Which ink does the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 use?

The HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 (inkjet, 2016) uses HP 902XL, HP 902.

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 HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 uses inkjet cartridges from HP. For a lower cost per page and more pages printed, consider purchasing high yield XL versions of the black or cyan/magenta/yellow cartridges. However note that if you buy non-OEM compatible cartridges this printer may block them due to its firmware DRM.

Firmware DRM: Subject to HP Dynamic Security firmware that can block non-HP chips. See which printers block third-party ink →

Compatible cartridges

Cartridge	Color	Yield	Pages	OEM price	Cost/page
HP 902XL	black	XL	825	$38.00	4.6¢	OEM · Amazon Compatible
HP 902XL	cyan	XL	825	$30.00	3.6¢	OEM · Amazon Compatible
HP 902XL	magenta	XL	825	$30.00	3.6¢	OEM · Amazon Compatible
HP 902XL	yellow	XL	825	$30.00	3.6¢	OEM · Amazon Compatible
HP 902	black	standard	300	$18.00	6.0¢	OEM · Amazon Compatible

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

Our pick: genuine OEM is the safer bet

The HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 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 ink. 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 ink does the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 use?

The HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 uses HP 902 and HP 902XL.

Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 take XL cartridges?

Yes. Besides the standard cartridges it accepts HP 902XL. 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 OfficeJet Pro 6978, or will firmware block it?

Subject to HP Dynamic Security firmware that can block non-HP chips.

How many pages do the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 cartridges print?

Rated yields are the HP 902 at about 300 pages and the HP 902XL at about 825 pages. Real-world yield depends on how much you print and how much ink each page uses.

What is the cheapest ink for the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978?

By list price the lowest cost per page here is the HP 902XL at about 3.6 cents per page. A reliable compatible or remanufactured cartridge can lower that further.

Related HP OfficeJet Pro printers

Last reviewed 9 August 2026. 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.