Canon PG-640, CL-641 Ink Cartridges
The Canon PG-640 and CL-641 system uses a two-cartridge FINE printhead structure where the firing mechanism is integrated into the ink unit, ensuring a fresh nozzle cycle with every replacement. Home users often face uneven depletion where the tri-colour CL-641 cartridge locks out because a single colour is empty while others remain. If you print more than 100 pages a month, a compatible PG-640XL black cartridge will save you 24% over the genuine XL equivalent while delivering the same 400-page yield.
Printers Compatible with Canon PG-640 & CL-641 Ink Cartridges
Choosing between genuine and compatible options
For users seeking to lower their overheads, compatible PG-640XL and CL-641XL cartridges offer a functional alternative to genuine units. These compatibles include a modernised reset chip to ensure the printer accurately tracks ink levels and come with a full money-back guarantee if they do not meet performance expectations. Under Australian Consumer Law, using compatible cartridges does not void your printer warranty. You can read more about this in our genuine vs compatible cartridges guide.
How long these cartridges last in real use
Canon calculates the page output for this series using the ISO/IEC 24711 international standard for inkjet printing. The standard PG-640 black provides only 180 pages, whereas the PG-640XXL ultra high yield black extends this to 600 pages, reducing the frequency of cartridge swaps by more than 3 times. Because the CL-641 is a combined tri-colour cartridge, printing many photos with high yellow saturation will deplete the entire unit even if cyan and magenta levels are still high.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG-640 | Standard | Black | 180 | $0.14 |
| CL-641 | Standard | Colour | 180 | $0.16 |
| PG-640XL | High Yield | Black | 400 | $0.10 |
| CL-641XL | High Yield | Colour | 400 | $0.11 |
| PG-640XXL | Extra High Yield | Black | 600 | $0.081 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage). All calculations use Genuine cartridge prices.
Choosing the right cartridge setup
If you primarily print school assignments or text-based documents, the PG-640XXL genuine black cartridge offers the best value among the original Canon options with an 8.1 cent cost per page. For those who print colour occasionally, the high yield XL versions are more cost-effective as they prevent the ink from drying in the printhead nozzles during periods of inactivity. We ship all orders from our national warehouse network in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply). View our returns policy or browse our full range of Canon ink cartridges here.
Pro Tip
Since the PG-640 and CL-641 cartridges have the printhead built into the base, if you experience streaky prints after the printer has sat idle for weeks, you can often fix this by placing the base of the cartridge on a warm, damp paper towel for 30 seconds to re-prime the ink flow rather than running multiple ink-heavy cleaning cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a PG-640XXL cartridge in a printer that currently has a standard PG-640?
Yes. The standard, XL, and XXL black cartridges all share the same external dimensions and fit into the same black slot. The difference is purely the internal ink volume, with the XXL holding enough ink for 600 pages compared to the standard 180 pages.
What happens if one colour runs out in my CL-641 tri-colour cartridge?
Because the CL-641 houses cyan, magenta, and yellow in one unit, the cartridge must be replaced once any single colour is depleted. This is why standardising your document colours can help extend the life of a tri-colour cartridge.
Why does the PG-640XXL only come in black and not colour?
Canon does not manufacture an XXL version for the CL-641 colour series; the CL-641XL is the highest capacity colour option available for these printer models. The XXL black is specifically designed for high-volume text printing to balance the higher consumption of black ink in home offices.
