What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA iP2600 Use?

by Last Updated:

Quick answer: The Canon PIXMA iP2600 uses two FINE cartridges: a PG-40 or smaller PG-30 pigment black and a CL-41 or smaller CL-31 tri-color. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured PG-40 Black, CL-41 Color, PG-30 Black, CL-31 Color and combo packs of PG-40 + CL-41 and PG-30 + CL-31.

The iP2600 is a print-only photo printer from 2008. Its PG-40 and CL-41 cartridges fit many PIXMA models of that era, including the iP1800, MP210 and MX310, though none of those have a guide here yet. Canon UK lists PG-37 black and CL-38 color for European iP2600s. We couldn't confirm those work in a U.S. printer, so buy by the U.S. numbers below. Some sellers say the higher-capacity PG-50 and CL-51 also fit, but none of the Canon or retailer lists we checked include the iP2600, so we don't recommend them for it.

CastleScore · October 2026

70/100 — Recommended

Canon PIXMA iP2600

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 78 4.0★ average across 128 ratings at Amazon.de for the European model, via testberichte.de
Expert reviews (18%) 62 Average of four German-language tests of the European model via testberichte.de: com! professional 64/100 (2009) and 62/100 (2010), MacUp 68/100 (2008) and Konsument 54% (2009)
Cost per page (24%) 80 About 6.0¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured PG-40 black (327 pages) and CL-41 color (312 pages).
Reliability (13%) 80 Most-reported problems: black not printing until the printer software is reinstalled; slow starts before printing; heavy ink use from small cartridges; real-world speeds well below Canon's quoted figures
Features (12%) 30 Print only, over USB. No scanner, no display, no memory card slots, no Wi-Fi, no auto two-sided printing.
Value (5%) 75 Running cost and owner satisfaction

Discontinued. Canon U.S.A. announced the iP2600 in February 2008 at an estimated $49.99 and now lists it as retired, with no support or driver updates. In October 2026, 4inkjets still had original PG-40, CL-41, PG-30 and CL-31 cartridges in stock.

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 21, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

The cartridges, pictured

Our own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.

What Ink Cartridges Does the Canon PIXMA iP2600 Take?

Cartridge Canon part no. Approx. yield Castle Ink option
PG-30 Black 1899B002 ~219 pages Remanufactured PG-30 Black
PG-40 Black (large) 0615B002 ~327 pages Remanufactured PG-40 Black
CL-31 Tri-color 1900B002 ~205 pages Remanufactured CL-31 Color
CL-41 Tri-color (large) 0617B002 ~312 pages Remanufactured CL-41 Color
PG-30 + CL-31 combo — ~219 / 205 pages Remanufactured PG-30 + CL-31 combo
PG-40 + CL-41 combo — ~327 / 312 pages Remanufactured PG-40 + CL-41 combo

Yields are seller-listed figures from 4inkjets. Our remanufactured PG-30 costs more than our PG-40, so the PG-40 is the better buy for black.

Are PG-40 and CL-41 Worth It?

Yes. They hold about 50% more ink than the PG-30 and CL-31. On October 21, 2026, 4inkjets listed Canon's PG-40 at $42.99 (about 13.1¢ a page) and CL-41 at $48.99 (about 15.7¢ a page), both in stock. Canon's smaller PG-30 and CL-31 were $31.99 and $34.99 there, about 14.6¢ and 17.1¢ a page. Our remanufactured PG-40 black is $17.95 (about 5.5¢ a page) and CL-41 color is $19.99 (about 6.4¢ a page), or $31.99 for the combo pack.

How Do I Replace the Ink in the Canon PIXMA iP2600?

  1. With the printer on, open the cover over the cartridges. The cartridge holder moves to the replacement position.
  2. Push the empty cartridge down until it clicks, then lift it out.
  3. Unpack the new cartridge and gently remove the orange protective tape. Don't touch the electrical contacts or the nozzles.
  4. Slide the cartridge into its own slot (black and color each have one) and push it up until it clicks. The printer won't print unless both cartridges are in.
  5. Close the cover. The printer cleans the print head the next time you print, so let it finish.

Which Other Printers Use PG-40 and CL-41?

The PIXMA iP1200, iP1300, iP1600, iP1700, iP1800, iP1900, iP2200 and iP2500; the MP140, MP150, MP160, MP170, MP180, MP190, MP210, MP220, MP450, MP460 and MP470; the MX300 and MX310; and the Canon FAX-JX200, JX210P and JX500. We don't have guides for these models yet. This list comes from the PG-40 black, so check the color cartridge for each model.

What iP2600 owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer in Canon's support community and owner reviews, answered in our words.

Should I buy the PG-30 or the PG-40?

Both fit. The PG-40 prints about 327 pages against about 219 for the PG-30, and ours costs less, so it's the better buy. The same goes for the CL-41 (312 pages) over the CL-31 (205 pages).

Black has stopped printing.

Run a print head cleaning first, then reseat the black cartridge and check its contacts are clean. One owner fixed it only by uninstalling and reinstalling the printer software. Canon no longer updates drivers for this model, so keep your original disc or a saved copy of the driver.

Why is it slower than the box says?

Canon's 22 pages a minute is a draft-mode figure. Trusted Reviews measured about 5.4 pages a minute for normal-quality text, and a best-quality 4x6 photo took about a minute and a half.

Can it scan or copy?

No. The iP2600 is a printer only, with no scanner, display or card slots. If you need to scan, you'll need a separate scanner or an all-in-one.

iP2600 quirks worth knowing

  • Print only, over USB, with power and error lights instead of a display.
  • Paper loads from the rear. The top cover folds up to become the paper support, so there's no separate tray to pull out.
  • Canon quoted about 55 seconds for a borderless 4x6 photo in standard mode.
  • The print head is built into each cartridge, so every new cartridge brings a fresh head.
  • Canon has retired the iP2600, so there's no more support or driver updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ink does the Canon PIXMA iP2600 use?

PG-40 or PG-30 black and CL-41 or CL-31 tri-color.

Will PG-50 and CL-51 cartridges fit?

Some sellers say so, but we couldn't confirm it from Canon or major retailers, so stick with the PG-40 and CL-41.

Will PG-37 and CL-38 cartridges fit?

Those are the European numbers. We couldn't confirm they work in a U.S. iP2600, so buy by the U.S. numbers.

More Canon ink guides: Canon PIXMA MP480 · Canon PIXMA MP250 · Canon PIXMA iP2820 · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on October 21, 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.

Written and reviewed by — Castle Ink CEO since 2005; more than 20 years of experience in the printer supplies and e-commerce industry..

Back to Printer Support