What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA MP500 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Canon PIXMA MP500 uses five ink tanks: a PGI-5BK pigment black plus CLI-8 black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured PGI-5BK Pigment Black, CLI-8 Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow.
The MP500 takes the same tanks as many PIXMA models of its era, including the iP4200, which uses the same print engine, and the MP530 and MP600. Don't buy CLI-8 photo cyan, photo magenta, red or green tanks for it: those are for photo printers such as the Pro9000 and iP6600D, and the MP500 has no slots for them. European stores sell the same tanks with part numbers ending in B001 instead of B002.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Canon PIXMA MP500
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | Reviewed by PC Magazine in 2005, without a numeric score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 86 | About 3.9¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured PGI-5 black (about 505 pages) and CLI-8 colors (about 280 pages, a U.S. reseller figure). |
| Reliability (13%) | 75 | Most-reported problems: 'wrong print head' / print head not recognized errors; error 5100 when the carriage is blocked; blurry or streaky prints from clogged nozzles after the printer sits idle; 'ink absorber full' when the waste ink pad fills, as on other PIXMAs of this era |
| Features (12%) | 58 | Print, copy, scan, auto two-sided printing, 2.5-inch color LCD, memory card slots, PictBridge, front cassette and rear tray. USB only. No Wi-Fi, no Ethernet, no document feeder, no fax. |
| 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 MP500 in late 2005 at $199.99 and now lists it as retired, with no further support. PGI-5 and CLI-8 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 24, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
PGI-5BK Pigment Black0628B002 · ~505 pages
CLI-8BK Black0620B002 · photo black
CLI-8C Cyan0621B002 · ~280 pages
CLI-8M Magenta0622B002 · ~280 pages
CLI-8Y Yellow0623B002 · ~280 pages
PGI-5BK Pigment Black
CLI-8BK Black
CLI-8C Cyan
CLI-8M Magenta
CLI-8Y YellowOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Cartridges Does the Canon PIXMA MP500 Take?
| Cartridge | Canon part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGI-5BK Pigment Black | 0628B002 | ~505 pages | Remanufactured PGI-5BK Pigment Black |
| CLI-8BK Black (photo) | 0620B002 | Not published | Remanufactured CLI-8BK Black |
| CLI-8C Cyan | 0621B002 | ~280 pages | Remanufactured CLI-8C Cyan |
| CLI-8M Magenta | 0622B002 | ~280 pages | Remanufactured CLI-8M Magenta |
| CLI-8Y Yellow | 0623B002 | ~280 pages | Remanufactured CLI-8Y Yellow |
We couldn't find Canon's own yields for these tanks. The PGI-5BK figure is an ISO listing from a U.S. distributor, and the color figures come from U.S. resellers such as LDProducts and InkTechnologies. Some European listings give much higher numbers, so treat these as rough guides.
How Much Do PGI-5 and CLI-8 Cost?
Canon's tanks cost more than twice ours. On October 24, 2026, Staples listed Canon's PGI-5BK black at $22.69 (about 4.5¢ a page) and the CLI-8 cyan at $22.99, and LDProducts had Canon's CLI-8 cyan at $23.77. Our remanufactured PGI-5BK is $9.95, about 2¢ a page, and each CLI-8 tank is $7.95.
How Do I Replace the Ink in the Canon PIXMA MP500?
- Turn the printer on and lift the scanning unit until it locks open. The print head holder moves to the replacement position.
- Push the tab on the empty tank and lift it out.
- Unwrap the new tank and twist or pull off the orange protective cap. Don't touch the ink outlet.
- Insert the tank front end first into the slot for its color and press down on the back until it clicks. Check that its lamp lights red.
- Close the scanning unit and let the printer finish starting up before you print.
Which Other Printers Use PGI-5 and CLI-8?
PGI-5 and CLI-8 together fit the PIXMA iP3300, iP3500, iP4200, iP4300, iP4500, iP5200, iP5200R, iP5300, iX4000, iX5000, MP510, MP520, MP530, MP600, MP610, MP800, MP800R, MP810, MP830, MX700 and MX850. The CLI-8 colors also fit the iP6600D, iP6700D, MP950, MP960, MP970, Pro9000 and Pro9000 Mark II, which use extra photo colors as well.
What PIXMA MP500 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.
Does the MP500 print on both sides automatically?
Yes. PC Magazine praised its two-sided printing, and spec listings confirm automatic duplex printing.
Why are there two black tanks?
PGI-5BK is a pigment black for sharp text on plain paper. CLI-8BK is a dye black used for photos. Both have to be installed.
It says the print head is wrong or not recognized.
Turn the printer off, reseat the print head and clean its contacts with a dry, lint-free cloth, then turn it back on. If the error stays, the head has failed. A new one rarely makes sense on a printer this old.
Can I still get drivers?
Canon has retired the MP500. Its support page says driver and content updates are no longer made, and the newest driver listed is for Windows 10.
PIXMA MP500 quirks worth knowing
- Canon claimed up to 29 pages a minute in black and 19 in color, but those are draft-mode figures, not ISO speeds. A borderless 4x6 takes about 51 seconds.
- It has two paper sources, a 150-sheet front cassette and a 150-sheet rear tray, and prints two-sided on its own.
- It has a 2.5-inch color screen, memory card slots, PictBridge and an IrDA port. Bluetooth needs an optional adapter.
- It connects over USB only, with no network port, and it has no fax or document feeder. It weighs about 21 pounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the Canon PIXMA MP500 use?
A PGI-5BK pigment black plus CLI-8 black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Does the MP500 use CLI-8 photo cyan or photo magenta?
No. Those tanks are for photo printers such as the Pro9000 and iP6600D. The MP500 has five slots only.
Does the MP500 have Wi-Fi?
No. It connects over USB, with PictBridge and IrDA for cameras and phones.
More Canon ink guides: Canon PIXMA TS3722 · Canon PIXMA TR4720 · Canon PIXMA MG3600 · 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 24, 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.