What Ink Does the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16650 Use?

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Quick answer: The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16650 uses four Epson 542 pigment ink bottles: Black (T542120-S), Cyan (T542220-S), Magenta (T542320-S) and Yellow (T542420-S). Castle Ink sells compatible 542 Black (130 ml), Cyan, Magenta and Yellow at $10.99 each, or a 542 4-pack for $42.99.

The ET-16650 is the flagship of Epson's EcoTank Pro line: a wide-format all-in-one that prints up to 13 x 19 inches. Despite the bigger paper, it uses exactly the same 542 bottles as the letter-size ET-5850 and ET-5800, and as its sibling the ET-16600.

CastleScore · November 2026

91/100 — Castle Elite

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16650

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) — No U.S. retailer rating with enough reviews we could verify.
Expert reviews (18%) 90 PCMag 4.5/5, Editors' Choice
Cost per page (24%) 99 About 0.17¢ per page blended with our 542 4-pack ($42.99: 7,500 black + 6,000 per color pages at Epson's ratings).
Reliability (13%) 76 Some owners report slow or stalled printing over Wi-Fi and a few early failures; reviewers flag the high purchase price
Features (12%) 95 Prints up to 13 x 19 in.; scans and copies up to 11 x 17 in.; print, copy, scan, fax; duplexing document feeder; auto two-sided printing; 500-sheet paper capacity plus rear feed; Wi-Fi, Ethernet; up to 25 ppm black and color.
Value (5%) — Not scored without owner ratings

Limited data: We could not find enough verifiable owner ratings for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.

Still sold new. Epson lists it at $1,159.99, often discounted to $999.99.

CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked November 8, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

The ink, pictured

Our own compatible 542 bottles, made in the USA.

What Ink Bottles Does the Epson ET-16650 Take?

Bottle Epson part no. Epson size Approx. yield (Epson) Castle Ink option
542 Black (pigment) T542120-S 127 ml ~7,500 pages Compatible, 130 ml, $10.99
542 Cyan (pigment) T542220-S 70 ml ~6,000 pages Compatible, 70 ml, $10.99
542 Magenta (pigment) T542320-S 70 ml ~6,000 pages Compatible, 70 ml, $10.99
542 Yellow (pigment) T542420-S 70 ml ~6,000 pages Compatible, 70 ml, $10.99
All four — — — 542 4-pack, $42.99

Yields are Epson's letter-size ratings; 11 x 17 and 13 x 19 pages use proportionally more ink. The ET-16650 ships with one 127 ml black and one each of the colors. Epson says it's designed for pigment ink only, so never fill it with dye or sublimation ink.

What Does ET-16650 Ink Cost per Page?

About 0.15¢ a letter page for black and 0.18¢ for each color with our $10.99 bottles, roughly 0.17¢ blended with the $42.99 4-pack. A tabloid (11 x 17) page uses about twice the ink of a letter page, so double those figures for big prints. That's still a small fraction of what a wide-format cartridge printer costs to run.

How Do I Refill the Epson ET-16650?

  1. Check the ink levels in the tank windows on the front of the printer.
  2. Open the ink tank cover and unscrew the cap on the color you're filling.
  3. Hold the 542 bottle upright, remove its cap and seal, and insert the keyed tip into the matching port.
  4. Let the ink flow until it stops at the upper line, then remove and recap.
  5. Close the cover and confirm the refill on the control panel if asked.

Which Other Printers Use Epson 542?

The wide-format ET-16600; the letter-size EcoTank Pro ET-5850, ET-5800, ET-5880, ET-5150, ET-5170 and ET-5180; and the WorkForce ST-C5000, ST-C5500, ST-C8000 and ST-C8090. See all Epson 542 ink bottles.

What ET-16650 owners ask

These come from B&H and Adorama Q&A, Staples reviews and PCMag's review, answered in our words.

What's the difference between the ET-16650 and the ET-16600?

Speed and paper handling. Both print up to 13 x 19 and use 542 ink; the ET-16650 is rated at 25 pages a minute in both black and color, while the ET-16600 is rated at 25 black and 12 color.

Can it scan 11 x 17 originals?

Yes. It scans and copies up to 11 x 17 inches, and its document feeder handles two-sided originals.

Can it print on card stock?

Owners and retailers report it handles heavy stock such as 110 lb cover through the rear feed.

Is it a good photo printer?

It's built for documents, brochures and signage with water-resistant pigment ink. For photo-first work, the six-ink EcoTank Photo ET-8550 is the better fit.

ET-16650 quirks worth knowing

  • PCMag gave it 4.5 out of 5 and an Editors' Choice award.
  • It holds 500 sheets in two front trays, plus a rear feed for specialty media.
  • It prints, copies, scans and faxes, with Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
  • A few owners report stalls when printing over Wi-Fi; a wired Ethernet connection is the usual fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ink does the Epson ET-16650 use?

Epson 542 pigment ink bottles: Black (T542120-S), Cyan (T542220-S), Magenta (T542320-S) and Yellow (T542420-S).

Does the ET-16650 use the same ink as the ET-16600?

Yes. Both wide-format EcoTank Pro models use Epson 542.

What size paper can the ET-16650 print?

Up to 13 x 19 inches (super tabloid), and it scans up to 11 x 17.

Other printers that use Epson 542

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16600 · Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 · Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5800 · Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5170

More Epson ink guides: Epson EcoTank ET-15000 · Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 · Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on November 8, 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.

Written and reviewed by — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.

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