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HP DesignJet 120nr
wide-format inkjet printer
- Model120nr
Authorized HP dealerGenuine hardware & ink
Manufacturer warrantyExtendable to 3 years
Free shippingContinental U.S.
Plotter specialistsAEC experts, not just sellers
Analyst take
- The 120nr is a color-graphics and proofing-oriented plotter, not a high-volume drawing workhorse.
- The 'r' denotes the optional HP Designjet 110/120/130 Auto Roll Feed for continuous media.
- It runs HP 11, HP 82 and HP 84 inks with HP 84 or HP C5018A printheads; Activejet AH-82MR is a compatible alternative.
Not sure if the 120nr is right for you?
Compare key specs and an AI analyst read-out against similar models.
Overview
Built for the work
HP DesignJet 120nr Printer
Expert analysis
What you should know
Key takeaways
- The 120nr is a color-graphics and proofing-oriented plotter, not a high-volume drawing workhorse.
- The 'r' denotes the optional HP Designjet 110/120/130 Auto Roll Feed for continuous media.
- It runs HP 11, HP 82 and HP 84 inks with HP 84 or HP C5018A printheads; Activejet AH-82MR is a compatible alternative.
- Gloss and photo proofing media in its supply list reveal its intended color-first use.
- This is an installed-base machine — confirm printhead and parts availability before keeping one in service.
- For real drawing production or integrated scanning, a modern plotter or a used MFP like the discontinued T918 is the sensible path.
It’s 4:45 on a Thursday. Someone needs a color-coded MEP coordination set, a couple of presentation renderings, and an A1 gloss proof before the client meeting. The HP Designjet 120nr is the machine that lived under that kind of pressure — a small-office wide-format that leaned toward color graphics and proofing more than high-volume line work.
Understand what it is before you judge it: this is an older thermal inkjet plotter, common in the installed base rather than something you’d spec new today. If you’re maintaining one, this page is for you. If you’re replacing one, read to the end.
HP Designjet 110/120/130 Auto Roll FeedOptional roll feedThe 'r' in 120nr — roll handling for continuous media.
HP Designjet 120 Software Rip PrintingNetworkingRIP options existed for tighter print/graphics control.
HP Gloss Proofing A1 WhiteGloss proofing mediaA clue to its real job: color proofs, not bid sets.
What it was actually built to do
Look at the media list and the machine tells on itself. HP Gloss Proofing A1 White, HP Gloss Proofing A2 White, HP Universal Semi-Gloss Photo Paper, satin, semi-gloss. This was a color-graphics and proofing device that could also plot drawings — not a bid-set workhorse that happened to do color.
For a small architecture studio or a design team producing the occasional presentation board and a modest run of drawings, that mix made sense. Renderings looked good on coated stock. Line drawings on bond were serviceable. The roll feed kept it from being a sheet-fed-only headache.
Consumables: know what feeds it before you commit
This is where installed-base owners earn their keep. The 120nr family runs a cartridge-and-printhead setup — HP 11, HP 82 and HP 84 inks, with HP 84 and HP C5018A printheads. Third-party Activejet AH-82MR ink also shows up as a compatible option.
The failure mode you plan around isn’t speed — it’s supply. Older printheads and cartridges get scarce and prices drift. Before you keep a unit in service, confirm you can source heads and the right maintenance parts. A plotter you can’t feed is a table.
If you're replacing it
Here’s the honest part. This is old technology. If your work is real drawing production — bid sets, permit sets, as-builts — you’ve likely outgrown what this platform does well. A modern dual-roll drawing plotter changes the deadline math entirely.
If you need scanning and copying on top of printing, the jump is bigger still. The HP DesignJet T918 36-in is a scanner-equipped MFP in HP’s later lineup — though note it’s discontinued in our catalog, so treat it as a used or refurbished path, not a fresh purchase. Worth a look on the class ranking page before you decide.
The read
The Designjet 120nr was a small-office color-and-proofing plotter that could also handle drawings — not the other way around. If you own one and can still source HP 84 printheads and inks, it’ll keep proofing renderings and printing the occasional set. But it’s an installed-base machine, not a buy-new decision. For genuine drawing volume, or if you need integrated scanning, plan a move to a current dual-roll plotter or a used MFP like the T918. Bottom line: keep it running if the supplies hold — but don’t bet a 4:45 deadline on a printhead you can’t replace by Monday.
Spec analysis
How the specs grade
Overall performance
—Not enough data for an overall score
Individual dimensions are shown where the specs support them.
Specifications
Full technical detail
Use caseCAD / Technical
Everything that fits the HP DesignJet 120nr
The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.
11 ink cartridges · 7 printheads · 51 paper & media items · 4 accessories · 2 coverage plans
HP DesignJet 120nr ink and paper →Supplies
Compatible ink, printheads & media
Genuine consumables that fit the HP DesignJet 120nr Printer — only the cartridges, printheads and media compatible with this model.
