What Ink Does the Epson WorkForce WF-2930 Use?
Last Updated:Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said the WF-2930 has no document feeder, no fax and only manual two-sided printing, and it overstated Epson 232 yields. The WF-2930 has a 30-sheet document feeder, fax and automatic two-sided printing, and Epson rates the cartridges at about 150 pages (232 black), 140 pages (each 232 color) and 380 pages (232XL black).
The Epson WorkForce WF-2930 uses Epson 232 and Epson 232XL ink cartridges — four individual tanks in black, cyan, magenta and yellow. One detail catches people out: Epson only makes the XL in black. The colours are standard yield only.
CastleScore · October 2026
61/100 — Situational
Epson WorkForce WF-2930
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 77 | 3.95★ average across 4,616 ratings at Amazon (4.0), Amazon (3.8), Best Buy (4.0) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 33 | About 16.7¢ per page blended (black + color) with Original Epson 232XL black and 232 color at Epson's prices (we don't sell 232). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip. |
| Reliability (13%) | — | Not enough owner complaint data to score. |
| Features (12%) | 78 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi. No touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 60 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of about $80 |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores or owner complaint data for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars.
Still sold new by Epson at $79.99 (down from $119.99), although Epson.com showed it out of stock when we checked.
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 7, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
Castle Ink does not sell Epson 232 cartridges
We don't currently stock Epson 232 or 232XL, so we can't supply ink for the WF-2930. Buy Original Epson 232 from Epson or a retailer. The cheapest way to run this printer is a 232XL black (about 380 pages) with standard 232 colors (about 140 pages each), because Epson makes no XL color in this family. If you also own an older Epson, HP, Canon or Brother printer, we very likely carry its ink.
Epson WorkForce WF-2930 Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Color | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Epson 232 | Black | ~150 pages |
| Epson 232 | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~140 pages each |
| Epson 232XL | Black | ~380 pages |
| Epson 232XL | Color | not offered — black only |
Yields are Epson's published ISO estimates. Photos, graphics and heavy colour fills will use considerably more than that, so treat these as a planning number rather than a promise.
About the Epson WorkForce WF-2930
- Wireless all-in-one: print, scan, copy and fax (black-and-white and color)
- Flatbed scanner plus a 30-sheet automatic document feeder (10 sheets of legal)
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 100-sheet input tray
- Four individual ink cartridges
Because there is no 232XL colour cartridge, the usual "just buy XL for everything" advice does not apply to this printer. The right approach on a WF-2930 is a 232XL black paired with standard 232 colours, and a spare set of colours on hand — colour cartridges at about 140 pages each run out quickly if you print anything with graphics.
Standard or XL — Which Epson 232 Cartridge Should You Buy?
| Cartridge | Approx. Yield | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Epson 232 (standard) | ~150 black / ~140 per color | Light home printing |
| Epson 232XL (black only) | ~380 black | Text-heavy printing — note Epson does not sell an XL colour in this family |
The high-yield black is almost always the cheaper way to print, because you are paying once for the shell, the chip and the shipping regardless of how much ink is inside it. If you want to see the difference for your own volume, run the numbers through our Printer Ink Cost Calculator.
How to Replace the Ink in the Epson WorkForce WF-2930
- Turn the printer on — the carriage will not move to the access position if it is powered off.
- Open the cartridge access door and wait for the carriage to slide to the centre and stop.
- Press down on the release tab on the old cartridge, then lift it out.
- Unwrap the new cartridge and peel off the yellow tape. Do not touch the green chip on the side.
- Drop the new cartridge into its slot and press down on the top until it clicks firmly into place.
- Close the door and let the printer run its ink charging cycle. Do not power it off part-way through.
Troubleshooting the Epson WorkForce WF-2930
Printer refuses to print because one colour is empty. Epson cartridge printers can stop printing, even black-only jobs, when any cartridge reads expended. Keep a spare set of colours so one empty cartridge doesn't stop you.
"Ink cartridge not recognised" after installing. Remove the cartridge, check the yellow tape is off the chip, and press down until you hear the click. The WF-2930 latch is stiffer than it looks.
Print quality drops off after the printer sits unused. Print one colour page every couple of weeks. It costs almost nothing and it keeps the nozzles from drying, which is far cheaper than the deep cleaning cycles required to recover them.
The ink gauge reads low on a brand-new cartridge. Ink level reporting is an estimate, and on compatible cartridges it can read low, unknown, or not at all. Judge by print quality, not by the gauge.
Cartridges That Do Not Fit the Epson WorkForce WF-2930
These come up constantly in mistaken orders. None of them will work in an Epson WorkForce WF-2930:
- Epson 212 / 212XL — Expression XP-4100 and WF-2830 / 2850 series
- Epson 288 / 288XL — Expression XP-330 / XP-430 series
- Epson 220 / 220XL — WorkForce WF-2630 / 2650 / 2660 series
- Epson 522 / 542 ink bottles — EcoTank models, not cartridge printers
What WF-2930 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.
Can the WF-2930 fax?
Yes. Epson lists both black-and-white and color fax.
Does it print on both sides automatically?
Yes. Automatic two-sided printing is built in. It is slower than one-sided: Epson rates it at 6 pages a minute in black and 4 in color.
Can I connect it with an Ethernet cable?
No. It connects by USB, Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi Direct only.
What is the difference between the WF-2930 and the WF-2950?
Both have the document feeder, fax and automatic two-sided printing, and both take Epson 232. The visible difference is the screen: 1.44 inches on the WF-2930 and 2.4 inches on the WF-2950.
Can it print banners or extra-long pages?
Yes. Epson lists user-defined paper sizes up to 8.5 × 47.2 in.
WF-2930 quirks worth knowing
- The document feeder takes 30 letter sheets but only 10 legal sheets at a time.
- The main tray holds 100 sheets of plain paper but only 20 sheets of photo paper.
- The printhead is a permanent part of the printer, not part of the cartridge, so Epson 232 cartridges are ink only. Clogs are cleared with the printer's cleaning cycles, not by swapping a cartridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the WF-2930 use Epson 232 or 212?
Epson 232. The 212 belongs to the older WF-2830 and Expression XP-4100 series.
Is there a 232XL colour cartridge?
No. Epson offers the XL in black only; cyan, magenta and yellow are standard yield.
How many pages does the Epson 232XL black print?
About 380 pages by Epson's ISO rating, versus about 150 for the standard 232.
Is the WF-2930 ink the same as the WF-2950?
Yes — both take the Epson 232 family.
Does the WF-2930 have a document feeder?
Yes. It has a 30-sheet automatic document feeder (10 sheets of legal) on top of the flatbed. The WF-2950 has one too.
Can I print in black only when a colour runs out?
Don't count on it. Epson cartridge printers can stop printing when any cartridge is expended, so keep spare colours on hand.
Other printers that use Epson 232
Epson WorkForce WF-2950 · Epson Expression Home XP-4200 · Epson Expression Home XP-4205 · Epson Expression Home XP-4100 · Epson Expression Home XP-4105
More Epson ink guides: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 · Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 · Epson WorkForce WF-7720 · 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 7, 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.