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HP LaserJet Series Printers - MediaRecommendations, Specifications, and Weights

Paper basis weightsPaper specificationsPaper weight equivalence tableLabel specificationsEnvelope specificationsTroubleshooting paper jams

Media selection tipsUse the information in this document to find the types of media that perform best with the printer. Obtainadditional information about media specifications in two ways:

See the User's Guide that came with the printer.l Refer to the HP LaserJet Printer Family Print Media Guide for more information.l

Paper to use

For best results, use conventional, white, xerographic paper.

Paper to avoid

Avoid using the following types of paper:Paper with cutouts or perforations.l Paper that is damaged, wrinkled, or irregularly shaped.l Paper with glossy, smooth, or extremely rough surfaces.l Paper that is heavily textured or embossed.l Paper that is carbonless (NCR) or chemically coated.l Paper and ink not compatible with the heat and pressure of fusing.l

NOTE: Avoid printing more than once on the same side of a page. This might result in papercurling or severe paper jams and misfeeds. However, the printer should be able to print bothsides of a page without a duplex unit. Use only Tray 1 and the side-output bin to print both sidesof a page. This reduces the complexity of the paper path and the probability of paper jams.

Recycled paper

Recycled paper is a combination of pre-consumer waste paper and post-consumer waste paper.Printed waste paper is usually washed to remove most ink and other contaminants. Recycledpaper may contain dark specks or appear gray or dirty. Select a recycled paper type that meetsthe same specifications (except brightness) as standard paper and that has a suitableappearance. HP recommends using recycled paper containing no more than five percent groundwood.

Colored paper

Use colored paper of the same high quality as white photocopy paper. The pigments in the papermust withstand the fusing temperatures of 200 degrees Centigrade (392 degrees Fahrenheit) for.1 second without deterioration. Never use paper with a colored coating that was added after thepaper was produced.

HP Color LaserJet printers create colors by printing patterns of dots, overlaying and varying theirspacing to produce various colors. Since these colors are printed on a medium, changing theshade or color of the medium (paper) will change the shades of printed colors. Since the printercannot sense the color of paper that is being used, it cannot adjust the output colors for coloredpaper.

Archival paper

Paper used for archiving must meet the same media specifications as standard paper; however,the pH should be no less than 7.0. Some archival demands are more stringent than others,requiring specific degrees of alkalinity and chemical stability. Toner is chemically stable andshould last as long as the paper does. Petroleum-based solvents can degrade toner andplasticizers such as those found in vinyl folders. Avoid folding archival documents across printedareas or handling them roughly. Discuss archival requirements with the paper supplier.

Paper basis weightsPaper basis weight is an important characteristic to consider because paper that is too light or too heavymay misfeed, stack improperly, jam, and cause excessive mechanical wear. The following table lists HPLaserJet printers and the minimum and maximum basis weights they support.

Printer SourceBasis weights (Metric and USBond)

HP LaserJet IIP/IIIP Multipurpose Trayand printers

Cassettes 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)

HP LaserJet IID/IIID Upper Bin printers Cassette and manual feed 60 to 135 g/m2 (16 to 36 lb bond)Cassette and manual feed 60 to 90 g/m2 (16 to 24 lb bond)Duplex 60 to 90 g/m2 (16 to 24 lb bond)

HP LaserJet II and III series printers Cassette and manual feed 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)HP LaserJet IIISi series printers Upper and lower bin;

cassette and manual feed(simplex)

Upper and lower bin;cassette and manual feed(duplex)

60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)

60 to 90 g/m2 (16 to 24 lb bond)

Printer SourceBasis weights (US Bond andMetric)

HP LaserJet 4/4M and 4 Plus/4M Plusseries printers

250-sheet cassette tray 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)

HP LaserJet 4Si series printers Upper tray (simplex) 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 36 lb bond)Lower tray (simplex) 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)Upper and lower tray(duplex)

60 to 90 g/m2 (16 to 24 lb bond)

HP LaserJet 4L/4ML series printers Paper cassette 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)HP LaserJet 4P/4MP series printers Paper cassette 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)

Manual feed 60 to 158 g/m2 (16 to 42 lb bond)

HP LaserJet 4V/4MV series printers MP tray 64 to 105 g/m2 (17 to 28 lb bond)250-sheet cassette tray 64 to 105 g/m2 (17 to 28 lb bond)Optional 500-sheet lower 64 to 105 g/m2 (17 to 28 lb bond)

Printer SourceBasis weights (US Bond andMetric)

HP Color LaserJet series printers Front input tray 75 to 90 g/m2 (20 to 24 lb bond)HP Color LaserJet 5 series printers Optional rear tray 75 to 90 g/m2 (20 to 24 lb bond)

