TASKalfa 255c Toner (TK-897)

TASKalfa 255c

Kyocera TASKalfa 255c printer

A step above the entry model in its line, the TASKalfa 255c moves Kyocera's compact color multifunction platform into the 25-page-per-minute class, and it prints, copies, scans and faxes through one shared supply: the TK897 toner family. The black cartridge, TK897K, is rated for approximately 12,000 pages, while the three colors — TK897C cyan, TK897M magenta and TK897Y yellow — are each rated for approximately 6,000 pages, all per ISO/IEC 19798. Under their European designations the same four cartridges are sold as the TK-895 series.

The 255c is the upgrade path for a department that liked the smaller machine's formula but outgrew its pace: scan-to-email, network fax and automatic duplexing ride along in a footprint that still fits a small office. Because the TASKalfa 205c and the 255c draw from the identical cartridge family, a mixed fleet needs one supply stock and one service routine — and the same cartridges also serve the FS-C8520MFP and FS-C8525MFP.

Toner Cartridges for TASKalfa 255c

Cartridge	Color	Page Yield
TK897 — 4 Color Set (TK897K, TK897C, TK897M, TK897Y)	Full set	~12,000 black / ~6,000 per color
TK897K — Black, Single	Black	~12,000 pages
TK897K — Black, 2 Pack	Black	~12,000 pages per cartridge
TK897K — Black, 3 Pack	Black	~12,000 pages per cartridge
TK897K — Black, 5 Pack	Black	~12,000 pages per cartridge
TK897C — Cyan, Single	Cyan	~6,000 pages
TK897M — Magenta, Single	Magenta	~6,000 pages
TK897Y — Yellow, Single	Yellow	~6,000 pages
TK897K — Black, legacy listing	Black	~12,000 pages
TK897K — Black, legacy listing (second name)	Black	~12,000 pages

Two older listings close the table: both carry the TK897K black cartridge under earlier product names, so the shelf effectively offers the black single under three listings. When you compare them, you are comparing the same cartridge, not three different ones.

Which cartridge should you buy?

Start from the black. At roughly 12,000 pages, a TK897K lasts about twice as long as any single color, and most office pages are still black text — so a department that prints reports all week and color only occasionally will burn through black packs long before the colors need attention. The 2, 3 and 5 black packs exist for exactly that pattern: fewer orders, and a spare always on the shelf. Colors are the opposite case. Each one empties on its own schedule, driven by what your documents actually contain, so single cyan, magenta and yellow cartridges let you replace only the one that ran out. Take the 4-piece set when several cartridges are low at once or when you are stocking a new machine. Every compatible cartridge on this page is covered by a 1-year warranty and 1-year returns.

Chip, toner and everyday use

These cartridges are chipped, and the 255c reads the chip to report toner levels, so a fresh cartridge should register full as soon as it seats. If the panel still shows a low reading after a swap, pull the cartridge out and rock it gently from side to side to level the toner inside, then push it back until it clicks. Page yields are estimates measured at 5% coverage; a month of full-page color graphics will drain a 6,000-page color cartridge far sooner than the rating suggests. Keep one spare black cartridge beside the machine — a shared departmental MFP has a habit of running dry in the middle of the biggest job of the week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which toner cartridges does the TASKalfa 255c take?

It takes the TK897 family: TK897K black at approximately 12,000 pages, plus TK897C cyan, TK897M magenta and TK897Y yellow at approximately 6,000 pages each. In Europe the same cartridges are designated TK-895.

How is the 255c different from the TASKalfa 205c?

Speed is the headline difference: the 255c prints at up to 25 pages per minute against 20 on the 205c. The toner is identical, so an office stepping up keeps its existing cartridge stock and ordering habits.

One color has run out. Do I have to replace all four cartridges?

No. The three colors are separate cartridges with separate yields, and each can be changed on its own the moment it empties. Only a full set makes sense when two or more cartridges are low at the same time.