What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TS3520 Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all Canon PG-275 & CL-276 Ink Cartridges – 275XL & 276XL → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide rated the PG-275XL at about 400 pages and said Canon does not publish page yields for these cartridges. Canon's own yield sheet rates the PG-275XL at about 300 pages.
Quick answer: The Canon PIXMA TS3520 uses a PG-275 pigment black cartridge and a CL-276 dye tri-color cartridge, or the high-yield PG-275XL and CL-276XL. Two cartridges, nothing else — there is no separate photo black or print head to buy.
A lot of listings still tie the TS3520 to PG-245/CL-246. That is the previous generation's ink and it does not fit. When Canon launched the TS3520 in 2021 it moved this line to the 275/276 family.
CastleScore · October 2026
75/100 — Recommended
Canon PIXMA TS3520
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 79 | 4.07★ average across 4,262 ratings at Amazon (4.1), Best Buy (3.9) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 72 | About 8.1¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured PG-275XL and CL-276XL (300 pages each on Canon's yield sheet). |
| Reliability (13%) | 87 | Most-reported problems: cartridge-not-recognized / cartridge-missing errors that persist even with new cartridges |
| Features (12%) | 56 | Print, copy, scan, Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 76 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Discontinued. B&H lists the TS3520 as no longer available. The TS3720 that replaced it takes the same PG-275 and CL-276 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 10, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
PG-275XL Black
CL-276XL Tri-colorOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Canon PIXMA TS3520 ink at a glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Ink Type | Volume | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black (standard) | PG-275 | Pigment | ~8 mL | ~180 pages |
| Tri-Color (standard) | CL-276 | Dye | ~6.2 mL | ~180 pages |
| Black (high yield) | PG-275XL | Pigment | ~11.9 mL | ~300 pages |
| Tri-Color (high yield) | CL-276XL | Dye | ~12.6 mL | ~300 pages |
Yields are approximate. Canon's own yield sheet rates the PG-275XL at about 300 pages; some retailers still list 400. Use the numbers for comparison, not as a promise.
Considering compatible PG-275/CL-276 cartridges? See our comparison of compatible and genuine Canon ink before you buy.
The real cost of running a TS3520
The TS3520 launched at $79.99 and can often be found for less. That price makes sense only if you understand the trade: the printer is cheap and the ink is where Canon makes its money. A set of standard cartridges covers barely 180 pages.
Two things reduce the cost. First, buy XL: each XL cartridge is rated at about 300 pages, against about 180 for the standard size. Second, consider remanufactured. We sell remanufactured PG-275XL and CL-276XL cartridges, which are original Canon cartridges cleaned and refilled.
How to replace the ink in a PIXMA TS3520
- Turn the printer on and leave it on. Open the paper output tray, then the cartridge access cover.
- Wait for the carriage to move to the center of the machine before touching anything.
- Press down on the tab of the old cartridge and lift it up and out. Black is on the left, tri-color on the right.
- Remove the new cartridge from its packaging and peel the orange tape off. Keep your fingers off the gold contacts and the copper nozzle plate.
- Insert at an angle, then push the tab up until it clicks.
- Close the cover, wait for initialization, and print the alignment page when the printer asks for it.
Troubleshooting TS3520 ink problems
- Support code 1682 — cartridge not recognized. Wipe the gold contacts with a dry lint-free cloth, reseat firmly until it clicks, and power-cycle the printer.
- Support codes 1686 / 1688 — ink level cannot be detected. Press and hold Stop for at least five seconds to continue printing. Ink-level monitoring for that cartridge stays off afterward, so judge remaining ink by print quality.
- Codes 1401 / 1403. Cartridge missing, seated crooked, or from the wrong family.
- Horizontal white lines through prints. Run Cleaning from the maintenance menu, then a nozzle check. Repeat once. Because the print head is part of the cartridge on a FINE printer, two failed cleanings means the cartridge is the problem.
- Long gaps between print jobs. Dye ink in the tri-color cartridge dries in the nozzles. If the TS3520 sits unused for weeks at a time, print a single color page every couple of weeks — it costs far less ink than the cleaning cycles you would otherwise need.
Which printers use PG-275 and CL-276?
- PIXMA TS3520 and TS3522
- PIXMA TS3720 and TS3722
- PIXMA TR4720 and TR4722
The TS3520 was superseded by the TS3720, so if you are shopping for a replacement printer, staying inside this list means your spare cartridges carry over.
What PIXMA TS3520 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.
The light flashes E4 and my computer shows code 168A, even with new cartridges. What should I try?
Canon support suggested unplugging the printer, gently moving the carriage aside to reach the cartridges, reseating both, then holding Stop for about 5 seconds to clear the error.
How much more ink is in the XL black?
The PG-275XL holds 11.9 mL. Canon rates it at about 300 pages, against about 180 for the standard PG-275.
Can the TS3520 print two-sided automatically?
No. It has no duplexer and no document feeder, so two-sided jobs have to be flipped by hand.
What is the largest borderless photo it can print?
Borderless printing goes up to 5x7 inches, plus 5x5 square.
Will it connect to my 5 GHz Wi-Fi?
No. B&H lists 802.11b/g wireless, which is 2.4 GHz only. It also has USB.
PIXMA TS3520 quirks worth knowing
- The small 1.5-inch screen shows letter codes such as E4, while your computer shows the matching four-digit support code (such as 168A). Look up the computer's code; it is more specific.
- Moving from CL-276 to CL-276XL roughly doubles the ink (6.2 mL to 12.6 mL), but Canon's yield rises only from about 180 to about 300 pages.
- Some retail listings, including B&H's, call the color starter cartridge "PG-276". That is a typo. The color cartridge is CL-276.
- The rear tray takes custom paper lengths up to 26.6 inches, which is handy for banners.
FAQ
What ink does the Canon PIXMA TS3520 use?
PG-275 black and CL-276 tri-color, or the high-yield PG-275XL and CL-276XL.
Does the TS3520 use PG-245 ink?
No. PG-245/CL-246 belong to the older TS3120, TS3320 and MG3020 line. They will not work in a TS3520.
Is TS3520 ink the same as TS3522 ink?
Yes, identical. The TS3522 is the same machine sold through a different retail channel.
Can I use only the black cartridge?
Yes. Single-cartridge mode lets the TS3520 keep printing with one cartridge installed, at reduced quality.
How many photos will a CL-276XL print?
Far fewer than its document rating — borderless 4x6 photos typically consume ten to twenty times the ink of a text page. Expect a few dozen photos from an XL, not hundreds.
My TS3520 says the ink is empty but the cartridge feels full. What now?
That is the ink-level estimator, not a measurement. Hold Stop for five seconds to override and keep printing until quality actually drops.
Other printers that use PG-275 and CL-276
Canon PIXMA TS3722 · Canon PIXMA TS3720 · Canon PIXMA TS3522 · Canon PIXMA TR4720 · Canon PIXMA TR4722
More Canon ink guides: Canon PIXMA MG3600 · Canon PIXMA TS3322 · Canon PIXMA iX6820 · 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 10, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Canon PG-275 & CL-276 Ink Cartridges – 275XL & 276XL? Shop Canon PG-275 & CL-276 Ink Cartridges – 275XL & 276XL at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.