What Ink Does the Epson Expression Home XP-4105 Use?

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Shopping for this printer? See all Epson 212 Ink Cartridges – 212 & 212XL → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.

Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide rated standard Epson 212 cartridges at about 175 black and 150 color pages and said the XP-4105 prints two-sided only by hand. Epson rates the 212 at 150 black and 130 pages per color, and the XP-4105 has automatic two-sided printing.

The Epson Expression Home XP-4105 all-in-one wireless printer uses Epson 212 and Epson 212XL ink cartridges. Standard 212 cartridges yield about 150 black and 130 color pages, while the 212XL high-yield cartridges deliver roughly 500 black and 350 color pages each.

CastleScore · October 2026

76/100 — Recommended

Epson Expression Home XP-4105

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 78 4.00★ average across 442 ratings at Amazon (4.0)
Expert reviews (18%) 70 PCMag (XP-4100) 3.5/5
Cost per page (24%) 73 About 5.4¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 212XL (500 black / 350 color pages). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip.
Reliability (13%) 90 No recurring hardware or connection complaints in owner reviews.
Features (12%) 69 Print, copy, scan, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, touchscreen. No document feeder, no fax.
Value (5%) 76 Running cost and owner satisfaction

Discontinued. Epson lists the Expression Home XP-4205 as the replacement. Epson 212 and 212XL cartridges are still widely sold.

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 10, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

The cartridges, pictured

Our own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.

Ink Cartridges at a Glance

Cartridge Color Approx. Page Yield
Epson 212 Black ~150 pages
Epson 212 Cyan / Magenta / Yellow ~130 pages each
Epson 212XL Black ~500 pages
Epson 212XL Cyan / Magenta / Yellow ~350 pages each

The Epson 212/212XL cartridges are shared with the Expression Home XP-4100, WorkForce WF-2830, and WF-2850, so one ink set covers several Epson printers.

Before you buy third-party 212XL cartridges, read our Epson compatible vs OEM ink comparison.

How to Replace Ink in the XP-4105

  1. Power on the XP-4105 and open the front output tray, then lift the scanner unit.
  2. Wait for the cartridge carriage to slide to the access position.
  3. Squeeze the release tab and pull the empty cartridge straight up.
  4. Shake the new cartridge gently, peel off the yellow tape, and click it into the correct slot.
  5. Lower the scanner unit; the printer primes the new ink for about 90 seconds.

Troubleshooting Tips

Cartridge not recognized: Remove the cartridge, wipe the gold chip with a lint-free cloth, and reinstall it firmly until it clicks.

Faded or banded output: Print a nozzle check, then run a head cleaning from the printer's maintenance menu. Repeat once or twice if needed.

Slow printing: Switch quality to Standard rather than Best and confirm the paper type matches what's loaded.

Ink levels stuck: Power-cycle the printer for one minute and reseat the cartridges to refresh the chip handshake.

What XP-4105 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.

My non-Epson cartridges stopped working after an update. Why?

Epson says the XP-4105 is designed for Epson cartridges only, and owners of the XP-4100 and the newer XP-4205 report firmware updates that made third-party 212 cartridges show as not recognized. If you use non-Epson ink, including our remanufactured 212XL, turn off automatic firmware updates.

Does it have a document feeder for multi-page scans?

No. It has a flatbed scanner only, with an 8.5 x 11.7 inch glass.

How much paper does it hold?

One tray holding 100 sheets of plain paper or 20 sheets of glossy photo paper.

My XP-4105 came from Australia. Does it take Epson 212?

No. Epson Australia lists Epson 39 and 39XL cartridges for the XP-4105 sold there. Epson cartridges are region-coded, so buy for the region the printer was sold in.

What replaced the XP-4105?

Epson lists the Expression Home XP-4205 as its replacement.

XP-4105 quirks worth knowing

  • It prints on paper up to 8.5 x 44 inches, so simple banners are possible on a printer this small.
  • It supports Wi-Fi Direct, so a phone can print to it without a router.
  • Standard 212 color cartridges are rated for 130 pages, only about 37% of the 212XL's 350. XL is much better value per page.
  • Epson rates it at 10 ISO pages per minute in black and 5 in color.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Epson 212 and 212XL? Both fit the XP-4105. Epson rates 212XL black at 500 pages (about 3.3 times the standard 150) and each 212XL color at 350 pages (about 2.7 times the standard 130), so XL costs much less per page.

Can I mix standard and XL cartridges? Yes, any mix of 212 black and color cartridges works together.

Does the XP-4105 support automatic duplex? Yes. Epson lists automatic two-sided printing for the XP-4105.

Will compatible cartridges void my warranty? No, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects your warranty when you use third-party ink. Epson does say this printer is designed for Epson cartridges only, so turn off automatic firmware updates if you use non-Epson ink.

How do I reset the ink monitor? Install the new cartridge, close the scanner unit, and the XP-4105 resets the ink level automatically.

Other printers that use Epson 212

Epson WorkForce WF-2830 · Epson WorkForce WF-2850 · Epson Expression Home XP-4100 · Epson Expression Home XP-2100 · Epson Expression Home XP-3100

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

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on October 10, 2026 and will change over time.

Need replacement Epson 212 Ink Cartridges – 212 & 212XL? Shop Epson 212 Ink Cartridges – 212 & 212XL at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, 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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