What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA G7020 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Canon PIXMA G7020 MegaTank uses Canon GI-20 ink bottles — a 170 ml GI-20 PGBK pigment black plus 70 ml GI-20 Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. It does not use GI-21 or GI-290 bottles. Castle Ink stocks compatible GI-20 bottles individually and as a 4-bottle combo pack.
CastleScore · October 2026
84/100 — Highly Recommended
Canon PIXMA G7020
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 74 | 3.80★ average across 4,091 ratings at Amazon (3.8) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 80 | PCMag 4.0/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | 99 | About 0.4¢ per page blended (black + color) with our compatible GI-20 bottles (6,000 black / 7,700 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 84 | Most-reported problems: error 5B00: internal waste-ink absorber reaches its limit and the printer locks; faded printing / streaking requiring repeated cleanings and ink flushes |
| Features (12%) | 82 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet. No touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 86 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Discontinued. Canon lists the G7020 as discontinued. GI-20 ink is still sold because the G5020 and G6020 use it too.
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-20 4-pack
GI-20 Black
GI-20 CyanOur own compatible ink bottles, photographed in-house.
Canon PIXMA G7020 Ink at a Glance
| Bottle | Color | Canon Part No. | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI-20 PGBK (170 ml) | Pigment black | 3383C001 | ~6,000 pages |
| GI-20 Cyan (70 ml) | Cyan | 3394C001 | ~7,700 color pages* |
| GI-20 Magenta (70 ml) | Magenta | 3395C001 | ~7,700 color pages* |
| GI-20 Yellow (70 ml) | Yellow | 3396C001 | ~7,700 color pages* |
*Canon quotes the color yield for a full set of cyan, magenta and yellow bottles together.
The G7020 is a refillable "MegaTank" printer: instead of cartridges, you pour ink from bottles into four built-in tanks on the front of the printer. The black is pigment-based for crisp, smudge-resistant text, while the three colors are dye-based for vivid photos. Each bottle nozzle is keyed to fit only its own tank, so you cannot fill the wrong color by mistake.
The PIXMA G7020 is a print, copy, scan and fax all-in-one with a 35-sheet automatic document feeder, automatic two-sided printing, a 250-sheet front cassette plus a 100-sheet rear tray, and Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB. Canon has since discontinued it, but GI-20 ink is still sold because the G5020 and G6020 use it too. Thinking about whether a tank printer saves money? See refillable ink tank vs. cartridge printers.
GI-20 vs. GI-21 vs. GI-290: Don't Mix Them Up
Canon sells several MegaTank ink series that look almost identical. The G7020 takes GI-20 only. GI-21 is for newer models such as the G3260 and G3270, and GI-290 is for older models such as the G2200 and G4200. The bottle caps and inks differ, so always match the number on your old bottle before you order.
How to Refill the Canon PIXMA G7020
- With the printer on, open the scanning unit / cover to reach the ink tanks at the front of the printer.
- Open the tank cap for the color you are refilling (each cap is color-coded).
- Remove the cap from the new bottle, turn the bottle upside down and line its nozzle up with the tank's inlet. Push it in gently — the bottle stands on its own and the ink flows in automatically, stopping when the tank is full.
- When the ink stops flowing, pull the bottle straight out, then close the tank cap firmly.
- Close the scanning unit.
Refill before the ink drops below the lower line on the tank. Running a tank dry lets air into the ink tubes, which then needs an ink flush to clear.
Troubleshooting Tips
Faint or missing colors after refilling: Print a nozzle check from the printer's Maintenance menu. If lines are missing, run Cleaning once or twice; if that does not help, run Deep Cleaning. Use "Ink Flush" (System Cleaning) only as a last resort — it uses a large amount of ink. More help in why is my Canon printer not printing.
Ink-level warnings: The G7020 estimates ink levels rather than measuring the ink in the tank, so the warnings can drift from reality. Trust what you can see in each tank, and refill before it falls below the lower line.
No user-replaceable maintenance cartridge: Unlike newer MegaTank models, the G7020 does not have a swappable maintenance cartridge. If you see an "ink absorber full" message (support code 5B00), the printer needs Canon service rather than a part you can change yourself.
Printhead problems: The G7020 uses user-replaceable black and color printheads. If cleaning does not restore a full nozzle check, replacing the affected printhead is usually cheaper than replacing the printer.
Which Other Printers Use GI-20 Ink?
GI-20 bottles fit the Canon PIXMA G5020, PIXMA G6020 and G7020.
What PIXMA G7020 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 G7020 shows error 5B00 and won't print. Can I fix it myself?
No. 5B00 means the internal waste-ink absorber is full, and Canon says only authorized service can reset it. Try unplugging for 5 to 10 minutes first; if it comes back, contact Canon support in warranty or the Canon Upgrade Program (866-443-8002) out of warranty.
Can it scan or copy both sides of a page automatically?
No. It prints two-sided automatically, but the 35-sheet document feeder scans one side at a time, so two-sided scanning is manual.
Will it connect to my 5 GHz Wi-Fi?
No. The G7020's Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only (802.11b/g/n). It also has Ethernet and USB if Wi-Fi gives you trouble.
Why is two-sided printing so slow?
That is normal for this model. Canon rates it at about 2.9 pages per minute black and 2.8 color when printing two-sided, versus 13 black one-sided.
Can I fax from my computer?
Yes, but PC fax is black and white only and goes to one destination at a time. Faxing from the printer itself can be in color.
PIXMA G7020 quirks worth knowing
- It shipped with two extra black bottles in the box, which Canon marketed as up to two years of ink.
- Fax is a full Super G3 color fax with about 50 pages of memory and 19 group-dial locations, unusual on a home tank printer.
- Canon rates it for up to 5,000 pages a month, higher than newer models like the G3270 (3,000).
- The control panel is a basic 2-line LCD with buttons, not a touchscreen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use GI-21 ink in the Canon G7020?
No. GI-21 is for newer MegaTank models such as the G3260 and G3270. The G7020 takes GI-20 only.
Does the G7020 have a maintenance cartridge?
No. The G7020 has no user-replaceable maintenance cartridge; an ink absorber message requires Canon service.
How long does a set of GI-20 bottles last?
Canon rates the black bottle at about 6,000 pages (up to 8,300 in economy mode) and a set of three color bottles at about 7,700 color pages, so most home users refill only a few times a year.
Is the G7020 black ink waterproof?
The GI-20 PGBK black is pigment-based, so text is more water- and smudge-resistant than dye ink, though no inkjet print is fully waterproof.
Other printers that use Canon GI-20 bottles
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.