What Ink Does the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all Epson 502 Ink Bottles – EcoTank 502 Black, Cyan, Magenta & Yellow → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Correction (October 2026): earlier versions of this guide listed Epson 522 page yields, listed the ET-2720 as a 502 printer, and said the ET-4850 adds a document feeder the ET-3850 lacks. Epson rates 502 bottles at about 7,500 black and 6,000 color pages, the ET-2720 uses 522 bottles, and the ET-3850 has the same 30-sheet document feeder as the ET-4850.
CastleScore · October 2026
86/100 — Highly Recommended
Epson EcoTank ET-3850
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 80 | 4.10★ average across 1,742 ratings at Amazon (4.1) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 99 | About 0.3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our compatible 502 bottles (7,500 black / 6,000 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 83 | Most-reported problems: ink drying/clogging the ink lines after ~2 years; wi-Fi error state; ADF won't pull originals for multi-page scans and reports a paper jam with nothing stuck |
| Features (12%) | 76 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, Ethernet. No fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 90 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Discontinued. Epson names the EcoTank ET-3950 as the replacement; Best Buy still listed the ET-3850 at $149.99 when we checked in October 2026.
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.
Quick answer: what ink does the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 use?
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 uses Epson 502 EcoTank ink bottles in four colors: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Epson rates one 502 black bottle at about 7,500 pages and each color bottle at about 6,000 pages. The 502 black is a pigment ink for sharp text; the colors are dye-based. There are no cartridges or chips; you refill the built-in tanks from bottles.
Ink bottles at a glance
| Bottle | Part number | Volume | Approx. yield* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson 502 black | T502120 | 127 ml | ~7,500 pages |
| Epson 502 cyan / magenta / yellow | T502220 / T502320 / T502420 | 70 ml each | ~6,000 pages each |
*Epson ISO yields per bottle. Real-world results depend on coverage, photo printing, and cleaning cycles.
Common questions about Epson EcoTank ET-3850 ink
How long does a set of bottles last?
For typical home or small-office use, a full set lasts many months to a couple of years. Compared with cartridge printers, EcoTanks cost more up front but far less per page. See Refillable ink tank vs. cartridge printers and try the Printer ink cost calculator.
What other printers use Epson 502 ink?
Epson lists 502 bottles for these EcoTanks: ET-2700, ET-2750, ET-2760, ET-2850, ET-3700, ET-3710, ET-3750, ET-3760, ET-3830, ET-3843, ET-3850, ET-4750, ET-4760, ET-4850, ET-15000. They also fit the 2025 models that replaced several of them: ET-2980, ET-2985, ET-2988, ET-3930, ET-3943, ET-3950, ET-3958, ET-4950, ET-4955 and ET-4958, plus the WorkForce ST-2000, ST-3000, ST-4000, ST-C2100 and ST-C4100.
Can I use Epson 522 bottles in the ET-3850?
No. Epson keys each bottle type so it only fits its own printers. 522 bottles are used by the ET-2400, ET-2720, ET-2800, ET-2803, and ET-4800 and won't fit or fill a 502 printer.
How do I refill the ink tanks?
Open the ink tank cover, open the cap on the color you're filling, remove the bottle cap and seal, and push the bottle straight onto the matching port. Ink flows in and stops automatically when the tank is full. You don't have to wait for a tank to run low: Epson says you can top up a partly full tank, filling it to the upper line. Remove the bottle, close the tank cap and cover, then follow the on-screen or control-panel prompt to confirm the refill so the ink level resets. See How to install an ink cartridge in an Epson printer.
Do I need to reset the ink level after refilling?
Yes. EcoTanks don't read the ink level with a chip; they estimate it. After filling a tank, confirm the refill when the printer prompts you (or use the ink-level reset in the maintenance menu) so the estimate starts from full.
Are compatible EcoTank bottles safe?
