Frequently Asked Questions

Which cartridge does the M426fdn use?

The LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdn takes the CF226A black cartridge — the HP 26A — rated at up to 3,100 pages. This page sells that cartridge for the M426fdn by name, at $32.48.

Do copies draw on the same cartridge as prints?

Yes. A black-and-white copy is a printed page as far as the cartridge is concerned — the M426fdn lays the same CF226A toner down whether the original arrived from a computer or from the glass. Copying a stack of contracts spends the cartridge exactly like printing them would.

Does scanning use toner?

None at all. Scanning converts a page into a digital file; no toner is deposited. You can scan a filing cabinet's worth of documents and the black gauge will not move — only pages that come out of the machine count against the cartridge.

What about faxes?

Incoming faxes print in black only, so they draw on this cartridge too — quietly, and often overnight. An office that receives faxes regularly may find its toner falling faster than daytime printing explains; the fax tray is usually where the missing pages went.

How do I find out what is spending the toner?

The machine's usage page separates print and copy counts, and fax activity is tallied as well. Comparing those columns against the cartridge's 3,100-page rating shows exactly which of the machine's jobs is doing the spending.

What warranty and returns apply to this cartridge?

Our 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns cover it. Orders ship from warehouses in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia and California — full 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 M426fdn

The M426fdn does four jobs, and three of them — printing, copying and printing received faxes — drink from a single black cartridge. This is that cartridge: one CF226A (26A black), rated at up to 3,100 pages, priced at $32.48.

Because copies and faxes share the cartridge with prints, the level on an MFP falls sooner than a print-only estimate suggests. Keeping one sealed spare near the machine keeps all of its jobs running, not just the first one.