CF503X magenta · XL
CF503X is a HP magenta XL cartridge rated at ~2500 pages (5.6¢/page at $140.00).
Check genuine CF503X on Amazon → Find a cheaper compatible at 4inkjets →
Fit a CF503X and you have the high yield magenta for the Color LaserJet Pro M254dw and the MFP M281fdw. It holds 2500 rated pages for about $140.00, which is 5.60c a page against 6.15c on the standard CF503A.
A full high yield set costs more than most owners expect. Four X cartridges for this printer list at around $550.00 together, against $315.00 for four standard ones. That is a lot of money tied up in consumables for a compact colour laser, and it only comes back if you actually print the pages. A four colour page costs about 20.86c on the X set and 23.82c on the standard set, roughly 12 percent apart, so the payback comes slowly and mostly from the black cartridge rather than from the three colours.
The sensible middle is to run the X black, which does pay, and let the colours stay standard until your own usage tells you otherwise. Nothing in the printer objects to mixing the two sizes.
HP's dynamic security notice for this model means the printer is intended to work only with cartridges carrying a new or reused HP chip, and firmware updates can block compatible toner that previously worked, which is another argument against buying an expensive set in advance. If you do buy compatibles, buy them a cartridge at a time and set firmware updates to do not check first. Our firmware lockout tracker lists this printer with the rest of the affected LaserJets.
Printers that use CF503X
Frequently asked questions
Which printers use the CF503X?
2 printers in our database use the CF503X, including the HP Color LaserJet Pro M254dw and HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw.
Is the CF503X a standard or high-yield cartridge?
The CF503X is a XL (high-yield) cartridge. It costs more upfront than a standard cartridge but prints more pages, so the cost per page is lower.
How many pages does the CF503X print?
The CF503X is rated at about 2500 pages. Actual yield varies with how much of each page you print.
What does the CF503X cost per page?
At a list price of $140.00 and about 2500 pages, the CF503X works out to roughly 5.6 cents per page. A reliable compatible can cost noticeably less.
Are compatible or remanufactured versions of the CF503X safe to use?
Compatible and remanufactured cartridges are third-party alternatives to the CF503X that usually cost much less. Most work well, though quality varies by seller. If your printer can receive firmware updates that block non-OEM ink, check that printer's page first.
Related cartridges
Other colors and standard or high-yield versions used in the same printers.
- CF500A black · standard
- CF500X black · XL
- CF501A cyan · standard
- CF501X cyan · XL
- CF502A yellow · standard
- CF502X yellow · XL
- CF503A magenta · standard
Guides worth reading before you buy
- HP LaserJet toner compatibility chart: which printer takes which CE, CF or W number
- Why did my printer stop accepting compatible ink after a firmware update?
- How to disable HP Dynamic Security and decline the firmware update safely
- What the chip on your ink cartridge actually does, and where it becomes a lock
- Printer will not print black because a colour cartridge is empty: what to do
Last reviewed . Compiled by MyCartridgeFinder from manufacturer cartridge finders and retailer cross reference tables, then checked against this cartridge's database record. Part number, yield and pricing come from that record, never from guesswork. See our methodology and data sources.