What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TS6520 Use?

by William Elward Last Updated: October 9, 2026

Quick answer: The Canon PIXMA TS6520 uses PG-295 pigment black and CL-286 dye tri-color ink cartridges, or the high-yield PG-295XL and CL-286XL. Standard cartridges are rated for about 180 pages and XL for about 400.

PG-295 is a new black Canon introduced with this printer in September 2025, and it is easy to get wrong. The color cartridge is the same CL-286 the TS7720 uses, but the black is not PG-285, and it is not the PG-260/CL-261 the older TS6420a took. Some retailers even list the PG-285XL/CL-286XL pack (6196C004) under the TS6520. Castle Ink does not stock PG-295 yet; the links below go to Amazon.

CastleScore · October 2026

69/100 — Situational

Canon PIXMA TS6520

Pillar (weight)	Score	What it is based on
Owner ratings (28%)	81	4.15★ average across 314 ratings at Staples (4.0) and Walmart (4.5)
Expert reviews (18%)	—	No published numeric expert score yet; the TS6520 launched in September 2025.
Cost per page (24%)	52	About 14¢ per page blended (black + color) with Original Canon PG-295XL and CL-286XL at retail (400 pages each; we don't sell PG-295 or CL-286).
Reliability (13%)	85	Few recurring faults reported so far; fast ink use is the main owner complaint
Features (12%)	58	Print, copy, scan, auto two-sided printing, dual-band Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no fax, no touchscreen, single 100-sheet tray.
Value (5%)	66	Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of about $69

Limited data: No expert site has published a numeric score for the TS6520 yet, so the expert weight is spread across the other five pillars.

Still sold new. Best Buy, Walmart and Staples list it at about $69.

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.

What Ink Cartridges Does the Canon PIXMA TS6520 Take?

Cartridge	Canon part no.	Approx. yield	Where to buy
PG-295 Black (standard)	7165C001	~180 pages	Amazon
PG-295XL Black (high yield)	7164C001	~400 pages	Amazon
CL-286 Color (standard)	6217C001	~180 pages	Amazon
CL-286XL Color (high yield)	6216C001	~400 pages	Amazon
PG-295XL / CL-286XL combo pack	7164C005	~400 pages each	Amazon

Yields are ISO estimates. Amazon links are tagged (as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases).

Is the XL Worth It?

Yes, but this is not a cheap printer to feed. Canon-brand PG-295XL lists at about $51.99 and CL-286XL at $59.99, so even with XL cartridges you are paying roughly 13¢ a page for black and 15¢ for color. Because PG-295 is so new, the major U.S. ink retailers we checked in October 2026 listed only Canon originals, with unbranded clones on Amazon. If you print more than a few dozen pages a month, an ink tank printer will cost far less to run.

How Do I Replace the Ink in the Canon TS6520?

With the printer on, open the scanning unit/cover. The cartridge holder moves to the replacement position.
Open the ink cartridge locking cover and lift out the empty cartridge.
Unpack the new PG-295 or CL-286 and peel off the protective tape. Don't touch the gold contacts or the nozzles.
Insert color in the left slot and black in the right, then close the locking cover until it clicks.
Lift the scanning unit slightly and lower it gently. Run print head alignment if lines print ragged.

Which Other Printers Use PG-295 and CL-286?

The PIXMA TS4320 and TR7120, launched alongside the TS6520, use the same pair. The CL-286 color cartridge alone also fits the TS7720, TS7722 and TR7820, which use PG-285 black.

What TS6520 owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, manufacturer support communities and owner reviews, answered in our words.

Can I use PG-285 black, the cartridge the TS7720 uses?

Canon lists only PG-295 black for the TS6520. The CL-286 color is shared with the TS7720 family, but the black is not, so buy PG-295.

Does the TS6520 print double-sided?

Yes, it prints on both sides automatically. It has no document feeder, so copying and scanning are one page at a time from the flatbed.

Does it work on 5 GHz Wi-Fi?

Yes. This generation added dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi, plus AirPrint, Mopria and the Canon PRINT app.

What do support codes 1686 and 1688 mean?

1686 means the ink may have run out or the level can't be tracked; 1688 means it has run out. Holding Stop for 5 seconds or more turns off level detection so you can keep printing, though Canon advises replacing the cartridge.

Is there a TS6520a?

Not in the U.S. The only U.S. model is the TS6520 (7179C002). The "a" suffix belonged to its predecessor, the TS6420a, which uses different PG-260/CL-261 ink.

TS6520 quirks worth knowing

Its small screen is a 1.42-inch monochrome display for status and ink levels, not a touchscreen menu.
It has a single 100-sheet paper tray and is rated for up to 500 pages a month.
Walmart's review summary flags fast ink use as the main complaint, which matches its 180-page standard cartridges.
Registering it with Canon within a year adds a second year of limited warranty, according to Canon's launch release.

Frequently Asked Questions