What Ink Does the Epson WorkForce WF-3820 Use?
Last Updated:Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said compatible 822 cartridges were guaranteed to work in the WF-3820. Epson says the printer is designed to work only with genuine Epson cartridges, and non-Epson cartridges may stop being recognized after a firmware update. It also listed standard 822 black at about 240 pages; Epson 822 black is rated at about 350.
The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820 all-in-one inkjet printer uses Epson 822 and Epson 822XL DURABrite Ultra ink cartridges. Standard 822 cartridges deliver about 350 black and 240 color pages, while the 822XL high-yield cartridges produce roughly 1,100 black and 1,100 color pages each.
CastleScore · October 2026
80/100 — Highly Recommended
Epson WorkForce WF-3820
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 81 | 3.95★ average across 6,240 ratings at Amazon (4.0), Best Buy (4.3), Walmart (3.6), Epson.com (3) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 80 | PCMag 3.5/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | 76 | About 6.1¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 822XL (1,100 pages each). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip. |
| Reliability (13%) | 82 | Most-reported problems: wi-Fi drops / 'signal strength low' even near the router; ADF jams or multi-feeds, unreliable for batch scanning/copying |
| Features (12%) | 86 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm). |
| Value (5%) | 84 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of about $99 |
Still sold new at $99.99 at Epson and Walmart, down from $199.99.
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.
The cartridges, pictured
822XL BlackT822XL120 · ~1,100 pages
822XL CyanT822XL220 · ~1,100 pages
822XL MagentaT822XL320 · ~1,100 pages
822XL YellowT822XL420 · ~1,100 pages
822XL Black
822XL Cyan
822XL Magenta
822XL YellowOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Epson 822 | Black | ~350 pages |
| Epson 822 | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~240 pages each |
| Epson 822XL | Black | ~1,100 pages |
| Epson 822XL | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~1,100 pages each |
The Epson 822/822XL cartridges are also used by the WorkForce Pro WF-4820, WF-4830, and WF-4834, letting multi-printer offices standardize on one ink set.
Still deciding whether this is the right printer for you? Our full Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820 review covers who it suits, what owners complain about, and what it really costs to run over a year.
How to Replace Ink in the WF-3820
- Power on the WF-3820 and open the front cartridge cover.
- Wait for the cartridge carriage to slide to the access position.
- Press the release tab on the empty cartridge and pull it out.
- Shake the new cartridge gently, peel off the yellow tape, and click it into the matching slot.
- Close the cover; 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 firmly until it clicks. If a non-Epson cartridge stopped being recognized right after a firmware update, cleaning won't help: Epson designs the WF-3820 to work only with genuine cartridges, and its fix is to install genuine ones.
Faded or banded output: Run two or three Head Cleaning cycles from Settings > Maintenance and print a nozzle check.
Slow printing: Set print quality to Standard rather than Best and verify 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 WorkForce Pro WF-3820 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 WF-3820 is designed to work only with genuine Epson cartridges and that non-Epson ink may not be recognized after a firmware update. Its fix is to install genuine cartridges. If you use non-Epson cartridges, turn off automatic firmware updates and decline update prompts.
It keeps dropping off Wi-Fi, even near the router. Can it use 5 GHz?
No. Best Buy lists its Wi-Fi as 2.4 GHz only, and Wi-Fi drops are the top complaint in Epson's own reviews. Make sure a 2.4 GHz network is available, or use Ethernet or Wi-Fi Direct instead.
Does the document feeder scan both sides?
No. Epson specifies a one-sided, 35-page document feeder. Printing is two-sided automatically, but two-sided originals have to be turned over and fed again.
Originals won't feed from the document feeder. What should I check?
Epson's advice: check that the feeder icon lights up on the Copy, Fax or Scan screen, don't load past the arrow on the edge guide, flatten curled originals and clean inside the feeder.
How much paper does it hold?
One 250-sheet tray. Some Best Buy reviewers find the tray design awkward on big print jobs, so plan to reload during long runs.
WorkForce Pro WF-3820 quirks worth knowing
- Epson rates it at 21 ISO pages a minute in black and 11 in color. The 25 pages a minute some retailers quote is not an ISO figure.
- Alongside Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet and USB it has Bluetooth LE, and it uses a 2.7-inch color touchscreen.
- It launched in September 2020 as part of Epson's WorkForce Pro refresh and uses Epson's PrecisionCore Heat-Free print head.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Epson 822 and 822XL? Both fit the WF-3820; 822XL is rated for about 1,100 pages per cartridge: roughly three times a standard black (350 pages) and four and a half times a standard color (240 pages).
Can I mix standard and XL cartridges? Yes, any combination of 822 black and color cartridges works together.
Does the WF-3820 support automatic duplex? Yes, the WF-3820 supports automatic two-sided printing.
Will compatible cartridges void my warranty? No, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects your warranty when you use third-party ink.
How do I reset the ink monitor? Install the new cartridge, close the cover, and the WF-3820 resets the ink level automatically.
Other printers that use Epson 822
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4820 · Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 · Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4834
More Epson ink guides: Epson WorkForce WF-2950 · Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 · Epson WorkForce WF-2930 · 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.