What Ink Does the Epson Expression Home XP-446 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Epson Expression Home XP-446 uses four Epson 288 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta and yellow. The high-capacity Epson 288XL versions fit too. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured 288XL Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and a 4-pack.
The XP-446 is a close sibling of the Expression Home XP-440 and takes the same ink as the XP-340. Epson 288 is a U.S. and Canada number. European XP-4xx models use a different cartridge that won't fit. Don't confuse it with Epson 232, which is for the newer XP-4205.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Epson Expression Home XP-446
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 78 | About 3.9¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 288XL (500 black / 450 color pages). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip. |
| Reliability (13%) | 74 | Most-reported problems: cartridges not recognized after a firmware update; paper feed errors and jams; ink pads reaching the end of their service life; printer showing Offline |
| Features (12%) | 55 | Print, copy, scan, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, 2.7-inch touchscreen, memory card slot, borderless photos. No document feeder, no fax, no auto two-sided printing. |
| Value (5%) | — | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings or published expert scores for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars. With neither owner ratings nor a published expert score, we cap this printer at 69 (Situational) until better data is available.
Discontinued. Epson names the Expression Home XP-4205 as the replacement, which takes Epson 232 ink instead. Epson 288 and 288XL cartridges are still 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 15, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
288XL 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
288XL BlackT288XL120 · ~500 pages
288XL CyanT288XL220 · ~450 pages
288XL MagentaT288XL320 · ~450 pages
288XL YellowT288XL420 · ~450 pages
288XL 4-pack
288XL Black
288XL Cyan
288XL Magenta
288XL YellowOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Cartridges Does the Epson XP-446 Take?
| Cartridge | Epson part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson 288 Black | T288120-S | ~175 pages | — |
| Epson 288 Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | T288220-S / T288320-S / T288420-S | ~165 pages each | — |
| Epson 288XL Black | T288XL120-S | ~500 pages | Remanufactured 288XL Black |
| Epson 288XL Cyan | T288XL220-S | ~450 pages | Remanufactured 288XL Cyan |
| Epson 288XL Magenta | T288XL320-S | ~450 pages | Remanufactured 288XL Magenta |
| Epson 288XL Yellow | T288XL420-S | ~450 pages | Remanufactured 288XL Yellow |
Yields are Epson's ISO figures from its XP-446 product page. Epson also sells the 288XL as a four-pack, T288XL-XCS.
Is 288XL Worth It?
Yes. The 288XL black holds nearly three times the ink of the standard 288 black. On October 15, 2026, Epson listed the 288XL black at $34.09 (about 6.8¢ a page), though it was out of stock, and the 288XL yellow at $18.69. Staples had the 288XL four-pack at $90.09. Our remanufactured 288XL black is $9.99 (about 2¢ a page), each color is $9.99, and the 288XL 4-pack is $49.95.
How Do I Replace the Ink in the Epson XP-446?
- With the printer on, press OK on the ink message and choose Replace now, or go to Setup, Maintenance, then Ink Cartridge Replacement.
- Lift the scanner unit. Don't move the print head by hand.
- Squeeze the tab on the old cartridge and lift it straight out.
- Shake the new cartridge four or five times, unpack it and remove only the yellow tape, without touching the green chip.
- Press it in until it clicks, lower the scanner unit and press Start. Leave the printer on for about 90 seconds while the ink charges.
Which Other Printers Use Epson 288?
The Expression Home XP-330, XP-340, XP-430, XP-434 and XP-440.
What XP-446 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer in Epson's support pages, retailer reviews and owner forums, answered in our words.
It says my ink isn't recognized after an update.
That's Epson's top FAQ for this printer. Epson says the XP-446 is designed for Epson cartridges, and firmware updates can stop non-Epson chips working. If you use remanufactured cartridges, consider turning off automatic firmware updates.
It shows a paper feed error or jam.
Pull out any jammed paper from the rear feeder and the output tray, press Start to clear the error, and reload the paper neatly in the rear tray.
It says the ink pad is nearing the end of its service life.
The waste ink pads are filling up. You can keep printing for a while at 'nearing', but Epson needs to service the printer once they're full.
My computer shows the printer as Offline.
Reconnect it to your Wi-Fi network, check your router, and reinstall the Epson driver if needed. Epson's support page covers both Wi-Fi and USB.
XP-446 quirks worth knowing
- Epson rates it at 10 ISO pages a minute in black and 4.5 in color.
- It prints, copies and scans from a flatbed only. There's no document feeder or fax.
- Two-sided printing is manual only: you flip the pages yourself.
- It has a 2.7-inch touchscreen, a memory card slot for printing photos without a computer, and a rear tray that holds 100 sheets of plain paper or 20 of photo paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the Epson XP-446 use?
Epson 288 or 288XL in black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Can the XP-446 print two-sided automatically?
No. It supports manual two-sided printing only.
What replaced the XP-446?
Epson names the Expression Home XP-4205, which takes Epson 232 ink, not 288.
Other printers that use Epson 288
Epson Expression Home XP-440 · Epson Expression Home XP-340
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 15, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Epson ink cartridges? Shop Epson ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.