HP 940 black · standard
HP 940 is a HP black standard cartridge rated at ~1000 pages (2.5¢/page at $25.00).
Check genuine HP 940 on Amazon → Find a cheaper compatible at 4inkjets →
The HP 940 black is the standard yield black for two OfficeJet Pro machines from the end of the last decade, the 8000 from 2009 and the 8500A from 2010. Both are long out of production, which changes what you should be looking for when you buy.
On paper the running cost is good. The 940 black is rated at about 1000 pages and lists near $25, roughly 2.50 cents a page, and the 940XL black raises that to about 2200 pages for around $38, about 1.73 cents. Colour only exists as an XL part in this range: the 940XL cyan, magenta and yellow are each rated at about 1400 pages for around $30, about 2.14 cents each, so a page carrying all four colours costs about 8.16 cents.
Neither printer uses firmware to block third party ink, so compatible and remanufactured 940 cartridges work without the lockout risk attached to newer HP machines. The real risk on a discontinued cartridge is age. Genuine 940 stock has been sitting in warehouses for years, and pigment ink that has been stored badly can arrive already thickened. Check the warranty date printed on the box rather than assuming a sealed genuine cartridge is the safe option.
The 940 generation keeps its print head as a separate part that clips into the carriage, with the ink tanks sitting behind it. A failed ink tank is therefore a cheap fix, while a failed head is not. If one colour drops out, swap the tank. If several fail at once, or the printer reports a problem with the print head rather than with ink, lift the head out, wipe its contacts and the contacts in the carriage, and reseat it before you spend anything. Replacement heads for this generation are still sold, and fitting one costs far less than replacing the printer.
Printers that use HP 940
Frequently asked questions
Which printers use the HP 940?
2 printers in our database use the HP 940, including the HP OfficeJet Pro 8000 and HP OfficeJet Pro 8500A.
Is the HP 940 a standard or high-yield cartridge?
The HP 940 is a standard-yield cartridge. Where a range also offers a high-yield XL version, it costs more upfront but prints more pages for a lower cost per page.
How many pages does the HP 940 print?
The HP 940 is rated at about 1000 pages. Actual yield varies with how much of each page you print.
What does the HP 940 cost per page?
At a list price of $25.00 and about 1000 pages, the HP 940 works out to roughly 2.5 cents per page. A reliable compatible can cost noticeably less.
Are compatible or remanufactured versions of the HP 940 safe to use?
Compatible and remanufactured cartridges are third-party alternatives to the HP 940 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.
Guides worth reading before you buy
- Is the XL cartridge actually cheaper? 31 pairs priced off the makers' own stores
- Page yield explained: what ISO 24711 measures, and why you get fewer pages than the box says
- Does HP block third-party ink? Yes, and here is how Dynamic Security works
- HP ink cartridge compatibility chart: which printers use which cartridge number
- HP cartridge not recognized: how to fix it, and how to tell it apart from a firmware block
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.