Frequently Asked Questions

Which cartridge does the M402 take?

The LaserJet Pro M402 runs on one black cartridge: the CF226A, also called the HP 26A. Every model carrying the M402 name — the LaserJet M402d is the first of them — uses that same cartridge, and this page sells it for this printer by name, at $32.48.

How long does one cartridge last in an M402?

The CF226A is rated at up to 3,100 pages at 5% coverage. The M402 is a text machine at heart — letters, invoices, reports — and that kind of work sits close to the coverage the rating assumes, so most owners land near the rated figure.

The M402 only prints — does that change how toner gets used?

It simplifies the accounting. Every page that leaves this printer was sent to it as a print job, so the cartridge level tracks the print count and nothing else. When the level falls faster than expected, a heavy print week is always the explanation.

How do I check the remaining level?

Print a supplies status page from the control panel, or view the supplies tab in the printer software on your computer. The gauge sits right beside the CF226A code, so the number you check is the number you reorder.

My prints are coming out faded — is the printer broken?

Almost certainly not. Fading that creeps in gradually, page after page, is the classic signature of a cartridge nearing the end of its rating. Rocking the cartridge gently side to side may restore even coverage briefly; a fresh CF226A restores it properly.

What backing comes with this cartridge?

Our 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns cover it. Orders ship from warehouses in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia and California — details on our shipping and returns page — and support answers Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CST.

About This Black Cartridge for the M402

The M402 built its reputation as a straightforward desk-side workhorse, and its toner story is equally plain: one black cartridge, the CF226A (26A), rated at up to 3,100 pages, priced at $32.48.

There is no color arithmetic and no second consumable to track. When the status page says the black is low, one code and one order put the printer back to full strength.

It fits the LaserJet M402d, LaserJet M402dn, LaserJet M402dw and LaserJet MFP M426fdn. The base listings carry the same cartridge as the 26A single (CF226A) and in volume as the 26A two-pack (CF226A).