Calculating arrival date
Genuine Ink · HP black toner guide
HP 26A vs 26X
Standard or high yield?
Single or dual pack?
Make sense of CF226A, CF226X, CF226AD and CF226XD. Compare the pages, the upfront price and what your toner costs to use.
Compare toner costs ↓
HP 26A3,100 rated pages
HP 26X9,000 rated pages
The short answer
HP 26A (CF226A) is standard yield, rated for approximately 3,100 pages. HP 26X (CF226X) is high yield, rated for approximately 9,000 pages. Both are black toner options for compatible HP LaserJet Pro M402 and MFP M426 printers.
Upfront Cost versus Long-Term Value
- HP 26A: Spend less upfront for a single cartridge. Its lower purchase price can suit light or occasional printing.
- HP 26X: Pay more upfront for more rated pages and fewer cartridge changes. For frequent printing, its lower estimated toner cost per page can offer better long-term value. Compare current prices before choosing.
Know your cartridge number
What is the difference between HP 26A and 26X?
The main difference is rated page capacity. One 26X provides about 2.9 times the rated pages of one 26A: 9,000 instead of 3,100. That is 5,900 additional rated pages before replacing a single cartridge.
HP 26A and CF226A identify the same single-cartridge product. Likewise, HP 26X is CF226X. In this family, A means standard yield, X means high yield, and the D in CF226AD or CF226XD identifies a dual pack.
| Original HP toner | Part number | Cartridges | Rated pages each | Rated pages per pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 26A | CF226A | 1 | 3,100 | 3,100 |
| HP 26X | CF226X | 1 | 9,000 | 9,000 |
| HP 26A dual pack | CF226AD | 2 | 3,100 | 6,200 |
| HP 26X dual pack | CF226XD | 2 | 9,000 | 18,000 |
Approximate average yields. Two-pack totals combine two cartridges used one after the other. Actual yield varies with page content and other factors. HP identifies these supplies in its HP 26 cartridge range.
For more cartridge-number examples, read our HP toner A vs X vs Y guide.
Simple numbers for your printing budget
How much do HP 26A and 26X cost per page?
These examples use the lowest listed sealed-box prices checked on November 12, 2026. The exact box-condition option is shown below. These are price snapshots, not fixed offers. Calculations cover toner only, before tax; they exclude paper, electricity and printer maintenance.
All four sealed-box prices at a glance
| Option and box condition | Whole-pack price | Estimated cost per page | Estimated toner per 1,000 pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 26A Factory Sealed Box |
$145.00 | 4.68¢ | $46.77 |
| HP 26X Sealed Box (Blemished) |
$179.00 | 1.99¢ | $19.89 |
| HP 26A dual pack Factory Sealed Box |
$249.00 | 4.02¢ | $40.16 |
| HP 26X dual pack Sealed Box (Blemished) |
$349.00 | 1.94¢ | $19.39 |
USD; November 12, 2026 price examples. “Per 1,000 pages” estimates the value of toner consumed, not what you pay at checkout. You purchase a whole cartridge or pack.
Lower upfront cost
HP 26A black toner
Factory Sealed Box
CF226A · One cartridge
$145.00 ÷ 3,100 rated pages
More pages per cartridge
HP 26X black toner
Sealed Box (Blemished)
CF226X · One cartridge
$179.00 ÷ 9,000 rated pages
What does that mean in everyday terms?
At these example prices, 26X costs $34 more upfront and provides 5,900 more rated pages. Its estimated toner cost is about $19.89 per 1,000 pages, compared with $46.77 for 26A.
That is roughly 57% lower estimated toner cost per page for the 26X single cartridge in this comparison. The packaging grades differ as labeled; compare the condition you want and the current price before ordering.
A higher yield is not an automatic saving at every price. Divide the price by rated pages, or use the calculator below with the prices you see today.
One now, one for later
HP 26A and 26X: single pack or dual pack?
A single pack provides one replacement cartridge. A dual pack provides two: install the first and keep the second for your next replacement. A dual pack does not increase the yield of each cartridge.
HP 26A dual pack
Factory Sealed Box
CF226AD · Two cartridges
3,100 rated pages each
6,200 rated pages combined
HP 26X dual pack
Sealed Box (Blemished)
CF226XD · Two cartridges
9,000 rated pages each
18,000 rated pages combined
Is buying two together cheaper?
Compare the dual-pack price with the cost of two singles. With the example prices above, the 26A dual pack is $249 versus $290 for two singles. The 26X dual pack is $349 versus $358 for two singles. The 26A examples both use Factory Sealed Box; the 26X examples both use Sealed Box (Blemished).
Compare the same box condition, too
At the November 12 Excellent Box prices, two 26A singles cost $159 × 2 = $318, versus $275 for the dual pack: a $43 difference.
For 26X, two Excellent Box singles cost $219 × 2 = $438, versus $439 for the dual pack. In that comparison, two singles cost $1 less. A dual pack is convenient, but it is not automatically cheaper.
