Honestly, walking into the electronics section at Walmart can feel a bit like a gamble these days. You’re standing there, staring at a wall of plastic bubbles and cardboard, trying to remember if your printer takes the 61, the 67, or if you’re one of the lucky ones still rocking a machine that needs hp 60 ink walmart stocks on the bottom shelf. It’s a classic cartridge. The HP 60 has been around since the Bush administration, roughly 2008, and the fact that it’s still taking up retail real estate is a testament to how long those old Deskjets actually last.
Most people don't realize how much the printer market has shifted.
If you’re hunting for this specific cartridge, you’ve probably noticed the prices aren't exactly dropping. Even at a giant like Walmart, the cost of genuine ink stays stubbornly high. Why? Because these cartridges use an integrated printhead design. Unlike newer "tank" printers where you just pour in liquid, every time you buy an HP 60, you are literally buying a new piece of hardware—the microscopic nozzles that spray the ink are built right into the bottom of the black or tri-color tank.
Why the HP 60 is a "Legacy" Survivor
It’s weirdly durable. I’ve seen Deskjet F4280s that have survived three cross-country moves and a decade of dust, and they still fire up perfectly once you click a fresh set of 60s into place. Walmart knows this. That’s why they keep them in the modular. But there is a catch that catches people off guard: the XL versus standard debate.
Standard HP 60 black cartridges are rated for about 200 pages. That sounds like a lot until you actually start printing a school report or a lease agreement. In reality, with standard 5% coverage—which is basically a double-spaced letter—you get much less if you're printing photos or heavy bold text. The XL version jumps that up to roughly 600 pages.
The price gap at Walmart usually reflects this. You’ll see the standard black for maybe $20-$25, while the XL pushes toward $40. Mathematically, the XL is almost always the better deal per page, but it’s a tough pill to swallow when you just need one quick return label.
Navigating the Walmart Aisle (and the Website)
Buying hp 60 ink walmart offers two very different experiences: the physical store and the "Marketplace." This is where things get sticky for a lot of shoppers. When you search Walmart.com, you aren't just seeing what’s in your local store in the "Tech" department. You’re seeing a flood of third-party sellers.
Some of these sellers are great. Others? They’re selling "remanufactured" cartridges that might trigger a "Non-Genuine Cartridge" error on your printer screen. HP is notoriously protective of their firmware. If you buy a third-party 60 from a random seller on the Walmart site, your printer might throw a tantrum. It’ll say "Cartridge Problem" or "Incompatible."
✨ Don't miss: Quantum Computing Stocks Today: What Most People Get Wrong
If you want the smooth experience, look for the "Sold and shipped by Walmart" label.
That ensures you’re getting the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) product. The OEM stuff has the specific HP security seal. If you’re at the store, check the box for the holographic strip. If you tilt it and the "OK" and "√" move in opposite directions, it’s the real deal. If it doesn't move, someone’s trying to sell you a refill in a fancy box. It happens more than you'd think.
The Real Cost of Color
Tri-color cartridges are the bane of my existence. The HP 60 Tri-color puts cyan, magenta, and yellow all in one tank. Think about that for a second. If you print a bunch of pictures of the desert and run out of yellow, the whole cartridge is "empty" as far as the printer is concerned. Even if you have plenty of blue and red left, you’re tossing the whole thing.
It’s inefficient.
But that’s the trade-off for the convenience of the HP 60 system. You don’t have to maintain individual lines or printheads. You just swap the brick and move on.
Technical Specs and Compatibility
Here is a quick rundown of what machines actually use this ink. If yours isn't on this list, don't buy it, even if it looks similar.
💡 You might also like: How to Use a km per hour calculator Without Messing Up the Math
- Deskjet Series: D1660, D2530, D2560, D2660, D5560, F2430, F2480, F4224, F4280, F4480, F4580.
- Envy Series: 100, 110, 111, 114, 120.
- Photosmart Series: C4640, C4650, C4680, C4780, C4795, D110a.
Notice the Envy 100 on there? That was one of the first "sleek" printers HP made. It looks like a VCR from the future. It still uses the 60.
The Remanufactured Risk
You’ll see "Onn" brand or other generics near the hp 60 ink walmart stocks. These are often half the price. Are they worth it?
Sometimes.
The problem is the "chip." HP uses a small circuit board on the front of the cartridge to communicate with the printer. When a cartridge is remanufactured, the company has to either "reset" that chip or replace it. If they don't do it right, your printer will think the cartridge is empty even if it’s full of fresh ink. If you’re on a deadline, the $10 savings isn't worth the headache of a printer lockout.
However, if you're just printing coupons or casual notes, the savings on a 2-pack of remanufactured 60s can be significant. Just keep your receipt. Walmart is usually pretty good about returns on their house brands like Onn, but third-party marketplace sellers can be a nightmare to deal with if the ink fails after two weeks.
Better Ways to Buy
Check the "Instant Ink" compatibility. Most older printers using the 60 won't support HP’s subscription service, but a few of the later Photosmart models might. If you print a lot, subscriptions are cheaper. If you print once a month? Stick to the shelf.
Also, watch out for the combo packs. Walmart often sells a Black and Tri-Color 2-pack. Usually, this saves you about five bucks compared to buying them separately. It’s not a massive discount, but it pays for a bag of chips in the checkout line.
Maximize Your Cartridge Life
Stop turning your printer off and on constantly. Every time an HP printer using the 60 cartridge boots up, it runs a "priming" cycle. It spits a tiny bit of ink into a spittoon inside the machine to clear the nozzles. If you turn it on every time you want to print one page, you’re literally throwing ink away. Leave it in sleep mode. It uses almost zero power and saves the ink for the paper.
Also, if you get a "Low Ink" warning, ignore it. Keep printing until the colors actually start to fade or the black gets streaky. Those sensors are notoriously early. You can usually get another 20-40 pages out of a "low" HP 60 before it actually bites the dust.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
- Verify your model: Check the sticker under the printer lid. If it doesn't say "60," don't touch it. 61 and 60 look identical but are not interchangeable.
- Go for XL: If you have the extra $15, the HP 60XL Black is nearly triple the page yield of the standard. It is the only way to make these printers cost-effective.
- Store Pick-up: Use the Walmart app to check local stock before driving there. The "Ink Aisle" is often disorganized, and the app will tell you exactly which "Aisle I" and "Section" it’s in.
- Mind the Seal: If the box looks crushed or the tape is peeled, grab a different one. Air is the enemy of ink. A compromised seal means the sponges inside are already drying out.
- Recycle: Don't toss the old ones. Walmart often has a bin for ink recycling, and sometimes you can find programs that give you store credit for empties, though these are becoming rarer for the older 60 series.
Bottom line: The HP 60 is a dinosaur, but it’s a reliable one. As long as Walmart keeps it on the shelf, your old Deskjet stays out of the landfill. Just make sure you're buying the right version for your volume, and don't let the printer's software bully you into replacing a cartridge that still has a few good pages left in it.