88 | About 0.9¢ per page all-in with our compatible 26X toner (9,000 pages; drum built in). Docked because firmware can reject toner without the maker's chip. |
| Reliability (18%) | 85 | Most-reported problems: 'Jam in tray 2' with no paper present / tray 2 fails to pick; knocking at power-on and jams on every job after clearing a jam, possibly debris or damaged pickup/optional tray assembly; duplex jobs jam after the first side |
| Features (11%) | 57 | Auto two-sided printing, Ethernet, fast (20+ ppm). No document feeder, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 88 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Discontinued. HP stopped selling the M402dn years ago. Its current equivalent is the LaserJet Pro M404dn, which takes different toner (HP 58A/58X); this score rates the M402dn for people who already own one.
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 9, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
HP 26X Toner
HP 26A TonerOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
HP LaserJet Pro M402dn Toner Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Type / Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| 26A (CF226A) | Black (standard) | ~3,100 pages |
| 26X (CF226X) | Black (high-yield) | ~9,000 pages |
The M402dn is a fast, network-ready mono laser built for steady office work, and it is one of the better-value machines HP has made on a cost-per-page basis — largely because of the 26X. It uses an all-in-one cartridge with the drum built in.
Standard vs. High-Yield: Which One Should You Buy?
Almost everyone with a HP LaserJet Pro M402dn should be buying the high-yield HP 26X (CF226X) rather than the standard HP 26A (CF226A). The high-yield cartridge is physically the same size and installs identically — it is simply filled with more toner. At roughly 9000 pages versus 3100, it prints about 2.9x as much for a price that is nowhere near 2.9x 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 M402dn uses an all-in-one cartridge. The imaging drum is built into the HP 26X (CF226X) 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 M402dn, 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 26A and 26X carry HP JetIntelligence chips. Compatible cartridges for this printer should be bought in their chipped form so the printer reports toner levels correctly. HP doesn't market the M402dn as a Dynamic Security printer the way it does the later M404 and M428, but that doesn't make it safe from lockouts. Technicians report that newer M402 firmware rejects toner with non-HP chips, and LaserJet Pro firmware includes a cartridge policy setting that an administrator can use to lock out non-HP supplies. If you use compatible toner, buy cartridges with current chips, make sure the printer is set to allow non-HP cartridges, and hold off on firmware updates while your toner is working.
How to Replace the Toner in the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn
- 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 26X (CF226X) out of its packaging and rock it gently back and forth several times to loosen the toner inside.
- Remove any packing tape or seal if present. Genuine HP 26A/26X cartridges remove their toner seal automatically, but some compatible cartridges have a pull strip. 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
"Cartridge Low" appears very early: HP's low-toner threshold on this series is conservative. You will typically get several hundred more pages after the first warning.
Print quality drops on one edge: Rock the cartridge gently end to end. Because the drum is inside the cartridge, persistent edge defects mean a replacement rather than a service part.
Printer rejects a compatible cartridge: Confirm the cartridge is the chipped, North American version. Power the printer fully down, reseat the cartridge, and power back up. If the rejection started right after a firmware update, see Chips and Compatibility above.
Slow first page after idle: The M402dn drops into a deep sleep state. Adjusting the sleep timer in the Embedded Web Server improves wake time at a small cost in power.
Duplex output curls badly: Try a heavier paper stock and check the fuser temperature setting for your media type in the driver.
Which Other Printers Use the Same Cartridge?
The HP 26A / 26X 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 M402d / M402dn / M402dne
- HP LaserJet Pro M402n / M402dw
- HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426dw / M426fdn / M426fdw
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 M402dn 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 M402dn have Wi-Fi?
No. It connects by Ethernet or USB. The wireless version of this printer is the M402dw.
The display says "Jam in tray 2" but nothing is stuck. What should I check?
Clean the tray 2 pickup rollers and check the paper backstop and the paper-level arm. HP Community volunteers also suggest testing the tray 2 solenoid from the control panel: Administration > Troubleshooting > Diagnostics > Component test.
My compatible toner stopped working after a firmware update. Isn't the M402dn free of HP's cartridge blocking?
Not reliably. Technicians report that newer M402 firmware rejects toner with non-HP chips. Their fixes are to turn on the printer's option to allow non-HP cartridges, use cartridges with updated chips, or stay on (or roll back to) an older firmware. One technician reports compatible toner working on firmware 2021118.
HP's firmware download is labeled for a different M402 or M403 model. Is it safe for the M402dn?
An HP Community expert checked the 2016 package and said it is correct for the whole LaserJet Pro M402 series; the label was a typo.
Is the 26X worth it over the 26A?
Usually. The 26X is rated for about 9,000 pages against about 3,100 for the 26A, and it fits the same slot. At the Staples prices we saw for genuine HP ($298.89 and $173.89), that works out to roughly 3.3¢ a page versus 5.6¢.
LaserJet Pro M402dn quirks worth knowing
- The LaserJet Pro M403 and MFP M427 look like close relatives, but they take HP 28A/28X (CF228A/CF228X), not 26A/26X. HP's own 26A list covers the M402 and M426 models only.
- It is built for heavier use than most desktop lasers: HP rates it for up to 80,000 pages a month (750–4,000 recommended), with a 5.6-second first page.
- It speaks PostScript 3 emulation as well as PCL 5 and 6, and it can print PDFs directly, which matters if you send it jobs from older office systems.
- Paper capacity is 350 sheets (a 100-sheet Tray 1 plus a 250-sheet Tray 2), and an optional 550-sheet Tray 3 fits underneath.
Frequently Asked Questions
What toner does the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn use? HP 26A (CF226A, ~3,100 pages) or HP 26X (CF226X, ~9,000 pages) black toner cartridges. The drum is built into the cartridge.
Does the M402dn need a separate drum unit? No. Both the 26A and 26X are all-in-one cartridges with the imaging drum integrated.
What other printers use 26A and 26X? The same cartridges fit the LaserJet Pro M402d, M402n, M402dw, M402dne, M426dw, M426fdn and M426fdw.
Does compatible toner void the warranty? No. US law prevents a manufacturer voiding a warranty solely because a compatible consumable was used.
Other printers that use HP 26A and 26X toner
HP LaserJet Pro M402n · HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw · HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdn
More HP ink guides: HP LaserJet Pro M201dw · HP LaserJet M209dw · HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw · 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 9, 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.