If you own an HP Color LaserJet Pro M255 or M283 series, you've seen two cartridge options on the shelf: the standard-yield 206A and the high-yield 206X. They fit the same printers, so many buyers assume the 206X is just a bigger box. The truth is more nuanced — and choosing wrong either wastes money or leaves your office stranded mid-month.
The short answer
The 206X holds roughly 2.4× more toner than the 206A and costs only 30–50% more, which makes it dramatically cheaper per page. If your office prints more than a few hundred pages a month, the 206X is the smarter buy. If you print rarely, the 206A's lower upfront cost wins.
206A vs 206X at a glance
| Spec | HP 206A (CF360A/361A/362A/363A) | HP 206X (CF360X/361X/362X/363X) |
|---|---|---|
| Black yield | ~1,050 pages | ~2,500 pages |
| Color yield (C/M/Y) | ~700 pages each | ~2,100 pages each |
| Typical price (original) | Lower upfront | +30–50% |
| Cost per page | Higher | Up to 50% lower |
| Compatible option | Yes | Yes |
Compatible versions of both are widely available. For wholesale buyers, the compatible 206X is usually the sweet spot: near-OEM quality at a fraction of the price. You can browse the compatible HP 206A and compatible HP 206X for your M255/M283.
Why the 206X wins on cost per page
Do the math with real numbers. An original 206A black cartridge at roughly $85 gives ~1,050 pages: about 8 cents per page. An original 206X at $120 gives ~2,500 pages: about 4.8 cents per page. Same printer, same print quality — but the 206X cuts your per-page cost nearly in half. The gap is even wider with compatible cartridges, where the 206X variant typically costs only 15–25% more than the 206A while delivering the same 2.4× yield advantage.
When the 206A still makes sense
- You print under ~400 pages per month and want the lowest possible upfront cost
- You're stocking spares for a seldom-used printer
- Your budget is strictly per-purchase, not per-page (e.g. occasional home use)
One common trap: buying the 206A repeatedly because it's cheaper at the counter. Over a year, a 500-page-per-month office pays noticeably more for the 206A than for the 206X — the classic "penny wise, pound foolish."
Color vs black: the 206X advantage is bigger on color
Here's the detail most buyers miss: the color 206A carts (CF361A/CF362A/CF363A) yield only ~700 pages each, while the 206X color carts (CF361X/CF362X/CF363X) yield ~2,100 — a 3× advantage. Color printing with 206A empties fast, so offices that print brochures, charts or client materials should always go 206X for the three color positions.
Our recommendation
- Monthly volume > 400 pages, or any color printing: choose 206X (compatible version for best value)
- Occasional printing: 206A is fine — just don't make it a habit for a busy office
- Mix and match: black 206X + color 206X when color volume is high; black 206X + color 206A when color is rare
- Always match the cartridge to your exact printer model — the 206A/206X fit M255 and M283 series only
Not sure which HP series you have? Check the label on the front of the printer, or browse our full HP toner range.