What Ink Does the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Use?

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. Castle Ink stocks a compatible 522 four-bottle set with free U.S. shipping and a one-year guarantee.

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. It uses exactly the same ink at the same price as its cheaper siblings, so the running-cost story is identical across all three.

Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Ink Bottles at a Glance

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 or XXL tier for EcoTank bottles — they come in one size. 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 and Epson's remedy is service — which on a printer at this price usually means replacement. 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 colour pages per bottle, an EcoTank is still dramatically cheaper to run than any cartridge printer in its class.

Save on Ink at Castle Ink

Castle Ink carries compatible Epson 522 bottles for the ET-4800:

• Epson 522 Ink Bottles – BCMY Compatible Set of 4 — $29.95

All Castle Ink orders ship free in the U.S. and are backed by a one-year quality guarantee.

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 colour.

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.

See Also

• Find Ink by Printer Model
• Best Printers: Top Picks for Every Use Case and Budget
• PrinterIQ Finder — find your next printer in about 60 seconds

By William Elward, Founder of Castle Ink — 20+ years helping people solve printer and ink problems. Last updated August 23, 2026.