What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA MG6420 Use?

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Shopping for this printer? See all Canon PGI-250 & CLI-251 Ink Cartridges – 250XL & 251XL → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.

Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said the CLI-251 dye black is rated in photos and gave the same yield for every color. The CLI-251 black is rated in pages (about 1,105, or 4,425 for the XL), and the color yields differ slightly by color.

CastleScore · October 2026

69/100 — Situational

Canon PIXMA MG6420

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat 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%) 90 About 2.9¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured PGI-250XL (500 pages) and CLI-251XL colors (about 680 pages).
Reliability (13%) 89 Most-reported problems: print-head faults on the PGI-250/CLI-251 generation
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 has retired the MG6420, and its support page says product support is no longer available. This score rates it for current owners.

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 11, 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.

Quick answer: what ink does the Canon PIXMA MG6420 use?

The Canon PIXMA MG6420 uses five individual ink tanks: PGI-250 pigment black plus CLI-251 black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. High-yield PGI-250XL and CLI-251XL tanks fit the same slots, and you replace only the color that runs out.

Canon PIXMA MG6420 ink chart: PGI-250/CLI-251 cartridges, yields, and printers that use the same ink
PGI-250/CLI-251 cartridges for the Canon PIXMA MG6420, and the printers that share them.

Cartridge options at a glance

Cartridge Type Approx. yield*
Canon PGI-250 / PGI-250XL Pigment black (text) ~300 / ~500 pages
Canon CLI-251 / CLI-251XL cyan, magenta, yellow Dye color C ~304 / M ~298 / Y ~330 pages; XL ~660 / ~680 / ~695 pages
Canon CLI-251 / CLI-251XL black Dye black (photos) ~1,105 / ~4,425 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 MG6420 ink

Standard or XL: which should I buy?

XL. PGI-250XL is rated for about 500 text pages versus 300 for standard, and the CLI-251XL colors roughly double the standard yield, so the cost per page drops sharply. Because the tanks are separate, you can also buy XL only for the colors you use most. See Is XL ink actually worth it? Standard vs. XL with real numbers.

What other printers use PGI-250/CLI-251 ink?

The five-ink models are the PIXMA MG5420, MG5520, MG5620, MG6620, iP7220, iX6820, MX722, MX922, and MG5422. The six-ink models that add a gray tank are the PIXMA MG6320, MG7120, MG7520, and iP8720. Every size of the shared colors fits all of them, so one stock of cartridges covers several printers.

Will other Canon cartridges fit the MG6420?

No. PGI-270/CLI-271 (used by the PIXMA MG5720, MG6820, and TS5020) and PGI-225/CLI-226 (used by the MG5320 and MG6120) look almost identical but have different chips and notches. Always match the number printed on your current cartridge.

Why are there two black cartridges?

They do different jobs. The larger pigment black (PGI) prints sharp, smudge-resistant text on plain paper. The dye black (CLI) is used for photos and glossy paper, where pigment ink would sit on the surface. Both must be installed, and on plain-paper documents the pigment black does most of the work.

Can I use remanufactured tanks in the MG6420?

Yes. We know of no Canon lockout on the MG6420, and using non-Canon tanks doesn't void your warranty under U.S. law. The printer may show a message about a non-genuine or refilled tank and stop tracking that tank's ink level, but it keeps printing. The PGI-250XL and CLI-251XL tanks we sell are remanufactured. More: Compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM ink and Does compatible ink void your printer warranty?.

How do I replace the ink in the MG6420?

Turn the printer on and open the cover; the print head holder moves to the replacement position. Press the tab on the empty tank and lift it out. Remove the new tank from its bag, pull off the orange protective cap, insert it front end first, and press the top until it clicks. Match the color labels on the holder. The tank's lamp lights red when it's seated correctly. Walkthrough: How to replace the ink in a Canon PIXMA printer.

Why won't the MG6420 recognize a new tank?

Make sure the orange cap and any film are removed, press down on the tank until its lamp lights, and check that it's in the slot with the matching color label. If the lamp stays off, remove the tank, wipe the contacts with a dry lint-free cloth, reinstall it, and power-cycle the printer. More fixes: Printer says ink cartridge not recognized: how to fix it.

Why are MG6420 prints faded, streaky, or missing a color?

The print head is built into the printer, so a clogged nozzle won't be fixed by a new tank alone. Print a nozzle check, run a cleaning, and if gaps remain, a deep cleaning; let the printer rest a few hours if it still streaks. If lines look jagged or doubled rather than faded, align the print head. Guides: How to clean Canon printer heads, Faded or streaky prints: causes and fixes, and our print head alignment guide.

Can I keep printing when one tank is empty?

Canon printers stop when a tank runs out. On many models you can override the warning by holding Stop for about 5 seconds, but Canon cautions that printing with an empty tank can damage the built-in print head, so replace it as soon as you can. Keeping a spare pigment black on hand avoids most downtime.

Does the MG6420 work on Wi-Fi?

Yes. It connects over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) or USB. There is no Ethernet port. 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.

Does the MG6420 use a gray cartridge?

No. The MG6420 uses five tanks. The gray CLI-251GY is only for six-ink models such as the MG6320 and MG7520.

MG6420 key facts

  • Type: wireless all-in-one (print, scan, copy); no fax, no document feeder
  • Screen: 3.0-inch LCD
  • Two-sided printing: automatic
  • Ink: 5 individual tanks, PGI-250 + CLI-251 BK/C/M/Y (XL fits)
  • Gray tank: not used

What PIXMA MG6420 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.

Does the MG6420 print on both sides automatically?

Yes. Canon lists automatic two-sided printing and two-sided copying.

Can it fax?

No. It prints, copies and scans only. Some retailer listings say otherwise, but Canon's own specs list no fax.

Can I print photos straight from a memory card?

Yes. It has slots for SD, SDHC and microSD cards and Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and Micro, with direct photo printing.

Can I still get drivers and support from Canon?

Canon has retired the MG6420. Its support page says product support is no longer available and lists no driver downloads.

How fast does it print?

Canon rates it at about 15 images a minute in black and 9.7 in color, and about 44 seconds for a borderless 4x6 photo.

PIXMA MG6420 quirks worth knowing

  • The CLI-251 dye black is rated far higher than the pigment black: about 1,105 pages standard and 4,425 XL, against 300 and 500 for the PGI-250. On documents, the PGI-250 is the tank you'll replace most.
  • Retailers don't agree on the color yields: TonerBuzz lists 304 / 298 / 330 standard and 660 / 680 / 695 XL for cyan, magenta and yellow, while 4inkjets lists 300 and 660 for every color.
  • Canon's own store charges about $16.99 for a standard CLI-251 tank, so five separate tanks add up. Buying XL for the colors you use most keeps the cost down.
  • The output tray holds 100 sheets of plain paper or 20 sheets of 4x6 photo paper.

Other printers that use PGI-250 and CLI-251

Canon PIXMA iX6820 · Canon PIXMA MX922 · Canon PIXMA iP8720 · Canon PIXMA MG6320 · Canon PIXMA MG6620 · Canon PIXMA MG7520 · Canon PIXMA MX722 · Canon PIXMA iP7220

More Canon ink guides: Canon PIXMA TS3722 · Canon PIXMA TR4720 · Canon PIXMA MG3600 · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on October 11, 2026 and will change over time.

Need replacement Canon PGI-250 & CLI-251 Ink Cartridges – 250XL & 251XL? Shop Canon PGI-250 & CLI-251 Ink Cartridges – 250XL & 251XL 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 — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.

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