HP 308A-311A

The naming causes more confusion than the cartridges do, so here it is plainly: in this family 308A names the black and 311A names the color side. The black cartridge itself is the Q2670A; the colors are Q2681A cyan, Q2682A yellow and Q2683A magenta. Order by the Q-code on the cartridge in your hand and the two family numbers stop mattering.

Four workgroup lines share this shelf — the Color LaserJet 3500, Color LaserJet 3550, Color LaserJet 3700 and Color LaserJet 3750 — mid-2000s office machines that are still common in schools, clinics and small businesses. The family follows the period pattern: one standard size for every cartridge and no high-yield variant, so a cartridge selected by code fits every model in the list below.

Toner Cartridges for HP 308A-311A

Cartridge	Color	Page Yield
Q2670A	Black	See product page
Q2681A	Cyan	See product page
Q2682A	Yellow	See product page
Q2683A	Magenta	See product page

Complete sets:

Which cartridge should you buy?

Because every cartridge here is the same single capacity, the only real decision is singles versus the set. Singles suit the way these printers actually age: the black Q2670A empties first, colors follow in their own order, and each is swapped as its turn comes. The 4 Color Set is the reset button — the right buy when a 3550 or 3700 has changed hands, sat idle, or shows several cartridges low at once and you want one box to settle it. Keep the Q-codes on your reorder list rather than the family numbers; the codes are what the warehouse picks. Compatible cartridges on this page carry a 1-year warranty and 1-year returns.

Chip, toner and everyday use

Printers of this generation read the cartridge chip the moment the door closes, so a cartridge that still reports as unrecognized after a swap is almost always a seating issue — slide it out and back in until it sits flat. Wipe nothing, and never touch the chip contacts themselves. Pull the sealing tape in one piece before installation; a torn strip left in the paper path area will cause more trouble than the empty cartridge did. Spares keep best in their sealed bags in the same room as the printer, away from radiators and sunny shelves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do 308A and 311A actually mean?

They are the family's two halves. The 308A name covers the black cartridge, Q2670A, and the 311A name covers the three colors, Q2681A cyan, Q2682A yellow and Q2683A magenta. A printer in this family always needs one black and all three colors fitted.

How do I check these cartridges fit my printer?

Read the Q-code on the cartridge you are removing and match it against the table above, then find your model in the printer list below. The code is the decisive check — it stays the same across the 3500, 3550, 3700 and 3750 lines even where the family names differ.

Is there a high-yield version in this family?

No. Like most HP color families of its period, this one was sold in a single standard size for each cartridge, with no X variant. If your printer empties the black quickly, the answer is keeping a spare Q2670A on hand, not hunting for a bigger cartridge that does not exist.

Can I replace the colors one at a time?

Yes. Each cartridge is independent and the printers track them separately, so a faded yellow can be changed while the cyan and magenta stay in place. Full sets are a restocking choice, not a requirement the machine enforces.