Keep the spare sealed until needed and follow the storage instructions supplied by HP.
The 26X dual pack has the lowest estimated cost per page among these four examples, but also the largest upfront purchase. Buy the amount that fits your printing needs, and check prices again before deciding.
Use the price you see today
HP 26A vs 26X cost-per-page calculator
Enter the whole pack price for each option. The calculator already accounts for one cartridge in a single pack and two in a dual pack.
Example grade: Sealed Box (Blemished)
Example grade: Factory Sealed Box
Example grade: Sealed Box (Blemished)
Leave 100 for the rated-yield comparison. Try a lower percentage to explore heavier coverage or your own experience. This is an assumption, not a prediction of your actual output.
Formula: pack price ÷ (cartridges in pack × rated pages per cartridge × yield percentage ÷ 100). A printed side counts as one page. These are estimates based on rated yield, not a promise of your actual page count. Dense documents can use more toner. For a broader comparison, use our standard vs high-yield calculator.
Want a monthly printing budget too?
Our full calculator estimates toner use and the cost of buying whole cartridges. Choose “My own ink or toner”, enter 3,100 pages for 26A or 9,000 for 26X, and use today’s price per cartridge.
For a dual pack, divide its price by two to estimate per-cartridge use. Remember that checkout still requires buying the whole dual pack.
Open the full printing-cost calculator →Match the full model
What printers use HP 26A and HP 26X?
HP identifies the LaserJet Pro M402 and LaserJet Pro MFP M426 families for HP 26 supplies. Genuine Ink lists the following models for these cartridges. Open your exact printer’s toner page before ordering, especially if the printer was purchased in another region.
HP LaserJet Pro M402 series
HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426 series
Start with your printer
HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426dw
Compare original HP 26A and 26X toner in single and dual packs for this model.
Shop M426dw toner →Are HP 26A and 26X interchangeable?
Yes, when your exact printer supports both CF226A and CF226X. You can choose standard or high yield when replacing the cartridge. These printers have one black toner position, so you use one cartridge at a time.
Quick answers before you choose
HP 26A vs 26X frequently asked questions
Are HP 26A and HP 26X interchangeable?
Yes, in a printer that lists both CF226A and CF226X as supported supplies. HP lists the M402 and M426 families for these cartridges. Confirm the exact model and regional cartridge number before ordering; a similar printer name is not enough.
Is CF226A the same as HP 26A?
Yes. HP 26A is the cartridge family name, and CF226A is its single-cartridge part number. HP 26X corresponds to CF226X. CF226AD and CF226XD identify the two-cartridge packs.
How many pages do HP 26A and HP 26X print?
HP rates 26A at approximately 3,100 pages and 26X at approximately 9,000 pages per cartridge. A 26A dual pack totals approximately 6,200 rated pages; a 26X dual pack totals approximately 18,000. Actual output varies with page content and use.
Is HP 26X worth the extra cost?
For frequent printing, it can be. Divide each current price by its rated page yield. At the sealed-box example prices here, 26X costs $34 more than 26A and has a lower estimated toner cost per page. Check current prices before deciding.
Does a dual pack print more pages per cartridge?
No. It contains two separate cartridges with the same individual yield as the corresponding single pack. Install one at a time. Compare the total pack price with two singles of the same yield and packaging condition.
Can I use HP 26A and 26X at the same time?
These monochrome printers use one black toner cartridge at a time. You can replace a supported 26A with a supported 26X, or the reverse, but you cannot install both together.
Does high yield mean better print quality?
High yield describes rated capacity, not a higher print resolution. Choose between original HP 26A and 26X based on printer compatibility, printing volume, upfront price and estimated toner cost per page.
Are the prices in this guide guaranteed?
No. These are sealed-box price examples checked November 12, 2026, not a live price feed. Review the current price and box condition on the product page, then enter that price in the calculator.
Will my cartridge print exactly the rated number of pages?
No. Rated page yield is a standardized comparison measure. Actual output depends on page content, print jobs and other conditions. The calculator estimates toner cost; it does not guarantee your actual page count.
How are the page yields measured?
HP’s published black-toner yields use standardized ISO/IEC 19752 testing. This makes rated capacities useful for comparison, but it does not guarantee that every cartridge will produce exactly that many pages in your office. Page content and how you print affect actual yield.
Manufacturer references: HP 26A specifications and HP’s CF226X yield report for the M402/M426 series. Product prices and box-condition labels come from the linked Genuine Ink listings.
Why buy from Genuine Ink?
Genuine Ink sells genuine, original-brand ink, toner and other printer supplies. Each product link takes you to the exact HP cartridge or pack so you can review its box condition, current price and printer compatibility.
Explore what genuine ink and toner means and why buy genuine toner, or ask us to help match your printer.
Choose the capacity that fits your printing.
Start with your printer, compare today’s sealed-box prices, then choose a single cartridge or a dual pack.