Manual feed 75 to 90 g/m2 (20 to 24 lb bond)HP LaserJet 5P/5MP series printers Tray 1 (MP tray) 60 to 158 g/m2 (16 to 42 lb bond)

Tray 2 (paper cassette) 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)HP LaserJet 5L series printers Paper input bin 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)

Single-sheet input slot 60 to 163 g/m2 (16 to 43 lb bond)HP LaserJet 5, 5N and 5M seriesprinters

250-sheet cassette tray 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)Optional 500-sheet lowercassette tray

60 to 90 g/m2 (16 to 24 lb bond)

Printer SourceBasis weights (US Bond andMetric)

HP LaserJet 5Si, 8000, Mopier 240,8100, and Mopier 320 series printers

Tray 1 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)Tray 1 (left output tray only) Up to 199g/m2 (110 lb index or

53 lb bond)Tray 2 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)Tray 3 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)Optional 2000 sheet tray 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)

HP LaserJet 6L series printers Paper input bin 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb)Single-sheet input slot 60 to 163 g/m2 (16 to 43 lb)

HP LaserJet 3100 series printers Output bin

Front output slot

Document feeder tray

60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb)

60 to 157 g/m2 (16 to 42 lb)

42 to 260 g/m2 (12 to 69 lb)

Printer SourceBasis weights (US bond andmetric)

HP LaserJet 1000, 1005, 1100 and1100A series printers

Paper output slot

Front output slot

60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb)

60 to 163 g/m2 (16 to 43 lb)HP LaserJet 4000, 5000, and 5100series printers

Tray 1 60 to 199 g/m2 (16 to 53 lb bond)Trays 2, 3, and 4 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)

HP Color LaserJet 2500 Printer Series Trays 1, 2 and 3 Click here for paper and printmedia specifications

HP Color LaserJet 4500 and 4550series printers

Tray 1 Single-sided: 60 to 159 g/m2 (16to 36 lb)

Two-sided: 64 to 105 g/m2 (17 to28 lb)

Transparencies and soft glosspaper: 0.13 mm (5 mil) 120 g/m2(32 lb/80 lb text)

Envelopes: (Tray 1 only):Maximum weight 90 g/m2 (24 lb);Limit of 10

Cardstock (postcards): (Tray 1only)Maximum weight: 176 g/m2 (47lb)Maximum size:200mm x 148mm

(7.87 in x. 5.82 in)Trays 2 and 3 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)

Transparencies and Soft GlossPaper: 0.13 mm (5 mil) 120 g/m2

Duplex printing 64 to 105 g/m2 (17 to 28 lb bond)HP Color LaserJet 4600 Printer Series Trays 1, 2 and 3 Click here for paper and print

media specifications

Click here for information onselecting Print Media on SpecialPaper and Print Media

HP Color LaserJet 5500 series printers Trays 1, 2, 3 and 4 Click here for paper and printmedia specifications

Click here for information onselecting Print Media on SpecialPaper and Print Media

HP Color LaserJet 8500 and HP ColorLaserJet 8550 series printers

Tray 1 60 to 216 g/m2 (16 to 58 lbbond); 90 g/m2 (24 lb bond) forenvelopes; 4 to 5 mils fortransparencies

Trays 2, 3, and 4 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lbbond); 4 to 5 mils fortransparencies

HP LaserJet 1200 and 1220 seriesprinters

Main input tray 60 to163 g/m2 (16 to 42 lb bond)Priority input tray 60 to 163 g/m2 (16 to 42 lb bond)Output bin 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)

HP LaserJet 2100 and 2200 seriesprinters

Main input tray (Tray 1) 60 to 163 g/m2 (16 to 43 lb bond)Duplexer printing 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)Trays 2 and 3 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond)

Paper specifications

Category SpecificationGrain LongMoisture content 4.7 percent +/- 1 percent by weightComposition/Furnish 100 percent chemical wood pulp and/or cotton fiber.

Recycled paper with up to 5 percent ground wood may be used.Acid content 5.5 pH minimumAsh content Not to exceed 10 percentOpacity 85 percent minimumBrightness 83 percent minimum (recycled paper may not be as bright)Caliper 0.094 to 0.18 mm (3.0 - 7.0 mils)Curl In ream: flat within 5 mm (0.2 inch).Cut edge Sharp/no fray, no dust.Category SpecificationFinishing Cut sheet to +/- 0.8 mm (+/- 0.03 inch) of nominal and +/- 0.2 degrees squareFusing compatibility Must not scorch, melt, offset, or release harmful emissions at 200 degrees C

(392 degrees F) for .1 second (0.2 seconds for the HP Color LaserJet printer).Packaging Polylaminated moisture-proof ream wrapSmoothness 100-250 Sheffield (rougher surfaces tend to reduce image quality) 100-190

