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HP 218 Cyan: 218A or 218X (W2181A / W2181X)

Everything about the cyan cartridge for the U.S. HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw and MFP 3301 printers: the A and X versions side by side, with checked prices.

Content updated:

HP 218 Cyan

For cyan, HP makes two cartridges that fit the same printers and print identically: W2181A (218A, standard yield) and W2181X (218X, high yield). HP states about 2.1× the page yield for 218X.

HP 218A · standard yield

W2181A

~1,200 pages (ISO/IEC 19798)

From $92.89 at Staples · $7.74 / 100 pages

Compare 7 prices

HP 218X · high yield

W2181X

~2,500 pages (ISO/IEC 19798)

From $133.89 at Staples · $5.36 / 100 pages

Compare 5 prices

W2181X — HP 218X Cyan, compare prices

~2,500 pages · high yield

5 of 9 listings with a checked price · before sales tax

  • Lowest checked subtotal

    $133.89
    $5.36/100 pp 5.4¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Cost per page uses the product price, excluding shipping and sales tax.

    Staples

    Item 24595415

    4.5/5 · 759 reviewsReviews shared across listing variants

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $133.89
    $5.36/100 pp 5.4¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Best Buy

    Sold by Staples, Inc.

    SKU 10841504

    Get it by Fri, Sep 25 (Best Buy estimate for ZIP 08817)

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $133.99
    $5.36/100 pp 5.4¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Quill

    Item 901-24595415

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked today ·
  • $133.99
    $5.36/100 pp 5.4¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    HP Store

    Sold by HP

    W2181X

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $133.99
    $5.36/100 pp 5.4¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Toner Buzz

    W2181X

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked yesterday ·

Additional retailer · no price shown

Amazon.com

Exact Amazon product page (ASIN B0CV4KSWY3). Amazon shows its current price and seller after you click; we only show Amazon prices from Amazon's own approved feed.

Check price at Amazon Paid link

Exact listings we could not price-check — price at the retailer

  • Newegg

    Exact Newegg Marketplace listing (seller State Toner). Newegg showed "See price in cart", so no public price can be quoted.

    View at Newegg
  • B&H Photo

    Exact B&H listing. B&H blocked our automated check (bot verification) on 2026-09-23, so no price is shown.

    View at B&H Photo
  • CDW

    Exact CDW listing. CDW refused our automated check on 2026-09-23, so no price is shown.

    View at CDW

Comparison of 5 retailers with a checked price. Shipping to the contiguous U.S. is known for each, so the ranking uses the subtotal before sales tax. How we compare →

W2181A — HP 218A Cyan (standard yield)

~1,200 pages

7 of 10 listings with a checked price · before sales tax

  • Lowest checked product price

    $92.89
    $7.74/100 pp 7.7¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Staples

    Item 24595411

    4.5/5 · 759 reviewsReviews shared across listing variants

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $92.89
    $7.74/100 pp 7.7¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Best Buy

    Sold by Staples, Inc.

    SKU 10757646

    Get it by Fri, Sep 25 (Best Buy estimate for ZIP 08817)

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $92.89
    $7.74/100 pp 7.7¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Walmart

    Sold by Staples

    Item 5505987848

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $92.89
    $7.74/100 pp 7.7¢/page

    Shipping not verified · sales tax at checkout

    Newegg

    Sold by State Toner

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $92.99
    $7.75/100 pp 7.7¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Quill

    Item 901-24595411

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked today ·
  • $92.99
    $7.75/100 pp 7.7¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    HP Store

    Sold by HP

    W2181A

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    In stock when checked

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $98.12
    $8.18/100 pp 8.2¢/page

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Toner Buzz

    W2181A

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked yesterday ·

Additional retailer · no price shown

Amazon.com

Exact Amazon product page (ASIN B0CV4M3LTH). Amazon shows its current price and seller after you click; we only show Amazon prices from Amazon's own approved feed.

Check price at Amazon Paid link

Exact listings we could not price-check — price at the retailer

  • B&H Photo

    Exact B&H listing. B&H blocked our automated check (bot verification) on 2026-09-23, so no price is shown.

    View at B&H Photo
  • Office Depot OfficeMax

    Exact Office Depot listing. officedepot.com was not reachable from our checking location on 2026-09-23, so no price is shown.

    View at Office Depot OfficeMax

Comparison of 7 retailers with a checked price. Shipping is not verified for at least one retailer, so the ranking uses the product price before shipping and sales tax. How we compare →

Compatible cyan (replaces W2181X)

Cheaper — each product has its own seller-stated yield; check chip, firmware and returns

4 of 4 listings with a checked price · before sales tax

  • Lowest checked price

    $59.95
    $2.40/100 pp 2.4¢/page · seller yield

    Free standard shipping (contiguous U.S.) · before sales tax

    CompAndSave

    CompAndSave

    TONER-HP-W2181X

    Chip not stated

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked today ·
  • $59.99
    $2.40/100 pp 2.4¢/page · seller yield

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Swift Ink

    Swift Ink

    Chip included

    "Usually ships same day" (Swift Ink)

    In stock when checked

    24-month guarantee (Swift Ink).

