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: Canon has discontinued every GI-290 bottle on its own store, along with both print heads for this printer. The ink is still made by third parties — we stock it — but Canon direct is no longer a source.
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.
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
Given Canon no longer sells these itself, keeping a spare black on the shelf is a reasonable precaution on this model.
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 — the BH-2 black (5943C001) and CH-2 colour (5944C001). Canon designed them to be swapped by the owner, which is genuinely good design.
The catch is that Canon has discontinued both. Owners on Canon's own community have documented being unable to source them. 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.
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 20-sheet 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, from third-party suppliers including us — but not from Canon, which has discontinued the GI-290 line on its own store.
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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