What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA MG3120 Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all Canon PG-240 & CL-241 Ink Cartridges – 240XL, 240XXL & 241XL → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Canon PIXMA MG3120
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 82 | About 5.1¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured PG-240XXL (600 pages) and CL-241XL (400 pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 81 | Most-reported problems: support code B200 on MG3100-series printers; support code 5100 carriage error; support code 5B00 ink absorber full, needs counter reset/service |
| Features (12%) | 64 | Print, copy, scan, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | — | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings or published expert scores for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars. With neither owner ratings nor a published expert score, we cap this printer at 69 (Situational) until better data is available.
Discontinued. Canon launched the MG3120 in 2011 and no longer sells it. PG-240 and CL-241 cartridges are still widely sold.
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 10, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
PG-240XL + CL-241XL 2-pack5206B001 / 5208B001
PG-240XXL Black5204B001 · ~600 pages
PG-240XL Black5206B001 · ~300 pages
CL-241XL Tri-color5208B001 · ~400 pages
PG-240XL + CL-241XL 2-pack
PG-240XXL Black
PG-240XL Black
CL-241XL Tri-colorOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Quick answer: what ink does the Canon PIXMA MG3120 use?
The Canon PIXMA MG3120 uses two FINE cartridges: one PG-240 black and one CL-241 tri-color (cyan, magenta, and yellow in a single cartridge). High-yield PG-240XL and CL-241XL, plus the extra-high-yield PG-240XXL black, fit the same slots.
Considering compatible PG-240/CL-241 cartridges? See our comparison of compatible and genuine Canon ink before you buy.
Cartridge options at a glance
| Cartridge | Type | Approx. yield* |
|---|---|---|
| Canon PG-240 | Black | ~180 pages |
| Canon PG-240XL | Black (high yield) | ~300 pages |
| Canon PG-240XXL | Black (extra-high yield) | ~600 pages |
| Canon CL-241 | Tri-color | ~180 pages |
| Canon CL-241XL | Tri-color (high yield) | ~400 pages |
*Approximate Canon-rated yields based on ISO/IEC test pages. Real-world results depend on coverage, photo printing, and cleaning cycles.
Common questions about Canon PIXMA MG3120 ink
Standard, XL, or XXL: which should I buy?
For most people, PG-240XL or PG-240XXL black plus CL-241XL color. The XXL black is rated for about 600 pages, more than three times the standard PG-240, so it has the lowest cost per page if you print a lot of text. Only buy standard cartridges if the printer sits idle for months, since ink can dry out before you use it. See Is XL ink actually worth it? Standard vs. XL with real numbers.
What other printers use PG-240/CL-241 ink?
The same cartridges fit the PIXMA MG2120, MG3520, MG3600, MG3620, MX452, MX470, MX472, MX532, TS5120, MG3220, MG4120, MG4220, MX372, MX392, MX432, MX512, and MX522. If you own two of these printers, one stock of cartridges covers both.
Will other Canon cartridges fit the MG3120?
No. PG-243/PG-245 and CL-244/CL-246 (used by the PIXMA MG2520 and TS3122) are a smaller cartridge, and PG-210/CL-211 (MX340, MP495) and PG-260/CL-261 (TS5320, TR7020) are different shapes too. None of them will seat in a PG-240/CL-241 printer. Always match the number printed on your current cartridge.
Are compatible or remanufactured cartridges safe for the MG3120?
Yes. Using remanufactured cartridges doesn't void your warranty under U.S. law, and we know of no Canon lockout for PG-240 or CL-241 cartridges. The printer may show a message about a non-genuine or refilled cartridge; choose OK or Continue and print normally. More: Compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM ink and Does compatible ink void your printer warranty?.
How do I replace the ink in the MG3120?
