The best ink for your Canon printer is genuine Canon ink (OEM) that’s specifically designed for your printer model. Using genuine Canon ink lets you print more pages, helps prevent smudging on your paper and protects your printer from clogging, which can help your printer last longer. If you use non-Canon ink with your Canon printer, it might not work as effectively. When choosing your ink, make sure you pick the right cartridge size and ink type for your printing needs.

Canon printers are thermal inkjet printers that use a heated plate or resistor to form bubbles of ink at the nozzle, which hit the paper to print the text or image you want. When the ink gets low in the cartridge, it’s important to get a replacement Canon printer cartridge or a Canon ink bottle since the ink doubles as a coolant for the heated metal plate. If the ink gets too low, it will dry and can cause issues with the printer.

The easiest and most reliable way to make sure you pick the right cartridge for your Canon printer is to match the cartridge model number on your old cartridge with the model number on the new cartridge. If you can’t find the model number on the older cartridge, check your printer manual or the inside label on your printer’s cartridge door. If you’re having trouble choosing the right ink, use our Printer Ink & Toner Finder.

Canon XL ink cartridges are worth the investment because they can let you print more pages than a standard size cartridge. If you’re someone who does a lot of printing, they can help you save money because you don’t have to replace the cartridges as often and you get a lower cost per page. If Canon XL ink cartridges don’t work for you, you can choose standard-size Canon ink cartridges or Canon XXL ink cartridges.