What Ink Does the Epson SureColor F170 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Epson SureColor F170 uses Epson T49M dye-sublimation ink bottles — Black (T49M120), Cyan (T49M220), Magenta (T49M320), and Yellow (T49M420) — each holding 140ml of ink.
CastleScore · October 2026
78/100 — Recommended
Epson SureColor F170
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 85 | 4.35★ average across 1,169 ratings at Amazon (4.6), Walmart (3.9), Amazon (4.5) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | — | Not scored: Epson publishes no page yields for T49M sublimation ink, so we cannot calculate an honest cost per page. |
| Reliability (13%) | 87 | Most-reported problems: nozzle gaps or missing colours, especially after idle periods |
| Features (12%) | 50 | Wi-Fi, Ethernet. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 80 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of about $399 |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Still sold new on Epson.com at $399, though Epson showed it out of stock in October 2026, with a Certified ReNew refurbished unit also listed.
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.
Why we don't sell ink for the F170
We don't stock Epson T49M sublimation ink, and we don't sell a substitute for it. Epson says the F170 is designed for Epson ink bottles only, not third-party ink, and strongly recommends genuine T49M. Damage caused by other ink may not be covered.
Buy genuine Epson T49M bottles: $24.95 each from Epson, or about $99.80 for a full CMYK set. If you also run a standard inkjet or laser printer, you can find its ink or toner on our Find Ink by Printer page.
EPSON SURECOLOR F170 INK BOTTLES AT A GLANCE
| Bottle | Color | Size |
|---|---|---|
| T49M120 | Black | 140ml |
| T49M220 | Cyan | 140ml |
| T49M320 | Magenta | 140ml |
| T49M420 | Yellow | 140ml |
Like all sublimation ink, the F170's ink prints in muted tones on transfer paper and only becomes vibrant once heat-pressed onto a polyester or polymer-coated item. Each bottle refills the printer's built-in ink tank rather than swapping in a cartridge, and a full CMYK set is included with the printer.
HOW TO REFILL INK IN THE EPSON SURECOLOR F170
- Open the ink tank cover on the front of the printer.
- Check the ink level window for each color to see which tank needs refilling.
- Unbox the correct color bottle and remove the cap.
- Align the bottle with the tank's fill port and let it drain — Epson's bottles use an auto-stop design so they won't overfill.
- Remove the empty bottle once it stops draining and close the tank cover.
TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
- Colors look muted right off the printer: normal — sublimation ink only shows true color after heat pressing.
- Grays printing green or brown: try switching the color-correction setting from ICM to no color correction in printer preferences, then run a nozzle check.
- Can't connect over Wi-Fi: use a USB or Ethernet cable as a fallback. Epson doesn't put a USB cable in the box, so you'll need your own.
- Nozzle check shows gaps: run a print head cleaning cycle, and if that doesn't resolve it, a power cleaning cycle.
What SureColor F170 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.
How wide and how long can it print?
Up to 8.5 inches wide, with custom lengths up to 47.2 inches. Epson notes the longest printable length also depends on your app, operating system and driver or RIP. Designs wider than letter, like some shirt fronts or tumbler wraps, have to be tiled.
Does the printer come with ink?
Yes. The box includes a full set of 140 mL T49M bottles in black, cyan, magenta and yellow, the same size as the retail bottles.
How long does an opened bottle stay usable?
Epson rates T49M ink for 2 years from the printed production date, or 6 months once opened. If you print only now and then, open one bottle at a time.
Which other printers use T49M ink?
Epson lists the SureColor F370 Standard Edition, F570 and F570 Pro alongside the F170, so one stock of bottles covers any of them.
SureColor F170 quirks worth knowing
- The print head has 784 nozzles: 400 for black and 128 each for cyan, magenta and yellow.
- It has a user-replaceable maintenance tank (C13S210125), so a full waste-ink tank doesn't mean a service visit.
- It folds down to a 13.7 x 13.7 inch footprint for storage, but needs 19.8 inches of depth while printing.
- Epson's T49M ink is ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX certified, and Epson's matching DS Multi-Use transfer paper comes in 100-sheet packs: S450361 (8.5 x 11) and S450362 (8.5 x 14).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I use any ink in the F170? No — it's designed for Epson T49M dye-sublimation ink bottles specifically.
Does sublimation ink work on cotton shirts? No — you need light-colored fabric with high polyester content, or a polymer-coated hard good like a mug or tumbler.
How long does one set of ink bottles last? It depends heavily on print coverage — full-bleed, photo-style designs use far more ink than simple text or line art.
Do I need special paper? Yes — sublimation transfer paper is required; regular paper won't work with this ink.
More Epson ink guides: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 · Epson WorkForce WF-2950 · Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 · find any printer
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 10, 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.