What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TS9120 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.
Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide gave every CLI-281 tank the same page yield. The dye black (BK) tank lasts far longer than the colors: about 750 pages standard, 3,120 XL and 6,360 XXL.
The Canon PIXMA TS9120 wireless all-in-one photo printer uses Canon PGI-280 pigment black and CLI-281 dye-based color ink cartridges in a six-cartridge configuration. Available in standard, XL, and XXL high-yield sizes, these cartridges deliver crisp documents and lab-quality photos.
CastleScore · October 2026
85/100 — Highly Recommended
Canon PIXMA TS9120
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 86 | 4.40★ average across 987 ratings at Best Buy (4.4) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 80 | PCMag 4.0/5 |
| 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%) | 85 | Most-reported problems: grinding noise and no printing after about 90 days; paper jam with grinding noise; false paper-jam reports after every page |
| Features (12%) | 73 | Print, copy, scan, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen. No document feeder, no fax. |
| Value (5%) | 90 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Discontinued. Retailers list the TS9120 as no longer available. Canon has not named a successor; the later TS9520 uses the same PGI-280/CLI-281 tanks minus photo blue.
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 BK | Black (dye) | ~750 pages |
| CLI-281 XL BK | Black (dye) | ~3,120 pages |
| CLI-281 XXL BK | Black (dye) | ~6,360 pages |
| CLI-281 C / M / Y | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~259 / 233 / 259 pages |
| CLI-281 XL C / M / Y | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~515 pages each |
| CLI-281 XXL C / M / Y | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~820 pages each |
| CLI-281 PB | Photo Blue | ~210 pages |
| CLI-281 XL / XXL PB | Photo Blue | Sold in both sizes; we could not find a rated yield |
The PGI-280 / CLI-281 cartridge family is also used by the Canon PIXMA TS6120, TS6220, TS6320, TS8120, TS8220, TS8320, TR7520, TR8520, and TR8620 series printers.
How to Replace Ink in the Canon PIXMA TS9120
- Power on the printer and lift the scanning unit / cover; the print head will move to the replacement position.
- Press the tab on the empty cartridge and lift it out of the print head.
- Remove the new cartridge from packaging and pull off the orange protective cap.
- Insert the new cartridge into the matching color slot and push down until it clicks.
- Close the scanning unit / cover and wait for the printer to initialize.
Troubleshooting Tips
Cartridge not recognized: Remove the cartridge, wipe the gold contacts with a dry lint-free cloth, and reinsert until you hear a click.
Streaky or faded prints: Run Print Head Cleaning from the Maintenance menu on the TS9120's touchscreen.
Misaligned colors: Run Print Head Alignment with plain paper to restore sharpness.
Ink warnings with non-Canon tanks: Remanufactured or refilled tanks can show a warning and lose ink-level monitoring. Canon's manual says the printer can't print while an ink error is showing or with any tank missing, so keep a spare of the color you use most.
What PIXMA TS9120 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.
Can I refill my tanks and keep the ink gauge working?
Canon says its tanks aren't designed to be refilled and the ink level can't be reset. It treats refill ink as third-party and won't cover damage from it under warranty. Owners report refilled tanks sometimes aren't recognized at all.
Does the TS9120 have a wired network port?
Yes. Canon lists Ethernet as well as dual-band Wi-Fi, USB and Bluetooth.
Can I print photos straight from a camera card?
Yes. It has an SD card slot (SD, SDHC and SDXC) for printing photos without a computer.
Is there a document feeder or fax?
No. Scanning is on the flatbed only (up to 8.5 x 11.7 in), and there is no fax.
How much ink is in each size of tank?
Canon lists the PGI-280 pigment black at 11.2, 18.5 and 25.7 ml (standard, XL, XXL), and each CLI-281 tank at 5.6, 8.3 and 11.7 ml.
PIXMA TS9120 quirks worth knowing
- The 5-inch touchscreen sits on a panel that tilts up about 90 degrees, and there are no physical function buttons.
- The output tray slides out on its own when a job starts, so keep the space in front of the printer clear.
- Besides photo paper it prints on 5x5-inch square media, business cards and printable CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs.
- Canon rates prints made with its ChromaLife100 ink at up to 100 years in an album, 30 years behind glass and 20 years on open display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many cartridges does the TS9120 use? Six total — one PGI-280 pigment black plus five CLI-281 cartridges (BK, C, M, Y, PB).
Q: What is the photo blue (PB) cartridge for? The PB cartridge enhances tonal range and skin tones in photo prints.
Q: Can I print if only one color is empty? No — Canon PIXMA printers require all cartridges installed and non-empty to print.
Q: Will remanufactured cartridges work in the TS9120? Canon has not released a firmware lockout for this printer. Remanufactured tanks may show a warning and won't report ink levels, and Canon says damage from third-party ink isn't covered by its warranty.
Q: Which size offers the best value? XXL high-yield offers the lowest cost per page, ideal for frequent printers.
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 TS6220
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.