Canon PIXMA TR8620 Ink: PG-280 / CL-281 Cartridges | Castle Ink
Last Updated:The Canon PIXMA TR8620 wireless all-in-one uses PG-280 pigment black and CL-281 color ink cartridges. Canon also sells higher-yield PG-280XL, CL-281XL, and even larger PG-280XXL / CL-281XXL tanks that dramatically lower your per-page cost.
Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Canon PG-280 | Pigment Black | ~180 pages |
| Canon CL-281 | Tri-Color | ~180 pages |
| Canon PG-280XL | Pigment Black | ~400 pages |
| Canon CL-281XL | Tri-Color | ~260 pages |
| Canon PG-280XXL | Pigment Black | ~600 pages |
| Canon CL-281XXL | Tri-Color | ~500 pages |
The PG-280 / CL-281 family is also used in the Canon PIXMA TR7520, TR8520, TR8522, TR8620a, TS6120, TS6220, TS6320, TS8120, TS8220, TS8320, TS9120, and TS9520 — so if you own more than one Canon home printer, a single XXL set can refill them all.
Save on Canon PG-280 / CL-281 Ink
Castle Ink’s compatible PG-280XXL and CL-281XXL cartridges deliver the same yield as Canon OEM at a fraction of the price — and every cartridge is backed by a 1-year quality guarantee.
How to Replace Ink in the Canon PIXMA TR8620
- Power the printer on and lift the scanner unit until it locks in the open position.
- Wait for the print head to slide to the replacement position.
- Press the tab on the empty cartridge to release it, then lift it straight out.
- Remove the orange protective cap from the new cartridge and slide it into the matching slot until it clicks.
- Close the scanner unit and let the printer run its alignment routine.
Troubleshooting Tips
"Ink cartridge cannot be recognized" alert: Reseat each cartridge and wipe the gold chip contacts with a lint-free cloth.
Streaky prints: From the TR8620 touchscreen, run Setup > Maintenance > Cleaning. Repeat once if streaks persist.
Alignment off: After installing a new cartridge, run Setup > Maintenance > Print Head Alignment.
Firmware-blocked cartridges: Canon firmware updates can sometimes reject third-party chips. If you use compatibles, decline firmware updates when prompted.
Official Canon Resources
Canon PIXMA TR8620 Support Page
Canon Ink Cartridge Finder
Bottom Line
If your PIXMA TR8620 is running low, the PG-280XXL / CL-281XXL 2-pack is the most cost-effective way to refill both black and color and get back to printing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix PG-280 standard, XL, and XXL?
Yes — the cartridges are fully interchangeable. Many users run an XXL black with a standard color tri-color.
Does the TR8620 need a setup cartridge?
No, your replacement cartridges install directly. Setup ink is only used the first time you unbox a brand-new printer.
What’s the difference between PG-280 and CL-281?
The PG-280 is a pigment black cartridge used for crisp text. The CL-281 is a tri-color (cyan, magenta, yellow) tank used for color and photo prints.
How long do PG-280XXL and CL-281XXL cartridges last?
The XXL black yields about 600 pages and the XXL color yields about 500 pages, depending on coverage.
Why does Canon show a "Non-genuine cartridge" message?
This is a standard Canon warning when using compatibles. Press and hold Stop for 5 seconds and printing will continue normally.
Written by William Elward, Founder of Castle Ink — 20+ years in the printer supplies industry.