What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TR8520 Use?
Last Updated:Correction: an earlier version of this article said the TR8520 uses a photo blue cartridge. It uses five tanks: PGI-280 pigment black and CLI-281 black, cyan, magenta, and yellow.
CastleScore · October 2026
86/100 — Highly Recommended
Canon PIXMA TR8520
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 84 | 4.30★ average across 2,615 ratings at Best Buy (4.3) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 80 | PCMag 4.0/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | 93 | About 2¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured PGI-280XXL (600 pages) and CLI-281XXL colors (820 pages each). |
| Reliability (13%) | 80 | Most-reported problems: wi-Fi drops and drivers needing frequent reinstalls; paper handling: ADF eats paper, and the printer pulls from the wrong paper source; touchscreen failing after about a year |
| Features (12%) | 92 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 88 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Hard to find new. Major U.S. retailers no longer list the TR8520, though Canon has not marked it discontinued. The current PIXMA TR8620a uses the same PGI-280/CLI-281 ink.
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 7, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
PGI-280XXL / CLI-281XXL 4-packPGBK + C/M/Y
PGI-280XXL Black1967C001 · ~600 pages
CLI-281XXL Black1983C001
CLI-281XXL Cyan1980C001 · ~820 pages
CLI-281XXL Magenta1981C001 · ~820 pages
CLI-281XXL Yellow1982C001 · ~820 pages
PGI-280XXL / CLI-281XXL 4-pack
PGI-280XXL Black
CLI-281XXL Black
CLI-281XXL Cyan
CLI-281XXL Magenta
CLI-281XXL YellowOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Quick answer: what ink does the Canon PIXMA TR8520 use?
The Canon PIXMA TR8520 uses five individual ink tanks: PGI-280 pigment black plus CLI-281 black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Standard, XL, and XXL sizes all fit the same slots, and you replace only the color that runs out.
Cartridge options at a glance
| Cartridge | Type | Approx. yield* |
|---|---|---|
| Canon PGI-280 / XL / XXL | Pigment black (text) | ~200 / ~400 / ~600 pages |
| Canon CLI-281 / XL / XXL cyan, magenta, yellow | Dye color | ~233–259 / ~515 / ~820 pages each |
| Canon CLI-281 black | Dye black (photos) | Rated in photos |
*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 TR8520 ink
Standard, XL, or XXL: which should I buy?
XXL for most people. A PGI-280XXL black is rated for about 600 pages, three times the standard tank, and the CLI-281XXL colors are rated for roughly 800 pages each, so the cost per page is the lowest of the three sizes. XL is a good middle ground if you print less. See Is XL ink actually worth it? Standard vs. XL with real numbers.
What other printers use PGI-280/CLI-281 ink?
The five-ink models are the PIXMA TR7520, TR8620, TS6120, TS6220, TS6320, TS702, and TS9520. The six-ink models that add a photo blue tank are the PIXMA TS8120, TS8320, TS9120, and TS8220. Every size of the shared colors fits all of them, so one stock of cartridges covers several printers.
Will other Canon cartridges fit the TR8520?
No. PGI-270/CLI-271 (used by the PIXMA TS8020, TS9020, and TS5020) and PGI-250/CLI-251 look similar but won't seat or be recognized. 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.
Are compatible or remanufactured cartridges safe for the TR8520?
Yes. Quality compatible and remanufactured cartridges print like OEM, and using them doesn't void your warranty under U.S. law. The printer may show a message about a non-genuine or refilled cartridge; choose OK or Continue and print normally. More: Compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM ink and Does compatible ink void your printer warranty?.
How do I replace the ink in the TR8520?
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 TR8520 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 TR8520 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 TR8520 need a photo blue cartridge?
No. Photo blue (CLI-281PB) is only for six-ink models such as the TS8120 and TS9120. The TR8520 has five slots.
TR8520 key facts
- Type: wireless office all-in-one (print, scan, copy, fax)
- Ink: 5 individual tanks, PGI-280 + CLI-281 BK/C/M/Y (XL and XXL fit)
- Document feeder: yes, 20 letter or 5 legal sheets
- Photo blue: not used
What PIXMA TR8520 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.
How many pages can the document feeder take?
20 letter-size sheets, or 5 legal-size sheets. It is also a fax machine, so the feeder handles multi-page faxes too.
Can I keep plain paper and photo paper loaded at the same time?
Yes. There is a 100-sheet front cassette for plain paper and a rear tray that holds 100 plain sheets or 20 sheets of 4x6 (10 of 5x7) photo paper.
Can I connect it by cable instead of Wi-Fi?
Yes. It has USB and Ethernet as well as 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE. If Wi-Fi keeps dropping, which is the most common owner complaint, a wired connection is worth trying.
How fast does it print?
Canon rates it at about 15 pages per minute in black and 10 in color, and about 37 seconds for a borderless 4x6 photo.
Can I still buy one new?
It is hard to find. Major U.S. retailers no longer list it. The current PIXMA TR8620a takes the same PGI-280 and CLI-281 ink.
PIXMA TR8520 quirks worth knowing
- With two paper sources, owners report it sometimes feeds from the wrong one. Check the paper-source setting in the print dialog before blaming the printer.
- The standard CLI-281 magenta is rated lower (about 233 pages) than cyan and yellow (about 259). XL colors are rated about 515 pages and XXL about 820, roughly three times standard.
- A 4.3-inch touchscreen, Ethernet and Bluetooth together are unusual on a home-office PIXMA.
- The rear tray is the one for photo paper; it holds 20 sheets of 4x6 or 10 of 5x7.
Other printers that use PGI-280 and CLI-281
Canon PIXMA TS6120 · Canon PIXMA TS8120 · Canon PIXMA TS9120 · Canon PIXMA TS6320 · Canon PIXMA TS8320 · Canon PIXMA TR7520
More Canon ink guides: Canon PIXMA TS3722 · Canon PIXMA TR4720 · Canon PIXMA MG3600 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3290 — CastleScore 88
- Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
- Canon imageCLASS MF275dw (laser) — CastleScore 81
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 7, 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.