Sheffield for the HP Color LaserJet printerStiffness 1.6 minimum machine direction; 0.6 minimum cross direction (Taber)Surface strength 12 minimum wax pick (Dennison)Electrical surface 2.0 to 15 x 10 (to the 10th power)

Resistivity ohms/sq (conditioned at 23 degrees Centigrade and 50 percent relativehumidity)

Electrical Volume 1.2 to 15 x 10 (to the 11th power) ohms xResistivity cm (conditioned at 23 degrees Centigrade and 50 percent relative humidity)

Paper weight equivalence tableUse the following table to determine equivalent points in paper weight specifications other than US bondweight. For example, to determine the equivalent of 20 pound US bond weight in US cover weight,locate the bond weight, and scan across the row to the cover weight. The equivalent is 28 pounds.This table answers conversion questions regarding any HP product. To determine the minimum andmaximum supported paper weights for a specific HP product, refer to the documentation for that printer.

*US PostCardthick-ness(mm)

US Bondweight (lb)

US Text/BookWeight (lb)

US CoverWeight(lb)

US BristolWeight (lb)

US indexWeight (lb)

US TagWeight (lb) Metric

Wt.

16 41 22 27 33 37 60 g/m2

17 43 24 29 35 39 64 g/m2

20 50 28 34 42 46 75 g/m2

21 54 30 36 44 49 80 g/m2

22 56 31 38 46 51 83 g/m2

24 60 33 41 50 55 90 g/m2

27 68 37 45 55 61 100 g/m2

28 70 39 49 58 65 105 g/m2

32 80 44 55 67 74 120 g/m2

34 86 47 58 71 79 128 g/m2

36 90 50 62 75 83 135 g/m2

18 39 100 55 67 82 91 148 g/m2* US PostCardthick-ness(mm)

US Bondweight (lb)

US Text/BookWeight (lb)

US CoverWeight(lb)

US BristolWeight (lb)

US indexWeight (lb)

US TagWeight (lb) Metric

Wt..19 42 107 58 72 87 97 158 g/m2.20 43 110 60 74 90 100 163 g/m2.23 47 119 65 80 97 108 176 g/m2.25 51 128 70 86 105 117 190 g/m2.26 53 134 74 90 110 122 199 g/m2.27 54 137 75 93 113 125 203 g/m2.29 58 146 80 98 120 133 216 g/m2.32 65 165 90 111 135 150 244 g/m2.33 66 169 92 114 138 154 250 g/m2.34 67 171 94 115 140 155 253 g/m2.35 70 178 98 120 146 162 264 g/m2.36 72 183 100 123 150 166 271 g/m2

NOTE: * US Post Card measurements are approximate. Use these figures for reference only.

Label specificationsThe following table lists label specifications and guidelines for HP LaserJet printers. For moreinformation about labels, see the HP LaserJet Printer Family Print Media Guide (part number5851-1468).

Characteristic DescriptionAdhesive Must not be on any external surfaces of the label before, during, or after

printing. Label construction and die cutting must not allow labels to peeloff during transport, printing, or fusing.

Caliper Must not exceed 0.19 millimeter (0.007 inches)Curl In ream: flat within 5 millimeter (0.2 inches)Electrical surface resistivity 2.0 to 15 x 10 to the 10th ohm squareElectrical volume resistivity 1.2 to 15 x 10 to the 11th ohm-centimeterFinishing precision Cut sheet within 0.79 millimeters (0.031 inches) of nominal and +0.20

degrees squareFusing compatibility All adhesives, carrier sheets, top sheets, and other materials used in

label construction must be compatible with the heat and pressure of thefusing process. Materials must not discolor, melt, offset, or releasehazardous emissions when heated to 200 degrees Celsius (392degrees Fahrenheit) for 0.1 second.

Packaging Moisture-proof wrap to preserve propertiesShelf life One year, maximum, stored at 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees

Fahrenheit) and 50 percent R.H.

Selection guidelines

Use these guidelines to determine which label types to use with a printer:The top sheet (printing surface) must be of copier quality and must provide good toneradhesion.

l

The carrier sheet must be compatible with the temperatures and pressure of the fusingprocess and must be coated for easy release of the top sheet.

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The adhesive must be stable at the temperature of 200 degrees Celsius (392 degreesFahrenheit) for 0.1 second during the fusing process and must not produce emissions thatexceed exposure levels or threshold limits established by OSHA and other safetyagencies. Adhesives must not come into direct contact with any part of the printer.

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Arrange labels on the carrier sheet so that any exposed spaces run lengthwise down thesheet.

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CAUTION: Using label stock with spaces between the horizontal rows of labels can oftenresult in labels peeling off during printing, causing serious jamming and possible printerdamage.

NOTE: HP does not recommend printing on sheets with removed or missing labels.

