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: replacement print heads for this printer are hard to find. Compatible GI-290 ink is still widely made, and we sell compatible GI-290 bottles in all four colors.
CastleScore · October 2026
78/100 — Recommended
Canon PIXMA G2200
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 70 | PCMag 3.5/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | 99 | About 0.3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our compatible GI-290 bottles (6,000 black / 7,000 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 78 | Most-reported problems: support code 5B00 stops the printer, often right after System Cleaning; replacement print heads are hard to source; 5B00 with Start/Stop lights flashing 7 times on the G2200 specifically |
| Features (12%) | 50 | Print, copy, scan. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | — | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
No longer sold new at major U.S. retailers. Canon still has a support page for it, and GI-290 ink remains easy to find.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 12, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The ink bottles, pictured
GI-290 4-pack
GI-290 Black
GI-290 CyanOur own compatible ink bottles, photographed in-house.
Canon PIXMA G2200 ink at a glance
| Colour | Part Number | Volume | Yield (documents) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pigment Black | GI-290 PGBK | 135 ml | 6,000 pages |
| Cyan | GI-290 C | 70 ml | 7,000 pages |
| Magenta | GI-290 M | 70 ml | 7,000 pages |
| Yellow | GI-290 Y | 70 ml | 7,000 pages |
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
Our compatible GI-290 four-pack has a 135 ml black and three 70 ml colours. Against Canon's 6,000-page black rating that works out to a fraction of a cent per page, and it is the whole consumable cost — no cartridge, no drum, no maintenance box.
That running cost is the main argument for this printer. Compare it with your own volumes using the ink cost calculator.
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 — one for black and one for colour. Canon built them to be swapped by the owner, which is good design undermined by how hard they are to find. Some owners on Canon's community couldn't source one at all; others ordered by phone from Canon's parts department, which gives the part numbers as QY6-8009 (black) and QY6-8021 (colour). Aftermarket sellers call their versions BH-2 and CH-2.
The practical conclusion is preventive: print something in black and in colour at least once a week. On a printer whose replacement heads are this hard to find, 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 5B00
5B00 means the ink absorber 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 machine this old and 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.
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.
What PIXMA G2200 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, Canon's support community and owner reviews, answered in our words.
My G2200 shows 5B00 and stopped printing. Can I fix it myself?
5B00 means the ink absorber is full. Canon treats the absorber as not user-serviceable, so its answer is service. Some owners report resetting the counter and replacing the pads themselves, which Canon does not support.
Are replacement print heads still available?
Genuine heads are hard to find. Owners on Canon's community have ordered them by phone from Canon's parts department (QY6-8009 black, QY6-8021 color). Aftermarket BH-2/CH-2 head sets sell for about $95.
How far does a set of GI-290 bottles go?
Canon rates the 135 ml black at up to 6,000 pages and each 70 ml color at up to 7,000.
Can I print photos on it?
Yes. It prints a borderless 4x6 in about 60 seconds, and the rear tray takes 20 sheets of 4x6 or 10 of 5x7.
Which printers share GI-290 bottles?
The PIXMA G1200, G2200, G3200, G4200 and G4210, plus the G1210, G2210 and G3210 variants.
PIXMA G2200 quirks worth knowing
- It has two separate heads: one for pigment black with 320 nozzles and one for the dye colors with 1,152 nozzles. A clog in one doesn't mean replacing both.
- There is no text display, so owners report 5B00 shows up as the lights flashing seven times rather than as a code.
- System Cleaning, Canon's last-resort cleaning, has pushed nearly full absorbers over the limit and brought up 5B00 right afterwards. Use it only when normal and deep cleaning have failed.
- Canon's last listed drivers are for macOS 10.12 and Windows 10, so a newer computer may need a workaround to print or scan.
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. Compatible GI-290 bottles are widely sold, including by us.
Other printers that use Canon GI-290 bottles
Canon PIXMA G3200 · Canon PIXMA G4200
More Canon ink guides: Canon PIXMA TS3722 · Canon PIXMA TR4720 · Canon PIXMA MG3600 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
- Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3290 — CastleScore 88
- Canon imageCLASS MF275dw (laser) — CastleScore 81
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 12, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Canon ink cartridges? Shop Canon ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.