What Ink Does the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Epson EcoTank ET-4800 uses Epson 522 ink bottles — T522120-S black, T522220-S cyan, T522320-S magenta and T522420-S yellow. Not Epson 502. We sell a compatible 522 four-bottle set. Shipping is free on U.S. orders over $50, and orders placed by 4 PM ET ship the same day.
The ET-4800 is the fullest-featured of Epson's entry EcoTanks, adding a 30-sheet document feeder and fax over the ET-2400 and ET-2803. What it does not add is automatic two-sided printing: duplex is manual only. It uses exactly the same ink at the same price as its cheaper siblings, so the running-cost story is identical across all three.
CastleScore · October 2026
84/100 — Highly Recommended
Epson EcoTank ET-4800
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 74 | 3.78★ average across 7,531 ratings at Amazon (3.8), Walmart (4.0), Epson.com (3.5), Target (3.2) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 99 | About 0.2¢ per page blended (black + color) with our compatible 522 bottles (4,500 black / 7,500 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 84 | Most-reported problems: waste ink pad fills and printer stops; wi-Fi disconnections requiring repeated reconnection/router resets |
| Features (12%) | 74 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet. No auto two-sided printing, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 86 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of about $199 |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Still sold new, in limited supply. Epson.com shows it out of stock, but Amazon had it for $199.99 in August 2026, and Target and Walmart sell refurbished units for $169.99.
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 7, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The ink bottles, pictured
522 Bottles 4-packOur own compatible ink bottles, photographed in-house.
Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Ink Bottles at a Glance
| Ink Bottle | Color | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Epson 522 (T522120-S) | Black | ~4,500 pages |
| Epson 522 (T522220-S) | Cyan | ~7,500 pages |
| Epson 522 (T522320-S) | Magenta | ~7,500 pages |
| Epson 522 (T522420-S) | Yellow | ~7,500 pages |
522 and 502 Are Not Interchangeable
This is the mistake worth avoiding. Epson uses uniquely keyed "EcoFit" bottle necks, so a 502 bottle will physically not fit a 522 tank. The two series look almost identical in listings and are frequently confused. Check the number before you order.
There is also no XL version of the 522 bottle. It comes in one size, 65 mL. The yields above are what you get.
Your First Fill Will Not Reach These Numbers
Part of the ink that ships with the printer is consumed charging the print head during first-time setup. Epson says so explicitly. So the in-box ink prints noticeably fewer pages than a replacement bottle will — don't judge the running cost by the first tank.
The Waste Ink Pad: The Thing Nobody Mentions
EcoTanks use an internal waste-ink pad that is not user-replaceable. When its counter fills, the printer stops with an "ink pad needs service" message. Owners in Epson's own reviews report paying for Epson service (around $55 is the figure they cite) or using third-party reset tools. It is the single most useful thing an EcoTank owner can know, and almost no ink guide mentions it. Third-party reset kits circulate, but they void the warranty and risk spilling waste ink, so we do not recommend them.
None of that undoes the maths: at roughly 4,500 black and 7,500 color pages per bottle, an EcoTank is still dramatically cheaper to run than any cartridge printer in its class.
What EcoTank ET-4800 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.
Can the ET-4800 print on both sides of the page by itself?
No. Epson lists two-sided printing as manual only, so you turn the pages over and reload them yourself. That surprises a lot of buyers, given it has a document feeder, fax and Ethernet.
After refilling, the printer asks me to reset the ink levels. Is that normal?
Yes. The bottles have no chip, so the printer estimates ink use and relies on you to confirm a refill on the control panel. Epson covers this prompt in its ET-4800 support FAQs.
Does the box include a USB or Ethernet cable?
No. Epson has a support FAQ confirming that neither cable is included. Buy one separately if you don't plan to use Wi-Fi.
It keeps dropping off our Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi disconnections are one of the more common complaints in Epson's own owner reviews. If it keeps happening, the ET-4800 has an Ethernet port, and a wired connection avoids the problem.
Can I copy or fax a multi-page document?
Yes. The document feeder takes up to 30 sheets. The fax runs at up to 33.6 Kbps and stores up to 100 pages in memory.
EcoTank ET-4800 quirks worth knowing
- The screen is a small 1.44-inch color LCD, not a touchscreen, and the paper tray holds 100 sheets, up to legal size.
- In the U.S. it launched in September 2021 at $259.99 as a Walmart and Target model, one of six EcoTanks Epson released together (ET-2800, ET-2850, ET-3830, ET-3850, ET-4800 and ET-4850).
- Don't mix it up with the ET-4850. Epson lists the ET-4850 as discontinued and replaced by the ET-4950; the ET-4800 is a separate model that Epson still lists, though as out of stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 use?
Epson 522 bottles: T522120-S black, T522220-S cyan, T522320-S magenta, T522420-S yellow.
Can I use Epson 502 bottles instead?
No. Epson keys the bottle necks so 502 will not physically fit a 522 tank. They are not interchangeable.
Is there an XL version of Epson 522?
No. EcoTank bottles come in a single size — about 65 mL each.
How many pages does a bottle print?
Roughly 4,500 pages from the black bottle and 7,500 from each color.
Why did my first fill run out early?
Some of the in-box ink is used to charge the print head during setup, so the first fill prints fewer pages than a replacement bottle.
Can I use compatible ink bottles?
Yes. EcoTanks have no cartridge chip to authenticate, which is part of why they are so much cheaper to run.
Other printers that use Epson 522 bottles
Epson EcoTank ET-2803 · Epson EcoTank ET-2400 · Epson EcoTank ET-2903 · Epson EcoTank ET-2800
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 7, 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.