What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA MP250 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Canon PIXMA MP250 uses Canon PG-210 Black and Canon CL-211 Color, with PG-210XL and CL-211XL as the high-yield versions. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured PG-210XL Black, CL-211XL Color and a PG-210XL + CL-211XL combo pack.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Canon PIXMA MP250
| 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%) | 81 | About 5.5¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured PG-210XL (401 pages) and CL-211XL (349 pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 86 | Most-reported problems: P08 / 5200 lock-up error on MP250-family printers, blamed by owners on a full waste-ink pad or overheating nozzles; E03 error at power-on that persisted after jam checks and roller cleaning |
| Features (12%) | 50 | Print, copy, scan. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, 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 stopped selling the MP250 years ago. PG-210 and CL-211 cartridges are still easy to find because many PIXMA models share them.
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 cartridges, pictured
PG-210XL + CL-211XL 2-packBlack + Color
PG-210XL Black2973B001 · ~401 pages
CL-211XL Tri-color2975B001 · ~349 pages
PG-210XL + CL-211XL 2-pack
PG-210XL Black
CL-211XL Tri-colorOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Canon PIXMA MP250 Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Color | Canon Part No. | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PG-210 | Black (standard) | 2974B001 | ~220 pages |
| Canon PG-210XL | Black (high-yield) | 2973B001 | ~401 pages |
| Canon CL-211 | Color (standard) | 2976B001 | ~244 pages |
| Canon CL-211XL | Color (high-yield) | 2975B001 | ~349 pages |
The PIXMA MP250 is a two-cartridge printer. The PG-210 is a pigment black cartridge for sharp text, and the CL-211 holds cyan, magenta and yellow dye inks in one cartridge. Both are Canon FINE cartridges, so the print nozzles are part of the cartridge — install a new one and you have a new printhead.
The MP250 is an older USB-only print, copy and scan all-in-one (it has no Wi-Fi). It is long discontinued, but many are still in daily use, and PG-210/CL-211 cartridges remain widely available because the same pair fits more than a dozen PIXMA models.
Standard vs. XL: Which Should You Buy?
The PG-210XL prints nearly twice as many pages as the standard PG-210, and the CL-211XL about 40% more than the CL-211. The cartridges are identical in size and fit the same way, so the XL versions are the better value for almost everyone. Check the math with our printer ink cost calculator.
How to Replace Ink in the Canon PIXMA MP250
- Turn the printer on and open it to reach the cartridge holder. The holder moves to the replacement position.
- Push the empty cartridge down until it clicks, then lift it out.
- Remove the new cartridge from its package and gently pull off the orange protective tape. Do not touch the electrical contacts or the nozzles.
- Insert the cartridge at a slight angle into its holder and push it up until it clicks.
- Close the printer. Wait for it to finish initializing before you print.
Troubleshooting Tips
Ink level can't be detected: Refilled and remanufactured FINE cartridges can trigger an ink-level-unknown warning. Pressing and holding the Stop/Reset button dismisses it and switches off ink-level detection for that cartridge, so you can keep printing.
Cartridge not recognized: The cartridge is usually not seated or its contacts are dirty. Remove it, wipe the contacts with a dry lint-free cloth and reinstall it until it clicks. See printer says ink cartridge not recognized.
Faded black or streaks: Run a Cleaning, then a Deep Cleaning if needed, from the printer driver's Maintenance tab. If output is still poor, replace the cartridge — the printhead is part of it. More in printer printing faded text and why is my Canon printer not printing.
Printer not detected on a newer computer: The MP250 connects by USB only, and Canon's driver support for it dates from older operating systems. Check Canon's support site for a driver for your system before assuming the printer has failed.
Which Other Printers Use PG-210 / CL-211?
PG-210 and CL-211 (and their XL versions) also fit the Canon PIXMA MP240, MP270, PIXMA MP280, MP480, MP490, MP495, MX320, MX330, MX340, MX350, MX360, MX410, MX420, MP258, MP282 and iP2702.
What PIXMA MP250 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 MP250 shows E03 when I switch it on. What should I do?
Canon's advice was to unplug the printer for at least 10 minutes, then run the roller-cleaning routine at least three times. If the error stays, contact Canon about service options.
What does a P08 (5200) error mean?
Owners describe it as a hard lock-up, blamed on either a full waste-ink pad or overheated cartridge nozzles. It generally needs service or a service-mode reset rather than a new cartridge.
Does the MP250 print double-sided automatically?
No. Canon lists only manual two-sided printing on plain paper, and only from Windows.
Why do European listings show PG-510 and CL-511?
Canon sold the MP250 in Europe with region-specific PG-510/CL-511 cartridges (PG-512/CL-513 for XL), rated for the same page counts. Buy the numbers for the region your printer came from.
How many photos will a color cartridge print?
Not many. Canon's European spec sheet estimates about 83 color photos from a standard color cartridge and 122 from the XL, so photo printing on this model is expensive.
PIXMA MP250 quirks worth knowing
- It has no LCD, only a single-digit LED display that shows letter-and-number codes. Keep the manual handy to decode them.
- It connects by USB only. There is no Wi-Fi or network port.
- Copying has a Fit-to-Page mode, but a color copy takes about 39 seconds to come out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MP250 the same as the MP280?
They are close relatives in the same PIXMA generation and use the same PG-210 and CL-211 cartridges.
Can I use PG-240 or PG-245 in the MP250?
No. Those are different cartridge families. The MP250 only accepts PG-210/CL-211 (standard or XL).
Does the MP250 have Wi-Fi?
No. It connects to a computer by USB only.
Why does my MP250 warn about the ink level with a new cartridge?
Refilled and remanufactured cartridges can trigger an ink-level-unknown warning. Hold Stop/Reset to dismiss it and keep printing; you lose the ink gauge for that cartridge only.
Other printers that use PG-210 and CL-211
More Canon ink guides: Canon PIXMA TS3722 · Canon PIXMA TR4720 · Canon PIXMA MG3600 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
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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.