HP DeskJet
Product brand
UnclaimedHP's family of consumer and home-office inkjet printers.
Last updated October 14, 2026
Overview
HP DeskJet is a printer brand developed by Hewlett-Packard and continued by HP Inc. It is principally associated with compact inkjet printers for homes, students, small offices, and general-purpose personal computing. The range has historically covered inexpensive monochrome and color printers, portable models, photo-capable devices, and multifunction products combining printing with scanning and copying. Although DeskJet is primarily a domestic and home-office label, the broader historical range also included larger-format and higher-performance products; HP generally used the separate DesignJet name for its largest specialized inkjet systems. The brand emerged from HP's early thermal inkjet work. The HP ThinkJet, introduced in 1984, demonstrated the commercial potential of thermal inkjet printing and established the “Jet” naming pattern later used for DeskJet, LaserJet, OfficeJet, ScanJet, and other HP product families. ThinkJet's principal advantage was quiet operation compared with many impact printers of the period. In 1988 HP introduced the first printer carrying the DeskJet name. It offered a built-in cut-sheet feeder, approximately two pages per minute, and 300-dpi output, positioning inkjet technology as a practical desktop alternative for personal computers. The early DeskJet line expanded rapidly. DeskJet Plus added landscape-printing capability in 1989, while DeskJet 500 increased black-and-white speed to about three pages per minute in 1990. HP also created the Macintosh-oriented DeskWriter family, based on DeskJet technology, while the company's all-in-one inkjet products were marketed under the OfficeJet name. This portfolio segmentation allowed HP to use related printing technology across different operating systems, user groups, and product formats without treating every printer as the same brand. Color became an important turning point. Following HP's PaintJet technology, the DeskJet 500C arrived in 1991 as HP's first 300-dpi color DeskJet. The DeskJet 550C, introduced in 1992, used separate black and color cartridges simultaneously and improved black reproduction. The DeskJet 560C added HP ColorSmart in 1994, applying automated analysis to documents to select appropriate color output. Later products brought higher resolutions, improved color management, faster engines, networking, and support for larger paper sizes. HP also maintained a monochrome-only branch through models such as the DeskJet 510 and 520, with the 520 introducing resolution-enhancement technology to HP inkjet printers. DeskJet also served several specialized segments. The DeskJet Portable and its successors targeted mobile professionals, while the 1200C, 1600C, and network-capable 1600CN addressed users needing greater speed or more advanced office connectivity. The 1000C, 1100C, and 1120C families extended the label into A3 printing, and the DeskJet 1220C offered a later large-format development. In the mid-1990s HP promoted advanced color-resolution technologies in models such as the 660C, 850C, and 855C. The DeskJet 6540, introduced in 2004, helped associate the line with HP's Vivera ink and substantially higher advertised print speeds than its early predecessors. The brand subsequently became strongly associated with affordable multifunction printers. The DeskJet F380, introduced in 2006, combined printing, scanning, and copying and used HP Vivera ink. Later DeskJet families generally divided into simpler print-only models and multifunction devices with built-in flatbed scanners. Depending on the series, products have included automatic document feeders, wireless or network connectivity, and integration with HP's consumer printing software and services. DeskJet remains one of several HP printer families rather than the company's entire inkjet portfolio. HP's adjacent offerings include ENVY for consumer-oriented premium features, OfficeJet and OfficeJet Pro for office inkjet use, Smart Tank for refillable-ink systems, and LaserJet for laser printing. The DeskJet name continues to be used for entry-level and mainstream home or home-office printers, with historical model families including the DeskJet 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series. Its long lifespan reflects HP's continued use of the brand as a recognizable access point to personal printing, while the underlying products have evolved from early low-speed desktop devices into color and multifunction systems.
