What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TS6120 Use?

Quick answer: The Canon PIXMA TS6120 uses five ink tanks: one PGI-280 Pigment Black and four CLI-281 tanks in Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. All five must be installed for the printer to work. XL and XXL versions fit the same slots. The XXL tanks hold the most ink and give you the lowest cost per page.

Canon PIXMA TS6120 Ink Cartridges at a Glance

Why two blacks? The PGI-280 pigment black prints crisp text on plain paper. The CLI-281 dye black is used for photos and for mixing darker colors. If one runs out, the printer stops, so keep a spare of each on hand.

The TS6120 is part of the TS6100 series (TS6120, TS6122), and it takes the same ink as the PIXMA TS6220 and TS6320. The TS8120 and TS9120 use the same cartridge family but add a sixth Photo Blue tank. The TS6120 doesn't need that one. Older Canon tanks (PGI-250/CLI-251 and PGI-270/CLI-271) look almost identical but won't fit.

Save on PGI-280 / CLI-281 Ink for the TS6120

Castle Ink stocks remanufactured PGI-280XXL and CLI-281XXL tanks, the highest-capacity size, and orders over $50 ship free in the U.S. The PGI-280XXL / CLI-281XXL 5-pack is matched to the TS6120's five slots. If you only need a refill of what ran out, the singles are $6.99 each: PGI-280XXL Pigment Black, CLI-281XXL Black, CLI-281XXL Cyan, CLI-281XXL Magenta and CLI-281XXL Yellow.

Shop the PGI-280XXL / CLI-281XXL 5-Pack →

Not sure the bigger tanks are worth it? Here's standard vs. XL with real numbers. Short version: on Canon's individual-tank printers, XXL almost always wins.

How to Replace Ink in the Canon PIXMA TS6120

1. Turn the printer on and open the paper output tray, then lift the scanning unit/cover until it locks open. The print head holder moves to the replacement position.
2. Find the tank with the flashing red light. That's the empty one. Press its tab and lift it out.
3. Unwrap the new tank and twist off the orange protective cap. Don't squeeze the tank or touch the electrical contacts.
4. Insert the tank at a slight angle into the slot with the matching color label, then press down on the top until it clicks and its light glows steady red.
5. Close the scanning unit. The printer runs a short ink-charging cycle before it's ready.

Troubleshooting Tips

"Ink cartridge cannot be recognized" or a tank light stays off: Reseat the tank firmly until it clicks, and check that it's in the slot matching its color label. The TS6120 checks each position. More fixes in printer says ink cartridge not recognized.

"The remaining level of the ink cannot be correctly detected": Canon shows this with refilled or remanufactured tanks. To keep printing, hold the printer's Stop button for 5 seconds (or confirm on the screen) to turn off ink-level detection for that tank. The printer works normally. It just can't show the level for that color.

Streaks or a missing color: Run a nozzle check, then Cleaning (not Deep Cleaning) once or twice. The TS6120's printhead is separate from the tanks, so leaving an empty tank in the printer for days can let that color's nozzles dry out. Replace empties promptly. See faded or streaky prints for more.

Official Canon Resources

• Canon U.S.A. Support
• Canon printer supplies

Bottom Line

The Canon PIXMA TS6120 takes five tanks: PGI-280 pigment black plus CLI-281 black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Go XXL, replace only the color that runs out, and don't leave an empty tank sitting in the printer.

Written and reviewed by William Elward — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Canon TS6120 use PGI-280 or PG-245?
PGI-280 and CLI-281 individual tanks. PG-245/CL-246 are cartridges for Canon's budget PIXMA models like the MG2522 and TS3120, and won't fit.

Can I print if one color is empty?
No. All five tanks must be installed and contain ink. If a color runs out, the printer stops until you replace it.

Can I mix standard, XL and XXL tanks?
Yes. All sizes use the same slots, so mix them however you like.

Do I need the Photo Blue (PB) tank?
No. Photo Blue is only used by some higher-end models such as the TS8120 and TS9120. The TS6120 has five slots.

Shop Compatible Ink at Castle Ink

Find the right cartridge for the Canon PIXMA TS6120 and every other printer we cover on the Find Ink by Printer page, or work through a fault at our printer troubleshooting center.

See also: what ink the Canon TS6220 uses | printer printing the wrong colors | pigment vs. dye ink