What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA G3200 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: the Canon PIXMA G3200 MegaTank uses GI-290 ink bottles — not cartridges. Four bottles, one per tank, and there is no XL tier: GI-290 comes in exactly one size per colour.
There is something you should know before you buy, and we would rather say it plainly: Genuine Canon GI-290 bottles are often on backorder, and replacement print heads for this printer are hard to find in the U.S. Compatible GI-290 ink is still widely made, and we stock it.
CastleScore · October 2026
80/100 — Highly Recommended
Canon PIXMA G3200
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 74 | 3.80★ average across 1,689 ratings at Amazon (3.8) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 80 | PCMag 4.0/5 |
| 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: replacement print heads are hard to source in the US/Canada; owners looking for where to buy a replacement G3200 print head after clogging or failure; colour stops printing on G-series MegaTanks despite full tanks |
| Features (12%) | 56 | Print, copy, scan, Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 86 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Discontinued. Canon USA no longer sells the G3200 new; its only listing is an out-of-stock open-box unit. GI-290 ink is still widely available.
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 9, 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 G3200 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 |
Those are Canon's own ISO figures from its published page-yield documents. Note the direction of the numbers, because plenty of retailers get it backwards: black is 6,000 and the colours are 7,000, not the other way round.
One honest caveat from Canon: the yields describe a refill bottle, not the factory fill. The ink that comes in the box has to charge the tubes and print head as well, so the first set goes less far.
What it actually costs to run
Castle Ink's compatible GI-290 four-pack is $35.99 for one 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, because there is no cartridge, drum or maintenance box to buy alongside it.
Compare that with a two-cartridge inkjet at 10 to 15 cents a page and the tank design pays for itself long before the printer wears out. Run it against your own volumes with our ink cost calculator.
About the Canon PIXMA G3200
A MegaTank all-in-one: print, scan and copy, with Wi-Fi — that is the feature that separates it from the G2200, which is USB only. Speeds are 8.8 ipm black and 5.0 ipm colour, resolution up to 4800 by 1200 dpi, and a 4x6 borderless photo takes about a minute.
Two limitations worth knowing before you rely on it: there is no automatic duplex and no document feeder. Paper comes from a rear tray holding 100 sheets, with no front cassette. The G4200 is the model that adds an ADF and fax.
The print head, and why it matters here
Unlike most tank printers, the G3200 uses two user-replaceable print heads — one for black and one for colour. Owners on Canon's community give the Canon part numbers as QY6-8009 (black) and QY6-8021 (colour); aftermarket sellers call their versions BH-2 and CH-2. Canon designed them to be swapped by the owner, which is genuinely good design.
The catch is finding them. Some owners on Canon's community couldn't source a head at all, while others ordered one by phone from Canon's parts department. So the practical advice is preventive: print something in both black and colour at least once a week. On this model that is not fussiness — it is the difference between a printer that lasts and one that clogs into a part you cannot buy.
Common problems on this model
Black stops printing after the machine sits idle
The dominant complaint on the G-series, and pigment black is usually the casualty. Canon's escalation ladder is Cleaning, then Deep Cleaning, then System Cleaning — but System Cleaning consumes a large volume of ink and Canon intends it as a last resort, not a routine step. Do not run it repeatedly.
Colours faint or missing despite full tanks
Usually air in the ink tubes. Repeated deep cleaning sometimes clears it, and it is worth confirming the tank valve is set for use rather than transport. This one is widely reported by owners rather than formally documented by Canon.
Support code 1700 or 1701, then 5B00
1700 and 1701 mean the ink absorber is almost full — a warning, and the printer keeps working. 5B00 means it is full and the printer stops. Canon's only sanctioned remedy is service: there is no user-accessible reset and the absorber is not user-replaceable. On a discontinued, out-of-warranty machine, 5B00 is effectively the end of the road, so it is worth knowing the sequence rather than being surprised by it.
Complete head dry-out after months unused
If cleaning and deep cleaning cannot recover it, the head needs replacing — which runs into the availability problem above. Prevention genuinely is the fix on this printer.
What PIXMA G3200 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.
Where can I get a replacement Canon print head in the U.S.?
Owners on Canon's community forum report ordering the heads by phone from Canon's parts department, even when they weren't listed online. The part numbers they quote are QY6-8009 for black and QY6-8021 for colour. Others couldn't find them at all.
Are the aftermarket BH-2 and CH-2 print heads an option?
They are sold as fitting the G1200, G2200, G3200 and G4200 series, but they are third-party parts, not genuine Canon heads. Treat them as a last try on a printer that is otherwise finished.
Which other printers take GI-290 bottles?
The PIXMA G1200, G2200, G3200, G4200 and G4210. A bottle bought for any of them fits the others.
Does the G3200 have an Ethernet port or a front paper cassette?
No to both. Canon lists Wi-Fi and Hi-Speed USB only, and paper loads from a 100-sheet rear tray.
PIXMA G3200 quirks worth knowing
- It has two separate print heads: one for pigment black with 320 nozzles and one for the dye colours with 1,152 nozzles. A clog in one doesn't mean replacing both.
- The rear tray takes 20 sheets of 4x6 or 10 sheets of 5x7 photo paper at a time.
- Genuine GI-290 colour bottles list at $14.99, but resellers have shown them on backorder through 2026, so a spare bottle on the shelf is sensible.
- Canon's parts department has supplied heads by phone that weren't listed online, according to owners. Have the part number ready when you call.
FAQ
What ink does the Canon PIXMA G3200 use?
GI-290 ink bottles in pigment black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Is there a GI-290XL?
No. GI-290 comes in one size per colour — 135 ml black, 70 ml colours.
Does the G3200 use GI-20, GI-21 or GI-26?
No. GI-20 fits the G5020, G6020 and G7020. GI-21 fits the G1220, G2260, G3260 and the newer G-series. GI-26 fits the MAXIFY GX line. None of them fit a G3200.
What is the difference between the G2200, G3200 and G4200?
G2200 is print, scan and copy over USB only. G3200 adds Wi-Fi. G4200 adds a document feeder and fax. All three use GI-290.
Does the G3200 print double-sided automatically?
No. Two-sided printing is manual on this model.
Can I still get ink for it?
Yes. Compatible GI-290 bottles are widely sold, including by us. Genuine Canon bottles are still listed by resellers but are often on backorder.
Other printers that use Canon GI-290 bottles
Canon PIXMA G4200 · Canon PIXMA G2200
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 9, 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.