What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TS3120 Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all Canon PG-245 & CL-246 Ink Cartridges – 245XL & 246XL → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
The Canon PIXMA TS3120 is a compact wireless all-in-one inkjet that uses two cartridges: Canon PG-245 black and CL-246 tri-color (cyan, magenta, yellow). It also takes the smaller PG-243 black and CL-244 color. PG-245 and CL-246 come in standard (about 180 pages) and XL (about 300 pages) sizes. There is no XXL.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Canon PIXMA TS3120
| 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%) | 73 | About 7.7¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured PG-245XL and CL-246XL (about 300 pages each). |
| Reliability (13%) | 83 | Most-reported problems: wireless setup difficult and connection drops after power-off; flimsy build: paper tray breakage and error messages that leave the printer unusable soon after setup |
| Features (12%) | 56 | Print, copy, scan, Wi-Fi. 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. The TS3120 is no longer sold new. The later PIXMA TS3320 uses the same PG-243/245 and CL-244/246 cartridges.
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 cartridges, pictured
PG-245XL + CL-246XL 2-packBlack + Color
PG-245XL Black8278B001 · ~300 pages
CL-246XL Tri-color8280B001 · ~300 pages
PG-245XL + CL-246XL 2-pack
PG-245XL Black
CL-246XL Tri-colorOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Part number | Approx. yield |
|---|---|---|
| PG-245 black | 8279B001 | ~180 pages |
| CL-246 color | 8281B001 | ~180 pages |
| PG-245XL black | 8278B001 | ~300 pages |
| CL-246XL color | 8280B001 | ~300 pages |
| PG-243 black (smaller) | 1287C001 | Fewer pages than PG-245 |
| CL-244 color (smaller) | 1288C001 | Fewer pages than CL-246 |
The PG-245/CL-246 cartridge family is also used by other Canon PIXMA models including the MG2522, MG2920, MG3022, MG3029, MG3620, MX490, MX492, TR4520, TS202, TS302, TS3122 and TS3322. Stock one set to cover the whole family.
How to Replace Ink in the Canon PIXMA TS3120
- Power on the printer and open the front cover; the cartridge holder slides to the access position.
- Press down on the empty cartridge and pull it forward out of its slot.
- Unwrap the new cartridge and remove the orange protective tape covering the contacts.
- Insert the cartridge at an angle and press up until it clicks into place.
- Close the front cover and run a print head alignment from the printer's Setup menu if prompted.
Troubleshooting Tips
Cartridge not recognized: Take the cartridge out, wipe its gold contacts and the print head with a lint-free cloth, and reseat it firmly.
Faded or streaky prints: Run a print head cleaning from Setup > Maintenance. Repeat up to three times before swapping cartridges.
Low ink warning that won't clear: Hold the Stop button for at least five seconds to acknowledge low-ink alerts and continue printing.
One color missing in prints: Because CL-246 is a tri-color cartridge, if one color runs out you'll need to replace the whole cartridge to restore color printing.
What PIXMA TS3120 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.
Is there an XXL cartridge for the TS3120?
No. The sizes are PG-243/CL-244 (smallest), PG-245/CL-246 (about 180 pages) and PG-245XL/CL-246XL (about 300 pages). A listing that says "XXL" is not a Canon size for this printer.
My printer came with PG-243 and CL-244. Can I switch to PG-245 and CL-246?
Yes. The TS3120 takes PG-243/CL-244 and the larger PG-245/CL-246 and XL versions in the same slots.
Can the TS3120 print on both sides automatically?
No. There is no automatic two-sided printing, scanning or copying, and no document feeder. Two-sided jobs have to be flipped by hand.
How much paper does the TS3120 hold?
The rear tray takes 60 sheets of plain paper, 20 sheets of 4x6 or 10 sheets of 5x7 photo paper, up to legal size. There is no front cassette.
PIXMA TS3120 quirks worth knowing
- The print head is built into the cartridges: 1,280 nozzles in all, 960 for color and 320 for black. Each new cartridge is effectively a new print head.
- The display is a 1.5-inch segment LCD that shows icons and codes, not text menus, so most settings are easier from the Canon PRINT app or a computer.
- Canon does not block remanufactured or refilled PG-245/CL-246 cartridges, but the printer may stop tracking the ink level of a refilled cartridge.
- The TS3122 is the same printer in black, and the later PIXMA TS3320 still uses the same PG-243/245 and CL-244/246 cartridges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will PG-240 cartridges fit the TS3120? No. PG-240 and CL-241 are physically larger cartridges made for other printers, so they don't fit. The TS3120 takes PG-245/CL-246 or the smaller PG-243/CL-244.
Are XL cartridges worth it? Usually. PG-245XL and CL-246XL are rated for about 300 pages against about 180 for standard, and the price gap is smaller than that: at one retailer, the PG-245XL cost $37.99 against $25.99 for the standard PG-245.
Can I print black-only when the color cartridge is empty? Yes, once you clear the ink error. A Canon product expert advises pressing OK or holding the Stop button for about five seconds, then printing in grayscale. This turns off ink-level detection for that cartridge.
Will non-Canon cartridges void my Canon warranty? No. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, using non-Canon cartridges, including our remanufactured ones, doesn't void your warranty unless they cause damage.
How can I check ink levels? View ink levels in the Canon software on your computer; the TS3120 displays an alert when ink is low.
Other printers that use PG-245 and CL-246
Canon PIXMA MX490 · Canon PIXMA MG2922 · Canon PIXMA TR4522 · Canon PIXMA TR4527
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 9, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Canon PG-245 & CL-246 Ink Cartridges – 245XL & 246XL? Shop Canon PG-245 & CL-246 Ink Cartridges – 245XL & 246XL at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.