What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TR7820 Use?

by William Elward Last Updated: October 9, 2026

Quick answer: The Canon PIXMA TR7820 uses PG-285 pigment black and CL-286 dye tri-color ink cartridges. The high-yield PG-285XL and CL-286XL fit the same slots and are rated for about 400 pages each, against 180 for the standard cartridges. It also has a user-replaceable MC-G06 maintenance cartridge.

The TR7820 is essentially a TS7720 with a document feeder added, so it takes exactly the same supplies.

CastleScore · October 2026

77/100 — Recommended

Canon PIXMA TR7820

Pillar (weight)	Score	What it is based on
Owner ratings (28%)	86	4.38★ average across 825 ratings at Best Buy (4.4) and Adorama (4.0)
Expert reviews (18%)	—	No published numeric expert score we could verify.
Cost per page (24%)	63	About 10.5¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured PG-285XL (400 pages) and Original Canon CL-286XL at retail (we don't sell CL-286).
Reliability (13%)	82	Most-reported problems: document feeder stops feeding after a couple of years; fast-emptying standard cartridges; 1686/1688 ink messages
Features (12%)	76	Print, copy, scan, 35-sheet document feeder, auto two-sided printing, dual-band Wi-Fi, 2.7-inch touchscreen. No fax, no Ethernet.
Value (5%)	76	Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of about $99

Limited data: No expert site has published a numeric score for the TR7820, so the expert weight is spread across the other five pillars.

Discontinued by Canon but still sold new at Walmart, Adorama and B&H for $99 (October 9, 2026).

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 9, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

The cartridge, pictured

PG-285XL Black6196C001 · ~400 pages

Our own remanufactured cartridge, photographed in-house. We don't sell CL-286.

What Ink Cartridges Does the Canon PIXMA TR7820 Take?

Cartridge	Canon part no.	Ink volume	Approx. yield	Castle Ink option
PG-285 Black (standard)	6197C001	7.3 ml	~180 pages	—
PG-285XL Black (high yield)	6196C001	12.7 ml	~400 pages	Remanufactured PG-285XL Black
CL-286 Color (standard)	6217C001	9.9 ml	~180 pages	—
CL-286XL Color (high yield)	6216C001	17.6 ml	~400 pages	Amazon
MC-G06 Maintenance cartridge	6259C001	—	Replace when prompted	Amazon

Yields are ISO estimates. CL-286 is a single tri-color cartridge with cyan, magenta and yellow. We don't sell CL-286 or the MC-G06, so those links go to Amazon (as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases).

Is PG-285XL Worth It Over the Standard PG-285?

Yes. The XL is rated for 400 pages against 180, more than twice as many, and the 180-page standard cartridges are a frequent owner complaint. Our remanufactured PG-285XL is $28.99, about 7¢ a page. Canon's own CL-286XL was $59.99 in October 2026, about 15¢ a page, so color is where this printer gets expensive.

Can I Use Remanufactured PG-285XL?

Yes. Canon does not run an HP-style lockout on these cartridges. A remanufactured cartridge reuses a Canon shell with the printhead built in, so it fits like the original, but the printer may say it cannot detect the remaining ink. Support code 1686 or 1688: the printer can't track the ink level (1686) or thinks the cartridge is empty (1688). Canon's manual says to hold Stop for at least 5 seconds to switch off ink-level detection and keep printing; you lose the gauge for that cartridge. See compatible vs remanufactured vs OEM ink.

How Do I Replace the Ink in the Canon TR7820?

With the printer on, lift the scanning unit/cover. The cartridge holder moves to the replacement position.
Lift the ink cartridge locking cover and take out the empty cartridge.
Unpack the new cartridge and peel off the protective tape. Don't touch the gold contacts or the nozzles.
Insert color in the left slot and black in the right, then push the locking cover down until it clicks.
Close the scanning unit and follow any on-screen prompt. Run print head alignment if lines look ragged.

Which Other Printers Use PG-285 and CL-286?

The PIXMA TS7720 and PIXMA TS7722 use the same PG-285, CL-286 and MC-G06. The TS6520 shares only the CL-286 color cartridge.

What TR7820 owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, manufacturer support communities and owner reviews, answered in our words.

Does the TR7820 have a fax or document feeder?

It has a 35-sheet document feeder for copying and scanning up to legal size, but no fax. The feeder scans one side only; only printing is automatically two-sided.

The document feeder stopped pulling in pages. What can I do?

Owners on Canon's community report this after a couple of years of use. The advice there is to clean the feeder rollers with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with distilled water and check for torn scraps of paper inside the feeder.

What is error 1682?

The printer can't recognize the cartridge. Remove it, make sure all the orange tape is off and the gold contacts are clean, and reseat it. If it persists with a new cartridge, Canon says to request service.

What does support code 1686 or 1688 mean?

1688 means a cartridge has run out; 1686 means the printer can't detect the level, typical of remanufactured cartridges. Hold Stop for at least 5 seconds to keep printing without the gauge.

Which maintenance cartridge does it use?

The Canon MC-G06 (6259C001), the same one as the TS7720. It costs about $11.

TR7820 quirks worth knowing

The front cassette takes only Letter, A4, A5 and B5 plain paper. Photo paper, envelopes and legal go in the rear tray.
Each FINE cartridge carries its own printhead, so a fresh cartridge fixes most streaking that cleaning cycles can't.
Canon lists the TR7820 as discontinued, while Walmart, Adorama and B&H were clearing stock at $99 in October 2026, about half Canon's $194.99 list price.
It has dual-band Wi-Fi and a 2.7-inch touchscreen, but no Ethernet port.

Frequently Asked Questions