Envelope specificationsNOTE: For additional information concerning paper specifications refer to the HP LaserJet PrinterFamily Print Media Guide.

HP LaserJet printers can print on many sizes and styles of envelopes using manual feed, a multipurposetray, an optional envelope tray, or an optional envelope feeder. Whichever input method is used,envelopes should meet all media specifications discussed in this document. Envelope vendors shouldprovide envelopes that comply with the specifications listed in the following table.

See the HP LaserJet printer User's Manual for detailed procedures for printing on envelopes.

NOTE: Envelopes may meet the general specifications listed in the table below and still not printsatisfactorily because of the printing environment or other variables over which HP has no control.

Description SpecificationsPaper Paper used for envelope construction must meet the paper specifications listed

in the HP LaserJet Printer Family Print Media Guide (except for those listedbelow).

Basis weight 60 to 100 g/m2 (16 to 27 lbs), single thickness Jamming may result if 100 g/m2(27 lb) is exceeded.

Finish Avoid using envelopes with adhesive exposed to the printer. Envelopes mustbe folded accurately +/- .1 mm (0.04 inch) so that there are no more than twothicknesses of paper anywhere along the leading edge. All folds must be wellscored and sharply creased, and construction must be tight (not baggy). Avoidusing envelopes that are stuck together with excess seam gum.

Fusing compatibility All ink, adhesives, and other materials in the envelope must be compatible withthe heat and pressure of the fusing process. Materials must not discolor, melt,offset, or release hazardous emissions when heated to 200 degrees Celsius(392 degrees Fahrenheit) for 0.1 second.

Curl (preprinted) Envelopes must lie flat, with no more than 5 mm (0.2 inch) curl across theentire surface.

Caliper 0.084 to 0.14 mm (3.3 to 5.5 mils), single thickness.

CAUTION: Never use envelopes containing windows, clasps, snaps, or synthetic materials.These may cause severe damage to the printer.

Environment

Handling and storage can affect the quality of print on envelopes. Optimum operating conditionsare 20-24 degrees Celsius (68-75 degrees Fahrenheit) and 45-55 percent humidity. Always storeenvelopes in the manufacturer's original packaging or other moisture-proof packaging.

Envelope construction

Some envelopes will not feed through the printer dependably because their construction does notmeet specifications. Observe the following guidelines when purchasing and using envelopes:

Verify that the leading edge (the edge that enters the printer first) is straight. It should havea sharp, well-creased fold with no more than two thicknesses of paper (envelope paperexceeding 100 g/m2 (27-lb) basis weight may cause jamming).

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Avoid using flimsy envelopes with thick or curved leading edges; they will not feed reliablyinto the printer.

l

Envelopes should lay flat and not be wrinkled, nicked, or otherwise damaged.l Avoid envelopes with baggy construction; they may wrinkle while going through the fuserassembly.

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Verify that the adhesives used in envelopes will not scorch, melt, offset, or releasehazardous emissions when heated to 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit) for0.1 second.

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Envelope test results

HP tests many types of envelopes to determine which ones print acceptably in HP LaserJetprinters. Some of the test results are listed below:

Commercial or official envelopes (also called business or regular) with diagonal seams andstandard gummed flaps performed the most reliably.

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Envelopes with double-sided seam construction that have vertical seams at both ends,rather than diagonal seams, tend to be more flimsy and may tend to jam or wrinkle, unlessthe edges are thin and sharply creased. However, a variety of double-side seam envelopeshave performed acceptably during testing.

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Envelopes with a peel-off adhesive strip or more than one flap that folds over to seal mustuse adhesives compatible with the heat and pressure of the fusing process. Many varietiesof these envelopes performed satisfactorily in HP testing; however, the extra flaps andstrips may result in increased jamming or wrinkling.

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Generally, feeding problems increase with envelope size. Larger envelope sizes (C5, B5,booklet, and catalog) must not have a basis weight greater than 100 g/m2 (27 lbs).

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Unacceptable envelopes

Many envelopes will feed through HP LaserJet printers without problems. However, someenvelope constructions (see Figure 1) will not feed reliably. Problems may occur when theenvelopes are folded smaller than normal, causing a thick leading edge near a corner. Foldinginconsistencies may cause some envelopes to feed well and others to jam. Find envelopes of thequality and consistency required.

Figure 1: Envelope construction

A- Good constructionB- Poor construction

Troubleshooting paper jamsThe scope of this document does not include troubleshooting paper jams. This issue is addressed indetail by product specific documents. Click here to search for a paper jam troubleshooting documentrelated to the printer and use "paper jam troubleshooting" or "paper jam troubleshooting [product name]"as a search string. For example, "paper jam troubleshooting HP LaserJet 8100" is a possible searchstring.

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