What Toner Does the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw Use?

Quick answer: The HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw 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.

The toner, pictured

• HP 26X Black TonerCF226X · ~9,000 pages
• HP 26A Black TonerCF226A · ~3,100 pages

Our own toner, photographed in-house.

HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw Toner Cartridges at a Glance

The M426fdw is the all-in-one version of the M402 platform, adding a duplex document feeder, scanning, copying and fax. It uses the same all-in-one cartridge with the drum built in, so running costs are identical to the print-only model.

Standard vs. High-Yield: Which One Should You Buy?

Almost everyone with a HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw 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 MFP M426fdw 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 MFP M426fdw, 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 M426fdw ships with a full 26A cartridge of around 3,100 pages rather than a reduced starter — one of the genuine advantages of HP's JetIntelligence machines over most competing lasers.

Chips and Compatibility

The 26A and 26X use HP JetIntelligence chips, so compatible cartridges should be bought in their chipped form for correct toner-level reporting. HP's product page for the M426fdw has no dynamic-security note, and HP keeps no public list of LaserJets that use it, so we can't promise either way. What we do know is that the firmware has an Authorized HP Cartridge Policy setting. If an administrator turns it on, the printer accepts only genuine HP toner. Keeping automatic firmware updates off is a reasonable precaution if you rely on compatible toner.

How to Replace the Toner in the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw

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 26X (CF226X) 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

Scans and copies are streaked but prints are clean: Clean the narrow scanner glass strip used by the document feeder. This is a scanner issue, not a toner one.

"Cartridge Low" warning appears early: HP's threshold is conservative on this series. Expect several hundred usable pages after the first alert.

Compatible cartridge not recognised: Check that it is the chipped North American version, then power-cycle the printer with the cartridge reseated. If it still refuses, check that the Cartridge Policy and Cartridge Protection settings are off.

Document feeder pulls multiple sheets: Replace the ADF separation pad and pickup roller — a common wear item on high-volume M426 units.

Faded or blotchy output: Rock the cartridge end to end to redistribute the toner. Because the drum is integrated, persistent defects call for a new cartridge.

Which Other Printers Use the Same Cartridge?

HP lists six printers for the 26A and 26X. If you run more than one of them, a single cartridge type covers all of them. The M403 and MFP M427 are not on the list; they take HP 28A/28X.

• HP LaserJet Pro M402dn / M402dne
• HP LaserJet Pro M402n / M402dw
• HP LaserJet Pro MFP 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 MFP M426fdw 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.

My new cartridge shows an "unauthorized cartridge" message. What causes it?

Someone has turned on the Authorized HP Cartridge Policy, which makes the printer accept only genuine HP toner (error 10.0X.30). You can turn it off under Supplies > Settings or in the Embedded Web Server, but cartridges already installed may stop working when you change it.

A cartridge I moved over from another of our printers is rejected. Why?

Check whether HP Cartridge Protection is on. It locks a cartridge to one printer or fleet, and a protected cartridge shows error 10.0X.57 in any other machine. It is a setting, not a fault in the cartridge.

Can it scan both sides of a page in one pass?

Yes. The 50-sheet document feeder scans two-sided originals automatically, at about 47 images per minute in mono and 30 in color according to B&H.

Can I print from my phone without joining the office network?

Yes. It has NFC touch-to-print, so an Android phone tapped on the front panel can print directly, and Wi-Fi Direct for other phones.

Is the M426fdw still sold, and will my toner fit its replacement?

HP has discontinued it and points buyers to the LaserJet Pro MFP M428fdw. The M428fdw takes HP 58A/58X, so spare 26A or 26X cartridges won't carry over.

LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw 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/26X list has only six printers: the M402n, M402dn, M402dw, M402dne, M426fdn and M426fdw.
• It has two paper trays as standard: a 100-sheet multipurpose Tray 1 and a 250-sheet Tray 2. Reviewers who report multi-sheet feeds usually blame Tray 1.
• HP rates it for up to 80,000 pages a month, with 750 to 4,000 recommended. That is far above most home-office laser all-in-ones.
• HP quotes up to 40 pages per minute and a first page in about 5.4 seconds from ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

What toner does the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw use? HP 26A (CF226A, ~3,100 pages) or HP 26X (CF226X, ~9,000 pages) black toner cartridges, with the imaging drum built in.

Should I buy the 26A or the 26X? The 26X in nearly all cases. It roughly triples the yield for a much smaller increase in price.

Is there a separate drum for the M426fdw? No. The drum is integrated into the cartridge, so quality resets with every replacement.

Can I use the same cartridge as an M402dn? Yes. The M402 and M426 families share the 26A and 26X.

Do scanning and copying use toner? Scanning does not. Copying does, because a copy is a scan followed by a print.

Does compatible toner void the warranty? No. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a manufacturer cannot void a warranty purely because a third-party cartridge was used.

Why does the printer ask to calibrate after a cartridge change? It is confirming the new supply and setting print density. Let it finish before sending a large job.

Other printers that use HP 26A and 26X toner

HP LaserJet Pro M402dn · HP LaserJet Pro M402n · 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 7, 2026 and will change over time.

• HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw product page (specs, discontinued notice)
• HP 26A toner compatibility list
• HP Community: LaserJets with dynamic security
• Cartridge Policy and Cartridge Protection settings (M402/M426 family)
• B&H M426fdw specifications
• Best Buy M426fdw ratings