What Ink Does the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4640 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4640 uses Epson 786 ink, or the high-capacity 786XL. Four individual DURABrite Ultra pigment cartridges.
The wrong answer that dominates this model is Epson 676XL. It fits the previous WorkForce Pro generation — WP-4010, WP-4020, WP-4520, WP-4530, WP-4540 and siblings — and not this printer. Also cross-listed: 788XXL (WF-5110, WF-5190, WF-5620, WF-5690) and 252XL (WF-3620, WF-3640, WF-7000 series).
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4640 ink at a glance
| Cartridge | Family | Part Number | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black (standard) | Epson 786 | T786120-S | 900 pages |
| Cyan (standard) | Epson 786 | T786220-S | 800 pages |
| Magenta (standard) | Epson 786 | T786320-S | 800 pages |
| Yellow (standard) | Epson 786 | T786420-S | 800 pages |
| Black (high capacity) | Epson 786XL | T786XL120-S | 2,600 pages |
| Cyan (high capacity) | Epson 786XL | T786XL220-S | 2,000 pages |
| Magenta (high capacity) | Epson 786XL | T786XL320-S | 2,000 pages |
| Yellow (high capacity) | Epson 786XL | T786XL420-S | 2,000 pages |
Epson's own ISO figures. On a machine built to hold 580 sheets of paper, the XL tier is not really optional — 2,600 pages of black against 900 is the difference between a cartridge change every few weeks and every few months.
The trailing -S on these part numbers denotes the single-cartridge retail pack. Epson's support documents use the bare numbers. Both are genuine, so do not be put off by seeing it both ways.
Is there an XXL tier?
Effectively no, and Epson's documentation contradicts itself, so here is the honest read. Epson's User's Guide and specification sheet for these models list only 786 and 786XL. Epson's own 788XXL page lists compatibility as the WF-5110, WF-5190, WF-5620 and WF-5690 — not the WF-4640. Only an Epson FAQ page mentions XXL, and it reads like a template block reused across the WF-4000 and WF-5000 families. Buy 786XL and do not order 788XXL for this printer.
The maintenance box is a second consumable
The T6710 maintenance box (retail part T671000) stores ink flushed out during print head cleaning. When it fills, the printer stops until you replace it. It is user-replaceable and chipped, so it has to be a new box — there is no reset.
Order carefully: T6711 is a different box, for the WF-3620, WF-7110, WF-7610 and WF-7720. The numbers differ by one digit and retailers cross-list them constantly — frequently the same sellers who muddle 676XL with 786XL.
Castle Ink recommendation
Epson 786XL Black and 3-Colour Combo 4-Pack — remanufactured high-capacity, $50.99, guaranteed for a year.
Individual colours if only one has run out:
About the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4640
The higher-capacity half of this pair, and the differences from the WF-4630 are narrow but real: two 250-sheet cassettes plus an 80-sheet rear feed for 580 sheets total, and a 4.3-inch colour touchscreen instead of 3.5-inch. Everything else is the same machine.
That means print, scan, copy and fax at 20 ISO ppm black and colour, 11 ppm two-sided, automatic duplex printing plus automatic two-sided copy, scan and fax, and a 35-sheet ADF with real duplex scanning. Connectivity includes wired gigabit Ethernet alongside Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and USB, and it takes paper up to 47 inches long.
The two cassettes are the reason to choose it: letter in one, legal or letterhead in the other, switched from the driver without swapping stacks. Epson has discontinued it, but 786XL remains widely stocked.
Common problems on this model
Banding, faded output or wrong colours
All four inks are pigment, which is what makes output smudge-resistant and also what makes the nozzles prone to clogging when the printer sits. Epson's documented order: nozzle check, head cleaning, check the paper type setting matches the loaded paper, check the printable side is up, turn off High Speed in the driver, then print head alignment. Space cleaning cycles out rather than running them back to back — each one fills the maintenance box faster.
Maintenance box full
Replace with T6710. The printer will not print until you do, and there is no way to reset a used box.
"A part inside your printer is at the end of its service life"
This is the ink pads, not the maintenance box, and replacing the box will not clear it. Epson's documented route is its service line or a certified technician. Epson notes most users never reach it under normal use.
Paper pulled from the wrong cassette
Specific to the two-tray design. Set the paper size and type for each cassette on the front panel, and select the source explicitly in the driver — a mismatch between what the panel thinks is loaded and what is actually there is the usual cause.
FAQ
What ink does the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4640 use?
Epson 786 or 786XL in black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Does the WF-4640 use 676XL?
No. That is the older WP-4000 series. There is also no standard "Epson 676" — that family was XL only.
Does it take 788XXL?
Epson's User's Guide, spec sheet and its own 788XXL product page all point away from this model. Use 786XL.
Which maintenance box does it use?
T6710, retail part T671000 — not T6711.
What is the difference between the WF-4640 and WF-4630?
The 4640 has a second 250-sheet cassette (580 sheets total) and a 4.3-inch screen. The 4630 has one cassette (330 sheets) and a 3.5-inch screen. Ink, speed, duplex and ADF are identical.
Does the ADF scan both sides?
Yes — genuine automatic duplex scanning, not flip-and-rescan.
Shop Epson 786XL now
The 786XL four-pack at $50.99 is a full restock. Different printer? Find yours on our Find Ink by Printer page, or compare running costs with the ink cost calculator.
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