Ink Cartridges 11
HP 110/120/130 Auto Roll Feed
HP Premium Plus Gloss 610 mm x 15.2 m (24 in x 50 ft) White
HP 84 ink cartridge 3 pc(s) Original Photo black
HP 11 Cyan ink cartridge
HP 11 Cyan ink cartridge
HP 82 69-ml Yellow Ink Cartridge
HP 84 69-ml Black Ink Cartridge print head Thermal inkjet
HP 84 69-ml Light Cyan Ink Cartridge print head Thermal inkjet
HP 11 Magenta Ink Cartridge (C4837AE)
HP 11 Magenta Original Ink Cartridge
HP 11 Cyan Original Ink CartridgePrintheads 7
Paper & Media 51
HP Premium Papier A4 printing paper
HP photo-quality paper, semi-glossy, two-sided, A4 (25 sheets)
HP C6951A photo paper
HP C6568B large format media 45.7 m
HP Q1408A plotter paper
HP Q1430A photo paper Brown, White
HP Q1420A photo paper Brown, White
HP Universal Satin White
HP C6821A printing paper A3 (297×420 mm) Gloss 50 sheets White
HP C6570C large format media 30.5 m
HP C6059A photo paper A3 Gloss
HP Semi-gloss Proofing Paper-50 sht/A3+/330 x 483 mm (13 x 19 in)
HP C6035A large format media 45.7 m
HP C6036A printing paper Matte White
HP C6567B plotter paper
HP Universal Semi-gloss Photo Paper
HP Q1421A photo paper Brown, White
HP Q1416A large format media 30.5 m
HP C6818A printing paper A4 (210×297 mm) Gloss 50 sheets White
HP C1853A printing paper A4 (210×297 mm) Matte 100 sheets White
HP Premium Paper 100 g/m²-A3/297 x 420 mm/100 sht printing paper
HP C6832A photo paper
Representative imageHP Heavyweight Coated Paper, 42 in x 100 ft (C6569C)
HP Universal Semi-Gloss Photo Paper
HP Q1961A large format media
HP Q1962A large format media
HP Gloss Proofing Paper-50 sht/A3+/330 x 483 mm (13 x 19 in)
HP Q1967A printing paper A3+ (330×483 mm) Matte 100 sheets White
HP Gloss Proofing A2 White
HP Gloss Proofing A1 White
HP Semi-gloss Proofing Paper-610 mm x 30.5 m (24 in x 100 ft)
HP Premium Inkjet 50 sht/A4/210 x 297 mm 50 sheets
HP Q2525A printing paper Gloss
HP Gloss Proofing Paper 173 g/m²-A1+/610 mm x 914 mm-20 sheets large format media
HP Q5486A photo paper Black, Blue, White
HP Q5487A photo paper Black, Blue, White
HP Q5489A photo paper
HP Q5491A photo paper
HP Q5492A photo paper Matte
HP Q6579A photo paper Brown, White
HP Q1442A large format media 45.7 m
HP Q1445A printing paper Matte
HP Q7897A large format media 45.7 m
HP Matte Proofing 458 mm x 30.5 m (18 in x 100 ft) printing paper
HP Q8664A printing paper High-gloss 1 sheets White
HP Q8662A printing paper A3+ (330×483 mm) High-gloss 50 sheets White
HP Q8663A large format media 30.5 m High-gloss
HP Premium Plus High-gloss Photo Paper-20 sht/A4/210 x 297 mm
HP Premium Plus High-gloss Photo Paper-20 sht/A4/210 x 297 mm
HP Premium Plus High-gloss Photo Paper-20 sht/A4/210 x 297 mm
HP Premium Plus High-gloss Photo Paper-20 sht/A4/210 x 297 mmAccessories 4
Questions
Straight answers
Is the HP Designjet 120nr still a current product?
Treat it as an installed-base machine rather than a current buy-new option. It’s older thermal inkjet technology; owners should focus on parts availability, and replacers should look at newer platforms.
What inks and printheads does it use?
It uses HP 11, HP 82 and HP 84 inks, with HP 84 or HP C5018A printheads. Third-party Activejet AH-82MR ink is listed as a compatible alternative.
What does the 'nr' mean?
The roll capability comes from the HP Designjet 110/120/130 Auto Roll Feed, which lets the machine run continuous media instead of only cut sheets.
Is it good for bid sets and permit drawings?
It can plot drawings, but its media list points more toward color proofing and presentation work. For sustained drawing production, a modern dual-roll plotter is a better fit.
What if I need scanning and copying too?
The 120nr is print-only. For an integrated scanner, look at a wide-format MFP such as the HP DesignJet T918 36-in — though it’s discontinued in our catalog, so consider it a used or refurbished route.
Can it print on gloss and photo media?
Yes. Compatible options include HP Gloss Proofing A1 White, HP Gloss Proofing A2 White and HP Universal Semi-Gloss Photo Paper, which reflect its color-proofing strengths.
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