What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TS6220 Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all Canon PGI-280 & CLI-281 Ink Cartridges – 280XL, 281XL & XXL → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
The Canon PIXMA TS6220 wireless all-in-one printer uses Canon PGI-280 pigment black and CLI-281 dye-based color ink cartridges. The TS6220 is a five-cartridge configuration (PGBK, BK, C, M, Y) with XL and XXL high-yield options for better value.
CastleScore · October 2026
81/100 — Highly Recommended
Canon PIXMA TS6220
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 78 | 4.00★ average across 314 ratings at Amazon (4.0) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 70 | PCMag 3.5/5 |
| 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%) | 86 | Most-reported problems: support code 1700 'ink absorber almost full' on the sibling TS8220. Resume clears it only temporarily, and service or pad replacement is eventually needed; canon has posted a firmware advisory for PIXMA TS and TR series printers that may not turn off |
| Features (12%) | 69 | Print, copy, scan, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, touchscreen. No document feeder, no fax. |
| Value (5%) | 86 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Discontinued. Canon's U.S. store lists the TS6220 as no longer available. The PIXMA TS6320 takes the same 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 12, 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.
Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Color | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|
| PGI-280 | Pigment Black | ~250 pages |
| PGI-280 XL | Pigment Black | ~400 pages |
| PGI-280 XXL | Pigment Black | ~600 pages |
| CLI-281 | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~259 / ~233 / ~259 pages |
| CLI-281 | Black (dye) | ~750 pages |
| CLI-281 XL | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~515 pages each |
| CLI-281 XL | Black (dye) | ~3,120 pages |
| CLI-281 XXL | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~820 pages each |
| CLI-281 XXL | Black (dye) | ~6,360 pages |
The PGI-280 / CLI-281 cartridge family is also used by the Canon PIXMA TS6120, TS6320, TS8120, TS8220, TS8320, TS9120, TS9520, TR7520, TR8520, and TR8620 series printers.
How to Replace Ink in the Canon PIXMA TS6220
- Turn the printer on and lift open the scanning unit/cover. The print head holder moves to the replacement position. Don't move it by hand; if the cover has been open more than 10 minutes, close it and open it again.
- Press the tab on the empty cartridge and lift it out of the print head.
- Unpack the new tank, peel off the orange tape and the protective film completely so the Y-shaped air hole is clear, then remove the orange cap.
- Insert the new cartridge into the matching color slot and push down until it clicks.
- Close the scanning unit/cover gently. The printer runs an automatic print head cleaning when you next print; let it finish before doing anything else.
Troubleshooting Tips
Cartridge not recognized: Remove the cartridge, wipe the gold contacts with a dry lint-free cloth, and reinsert firmly.
Streaky or faded prints: Run Print Head Cleaning from the TS6220's Maintenance menu on the touchscreen.
Misaligned colors: Run Print Head Alignment using plain paper to restore output quality.
Ink-level warnings: A remanufactured tank can't report its ink level the way a new Canon tank does. Canon's manual notes that refilled tanks can stop the printer reporting ink levels correctly, so you may see a warning and lose the gauge for that tank. Judge the remaining ink by print quality from then on.
What PIXMA TS6220 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.
Does the TS6220 have a document feeder?
No. It has a Letter/A4 flatbed scanner only, so multi-page originals go one sheet at a time. It does print on both sides automatically.
Where do photo paper and plain paper go?
The rear tray takes up to 100 plain sheets or 20 sheets of 4x6 photo paper. The front cassette holds another 100 sheets of plain paper.
How long can I leave a tank installed?
Canon says to use a tank within six months of first installing it. If you take a tank out, put a replacement in right away.
It says the ink absorber is almost full (support code 1700). What now?
On the TS8220, a sibling that uses the same ink, owners on Canon's forum found that Resume clears the message only for a while. The absorber eventually needs service or replacement.
My TS6220 won't turn off.
Canon lists a firmware advisory on the TS6220 support page for PIXMA TS and TR printers that may not turn off. Start there.
PIXMA TS6220 quirks worth knowing
- The CLI-281 dye black lasts far longer than the colors: about 750 pages standard, 3,120 XL and 6,360 XXL, against 250, 400 and 600 for the PGI-280 pigment black.
- Tape left over a new tank's Y-shaped air hole can cause ink splashing or poor print quality, so peel off the tape and film completely.
- After a tank change, the printer runs an automatic head cleaning the next time you print. Canon says not to start other operations until it finishes.
- It has Bluetooth 4.0 LE and Alexa/IFTTT support, but Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only and there is no Ethernet port.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many cartridges does the TS6220 use? Five — one PGI-280 pigment black plus four CLI-281 (BK, C, M, Y).
Q: Does the TS6220 have a Photo Blue cartridge? No — only the TS8120/8220/8320 and TS9120 use the 6th Photo Blue cartridge.
Q: What's the best size for high-volume printing? XXL high-yield offers the lowest cost per page.
Q: Can I use remanufactured tanks in the TS6220? Yes. We found no Canon lockout for PGI-280 and CLI-281 tanks. Expect the printer to lose track of the ink level in a refilled tank. We sell remanufactured PGI-280XXL and CLI-281XXL tanks, including a PGBK + C/M/Y 4-pack.
Q: Can I mix XL with standard? Yes, you can mix any combination of standard, XL, and XXL cartridges.
More PGI-280/CLI-281 printers: five-ink models include the PIXMA TR8520 and PIXMA TS6320; the PIXMA TS8120 is a six-ink model that adds photo blue.
Other printers that use PGI-280 and CLI-281
Canon PIXMA TR8520 · Canon PIXMA TS6320 · Canon PIXMA TS6120 · Canon PIXMA TS8120 · Canon PIXMA TS702 · Canon PIXMA TR8620 · Canon PIXMA TS8320 · Canon PIXMA TS9120
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 12, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Canon PGI-280 & CLI-281 Ink Cartridges – 280XL, 281XL & XXL? Shop Canon PGI-280 & CLI-281 Ink Cartridges – 280XL, 281XL & XXL at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.