Canon PG-645, PG-645XL, CL-646, CL-646XL Ink Cartridges
The Canon PG-645 and CL-646 cartridge series features a two-cartridge delivery system designed for everyday document and photo production across compact PIXMA printers. Balancing your home or student printing requirements means selecting between standard capacities for light usage or high-yield XL volumes and multi-pack bundles for better running costs. Choosing alternative third-party compatible variants further reduces initial cartridge expenses while maintaining structural fitment inside the printer carriage rail.
Printers Compatible with Canon PG-645 & CL-646 Ink Cartridges
What to expect from each cartridge type
Page outputs for these thermal inkjet modules are verified under continuous print environments using the international ISO/IEC 24711 standard. Entry-level genuine PG-645 black and CL-646 colour cartridges deliver 180 pages per unit. Moving up to high-yield genuine PG-645XL or CL-646XL cartridges extends your output to 400 pages, reducing manual cartridge changes. Because the tri-colour CL-646 tank houses cyan, magenta, and yellow ink within a single combined chamber shell, actual page yields depend heavily on the specific colours in your documents.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG-645 | Standard | Black | 180 | $0.14 |
| CL-646 | Standard | Colour | 180 | $0.17 |
| PG-645XL | High Yield | Black | 400 | $0.11 |
| CL-646XL | High Yield | Colour | 400 | $0.11 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage). Prices based on Genuine cartridges.
Genuine vs compatible cartridges
Managing ongoing consumable costs introduces a choice between genuine original equipment manufacturer replacements and engineered third-party alternatives. Under Australian Consumer Law, using compatible cartridges does not void your printer warranty. Opting for a compatible PG-645XL high-yield cartridge drops the cost per page to 6.7 cents, down from the 11 cents required by the genuine XL equivalent. Read our complete genuine vs compatible cartridges guide to see how third-party formulations compare to factory standards.
Choosing the right cartridge setup
Your text-to-graphics ratio dictates the most economical cartridge configuration. General school assignments draw heavily on the standalone pigment black channel, making high-capacity black options vital for preventing sudden lockouts. Conversely, printing colour images drains the multi-channel tank rapidly. Purchasing genuine 2-pack or 4-pack value bundles lowers individual unit prices across mixed depletion cycles. Our compatible stock includes a full money-back guarantee to ensure complete performance compliance.
All orders move through automated logistics pathways to prevent home workspace delays. Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply), with parcels dispatched daily from regional fulfillment facilities in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. To explore supply layouts for other hardware generations, browse our comprehensive Canon ink cartridges catalogue. Commercial return conditions are detailed on our official Returns policy page.
Pro Tip
The tri-colour CL-646 cartridge contains all three primary cartridge colours in separate internal walls but relies on a shared, built-in printhead mechanism. If you print documents featuring a prominent single-colour accent, such as a bright red heading or blue border, that specific colour chamber will dry out completely while the other two remain full. Because the printer firmware locks operations when any single ink well hits empty, you must discard the entire cartridge. To mitigate this wasteful single-colour depletion, change your printer print properties to "Grayscale" for everyday text drafts to preserve the colour cartridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install a PG-645XL high yield black cartridge if my printer currently contains a standard PG-645 cartridge?
Yes, standard and high-yield XL ink cartridges share identical physical external dimensions and cartridge slots. The high-yield variant simply holds a larger volume of ink inside the casing and uses a modified internal chip to monitor the higher page count.
Why does my PIXMA printer refuse to print a monochrome document when only the CL-646 colour cartridge is out of ink?
The integrated printheads built into these cartridges rely on the presence of fluid to safely dissipate heat generated by the thermal nozzles. If the printer allows operation with an empty colour tank, the empty firing nozzles will overheat and suffer permanent physical damage, which is why the system locks printing completely.
Will the page yield decrease if I print borderless photos on glossy photo paper instead of text on plain paper?
Yes, standard page yield specifications are determined using standard A4 text documents with roughly 5% ink coverage. Borderless photos require complete surface saturation across the page, which consumes significantly more fluid and reduces the actual number of prints you can achieve per cartridge.
