Color LaserJet CM6040F

Built for high-volume offices, the Color LaserJet CM6040F is a 2008-era color office printer that does the fundamentals well: clean text, even coverage, no fuss. Its engine was built around HP's 825A black plus 824A color cartridges — genuine black is the CB390A, and the compatible supply for this page rounds out as the CB380A (823A) in black, with cyan, yellow and magenta companions.

There is no drama in owning a CM6040F, and that is the point. It asks for paper, power and four cartridges, and in return it turns out office color day after day. Owners who keep one running in 2026 are not being sentimental — the model sits in the sweet spot where the hardware is long paid for and the consumables remain easy to buy.

Toner Cartridges for Color LaserJet CM6040F

CB383A / 824A — Magenta; yield: see product page
CB382A / 824A — Yellow; yield: see product page
CB381A / 824A — Cyan; yield: see product page
CB380A / 823A — Black; yield: see product page
823A / 824A / CB380A / CB381A / CB382A / CB383A — Full set; yield: see product page
823A / 824A / CB380A / CB381A / CB382A / CB383A — Full set; yield: see product page
CM6040F 4 Color Set — Full set; yield: see product page

Which cartridge should you buy?

Genuine OEM cartridges give you the exact formulation HP built this printer around; the compatibles on this page give you the same fit at a friendlier price, backed by a 1-year warranty and 1-year returns. A practical split for most offices: compatible CB380A black for the volume work, colors bought as singles — CB381A, CB382A, CB383A — only when one actually runs down. Choose a four-color set when you are refreshing the whole bay, for instance after taking over a second-hand machine with an unknown set inside it.

Chip, toner and everyday use

Every cartridge in the CM6040F is tracked separately, and the panel names the one that is running low. Because page yields are estimated at roughly 5% coverage, a color-heavy month will always look worse on the gauge than a text-heavy one — that is the estimate moving, not a fault. Keep replacements sealed until the day they are fitted, and once a cartridge is in, leave it in: pulling cartridges in and out for inspection wears the seals and invites the streaks people then blame on the toner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which toner cartridges are compatible with the Color LaserJet CM6040F?

Look for the exact codes CB390A, CB381A, CB382A and CB383A — one black and three color cartridges. The compatible black stocked here is the CB380A. Sticking to these codes guarantees a proper fit and correct recognition.

Can the Color LaserJet CM6040F scan and copy documents?

Yes. It is a multifunction unit, so it prints, copies and scans in one machine, working from the scanner glass or the automatic document feeder at the control panel.

Can the Color LaserJet CM6040F keep printing in black when a color cartridge runs out?

It needs all four cartridges installed to print, even for black-only jobs. To stretch the color toner, choose the grayscale or black-only setting for everyday documents so the colors are only spent when a job truly needs them.

One color looks weaker than the others on my CM6040F. What should I check?

Check that color's level on the supplies status first. If it still shows life left, remove the cartridge, rock it gently from side to side to level the toner, and reseat it before deciding it is finished.