HP Q5949A

The LaserJet 1160, the LaserJet 1320 series and the LaserJet 3390 multifunction line — three of the best-regarded small-office monochrome printers HP ever made — share one black cartridge, part number Q5949A. This page stocks that cartridge, the 49A (Q5949A), in single and multi-pack form, plus a MICR build for check printing.

One clarification saves a common mix-up. HP also documents a high-yield sibling for these printers, the 49X (Q5949X), and older buying guides mention it often. That cartridge is not among this page's listings — everything below is the standard 49A — so if your last cartridge reads Q5949X and you want the identical part, this is not its shelf. If you are open to the standard fill, read on: it drops into the same printers, prints the same sharp text these machines are known for, and simply asks to be changed a little sooner.

Toner Cartridges for HP Q5949A

Cartridge	Color	Page Yield
Q5949A	Black	See product page
Q5949A 2 Pack	Black	See product page
Q5949A 3 Pack	Black	See product page
Q5949A 5 Pack	Black	See product page
Q5949A 10 Pack	Black	See product page
Q5949A MICR	Black, MICR	See product page
Q5949A Premium Quality 5 Pack	Black	See product page

Buyers who search by printer rather than part number will also find this cartridge as the LaserJet 1160 Toner Cartridge — a listing named for the first printer in the family, carrying the same 49A.

Which cartridge should you buy?

Since this shelf is one cartridge deep, the choice is quantity and build. A single covers a light-duty 1160 or 1320 with room to spare. The 2 Pack is the habitual buy for a working office — one cartridge in the machine, one in the drawer, no delivery gap when the first runs dry. The 3, 5 and 10 Packs serve desks feeding several of these printers, where the standard fill's lower shelf price beats chasing yield. The Premium Quality 5 Pack is the premium build of the same cartridge in bulk, and the MICR version is the specialist: magnetic toner for checks, pointless for anything else. Warranty and returns on the compatible cartridges here run a full year each.

Chip, toner and everyday use

A single black cartridge means there is nothing to calibrate and no color to balance: open the printer, seat the cartridge until it sits square, and the machine returns to factory-fresh text. These printers report toner status honestly, so when the low warning appears you typically still have a grace run of pages — use it to order, not to gamble. A gentle rock of the cartridge buys a little more even coverage at the very end of its life. Keep the spare indoors and sealed; heat and humidity are the enemies of a cartridge waiting its turn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the 49A or the 49X?

Both fit the same printers — the 1160, the 1320 series and the 3390. The difference is fill: the 49X is the high-yield version. This page stocks the standard 49A (Q5949A); if the cartridge you removed reads Q5949X, you were running the high-yield, and the 49A remains a correct, if shorter-lived, fit.

How do I confirm the 49A is my cartridge?

The code on the installed cartridge is decisive — Q5949A for the standard cartridge on this page. Failing that, the model list below covers every printer in the family.

What does the MICR 49A do differently?

Its toner is formulated to be read magnetically, which is the requirement for printed checks to clear bank scanners. For letters, invoices and reports it prints like the standard cartridge; buy it only if checks are part of the job.