What Ink Does the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5800 Use?

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Quick answer: The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5800 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-5800 is Epson's letter/legal EcoTank Pro all-in-one for small offices. It shares 542 ink with the ET-5850, ET-5880, ET-5170 and the wide-format ET-16600 and ET-16650. Home EcoTank inks (502, 522) don't fit.

CastleScore · November 2026

89/100 — Highly Recommended

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5800

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 86 4.8★ across 98 ratings at Best Buy, discounted because many are from free beta-test units
Expert reviews (18%) — No published numeric expert score we could verify.
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%) 80 Few recurring hardware complaints; owners mention its large size and occasional Mac driver and scanning setup issues
Features (12%) 90 Print, copy, scan, fax; 50-sheet document feeder; auto two-sided printing; two 250-sheet trays plus a 50-sheet rear feed; Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet; 4.3-inch touchscreen.
Value (5%) 84 Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of about $700 to $800

Limited data: We could not find a published numeric expert score for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.

Still sold new. Best Buy lists it at $699.99 (regularly $799.99).

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-5800 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 ratings for its own bottles; Epson puts a replacement set at up to about 6,000 color pages. The ET-5800 ships with two 127 ml black bottles and two of each color. All 542 inks are pigment-based, and Epson says this printer is designed for pigment ink only, so never fill it with dye or sublimation ink.

What Does ET-5800 Ink Cost per Page?

Our 542 black is $10.99 for about 7,500 pages (about 0.15¢ a page) and each color $10.99 for about 6,000 pages (about 0.18¢). Blended across the $42.99 4-pack, that's roughly 0.17¢ a page, which is lower than almost any cartridge or laser printer.

How Do I Refill the Epson ET-5800?

  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 the bottle and recap the tank.
  5. Close the cover and confirm the refill on the touchscreen if the printer asks.

Which Other Printers Use Epson 542?

The EcoTank Pro ET-5850, ET-5880, ET-5150, ET-5170 and ET-5180; the wide-format ET-16600 and ET-16650; and the WorkForce ST-C5000, ST-C5500, ST-C8000 and ST-C8090. See all Epson 542 ink bottles.

What ET-5800 owners ask

These come from Best Buy, Staples and Adorama Q&A and owner reviews, answered in our words.

How much paper does it hold?

Two 250-sheet front trays plus a 50-sheet rear feed for envelopes and specialty paper, and a 50-sheet document feeder for scanning and copying.

Does it fax and print two-sided?

Yes to both. It prints two-sided automatically, and the document feeder handles two-sided copying, scanning and faxing.

Some owners say it won't work with their Mac. What's going on?

Most reports trace back to driver or scanning-app setup. Install Epson's current macOS driver and Epson ScanSmart from Epson's support site rather than relying on the generic driver.

How many pages does a set of ink print?

Epson says a replacement set prints up to about 6,000 color pages, with the black lasting longer at about 7,500.

ET-5800 quirks worth knowing

  • Epson rates it at up to 25 pages a minute in black and 12 in color.
  • It has a 4.3-inch color touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet.
  • Many of its Best Buy reviews come from free beta-test units, so we weighted them down in the score.
  • The USB cable isn't included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ink does the Epson ET-5800 use?

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

Can I use Epson 502 ink in the ET-5800?

No. 502 is a dye ink for home EcoTanks with a differently keyed bottle. The ET-5800 takes Epson 542 only.

Does the ET-5800 use the same ink as the ET-5850?

Yes. Both use the same four Epson 542 bottles.

Other printers that use Epson 542

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 · Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5170 · Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16650 · Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16600

More Epson ink guides: Epson EcoTank ET-2980 · Epson EcoTank ET-4850 · Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 · 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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