What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA G4200 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: the Canon PIXMA G4200 MegaTank uses GI-290 ink bottles. Four bottles, one per tank, and there is no XL tier — GI-290 comes in one size per colour.
Worth saying up front: Canon has discontinued every GI-290 bottle on its own store, and both print heads for this printer with them. The ink is still made by third parties, and we stock it, but Canon direct is no longer an option.
Canon PIXMA G4200 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. Note the direction — black is 6,000 and the colours are 7,000. Many retailer listings quote 7,000 for the black, which is wrong. Canon also notes these describe a refill bottle rather than the factory fill, since the first set also charges the tubes and print head.
What it actually costs to run
Castle Ink's compatible GI-290 four-pack is $35.99 — 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 entire consumable cost: no cartridge, no drum, no maintenance box.
On a machine with an ADF and fax, which usually means real document volume, that gap against a cartridge printer compounds quickly. Check it against your own numbers 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
With Canon out of the supply chain on this family, keeping a spare black on the shelf is sensible.
About the Canon PIXMA G4200
The top model in this MegaTank generation: print, scan, copy and fax, with a 20-sheet automatic document feeder (5 sheets for legal) and Wi-Fi. That ADF and fax are what separate it from the G3200; the G2200 below that drops Wi-Fi as well.
Speeds are 8.8 ipm black and 5.0 ipm colour, up to 4800 by 1200 dpi, with a full dot matrix LCD. Fax is Super G3 colour at 33.6 kbps.
Two limits to know: there is no automatic duplex, and paper comes from a 100-sheet rear tray with no front cassette. For a machine with a document feeder, that rear-tray-only design is the main compromise.
The print head, and why it matters here
The G4200 uses two user-replaceable print heads — BH-2 black (5943C001) and CH-2 colour (5944C001) — which Canon designed for owner replacement. Canon has discontinued both, and owners on Canon's own community have documented being unable to source them.
So the practical guidance is preventive rather than reactive: print something in black and in colour at least weekly. On this model that habit is the difference between a printer that keeps working and one that clogs into a part you cannot replace.
Common problems on this model
Black stops printing after idle periods
The defining G-series complaint, and pigment black is usually what goes. Canon's ladder is Cleaning, then Deep Cleaning, then System Cleaning — the last of which consumes a great deal of ink and is meant as a last resort. Do not make it routine.
Support code 1700 or 1701, then 5B00
1700 and 1701 warn that the ink absorber is nearly full; the printer keeps going. 5B00 means full, and the printer stops. Canon's only sanctioned remedy is service — no user reset, no user-replaceable absorber. On a discontinued machine out of warranty, that is effectively end of life, so it is worth knowing the sequence in advance.
ADF misfeeds or pulls multiple sheets
The 20-sheet feeder is modest, so do not overfill it. Fan the stack, square the guides to the paper, and keep the feed rollers clean. Most reported ADF faults on this model are loading rather than hardware.
Colours faint despite full tanks
Usually air in the ink tubes. Repeated deep cleaning sometimes clears it; also check the tank valve is set for use rather than transport.
FAQ
What ink does the Canon PIXMA G4200 use?
GI-290 ink bottles in pigment black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Is there a GI-290XL?
No. One size per colour — 135 ml black, 70 ml colours.
Does the G4200 use GI-20, GI-21 or GI-26?
No. GI-20 fits the G5020, G6020 and G7020; GI-21 the G1220, G2260, G3260 and newer models; GI-26 the MAXIFY GX series. None fit a G4200.
What does the G4200 add over the G3200?
A 20-sheet automatic document feeder and fax. Ink, speed and print quality are the same.
Does the G4200 do automatic two-sided printing?
No. Duplex is manual on this model.
Can I still buy ink for it?
Yes, from third-party suppliers including us. Canon has discontinued GI-290 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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