What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA G2200 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: the Canon PIXMA G2200 MegaTank uses GI-290 ink bottles. Four bottles, one per tank, and there is no XL tier — one size per colour.
Said plainly before you order: Canon has discontinued every GI-290 bottle on its own store, and both print heads for this printer with them. Third-party ink is still made, and we stock it, but Canon direct is no longer a source.
Canon PIXMA G2200 ink at a glance
| Colour | Part Number | Volume | Yield (documents) | Yield (4x6 photos) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pigment Black | GI-290 PGBK | 135 ml | 6,000 pages | — |
| Cyan | GI-290 C | 70 ml | 7,000 pages | 2,000 |
| Magenta | GI-290 M | 70 ml | 7,000 pages | 2,000 |
| Yellow | GI-290 Y | 70 ml | 7,000 pages | 2,000 |
Canon's own ISO figures — and note the direction, because retailers get it wrong constantly: black is 6,000, the colours are 7,000. Canon also points out these figures describe a refill bottle, not the factory fill, since the ink that ships with the printer also has to charge the tubes and print head.
What it actually costs to run
Castle Ink's compatible GI-290 four-pack is $35.99 for a 135 ml black and three 70 ml colours. Against Canon's 6,000-page black rating that is a fraction of a cent per page, and it is the whole consumable cost — no cartridge, no drum, no maintenance box.
For a printer that typically sells for well under $200, that running cost is the entire argument. Compare it with your own volumes using the ink cost calculator.
Castle Ink recommendation
- GI-290 four-pack (135 ml black plus three 70 ml colours) — $35.99
- GI-290 Black 135 ml
- GI-290 Cyan 70 ml
- GI-290 Magenta 70 ml
- GI-290 Yellow 70 ml
About the Canon PIXMA G2200
The base model of this MegaTank generation: print, scan and copy, USB only — there is no Wi-Fi. That is the single most important spec to know before buying one used, because it means no phone printing, no AirPrint, and no network sharing without a computer in between. The G3200 is the same machine with Wi-Fi added.
Speeds are 8.8 ipm black and 5.0 ipm colour, resolution up to 4800 by 1200 dpi, with a flatbed scanner at 600 by 1200 dpi optical. Paper comes from a 100-sheet rear tray; there is no automatic duplex and no document feeder.
The print head, and why it matters here
The G2200 uses two user-replaceable print heads — BH-2 black (5943C001) and CH-2 colour (5944C001). Canon built them to be swapped by the owner, which is good design undermined by the fact that Canon has discontinued both. Owners on Canon's own community have documented being unable to source them.
The practical conclusion is preventive: print something in black and in colour at least once a week. On a printer whose replacement heads are no longer sold, that habit is what keeps it alive.
Common problems on this model
Black stops printing after the printer sits unused
The characteristic G-series fault, and pigment black is usually the casualty. Canon's escalation is Cleaning, then Deep Cleaning, then System Cleaning — the last of which uses a large volume of ink and is intended as a last resort rather than a routine.
Support code 1700 or 1701, then 5B00
1700 and 1701 warn that the ink absorber is nearly full and the printer keeps working. 5B00 means it is full and the printer stops. Canon's only sanctioned fix is service — there is no user reset and the absorber is not user-replaceable. On a discontinued machine out of warranty, 5B00 is effectively terminal, which is worth knowing before it happens rather than after.
Colours faint or missing with full tanks
Usually air in the ink tubes rather than an ink problem. Repeated deep cleaning sometimes clears it; also check the tank valve is set for use rather than transport.
Cannot print from a phone
Not a fault. The G2200 has no Wi-Fi at all — it connects by USB only. If mobile printing matters, the G3200 is the model that has it.
FAQ
What ink does the Canon PIXMA G2200 use?
GI-290 ink bottles in pigment black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Is there a GI-290XL?
No. One size per colour.
Does the G2200 have Wi-Fi?
No. USB only. The G3200 adds Wi-Fi; the G4200 adds Wi-Fi plus a document feeder and fax.
Does the G2200 use GI-20, GI-21 or GI-26?
No. GI-20 fits the G5020, G6020 and G7020; GI-21 the G1220, G2260 and G3260; GI-26 the MAXIFY GX line.
Does it print double-sided automatically?
No, duplex is manual.
Can I still get ink for it?
Yes, from third-party suppliers including us. Canon no longer sells GI-290 itself.
Shop GI-290 now
The GI-290 four-pack fills every tank. Different printer? Find yours on our Find Ink by Printer page.
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