Which ink does the HP DeskJet 2540 use?

The HP DeskJet 2540 (inkjet, 2013) uses HP 61XL, HP 61.

Third-party cartridge risk: Low no firmware lockout is on record for this printer, so compatible and remanufactured cartridges should work.

The HP DeskJet 2540 printer uses HP 61XL and HP 61 ink cartridges which come in standard and XL versions with varying page yields. When choosing between standard and high yield cartridges consider that the standard black cartridge prints about 190 pages while the XL version prints around 480 pages. You can also choose between genuine or compatible third-party cartridges as there is no firmware DRM on record.

Compatible cartridges

CartridgeColorYieldPagesOEM priceCost/page
HP 61XL black XL480 $35.00 7.3¢ OEM · AmazonCompatible
HP 61XL tri-color XL330 $38.00 11.5¢ OEM · AmazonCompatible
HP 61 black standard190 $18.00 9.5¢ OEM · AmazonCompatible
HP 61 tri-color standard165 $22.00 13.3¢ OEM · AmazonCompatible

XL (high-yield) cartridges cost more upfront but lower the cost per page, which is better if you print a lot.

Our pick: the high-yield HP 61XL is the best value

The HP DeskJet 2540 is not on our firmware-lockout list, so third-party ink should work. By list price its high-yield HP 61XL works out to about 7.3 cents per page, roughly 23% less than the 9.5 cents of the standard HP 61. If you print often the high-yield cartridge is the better value, and a well-reviewed compatible version lowers the cost further.

Frequently asked questions

Which ink does the HP DeskJet 2540 use?

The HP DeskJet 2540 uses HP 61 and HP 61XL.

Does the HP DeskJet 2540 take XL cartridges?

Yes. Besides the standard cartridges it accepts HP 61XL. A high-yield XL holds more ink and costs less per page, which is worth it if you print often.

Will third-party ink work in the HP DeskJet 2540, or will firmware block it?

The HP DeskJet 2540 is not on our firmware-lockout list, so compatible and remanufactured cartridges should work. Firmware can change with an update, so it is worth checking before buying a large supply.

How many pages do the HP DeskJet 2540 cartridges print?

Rated yields run from about 165 pages (HP 61) to about 480 pages (HP 61XL), depending on the cartridge. Real-world yield depends on how much you print and how much ink each page uses.

What is the cheapest ink for the HP DeskJet 2540?

By list price the lowest cost per page here is the HP 61XL at about 7.3 cents per page. A reliable compatible or remanufactured cartridge can lower that further.

Related HP DeskJet printers

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.