What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA MG5220 Use?

by Lauren Elward Last Updated: October 16, 2026

Quick answer: The Canon PIXMA MG5220 uses five ink tanks: a PGI-225 pigment black plus CLI-226 black, cyan, magenta and yellow. There are no XL versions in the U.S. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured PGI-225 Pigment Black, CLI-226 Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow, and a 5-pack with one of each.

The MG5220 takes the same tanks as the PIXMA MG5320, MX882 and MX892. The MG6120 and MG8120 also use a CLI-226 gray tank, but the MG5220 has no gray slot, so don't buy one for it.

CastleScore · October 2026

69/100 — Situational

Canon PIXMA MG5220

Pillar (weight)	Score	What it is based on
Owner ratings (28%)	—	No retailer rating with enough reviews to use.
Expert reviews (18%)	—	Reviewed by Imaging Resource, PCWorld and Macworld in 2010, without numeric scores we could verify.
Cost per page (24%)	88	About 3.3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured PGI-225 (340 pages) and CLI-226 colors (about 510 pages).
Reliability (13%)	76	Most-reported problems: error B200, a print head fault that usually ends the printer's life; U052 'print head type is incorrect'; tricky Wi-Fi setup on older WEP networks; high ink cost with no XL tanks
Features (12%)	62	Print, copy, scan, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, color LCD, memory card slots. 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 and retired. Canon launched the MG5220 in August 2010 at $149.99 and now lists it as retired, with no further support. PGI-225 and CLI-226 tanks are still 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 16, 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 MG5220 Take?

Cartridge	Canon part no.	Approx. yield	Castle Ink option
PGI-225 Pigment Black	4530B001	~340 pages	Remanufactured PGI-225 Pigment Black
CLI-226 Black	4546B001	~510 pages	Remanufactured CLI-226 Black
CLI-226 Cyan	4547B001	~510 pages	Remanufactured CLI-226 Cyan
CLI-226 Magenta	4548B001	~510 pages	Remanufactured CLI-226 Magenta
CLI-226 Yellow	4549B001	~510 pages	Remanufactured CLI-226 Yellow

Yields come from retailer listings of Canon's ratings and from PCWorld's review. Canon's own MG5220 page doesn't list them.

Is There an XL Tank?

No. In the U.S., PGI-225 and CLI-226 come in one size only, and reviewers called that out as a running-cost weakness. On October 16, 2026, Staples listed Canon's PGI-225 black at $22.99 (about 6.8¢ a page) and the CLI-226 cyan at $18.00. Our remanufactured PGI-225 is $9.95 (about 2.9¢ a page) and each CLI-226 color is $7.99, or $24.99 for the 5-pack.

How Do I Replace the Ink in the Canon PIXMA MG5220?

With the printer on, lift the scanning unit until it locks open. The print head holder moves to the replacement position.
Push the tab on the empty tank (its lamp flashes) and lift it out.
Remove the orange film from the new tank, then twist or pull off the orange cap on the bottom.
Insert the tank into the slot for its color and press the PUSH mark until it clicks and the tank lamp lights red.
Close the scanning unit and wait for the automatic cleaning to finish before printing.

Which Other Printers Use PGI-225 and CLI-226?

The PIXMA iP4820, iP4920, iX6520, MG5120, MG5320, MG6120, MG6220, MG8120, MG8220, MX712, MX882 and MX892. The MG6120, MG6220, MG8120 and MG8220 also take a CLI-226 gray tank.

What PIXMA MG5220 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.

What does error B200 mean?

It points to a print head fault. Canon's only advice is to unplug the printer and contact service. Some owners try reseating or replacing the print head, but on a printer this old the repair is rarely worth it.

It says U052, 'The type of print head is incorrect.'

The printer can't recognize the print head. Reseat the head and tanks, then turn the printer off and on. If the message stays, the head or the logic board has failed.

Why are there two black tanks?

PGI-225 is pigment black for sharp text on plain paper. CLI-226 black is a dye ink used for photos and color mixing. Both have to be installed.

I can't get it onto my Wi-Fi.

Imaging Resource found setup on older WEP networks harder than Canon suggests. Use a WPA or WPA2 network, or set the printer up over USB first.

PIXMA MG5220 quirks worth knowing

Canon rates it at about 11 ISO pages a minute in black and 9.3 in color, and a borderless 4x6 in about 20 seconds.
It prints two-sided automatically, but there's no document feeder, so scanning is flatbed only.
It has two paper sources: a 150-sheet front cassette and a 150-sheet rear feeder.
It has memory card slots and a 2.4-inch color screen, but the U.S. model can't print on CDs or DVDs.

Frequently Asked Questions