What Ink Does the Epson EcoTank ET-2903 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: the Epson EcoTank ET-2903 uses Epson 522 ink bottles. Four bottles, one per tank, and there is no XL version — EcoTank bottles come in one size only.
The wrong answer that circulates most for this printer is Epson 502, and the mistake is understandable: the pricier ET-2980 does use 502, so people assume the newer 29xx number moved with it. It did not. Epson's 522 compatibility list names the ET-2900 and ET-2903 directly. The counter-intuitive summary: the cheaper ET-2903 takes 522, the dearer ET-2980 takes 502.
Epson EcoTank ET-2903 ink at a glance
| Position | Family | Part Number | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Epson 522 | T522120-S | 4,700 pages |
| Cyan | Epson 522 | T522220-S | 7,500 pages |
| Magenta | Epson 522 | T522320-S | 7,500 pages |
| Yellow | Epson 522 | T522420-S | 7,500 pages |
| 4-pack (BCMY) | Epson 522 | T522120-BCS | — |
Worth noticing something odd in Epson's own figures: the color bottles are rated higher than the black. That is unusual, and it reflects how Epson meters this particular ink set rather than any fault. In practice black is still what you will replace first, because most people print far more black than color.
What it actually costs to run
Castle Ink's compatible 522 four-pack is $29.95. Against Epson's published yields that lands at roughly 0.4 cents per black page. A cartridge-based home printer in the same price bracket runs 10 to 15 cents.
Over 3,000 pages — a fairly ordinary year for a household — that is about $12 of ink here against $300 or more on a cartridge machine. You can run the comparison for your own volumes with our ink cost calculator.
Castle Ink recommendation
Castle Ink stocks a compatible Epson 522 four-pack (BCMY) for $29.95, guaranteed for a year.
One shopping warning: sublimation bottles are often titled "502 / 512 / 522". They fit the ports but they are a different ink chemistry intended for heat transfer, and they do not belong in a document printer. Buy ink sold as a 522 replacement.
About the Epson EcoTank ET-2903
The ET-2903 is the cheapest way into a refillable tank printer that Epson currently sells — print, scan and copy, around $180 to $200 street. It is the model we rank sixth among all inkjets, almost entirely on running cost.
Rated at 11 ISO ppm black. Wi-Fi plus USB, AirPrint and Mopria, a 1.44-inch non-touch color display and a 100-sheet tray. There is no ADF, no fax, and no automatic duplex — that last one is the main compromise against the pricier ET-2980, and it is worth knowing before you buy.
Common problems on this model
Tanks look full, printer says empty
The ET-2903 counts ink used rather than measuring the tanks. Reset the level from the maintenance menu after refilling.
Missing colors after a few weeks idle
Longer ink path than a cartridge printer means more scope for dried nozzles. Run a nozzle check, then a single head cleaning. Printing one color page a fortnight prevents nearly all of it.
Manual duplex confusion
Since there is no automatic duplex, two-sided printing means printing odd pages, flipping the stack and printing evens. Our duplex guide walks through it per operating system.
FAQ
What ink does the Epson EcoTank ET-2903 use?
Epson 522 ink bottles in black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Does the ET-2903 use Epson 502?
No. 502 fits the ET-2850, ET-2980 and ET-4950. The ET-2903 takes 522.
Is there an Epson 522XL?
No. There is one bottle size in this family.
How many pages will one set of bottles print?
Epson rates the black at 4,700 pages and each color at 7,500. Real-world figures depend on coverage, but the order of magnitude is right — thousands, not hundreds.
Shop Epson 522 ink now
Grab the 522 four-pack, or find your model on our Find Ink by Printer page.
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