What Ink Does the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 uses Epson 502 ink bottles — not cartridges. Four bottles, one per tank, and there is no XL or high-yield version because EcoTank bottles only come in one size.
The most common wrong answer for this printer is Epson 522. That family fits the ET-2800, ET-4800 and ET-2903, and aftermarket sites cross-list it onto 502 machines constantly. Retailers' 502 compatibility lists, such as Quill's, name the ET-2980 (and the ET-2985 and ET-2988) directly. If a listing offers you 522 for this printer, it is wrong.
CastleScore · October 2026
90/100 — Castle Elite
Epson EcoTank ET-2980
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 88 | From our published CastleScore ranking, based on owner ratings at major U.S. retailers. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 91 | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 97 | About 0.3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our compatible 502 bottles (7,500 black / 6,000 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 87 | No recurring hardware or connection complaints in owner reviews. |
| Features (12%) | 78 | Print, copy, scan, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 91 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Still sold new. Epson launched the ET-2980 in 2025 to replace the ET-2850. When we checked, Best Buy and Micro Center had it at $229.99 (list $329.99).
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 11, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The ink bottles, pictured
502 Bottles 4-packOur own compatible ink bottles, photographed in-house.
Epson EcoTank ET-2980 ink at a glance
| Position | Family | Part Number | Volume | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Epson 502 | T502120-S | 127 mL | 7,500 pages |
| Cyan | Epson 502 | T502220-S | 70 mL | 6,000 pages |
| Magenta | Epson 502 | T502320-S | 70 mL | 6,000 pages |
| Yellow | Epson 502 | T502420-S | 70 mL | 6,000 pages |
| 4-pack (BCMY) | Epson 502 | T502120-BCS | — | — |
Those are the yields on Epson's current spec sheet for its seventh-generation EcoTanks. Some retailers still list Epson's older figures for the same bottles, 7,500 pages black and 6,000 color. We sell a compatible Epson 502 four-pack (black, cyan, magenta and yellow); one pack refills all four tanks. U.S. orders over $50 ship free, and orders placed by 4 PM ET ship the same day.
How to refill the tanks properly
- Check the tanks by eye. You don't have to wait for a low-ink warning: Epson says you can top up a partly full tank, and filling each tank to the upper line keeps the printer's ink estimate most accurate.
- On the printer, choose Maintenance > Fill Ink. Open the tank cover and unlock the cap for the color you are filling.
- Hold the bottle upright in the port. Epson's design meters the flow and stops when full — you do not need to squeeze.
- Close the cap firmly. Then reset the ink level for each color you filled: select those colors on the printer's screen and press Start.
Do not mix colors between ports. A wrong-color fill means a full ink-system flush at best.
About the Epson EcoTank ET-2980
The ET-2980 is Epson's current mainstream home EcoTank: print, scan and copy, with automatic two-sided printing and a 100-sheet tray. Epson launched it in 2025 to replace the long-running ET-2850, and it is one of the inkjets we rank on our CastleScore page.
Rated at 15 ISO ppm black and 8 ppm color. Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and USB, plus AirPrint and Mopria. There is no ADF and no fax, and the 1.44-inch color display is not a touchscreen despite what some listings imply.
Common problems on this model
Tanks look full but the printer says empty
The printer counts ink used rather than measuring the tank. After refilling you may need to reset the level manually from the maintenance menu — otherwise it keeps reporting the old figure.
Faded or missing colors after sitting idle
Tank printers are more prone to dried nozzles than cartridge printers because the ink path is longer. Run a nozzle check, then one head cleaning. Printing a color page once every two weeks prevents most of it — see whether ink dries out.
Maintenance box message
EcoTanks route waste ink into a maintenance box. When it fills, printing and head cleaning stop until you replace it, though scanning still works. It is a consumable, not a fault: the ET-2980 takes the user-replaceable Epson T04D100 box, which sits behind a cover held by a screw.
Won't connect to Wi-Fi
If your router uses 5 GHz, Epson's manual says it needs to be set to dual-band mode. See our printer Wi-Fi setup guide.
What EcoTank ET-2980 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, Epson's support pages and owner reviews, answered in our words.
How much ink comes in the box?
A 127 mL black bottle and 70 mL each of cyan, magenta and yellow. Staples rates the in-box ink at up to 6,600 black and 5,500 color pages, a little less than replacement bottles because some ink primes the printer at setup.
Can it print on legal paper?
Yes, up to 8.5 x 14 inches, but only one legal sheet at a time. The rear feeder holds 100 sheets of plain letter paper, 20 of photo paper or 10 envelopes.
AirPrint stopped working. What changed?
Check whether paper setup messages are turned off on the control panel. Epson's manual says AirPrint stops working when they are.
What is the ET-2980U?
A version of the ET-2980 sold with Epson's ReadyPrint ink subscription. Epson's support pages for it describe the same refill and maintenance-box steps.
EcoTank ET-2980 quirks worth knowing
- The scanner unit that covers the tanks is designed to close slowly, so don't force it down.
- When you replace the maintenance box, don't touch the green chip on it, and don't reuse a box that has been out of the printer for more than a week.
- Wi-Fi Direct lets up to eight phones or laptops connect at once without a router.
- Epson rates it for up to 5,000 pages a month, and the output tray holds 30 sheets.
FAQ
What ink does the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 use?
Epson 502 ink bottles in black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Does the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 use Epson 522?
No. 522 fits the ET-2800, ET-4800 and ET-2903. This printer takes 502, and the two are not interchangeable.
Is there an Epson 502XL?
No. EcoTank bottles ship in one size only — there is no XL tier to buy.
Can I use compatible 502 ink without voiding the warranty?
Using third-party ink doesn't void the warranty, but Epson won't cover damage it attributes to that ink. See the legal answer.
Is the ET-2980 better than the ET-2850 it replaced?
They share the same 502 ink and similar running costs. The ET-2980 is the current model with active support; the ET-2850 is a perfectly good machine to keep. Both appear in our CastleScore rankings.
Does the ET-2980 do double-sided printing?
Yes, automatically, on plain letter or A4 paper. Epson's manual says automatic two-sided printing isn't available for envelopes, most photo papers, pre-perforated paper or letterhead.
Other printers that use Epson 502 bottles
Epson EcoTank ET-4760 · Epson EcoTank ET-2760 · Epson EcoTank ET-3950 · Epson EcoTank ET-15000 · Epson EcoTank ET-2750 · Epson EcoTank ET-3843 · Epson EcoTank ET-4750 · Epson EcoTank ET-2850
More Epson ink guides: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 · Epson WorkForce WF-2950 · Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Epson EcoTank ET-2850 — CastleScore 86
- Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820 — CastleScore 80
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 11, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Epson ink cartridges? Shop Epson ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.