History
HP's DeskJet history begins with the company's thermal inkjet research and the 1984 ThinkJet. ThinkJet was an early commercial implementation of thermal inkjet printing, producing relatively low-resolution output but offering quiet operation. It also established HP's later use of the “Jet” suffix across printer, scanner, and connectivity products. In 1988 HP introduced the original DeskJet. The printer was designed for desktop personal-computer use and combined a built-in cut-sheet feeder with 300-dpi output. DeskJet Plus followed in 1989 with landscape printing, and the DeskJet 500 arrived in 1990 with faster monochrome output. HP simultaneously maintained related technology platforms for other users: DeskWriter models served Macintosh users, while OfficeJet became the name for all-in-one inkjet products. The line's most important early expansion was into color. HP had introduced PaintJet technology in 1987, and the DeskJet 500C brought color capability to the DeskJet family in 1991. The 550C followed with simultaneous black and tricolor cartridges, improving black reproduction, while the 560C added ColorSmart processing for automated color decisions. HP also offered portable DeskJet models for mobile professionals and monochrome-only models such as the DeskJet 510 and 520. The 520 introduced resolution-enhancement technology to HP's inkjet range. During the mid-1990s, HP broadened DeskJet's performance and market coverage. The 1200C and 1600C families targeted higher-speed users, with the 1600CN adding integrated networking. The 660C, 850C, and 855C brought higher advertised resolutions and color-resolution enhancement technologies. In 1998 the 1000C, 1100C, and 1120C extended DeskJet into A3 printing, followed by the DeskJet 1220C in 2000. The 2000s brought faster consumer printing and stronger ink branding. The DeskJet 6540, introduced in 2004, used HP's Vivera ink branding and advertised speeds substantially above those of early DeskJet products. In 2006 HP introduced the DeskJet F380, a print-scan-copy multifunction device using Vivera ink. This reflected a broader shift in household printing from standalone printers toward integrated devices. Later DeskJet products were organized into more accessible numerical families. The 1000 series generally represented simpler print-only devices, while the 2000 and 3000 series commonly added scanning and copying. The 4000 series typically included both flatbed scanning and an automatic document feeder. HP continued to position DeskJet alongside other printer families, including ENVY, OfficeJet, Smart Tank, and LaserJet, each addressing different combinations of features, ink systems, office requirements, or printing technologies. The DeskJet name remains in use for HP's mainstream home and home-office inkjet products.
- 2006
DeskJet F380 multifunction printer
[1]The F380 combines printing, scanning, and copying under the DeskJet name.
- 2004
DeskJet 6540 and Vivera ink
[1]HP associates the DeskJet 6540 with Vivera ink and faster consumer printing.
- 2000
DeskJet 1220C
[1]The DeskJet 1220C continues HP's large-format DeskJet development.
- 1998
A3 DeskJet models
[1]The DeskJet 1000C, 1100C, and 1120C extend the brand into A3 inkjet printing.
- 1994
DeskJet 560C and ColorSmart
[1]ColorSmart automated color-output analysis arrives in the DeskJet family.
- 1992
DeskJet Portable and DeskJet 550C
[1]HP expands the line with a portable model and a dual-cartridge color desktop printer.
- 1991
DeskJet 500C
[1]The first color DeskJet provides 300-dpi color printing.
- 1990
DeskJet 500
[1]The DeskJet 500 improves advertised monochrome speed to about three pages per minute.
- 1989
DeskJet Plus
[1]DeskJet Plus adds landscape-printing capability.
- 1988
First HP DeskJet
[1]HP launches the first DeskJet with a cut-sheet feeder and 300-dpi desktop inkjet printing.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
Consumer and home-office inkjet printers emphasizing affordability, compact desktop use, color capability, and multifunction convenience.
Desktop inkjet printers · 1990
HP DeskJet 500 series
The early DeskJet 500 family developed HP's basic desktop inkjet platform. The DeskJet 500 improved monochrome speed over the original DeskJet, while the 500C introduced color using replaceable black and CMY print cartridges. The 550C and 560C refined color operation with dual cartridges and ColorSmart processing.
Portable inkjet printers · 1992
HP DeskJet Portable series
The Portable series targeted mobile professionals who needed a compact printer. It was followed by models including the DeskJet 310, 320, 340, 350, and 350CBi, with successive generations improving portability, speed, and color capability.
Higher-performance inkjet printers · 1993
HP DeskJet 1200C and 1600C series
These models represented a higher-end branch of the historical DeskJet portfolio. The 1200C offered faster output than mainstream early models, while the 1600C increased advertised performance and the 1600CN added built-in networking for shared use.