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $82.99
    $3.32/100 pp 3.3¢/page · seller yield

    Shipping not verified · sales tax at checkout

    True Color Toner

    True Color Toner (TCT)

    HP-218X-W2181X

    Chip included

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    View deal Checked yesterday ·
  • $87.99
    $3.52/100 pp 3.5¢/page · seller yield

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    Staples

    Staples Remanufactured

    Item 24652447

    Chip includedRemanufactured

    1.8/5 · 6 reviewsReviews shared across listing variants

    Check current delivery time at the retailer

    100% performance guarantee (Staples brand).

    View deal Checked today ·

Comparison of 4 retailers with a checked price. Shipping is not verified for at least one retailer, so the ranking uses the product price before shipping and sales tax. How we compare →

Which cyan cartridge should you choose?

Cyan, yellow and magenta usually empty more slowly than black. If you print a lot of color (presentations, photos, brand material), W2181X (218X cyan) pays off; if you mostly print black with occasional color, W2181A (218A cyan) is fine and ties up less money. Today: $5.36 vs $7.74 per 100 pages.

You do not need the same capacity for every color: 218X black with 218A colors is a perfectly good combination.

Compatible cyan cartridges

Each compatible product below is costed on its seller's own stated yield, with its chip status shown.

Compatible for W2181X: product, price, yield, chip and evidence

4 exact products · 4 brands · 4 with a seller-stated yield · prices before sales tax

Original HP benchmark

W2181X · Staples

HP-stated yield about 2,500 pages (ISO/IEC 19798)

$133.89

$5.36 / 100 pages

  • CompAndSave: CompAndSave replacement for HP 218X Cyan (W2181X) (seller's product photo)

    CompAndSave

    Compatible · replaces W2181X

    $59.95

    CompAndSave
    Lowest priceLowest cost per pageChip not stated

    Free standard shipping (contiguous U.S.) · before sales tax

    ~2,500 pages (seller) · $2.40 / 100 pages

    $73.94 (55%) less than the Original HP benchmark

    The CompAndSave product page does not say whether a chip is included.

    CompAndSave states a full refund within 10 days of delivery and refunds or store credit up to 365 days.

    View deal

    Price checked September 24, 2026

  • Swift Ink: Swift Ink compatible HP 218X Cyan (W2181X) with chip (seller's product photo)

    Swift Ink

    Compatible · replaces W2181X

    $59.99

    Swift Ink
    Chip included

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    ~2,500 pages (seller) · $2.40 / 100 pages

    $73.90 (55%) less than the Original HP benchmark

    The listing says "With Chip".

    24-month guarantee (Swift Ink).

    View deal

    Price checked September 23, 2026

  • True Color Toner (TCT): TCT 218X Cyan compatible toner with chip (replaces W2181X) (seller's product photo)

    True Color Toner (TCT)

    Compatible · replaces W2181X

    $82.99

    True Color Toner
    Chip included

    Shipping not verified · sales tax at checkout

    ~2,500 pages (seller) · $3.32 / 100 pages

    $50.90 (38%) less than the Original HP benchmark

    The listing title says "With CHIP".

    HP+ / "e" printers: True Color Toner states it is "not currently compatible with '-e' suffix / Enterprise series printers".

    See the True Color Toner refund/return policy linked from the store.

    View deal

    Price checked September 23, 2026

  • Staples Remanufactured: Staples Remanufactured Cyan High Yield toner, replacement for HP 218X (STW2181XR) (seller's product photo)

    Staples Remanufactured

    Remanufactured · replaces W2181X

    $87.99

    Staples
    Chip included

    Free standard shipping · before sales tax

    ~2,500 pages (seller) · $3.52 / 100 pages

    $45.90 (34%) less than the Original HP benchmark

    Staples: "includes a recycled HP chip that has been securely reset"; the chip does not support toner-low messaging, and the printer may report a "reused" or "non-HP" cartridge.

    100% performance guarantee (Staples brand).