Yes. EcoTank bottles have no chips, so firmware updates can't lock out compatible ink the way they can with cartridges. Use ink made for your exact bottle number, and don't mix brands in the same tank. Using third-party ink doesn't by itself void your warranty, but Epson won't cover damage it attributes to that ink. More: Compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM ink and Does compatible ink void your printer warranty?.
What if I let a tank run below the lower line?
Refill before the ink drops below the lower line. Running a tank dry can pull air into the ink lines and cause missing colors. If that happens, refill, run a nozzle check, and do one or two head cleanings. Epson's Power Cleaning clears air but uses a lot of ink, so save it for last.
Why are my prints faded or missing a color after refilling?
Usually it's air or a partial clog. Run a nozzle check, then up to two head cleanings with a rest in between. If lines persist, leave the printer off overnight and try again. More fixes: Epson printer not printing color: the real fix and Why is my printer printing streaks?.
How long does an opened bottle last?
Store bottles upright, capped, at room temperature, and use them within the date printed on the box. Once you open a bottle, fill the tank completely or reseal it tightly and use it soon.
Can I convert the ET-3850 to a sublimation printer?
Many color EcoTanks can be converted if you fill brand-new tanks with sublimation ink and dedicate the printer to it; you can't switch back and forth. See How to convert an Epson EcoTank to a sublimation printer and our sublimation ink.
Does the ET-3850 print double-sided?
Yes. The ET-3850 has automatic 2-sided printing.
ET-3850 vs. ET-4850: which do I need?
Both use Epson 502 ink and the T04D100 maintenance box, and both have a 30-sheet automatic document feeder, a 250-sheet paper tray, Ethernet and automatic 2-sided printing. The ET-4850 adds fax and a 2.4-inch color touchscreen. If you don't fax, the ET-3850 does everything else the ET-4850 does.
ET-3850 key facts
- Type: wireless supertank all-in-one (print, scan, copy)
- Ink: Epson 502 bottles (pigment black + 3 dye colors)
- Duplex: automatic
- Scanner: flatbed plus 30-sheet document feeder
- Paper tray: 250 sheets
- Display: 2.4-inch color LCD with buttons (not a touchscreen)
- Connections: Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB
- Waste ink: user-replaceable T04D100 maintenance box
- Same ink as: ET-2850, ET-3760, ET-4850, ET-15000
What ET-3850 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 paper does the main tray hold?
The front cassette holds 250 sheets of Letter, Legal or A4 plain paper. For smaller sizes it takes 50 sheets, plus 20 sheets of photo paper or 10 envelopes.
The document feeder says there's a jam, but nothing is stuck. How do I fix it?
Turn the printer off and unplug it. Take out the originals and restack them, check the feeder rollers and the rear access area for scraps of paper, and clean the feeder rollers before you try again.
The printer says the maintenance box is full. What do I do?
Replace it. The ET-3850 collects waste ink from cleaning cycles in a user-replaceable Epson T04D100 ink maintenance box, about $10.99 from Epson. It isn't an ink problem and doesn't need a service visit.
What replaced the ET-3850?
Epson lists the ET-3850 as discontinued and names the EcoTank ET-3950 as the replacement. It uses the same 502 bottles.
ET-3850 quirks worth knowing
- Its 2.4-inch color screen is driven by buttons, not touch. Some listings call it a touchscreen; the touchscreen is on the ET-4850.
- Epson rates the starter ink at up to two years at about 200 pages a month. The starter bottles print fewer pages than replacements because some of the ink charges the print head.
- The ET-3843 is a variant of the ET-3850 and takes the same 502 bottles.
- Epson 502 ink freezes at about 5°F (−15°C). If a delivery sits in the cold, Epson says the ink is usable after about two hours at room temperature (77°F).
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-2980 — CastleScore 90
- 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 502 Ink Bottles – EcoTank 502 Black, Cyan, Magenta & Yellow? Shop Epson 502 Ink Bottles – EcoTank 502 Black, Cyan, Magenta & Yellow at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.