HP 121A
The HP 121A family feeds some of the first office color lasers HP ever sold — the Color LaserJet 1500 and 2500 series. Four cartridges do the printing: C9700A black, C9701A cyan, C9702A yellow and C9703A magenta. They all work against one shared imaging drum, the C9704A, which is the fifth supply item this family needs and the one owners most often forget exists.
Keeping a LaserJet 1500 or 2500 in service today is a deliberate choice — these were compact, honest machines, and plenty are still earning their desk space. The supply side stayed just as simple as the printers: one standard size per color, from an era before high-yield X variants existed, and no chip-era tricks in the naming. What matters is matching the codes exactly, because nothing in HP's later color ranges will substitute for these cartridges.
Toner Cartridges for HP 121A
| Cartridge | Color | Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| C9700A | Black | See product page |
| C9701A | Cyan | See product page |
| C9702A | Yellow | See product page |
| C9703A | Magenta | See product page |
| C9700A — HP 121A Black listing | Black | See product page |
Imaging drum for this family:
Complete sets:
- 121A 4 Color Set (C9700A/ C9701A/ C9702A/ C9703A)
- 4 Color Set listed under the Color LaserJet 1500 name (C9700A/ C9701A/ C9702A/ C9703A)
Which cartridge should you buy?
There is no capacity decision to make here — the 121A family predates yield tiers, so every color comes in the one standard size and ordering is purely about which supply has run out. Buy singles as each color fades; reach for a 4 Color Set when you are bringing a long-idle 1500 or 2500 back into service and want every cartridge fresh at once. Treat the drum differently: the C9704A is a long-life unit shared by all four cartridges, so budget for it on its own cycle rather than replacing it alongside toner. Compatible cartridges and drums on this page carry a 1-year warranty and 1-year returns.
Chip, toner and everyday use
Early color lasers are gentle machines to feed, with two quirks worth knowing. First, the drum is light-sensitive: keep the C9704A in its bag until the moment it goes in, and never leave it sitting exposed on a desk. Second, when a cartridge has been stored for a long time, a slow rock from end to end before installation wakes the toner up and prevents a pale first page. Remove the sealing tape completely, seat each cartridge in its correct color slot — the 1500 and 2500 carousel will not forgive a color in the wrong position — and let the printer calibrate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I confirm 121A cartridges fit my printer?
Look at the label on any cartridge already in the machine: the 121A family name or the codes C9700A to C9703A confirm the toner side, and C9704A marks the drum. Your model should also appear in the printer list at the bottom of this page.
Can I change only the black cartridge?
Yes. Each of the four cartridges is an independent unit with its own slot, so the black C9700A can be swapped on its own whenever it runs out — the colors and the drum stay exactly where they are.
What is the C9704A, and when does it need changing?
It is the imaging drum — a single long-life unit that all four toner cartridges share, rather than a drum built into each cartridge. It is replaced far less often than toner, typically when the printer asks for it or when print defects persist after fresh toner has been fitted.
Is there a high-yield 121A cartridge?
No. The 121A family comes from before HP split its lines into standard and X sizes, so each color exists in one capacity only. The way to lower cost per page here is the 4 Color Set, not a bigger cartridge.
More printers that use the same cartridges
Every model in the family below prints from these same 121A cartridges: Color LaserJet 2500TN, Color LaserJet 2500N, Color LaserJet 2500LSE, Color LaserJet 2500L, Color LaserJet 2500, Color LaserJet 1500LXI, Color LaserJet 1500L, Color LaserJet 1500.