HP 501A-503A Toner Cartridges

HP 501A-503A

Same black, different colors — that single detail is what separates this family from its 502A sibling, and it decides which page your printer belongs on. Here the black is the 501A, sold singly as the Q6470A, while the color side, the 503A series, runs on a different set of codes: Q7581A cyan, Q7582A yellow and Q7583A magenta. The black also comes in an extended-yield size, the 501X (Q6470X), rated at about 7,200 pages.

The printers are the same ones its sibling family serves — the Color LaserJet 3600 and 3800 lines and the CP3505 series — which is exactly why the confusion happens: two color-cartridge sets, one black, one shared shelf of machines. The reliable test takes ten seconds. Pull any color cartridge from your printer and read its code: a Q6471A-series color means your machine belongs to the 502A page; a Q7581A-series color means it belongs here. The full model list is below.

Toner Cartridges for HP 501A-503A

Cartridge	Color	Page Yield
Q6470A	Black	See product page
Q7581A	Cyan	See product page
Q7582A	Yellow	See product page
Q7583A	Magenta	See product page
Q6470X (501X)	Black — extended yield	Approx. 7,200 pages

Sets and alternate color listings:

Also stocked under the individual model names:

Which cartridge should you buy?

First, the decision that is not about money at all: confirm your printer takes the Q7581A-series colors and not the Q6471A-series ones — the two sets are not interchangeable, and no other choice on this page matters until that one is right. Once it is, the shape of the order is familiar: standard colors bought singly as each fades, the extended-yield Q6470X black (about 7,200 pages) for any machine doing steady text volume, and the 4 Color Set when several cartridges run low together. The colors in this family have no extended-yield version, so magenta-heavy work is managed with a spare, not a bigger cartridge. Compatible cartridges here are backed by a 1-year warranty and 1-year returns.

Chip, toner and everyday use

A wrong-family cartridge is the one mistake this page exists to prevent, and the chip will catch most attempts: a cartridge the printer does not recognize should come straight back out and have its label checked, code against code, before any force is used. For the right cartridge, the routine is simple — sealing tape fully removed, unit seated until it stops, door closed, and a look at the supplies status to confirm all four registered. Ratings such as the 501X's 7,200 pages assume the standard 5% coverage, so coverage-heavy work will always finish a cartridge sooner than the number on the box suggests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the 501A-503A and 501A-502A families?

The black is identical — both families use the Q6470A black, including its extended-yield Q6470X version. The colors differ: this family's colors are Q7581A, Q7582A and Q7583A, while the sibling family's are Q6471A, Q6472A and Q6473A. The code on the color cartridge in your printer tells you which family is yours.

How do I check whether my printer belongs to this family?

Remove any color cartridge and read its label. If the code is Q7581A, Q7582A or Q7583A, you are in the right place. Then confirm your model in the printer list below — the 3600, 3800 and CP3505 lines appear in both families, so the cartridge code is the deciding evidence.

Is there a high-yield option in this family?

Only for black: the Q6470X, sold as the 501X, is rated at about 7,200 pages against the standard black. The three colors were never offered in an extended-yield size in this family, so they are bought in the standard cartridge and replaced as they report low.

Can I replace just one color cartridge?

Yes. Black, cyan, yellow and magenta are four independent units, and the printers in this family track each one separately. A single faded color is a single-cartridge job; the sets on this page exist for restocking and full refreshes.