What Toner Does the HP LaserJet P1102w Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP LaserJet P1102w uses the HP 85A (CE285A) black toner cartridge, rated at roughly 1,600 pages. HP never made a genuine high-yield version for this printer, so the 85A (CE285A) is the only cartridge it takes. The imaging drum is built into the cartridge — there is no separate drum to buy.
CastleScore · October 2026
80/100 — Highly Recommended
HP LaserJet P1102w
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 82 | 4.21★ average across 3,136 ratings at Amazon (4.1), Best Buy (4.4) |
| Expert reviews (20%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (18%) | 91 | About 2.2¢ per page all-in with our compatible 85A toner (1,600 pages; drum built in). |
| Reliability (18%) | 87 | Most-reported problems: difficult wireless/network setup |
| Features (11%) | 46 | Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 86 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Discontinued. HP no longer sells the P1102w and points to the LaserJet M110w as its newer model. HP 85A toner is still 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 October 7, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
HP 85A Toner
HP 85A JumboOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
HP LaserJet P1102w Toner Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Type / Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| 85A (CE285A) | Black (standard) | ~1,600 pages |
The P1102w is one of the smallest and most widely sold mono lasers HP ever made, and a great many are still in daily use. It takes a single all-in-one black cartridge — the HP 85A — with the imaging drum built in.
Is There a High-Yield Version?
No — and this is worth being clear about, because you will see listings that suggest otherwise. HP produced only one cartridge for the HP LaserJet P1102w: the 85A (CE285A), at around 1,600 pages. The 85A's larger sibling, the 83A, is a different cartridge for a different printer family and will not fit.
If you find a cartridge advertised as a high-yield version for this printer, it is an aftermarket product that has been overfilled rather than an HP part. We sell one ourselves, our compatible HP 85A Jumbo, and we sell it as a compatible, not as an HP part. Some work perfectly well; others overfill the chamber and cause leakage or poor print quality. If you want to try one, buy from a seller with a real replacement guarantee.
To compare running costs against a newer printer, our Printer Ink Cost Calculator will show you the cost per page at any cartridge price.
Good News: There's No Separate Drum to Buy
Unlike most Brother mono lasers, the HP LaserJet P1102w uses an all-in-one cartridge. The imaging drum is built into the HP 85A (CE285A) 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 P1102w, 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
New P1102w units shipped with an introductory cartridge rated at roughly 700 pages, well under half a full 85A. If you have bought one used, assume the cartridge in it is close to spent.
Chips and Compatibility
The 85A carries a chip that reports toner level. This printer predates HP's Dynamic Security programme, so compatible cartridges are generally trouble-free — but if the printer reports an unknown supply, a power-cycle with the cartridge reseated usually clears it. A missing or mismatched chip typically means you lose the level indicator rather than the ability to print.
How to Replace the Toner in the HP LaserJet P1102w
- 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 85A (CE285A) 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 Ready light to stay on. A mono laser like this has no 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
Print is faded or patchy: Remove the cartridge and rock it gently end to end to redistribute the toner. This often buys another hundred pages or so from a cartridge the printer has already flagged as low.
Repeating marks down the page: Because the drum is built into the 85A, a repeating defect is a cartridge fault rather than a separate drum problem. A replacement cartridge fixes it.
Wireless keeps dropping: The P1102w only supports 2.4 GHz networks. If your router broadcasts a combined 2.4/5 GHz SSID, the printer can struggle — splitting the bands into separate network names resolves most cases.
Printer will not wake from sleep: Hold the wireless button for a few seconds, or power-cycle at the wall. This is a known quirk on ageing P1102w units and is not related to the cartridge.
Toner smears when you rub the page: The fuser is not reaching temperature. On a printer of this age that usually means the fuser is nearing the end of its life.
Which Other Printers Use the Same Cartridge?
The HP 85A (CE285A) 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 P1102 / P1102w
- HP LaserJet Pro P1109 / P1109w
- HP LaserJet Pro M1132 MFP
- HP LaserJet Pro M1212nf MFP
- HP LaserJet Pro M1217nfw MFP
The LaserJet P1005 and P1006 look similar but take the HP 35A (CB435A), not the 85A. 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 P1102w 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.
Can I plug the P1102w into a wired network?
Not directly. It has Wi-Fi and USB only. HP's datasheet lists Ethernet only through an optional external HP Jetdirect print server.
My router can't see it, or it won't join. Why?
Its Wi-Fi is 802.11b/g on 2.4 GHz, with no 802.11n. If your router runs an n-only or newer-only mode, turn on legacy b/g support for the 2.4 GHz band.
Does it print on both sides automatically?
No. Two-sided printing is manual: the driver prompts you to turn the stack over and feed it back in.
How do I install it without the driver disc?
On Windows, HP Smart Install is built into the printer. Connect it by USB and the installer appears as a drive on your PC.
What replaced the P1102w, and does it take the 85A?
HP's page points to the LaserJet M110w as the newer model. It does not take the 85A: the U.S. M110we uses HP 141A (W1410A, about 950 pages).
LaserJet P1102w quirks worth knowing
- There is no screen. The control panel is three lights (Wireless, Attention, Ready) and two buttons (Wireless, Cancel), so for anything detailed you print a configuration page.
- A 10-sheet priority slot sits above the 150-sheet tray for envelopes and odd media.
- HP rates it for up to 5,000 pages a month but recommends only 250–1,500.
- The 85A is rated at 1,600 pages, fewer than the 2,000 of the HP 12A used by older small LaserJets like the 1020, which is a common owner complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions
What toner does the HP LaserJet P1102w use? It uses the HP 85A (CE285A) black toner cartridge, rated at roughly 1,600 pages. There is no genuine high-yield version and no separate drum unit.
Does the P1102w have a separate drum? No. The imaging drum is built into the 85A cartridge, so every replacement gives you a fresh drum as well.
Can I use an 83A instead of an 85A? No. The 83A is for the M125/M127/M201/M225 family and will not fit the P1102w.
Does compatible toner void the warranty? No. In the US, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act means a manufacturer cannot void your warranty simply because you used third-party toner. Most P1102w printers are long out of warranty in any case.
Why did my printer run out of toner so fast when new? It shipped with an introductory cartridge of about 700 pages rather than a full 1,600-page 85A.
What other HP printers use the 85A? The 85A also fits the LaserJet Pro M1132, M1212nf, M1217nfw, P1102 and P1109 series. The LaserJet P1005 and P1006 take the HP 35A instead.
Is the P1102w still worth keeping in 2026? If it prints reliably, yes. Compatible 85A cartridges are inexpensive, the machine is simple, and there are no firmware lockouts to contend with.
Other printers that use HP 85A 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 7, 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.