    1.8/5 · 6 reviewsReviews shared across listing variants
    View deal

    Price checked September 24, 2026

Yields and chip details are what each seller states; 218toner.com has not tested these cartridges. HP labels the U.S. 3201dw and 3301 printers dynamic security enabled: a firmware update can block cartridges with non-HP chips. Product and seller ratings are separate signals and do not by themselves prove print quality. Dynamic security explained →

Compatible for W2181A: product, price, yield, chip and evidence

2 exact products · 2 brands · 2 with a seller-stated yield · prices before sales tax

Original HP benchmark

W2181A · Staples

HP-stated yield about 1,200 pages (ISO/IEC 19798)

$92.89

$7.74 / 100 pages

  • CompAndSave: CompAndSave replacement for HP 218A Cyan (W2181A) (seller's product photo)

    CompAndSave

    Compatible · replaces W2181A

    $56.95

    CompAndSave
    Lowest priceLowest cost per pageChip not stated

    Free standard shipping (contiguous U.S.) · before sales tax

    ~1,200 pages (seller) · $4.75 / 100 pages

    $35.94 (39%) less than the Original HP benchmark

    The CompAndSave product page does not say whether a chip is included.

    CompAndSave states a full refund within 10 days of delivery and refunds or store credit up to 365 days.

    View deal

    Price checked September 24, 2026

  • True Color Toner (TCT): TCT 218A Cyan compatible toner with chip (replaces W2181A) (seller's product photo)

    True Color Toner (TCT)

    Compatible · replaces W2181A

    $62.99

    True Color Toner
    Chip included

    Shipping not verified · sales tax at checkout

    ~1,200 pages (seller) · $5.25 / 100 pages

    $29.90 (32%) less than the Original HP benchmark

    The listing title says "With CHIP".

    HP+ / "e" printers: True Color Toner states it is "not currently compatible with '-e' suffix / Enterprise series printers".

    See the True Color Toner refund/return policy linked from the store.

    View deal

    Price checked September 23, 2026

Yields and chip details are what each seller states; 218toner.com has not tested these cartridges. HP labels the U.S. 3201dw and 3301 printers dynamic security enabled: a firmware update can block cartridges with non-HP chips. Product and seller ratings are separate signals and do not by themselves prove print quality. Dynamic security explained →

Cost per page (cyan)

Enter the current price and compare W2181A with W2181X (and compatible options):

$

Lowest checked price at Staples (September 23, 2026), before tax — replace it with the price you see.

pages

HP's ISO yield for originals, or the yield the compatible seller states.

/mo

Estimates whole cartridges and yearly spend for this color.

Cost per page

5.36¢

$5.36 per 100 pages

Estimate. Cost per page = price ÷ stated yield. HP's yield (ISO/IEC 19798, continuous printing) is not a prediction of your use; content, coverage and settings change real yield. For a color page, add black, cyan, yellow and magenta together in the yearly cost calculator.

More on the compatible trade-off: original or compatible and dynamic security.

Frequently asked questions — HP 218 cyan

Should I buy HP 218A or HP 218X?

Both fit the same printers and print the same quality; the difference is how much toner is inside. HP states about 1,300 pages for 218A black and about 3,200 for 218X black; for the colors about 1,200 versus 2,500 (ISO/IEC 19798, continuous printing).

Which one is cheaper per page follows from one division: price ÷ stated yield. That depends on today's prices, not on how much you print — our 218A vs 218X page does the math with the prices we checked.

Your volume decides something else: how many cartridges you buy per year, how much cash you tie up at once and how often you swap. Light users may prefer 218A's lower upfront price; heavy users save swaps with 218X.

Which color cartridge do I need?

HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201/3301 printers use four separate cartridges: black (K), cyan (C), yellow (Y) and magenta (M). The printer's control panel or the HP Smart app shows the level of each. Replace only the color that is low.

The OEM codes per color: black W2180A/W2180X, cyan W2181A/W2181X, yellow W2182A/W2182X, magenta W2183A/W2183X. A or X is a capacity choice, not a color — black in X with colors in A is fine.

Can I use 218A and 218X in the same printer at the same time?

Yes. Every color slot takes either the A or the X version of that color, so you can mix freely — for example 218X black with 218A cyan, yellow and magenta. HP lists all eight cartridges as replacements for each of the U.S. 3201/3301 models.

Mixing is often the most sensible setup for offices that print mostly black: the black cartridge empties first because it is used on color pages too.

Is an HP 218 multipack cheaper than single cartridges?

Not automatically. HP sells the cartridges individually; U.S. "4-packs" are retailer or marketplace bundles of the same four Original HP cartridges (for example model W2180AQ1 or W2180XQ1). Our checks have found a four-pack that cost more than the same four singles at the same retailer, and another that cost less.

Always compare the set price with the sum of the four single prices on the multipack pages. Some marketplace sets are sold "without manufacturer warranty" — read the listing title before you buy.

Do your prices include sales tax?

No. U.S. prices are shown before sales tax, because the tax depends on your address and is only calculated at checkout. Where the listing showed the shipping cost, we add it and label the result "before sales tax"; where shipping was not shown, we say so instead of treating it as free.

Sources (4)

Facts from HP, retailers and standards bodies are labeled as such. Calculations (cost per page, yearly cost) are estimates by 218toner.com. Last reconciled on .