Which ink/toner does the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw use?
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw (laser, 2019) uses W2020X, W2021X, W2023X, W2022X, W2020A, W2021A, W2023A, W2022A.
Third-party cartridge risk: Medium a firmware update can start blocking non-OEM cartridges, so check before buying a large supply, or hold off on firmware updates.
The Color LaserJet Pro M454dw is HP's 414A generation workgroup colour laser, a print only machine sized for a team rather than a desk.
Running cost is the reason to own one of these. 414A black is rated 2400 pages at $90.00, which is 3.75c a page, and 414X takes that to 2.20c, about 41 percent off. Colours go from 4.52c on the standard size to 3.33c on the XL. At 2.20c a black page this is one of the cheapest colour lasers to run in our catalogue, provided you buy the high yield cartridges.
HP publishes a dynamic security notice across the M454 and M479 series, so this printer is intended to work only with cartridges carrying a new or reused HP chip, and a firmware update can block compatible 414A and 414X toner that had been working.
For a machine bought on running cost, that changes the arithmetic rather than ending it. Genuine 414X at 2.20c a black page is still competitive against most colour lasers, and the gap between genuine and compatible on this family is narrower than it is on the small LaserJets. If you do run compatibles, hold firmware updates first, and prefer remanufactured cartridges built on reused HP chips, which HP's notice explicitly allows.
Compatible cartridges
| Cartridge | Color | Yield | Pages | OEM price | Cost/page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W2020X | black | XL | 7500 | $165.00 | 2.2¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2021X | cyan | XL | 6000 | $200.00 | 3.3¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2023X | magenta | XL | 6000 | $200.00 | 3.3¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2022X | yellow | XL | 6000 | $200.00 | 3.3¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2020A | black | standard | 2400 | $90.00 | 3.8¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2021A | cyan | standard | 2100 | $95.00 | 4.5¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2023A | magenta | standard | 2100 | $95.00 | 4.5¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2022A | yellow | standard | 2100 | $95.00 | 4.5¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
XL (high-yield) cartridges cost more upfront but lower the cost per page, which is better if you print a lot.
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw is on our firmware-lockout list, so a compatible or remanufactured cartridge can stop working after a printer update. The safe choice is genuine HP toner. If you want to try a compatible to save money, buy only from a seller that guarantees it works with this printer's current firmware, and keep the receipt.
Frequently asked questions
Which toner does the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw use?
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw uses W2020A, W2020X, W2021A, W2021X, W2022A, W2022X, W2023A and W2023X.
Does the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw take XL cartridges?
Yes. Besides the standard cartridges it accepts W2020X, W2021X, W2022X and W2023X. A high-yield XL holds more toner and costs less per page, which is worth it if you print often.
Will third-party toner work in the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw, or will firmware block it?
HP publishes its dynamic security notice for this model on HP's page for the M479fdw, its sibling in the same M454 and M479 series: it is intended to work only with cartridges carrying a new or reused HP chip, and firmware updates can block compatible W2020A/W2020X/W2021A/W2021X/W2022A/W2022X/W2023A/W2023X toner that worked before. Checked 1 September 2026.
How many pages do the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw cartridges print?
Rated yields run from about 2100 pages (W2023A) to about 7500 pages (W2020X), depending on the cartridge. Real-world yield depends on how much you print and how much toner each page uses.
What is the cheapest toner for the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw?
By list price the lowest cost per page here is the W2020X at about 2.2 cents per page. A reliable compatible or remanufactured cartridge can lower that further.
Related HP Color LaserJet Pro printers
- HP Color LaserJet Pro M252dw
- HP Color LaserJet Pro M254dw ⚠ DRM
- HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw ⚠ DRM
- HP Color LaserJet Pro M452dw
Guides for HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw owners
- HP LaserJet toner compatibility chart: which printer takes which CE, CF or W number
- Drum unit vs toner: when to replace one, and what it really costs
- Why did my printer stop accepting compatible ink after a firmware update?
- Setup cartridges: why a new printer runs out of ink so fast, and what the first refill costs
- How to disable HP Dynamic Security and decline the firmware update safely
Last reviewed . Compiled by MyCartridgeFinder from manufacturer cartridge finders and retailer cross reference tables, then checked against this printer's database record. Cartridge numbers and yields come from that record, never from guesswork. See our methodology and data sources.