A3 and large-format inkjet printers · 1998
HP DeskJet 1000C, 1100C, 1120C, and 1220C
This group extended the DeskJet label beyond conventional letter-size desktop printing. The 1000C, 1100C, and 1120C were among HP's first A3 DeskJet products, and the 1220C continued the large-format line with higher advertised print speeds.
Consumer color inkjet printer · 2004
HP DeskJet 6540
Introduced in 2004, the DeskJet 6540 was associated with HP Vivera ink and advertised speeds of up to 30 pages per minute in black and 20 pages per minute in color. It represented the brand's movement toward faster consumer color printing.
All-in-one inkjet printer · 2006
HP DeskJet F380
The DeskJet F380 combined printing, scanning, and copying in a consumer-oriented multifunction device. It used HP Vivera ink and was advertised at up to 20 pages per minute in black and 14 pages per minute in color.
Current and recent consumer inkjet printers
HP DeskJet 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series
These numerical families represent the modern DeskJet range described in the reference material. The 1000 series is generally oriented toward print-only use, while the 2000 and 3000 series commonly add scanning. The 4000 series typically combines flatbed scanning with an automatic document feeder.
Brand decisions
2006
Move toward multifunction DeskJet devicesProduct launchBackground
Consumer printing increasingly combined printing with scanning and copying rather than relying only on standalone printers.
Action taken
HP introduced the DeskJet F380, an all-in-one printer, scanner, and copier using Vivera ink.
Aftermath
Multifunction capability became a recurring feature of later DeskJet families, particularly the 2000, 3000, and 4000 series.
1998
Extend DeskJet into A3 printingStrategyBackground
HP's historical DeskJet portfolio had expanded from compact personal printers into higher-performance and specialized formats.
Action taken
HP introduced the DeskJet 1000C, 1100C, and 1120C as A3 inkjet products.
Aftermath
The DeskJet 1220C continued the large-format direction before HP generally used DesignJet for its largest specialized inkjet systems.
1991
Add color capability to DeskJetProduct launchBackground
HP had already developed color inkjet technology through the PaintJet family and sought to extend color printing to its desktop DeskJet range.
Action taken
HP launched the DeskJet 500C with 300-dpi color output and a swappable color-cartridge arrangement.
Aftermath
Color became a continuing part of the DeskJet identity, followed by the 550C, 560C, and later color-oriented generations.
Recent events
- 2006
DeskJet F380 adds print, scan, and copy functions[1]
Product launch · Product generation
HP introduces the DeskJet F380 as a multifunction inkjet printer with scanning and copying capabilities.
- 2004
Vivera ink reaches the DeskJet family[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The DeskJet 6540 is associated with HP's Vivera ink and substantially higher advertised print speeds.
- 2000
DeskJet 1220C raises large-format performance[1]
Product launch
HP introduces the DeskJet 1220C as a later large-format model with advertised output of up to 12 pages per minute in black and 10 in color.
- 1998
DeskJet expands into A3 printing[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The DeskJet 1000C, 1100C, and 1120C families extend the brand into A3 inkjet printing.
- 1996
DeskJet 1600CN adds built-in networking[1]
Product launch
The network-capable DeskJet 1600CN extends the DeskJet 1600C platform for shared office use.
- 1994
DeskJet 560C introduces HP ColorSmart[1]
Product launch · Product generation
HP adds ColorSmart processing to analyze documents and select suitable color output settings.
- 1992
DeskJet 550C adopts dual-cartridge color printing[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The DeskJet 550C uses black and color cartridges together, improving black output over mixed-color black reproduction.
- 1991
DeskJet 500C brings color printing to the line[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The DeskJet 500C becomes HP's first 300-dpi color DeskJet, using replaceable black and CMY print cartridges.
- 1990
DeskJet 500 increases black-and-white speed[1]
Product launch · Product generation
HP introduces the DeskJet 500, raising advertised monochrome performance to approximately three pages per minute.
- 1989
DeskJet Plus adds landscape printing[1]
Product generation
The DeskJet Plus extends the initial desktop inkjet platform with landscape-printing capability.
Showing the 10 most recent.
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