Turn the printer on and open the front cover (the MG3120 changes cartridges from the front); the cartridge holder moves into position. Push the empty cartridge down to unlock it and lift it out. Unpack the new cartridge, peel off the protective tape (don't touch the gold contacts or the nozzles), slide it in at a slight upward angle, and push it up until it clicks. Black goes on the right and color on the left. Close the cover and run a nozzle check. Walkthrough: How to replace the ink in a Canon PIXMA printer.
What does support code 1686 or 1688 mean?
Code 1686 means the printer can no longer estimate how much ink is left, which is normal after a cartridge runs very low or when a refilled or remanufactured cartridge is installed. Press and hold Stop for about 5 seconds to keep printing; this turns off ink-level detection for that cartridge only. Code 1688 means the ink has run out. See Printer error codes explained.
Why are MG3120 prints faded, streaky, or missing a color?
On this printer the print head is part of each cartridge, so a fresh cartridge often fixes nozzle problems. Before you replace one, run a nozzle check and one or two cleanings from the printer or the Canon driver. If one color is missing from the color cartridge, that color is empty and the whole cartridge needs replacing. Step by step: How to clean Canon printer heads and Faded or streaky prints: causes and fixes.
Does the MG3120 work on Wi-Fi?
Yes. It connects over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and supports one-button WPS setup. USB works too. If it keeps dropping off the network, make sure your router broadcasts a 2.4 GHz band. Setup help: How to connect a printer to Wi-Fi.
Is the MG3120 the same as the MG2120?
They share PG-240/CL-241 ink, but the MG3120 adds Wi-Fi and automatic two-sided printing. See the MG2120 ink guide.
MG3120 key facts
- Type: wireless all-in-one (print, scan, copy) with automatic two-sided printing
- Speed: about 9.2 images per minute black, 5.0 color (Canon's ESAT rating)
- Ink: 2 FINE cartridges, PG-240 black + CL-241 color (XL and XXL fit)
- Connectivity: USB, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
What PIXMA MG3120 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.
What does support code B200 mean?
Canon describes it as a hardware fault. Check inside the printer for anything blocking the moving parts, and contact Canon support if the code comes back. On a printer this old, B200 often ends its life.
What does support code 5100 mean?
It is a carriage error: something is stopping the cartridge holder. Common causes are debris, leftover packing tape, a problem in the drive path or the print head itself.
What does support code 5B00 mean?
The ink absorber (the pad that soaks up waste ink from cleanings) is full. It needs a service reset, and it's more common on heavily used printers or ones fitted with continuous-ink systems.
There's no screen. How do I see what's wrong?
The MG3120 has only a small LED digit display for copy count and status, plus a Wi-Fi light. Support codes show up in the printer status window on your computer or as blinking lights.
Is the black ink pigment or dye?
The PG-240 black is a pigment ink, which gives sharper text. The colors are dye inks in the separate CL-241 tri-color cartridge.
PIXMA MG3120 quirks worth knowing
- Automatic two-sided printing is its main hardware advantage over the MG2120, along with Wi-Fi. Canon pitched it as cutting paper use by up to half.
- Canon's "FastFront" design lets you load paper and change cartridges from the front of the printer.
- It prints borderless only at 4 × 6 in, and takes about 44 seconds per borderless 4 × 6 photo.
- Canon launched it in October 2011, and its drivers at launch covered Windows 7, Vista and XP and Mac OS X 10.4.11 to 10.6. Check Canon's support page for drivers for current systems.
Other printers that use PG-240 and CL-241
Canon PIXMA MG3620 · Canon PIXMA MG3600 · Canon PIXMA MX470 · Canon PIXMA MG3520 · Canon PIXMA MG2120 · Canon PIXMA TS5120 · Canon PIXMA MX472 · Canon PIXMA MX452
More Canon ink guides: Canon PIXMA TS3722 · Canon PIXMA TR4720 · Canon PIXMA TS3322 · 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 10, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Canon PG-240 & CL-241 Ink Cartridges – 240XL, 240XXL & 241XL? Shop Canon PG-240 & CL-241 Ink Cartridges – 240XL, 240XXL & 241XL at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.