HP 21 & HP 22 Ink Cartridges: Australian Guide 🖨️
HP 21 and HP 22 are some of the most iconic ink cartridges in Australian printing history. The DeskJet 3920 and PSC 1410 were standard-issue home printers in millions of Australian households during the 2000s — bought at Big W, Kmart, or Harvey Norman for under $100 and run for years.
If one of these is still sitting on your desk or in a cupboard, compatible HP 21/22 ink is available. Here's what you need to know. Ollie has genuine respect for printers this old still running (🐾).
Which Printers Use HP 21 and HP 22?
HP 21 (black) and HP 22 (tri-colour) fit a classic lineup from the early-to-mid 2000s:
HP DeskJet:
- DeskJet 3910, 3915, 3920, 3930v, 3940
- DeskJet D1530, D1560
- DeskJet F300, F380, F390 (with scanner)
HP PSC (Print/Scan/Copy):
- PSC 1401, 1402, 1403, 1406, 1408
- PSC 1410, 1415 — among the most widely sold AU home printers of their era
HP OfficeJet:
- OfficeJet 4315, 4355
HP 21 vs HP 22: The Pair
| Cartridge | Colour | Type | |-----------|--------|------| | HP 21 | Black | Tri-black (dye-based) | | HP 22 | Tri-colour | Dye-based (C/M/Y combined) |
Both use dye-based ink. HP 21 is black only; HP 22 combines cyan, magenta, and yellow in a single tri-colour cartridge. When one colour runs low, the entire HP 22 cartridge needs replacing.
Page Yield
| Cartridge | Pages | |-----------|-------| | HP 21 black | ~150 pages | | HP 22 tri-colour | ~165 pages |
Standard ISO yield at 5% coverage.
These are low yields by modern standards — a reflection of the era. There was no XL version of HP 21 or HP 22. Replacement frequency is higher than modern cartridges, but the low cost of compatible cartridges keeps running costs manageable.
Genuine vs Compatible: The Practical Reality
Genuine HP 21 and HP 22 cartridges are no longer stocked at major Australian retailers. HP officially discontinued the range. Compatible cartridges from third-party suppliers are the only realistic ongoing supply option.
At typical compatible pricing (~1.0–1.5¢ per page), HP 21/22 compatible cartridges deliver very low running costs:
- 150-page black cartridge: ~$2.00–$3.00
- 165-page colour cartridge: ~$3.50–$5.00
For a household printing ~50–80 pages/month, annual ink cost on compatibles: ~$30–$50.
Is It Worth Keeping the Printer?
This is a fair question for printers of this age. Factors to consider:
Keep running if:
- The printer produces clean output with fresh ink
- You only need basic text/document printing (not photo quality)
- You're not willing to pay for a modern replacement
- Running cost on compatible ink (~$30–$50/year) suits your needs
Consider replacing if:
- Printhead cleaning cycles aren't fixing streaky output
- You need wireless, duplex, or scanning functionality it doesn't have
- You're going through ink abnormally fast due to printhead issues
A modern wireless duplex printer can be purchased for $60–$100 at Officeworks — often with a free starter cartridge included. At that price point, it may be worth upgrading rather than maintaining a 20-year-old printer.
Ollie & Noodle's Verdict
- ✅ Compatible is the only option — genuine HP 21/22 are discontinued
- ✅ Very low running cost on compatible ink (~$30–$50/year at light use)
- ✅ Run printhead cleaning first if output is poor before replacing cartridges
- ⚠️ Consider whether upgrading makes sense — modern printers offer wireless, duplex, better yields
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law (though likely out of warranty anyway)
Summary
- ✅ HP 21 (black) + HP 22 (tri-colour) — 2-cartridge system, dye-based
- ✅ ~150/165 pages per cartridge — low yield but cheap compatible prices offset this
- ✅ Compatible is the only practical option — genuine HP 21/22 are discontinued in AU
- ✅ Very low annual ink cost (~$30–$50 at light use) on compatible cartridges
- ✅ Fits: DeskJet 3920, D1530, F380, PSC 1401–1415, OfficeJet 4315–4355
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law