What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TS9520 Use?

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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 TS9520 wide-format wireless all-in-one printer uses Canon PGI-280 pigment black and CLI-281 dye-based color ink cartridges. The TS9520 supports up to 11x17 printing with a five-cartridge configuration (PGBK, BK, C, M, Y) and XL/XXL high-yield options.

CastleScore · October 2026

85/100 — Highly Recommended

Canon PIXMA TS9520

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 81 4.15★ average across 1,283 ratings at Amazon (4.1), Best Buy (4.3)
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%) 89 Most-reported problems: firmware advisory for TS/TR series printers that may not power off
Features (12%) 81 Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen. No fax.
Value (5%) 87 Running cost and owner satisfaction

Discontinued. B&H lists the original TS9520 as no longer available. The TS9520a variant uses 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

Our 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, TS6220, TS6320, TS8120, TS8220, TS8320, TS9120, TR7520, TR8520, and TR8620 series printers.

How to Replace Ink in the Canon PIXMA TS9520

  1. Turn the printer on and lift the scanning unit / cover. Wait for the print head holder to stop moving, and don't move it by hand.
  2. Press the tab on the empty cartridge to release it and lift it out of the print head.
  3. 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.
  4. Insert the new cartridge into the matching color slot and push down until it clicks.
  5. Close the cover and wait for the printer to finish initializing.

Troubleshooting Tips

Cartridge not recognized: Remove the cartridge, wipe the gold contacts gently with a dry lint-free cloth, and reinsert firmly.

Streaky or faded prints: Run Print Head Cleaning from the TS9520's Maintenance menu on the touchscreen.

Rear tray ignored: If the printer pulls from the cassette or keeps asking you to register rear-tray paper, set the rear tray's paper size and type under Setup > Feed Settings > Rear Tray, and choose Rear Tray (not Auto Select) as the paper source.

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 TS9520 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 it print, scan and copy 11x17?

It prints up to 11x17, but scanning stops at Letter/A4 on the flatbed and Legal in the document feeder, so 11x17 originals can't be scanned or copied in one pass. Borderless printing goes up to 8.5x11 only.

Which tray should I use for which paper?

Canon's community advice is to keep plain Letter paper in the front cassette and load other sizes and types in the rear tray, with Rear Tray set as the paper source.

Does the TS9520 fax?

No. It prints, scans and copies, and has a 20-sheet document feeder, but there is no fax.

Can the document feeder scan both sides?

No. Two-sided originals have to be flipped by hand. The feeder takes 20 sheets of Letter but only 5 of Legal.

What is the TS9520a?

A later version of the same printer (2988C032) that takes the same PGI-280 and CLI-281 ink. The TS9521C and TS9521Ca are craft bundles of the same machine.

PIXMA TS9520 quirks worth knowing

  • Unlike the TS6220 and TR7520, it has wired Ethernet and an SD card slot.
  • The document feeder scans at 600 x 600 dpi, against 1200 x 2400 dpi on the flatbed, so use the glass for photos.
  • Canon files its online manual under "TS9500 series", not TS9520.
  • The CLI-281 dye black lasts far longer than the colors: about 750 pages standard, 3,120 XL and 6,360 XXL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many cartridges? Five — one PGI-280 pigment black plus four CLI-281 (BK, C, M, Y).

Q: Are XXL cartridges worth it? Yes — XXL offers the lowest cost per page, ideal for high-volume users.

Q: Can I use remanufactured tanks in the TS9520? 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, any combination of standard, XL, and XXL cartridges is supported.

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

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.

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

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